Cortebert

love the strap...

Below is a DSN case that

nice.. i'd be interested too mate

will have worked a price out tomorrow....

G, can you make me one and fit it onto my 6152?

They have been made for the DSN case but I believe they will also fit the Jackson as well...

I will try and make for the most popular models as each device unscrews two different cases, one on each end...and also keep the price sensible...

A forum member asked me this afternoon whether I had anything to take the Case Backs off with. There are tools I know but the one I use below is specially made and machined from a solid block of alloy... On one end it unscrews the DSN/Jackson Case Backs (the ones I make) and on the other it unscrews the Silix Case Backs (again the ones I make)... Its a really handy tool to have and will work on Case Backs with Dome Plexis.... As you can see mine is a bit used and worn but polished it wouldnt look out of place in a watch box.... Its quite big ie the size of a small apple so its easy to grip...

I was thinking of making a small batch if anyone is struggling with their sticky/rubber balls etc. Price should be sensible and not excessive if I can get a few interested....also I am modifying the top and bottom so that it has a camber or slope (will work better and cannot catch any lugs even if bent out of shape).

thanks for the kind comments guys...

I have been asked numerous times would I make a Tropic 24 Plexi and my reply has always been the same...not until I get an authentic one I can work from..... Well last week I managed to pick up an authentic Tropic 24 (along with a few other members) and for the first time I had something accurate to work off.

The shape, both inside and out , has been accurately measured.... this meant taking multiple readings across the outer and inner surfaces to map out the exact shape of the tropic.... Here is the result...

One of these is the authentic tropic

You can also source those bars from www.watchbitz.com.au, and get the special forum discount after registering!

Offshore

thanks I have also heard they can be found on EBay and elsewhere. If anyone knows another source or better price please post, thanks...

Heres a really simple tutorial, all you need is a decent soldering iron and a few minutes time...

First of all purchase a set of thick 316 grade stainless steel bars from www.ewatchparts.com this is the direct link they will cost you $10.50 a set including shipping worldwide.

Heres what they look like. Note the screw top on one of the ends (not sure whether the screw top is on the authentic ones, its not clear on page 194 of Volkers book maybe someone can enlighten me)...anyway if it isn

Was looking at an article on Radium Watch Dials (burn rings) and thought I would give it a go on a Silix dial (article Link)...

... the dial isnt quite finished, still got some work to do on the text and indices but as I havent posted in a while I thought I would say hello with a dial....

No Plexi yet....but taken the project a stage further and soldered the Lugs and Crown Tube...

The bezel is taller than the standard Silix Cartel type and also wider on the top surface near were the plexi goes. The strap is by Donerix and has the hidden rivets which means this strap can be added and removed from solid lug bars....

Stages I & II

Stage III (soldered lugs crown stem and polishing)

Looking forward to seeing the finished results well done...

No Plexi yet....but taken the project a stage further and soldered the Lugs and Crown Tube...

The bezel is taller than the standard Silix Cartel type and also wider on the top surface near were the plexi goes. The strap is by Donerix and has the hidden rivets which means this strap can be added and removed from solid lug bars....

Had an idea a while ago to convert an existing case but never did anything about it. Recently I bought a Cortebert 618 movement and decided it was time to give it a new home.

I felt one of Patronofchainsaws (Hixxy

* Faded dial (lighter in centre) with deep engraving and text colour

overlay

* Aged and cracked dial indices

* Re-worked Molnija with pantograph engraving

* Thick OPB Case Back with Dome Plexi

that is great work....

cortbert move....great....

some days ago, i bougth caravelle movement

later i will show you..

i will follow you...

wish,

ddebo

ddebo...that movement looks like a Cortebert but its actually a Molnija. I have re-wroked the bridges by removing all the serial numbers, re-plated with nickel, ageing, then engraving...its over 50 years old and keeps excellent time..

Yet another brown dial...

• 6154 Case with Plexi
  
• Molnija 3601 (re-worked)
  
• Thick case Back with Flat Plexi
  
• Brass Case Ring
  
• Gunny 74 Strap and buckle
  

Really really really really ridiculously good looking

P.S. how are those Молния movements holding up? Between all boards you probably have the most experience with them.

Theres good an bad Molnija's out there but get a good one and they are tough and reliable and keep good time considering many are 50 years old... take good care of them and you should get another 50 years...

Very nice. A dumb question if I may...how do you get the straps on and off on the fixed bar watches??

no...good question. The only way is to de-solder or cut the strap off. But I dont plan taking this strap off for the next 10 years plus, its there to stay....but if I had to I would de-solder using copper braid which acts as a sponge and soaks up molten solder, takes about 5 mins so its not that difficult to remove.

Had a 3646 case lying around doing nothing, it was one I used for measurements for the case backs and brass case rings. Decided to make something of it...with a coffee latte dial...

Silix case reshaped

Silver Soldered the lugs

Silver Soldered the stem tube

Aged the case and plexi

Sandwich dial re-coloured and aged the dial with brown indices

Molnija 3601 movement

Removed serial numbers from movement and made sterile

Nickel plated the re-worked movement bridges

Brass case ring

Donerix Strap (mustard)

Below: Aged the case and solder the lugs

Below: Next the stem tube needs to be soldered

Below: Soldering completed on stem tube

Below: Removed spring bars and soldered fix bars in place

Below: Added a Donerix Strap (Mustard)

Below: Added one of my thick case backs (polished version)

Below: Image shows reflection from the polished back

Below: Started with a McSherry Dial which I re-coloured aged then filled indices in brown

Below: Distressed the plexi

Belolw: Dial and plexi

Below: Now a Sterile Movement which started life as a Molnija stamped full of serial numbers. The movement has been stripped, serial numbers removed, re-plated with Nickel, and rebuilt

Below: The arrows indicate were the serial numbers were once stamped into the metal. This area has been heavily reworked and the re-plating has also been carefully aged.

Fantastic work congratulations !

Really want that caseback , really want that caseback

Enjoy

FGD

...case backs will be available in about another 7 days, if you wish to join the list then please send a pm as I rather not mention selling here (not a sales thread) hope you understand.

That's my watch

indeed it is....hope you enjoy it Marty as much as I enjoyed building it. You also have the very first display and engraved case back.

gone to a new home...

• Molnija 3601 movement fully reworked and engraved
  
• Brass Case Ring
  
• DNS 6152 case aged
  
• Peter Gunny 74 strap
  
• Sandwich Dial with aged and cracked indices
  
• New Stem
  
• Plexi aged
  
• Crown Guard (made firm) re-worked surface and raised pin
  
• OPB Engraved Case Back with Dome Plexi and surface polishing
  

Someone would have to find a pantograph engraved caseback and then any CNC machine could copy it perfectly--do the dsn casebacks fit other cases?

The engraving you see in the images above are cut on an old 1950's pantograph engraving machine....