wiesn089

Hi guys, apologies for hijacking this thread, but since it's not that old I hope that's not an issue. After getting fed up with the gen world's "no watch for you policy" I am currently contemplating another Milsub build following my gen-powered Phong based one from a few years back. I foolishly gave that one to my brother who now refuses to sell it back to me, so no real options here I guess :D. Like with my last build, I want to build the best one possible. So gen movement and best available dial are a must. If the unspeakable one will sell me another dial, I'll start gathering the remaining parts. I'm pretty much set on everything else already (though open to suggestions of course :)). Will go for Ruby's case set, CWP hands (should have a pair lying around here somewhere), gen crown and tube, gen hacking 1520 from a period correct donor watch, Air King 5500 from the late 70s I suppose. I'll try the TrueDome t19 as a crystal and that's about it. Hopefully I'll have it finished around end of this year, if and that's a big if, I'm able to source the dial. Here's my question: Ruby's insert looks amazing, really great to see that someone managed to produce an affordable one at last. Case looks good as well, though I think it'll need a little work to make it more accurate. Any suggestions who does exceptional case work atm and has experience with Phong/Ruby cases? Preferably in the EU? Dbane reshaped my Phong case and I was very happy with how it turned out, but judging from the fact his last post here is from early 2019, I fear he's not around any more... I would like to go for a fully restored Bexley look again, so brushed case with visible clean chamfers. Similar to the double reference pictured here.

Thanks! Your's looks awesome, too. The insert is from a long gone, very limited batch of replacements for gen Milsub owners. I'll post a build log of the watch next month or so. Took me almost 7 years from learning about milsub for the first time to finally finishing this thing.

So true. But honestly I don't see the point in vintage Rolex anymore, prices are inflated to a point where buying a NOS crown or crystal becomes prohibitive. I have just finished my latest (and last) build and will from now on focus on modern gens (not Rolex exclusively, obviously). But there also you are confronted with ridiculous fees and servicing costs. I really believe things will only changes once younger buyers stop throwing cash at the swiss watch industry, so they are finally forced to focus on their customers rather than profits...

Ready for war... finally!

Great build!

These look great. Do they also make sigma dials nowadays?

Stunning! Congratulations!

Imo your best option for ETA are gen seamaster 300 hands. I bought a couple of sets from cousins few years ago, I don't know if they are still available. Gen powered, CWP has the best ones available.

Well, almost all of these suggestions are ridiculously unattractive. So judging by their last big releases except for the white ln Daytona, Rolex is probably considering some of them. I personally would like to see a two-color black and green bezel for the 1166710ln, it couldn't possibly be uglier than that SD.

Congratulations. Beautiful piece, I still can't understand why AP isn't offering dark dial options on the 15450 in steel. I've been eying the gen for some time now, but was always put off by the white dial. As soon as it becomes available in black or even better blue I'm off to sell a kidney...

What a beauty! High on my very own list as well, congratulations.

Yeah, UK prices were absolutely ridiculous to start with. I always chuckle when I see someone refer to 6263/6265s as "rare" watches. They are probably the easiest vintage pieces to find, everytime you visit a watch fair you see loads around.

Imo the replacement on ebay looks really, really good. They even replicated the serifs on the numbers pretty well. Am I missing something?

From what I can tell from the pics, it looks great, though clear pictures of the subdials would certainly help.

This is probably the most sensible approach. Or we could arrange a group buy with Phong for some raw cases. Talk him through the details, QC and finishing touches by you, dbane (if you are interested). I'd rather pay you for the case finish instead of Phong.

Cheers mate, will look into that.

Hi, a few years ago I had a 3714 built for my father. Gen dial, hands, crown, movement etc. from concepta. Case remained rep. Unfortunately my father has managed to lose one of the pushers. Any idea if a gen pusher would fit? I have a source who can get them, but don't want to shill out the outrageous amount he's asking just to find out it won't fit. Or even better, do you have any idea, where I could source a pusher replacement for the rep case? Cheers S

What an amazing build! Congratulations!

I saw them as well. To me they look like standard service inserts currently available from ADs for around 70-100 Euro each (without the luminova pearl).

Yeah, nice watches, but honestly no where near a representation of rarity or desirability of theses pieces. Imo we've seen a ridiculous inflation of prices over the last few years based on a totally unjustifiable internet hysteria fueled by "expert" websites like Hodinkee and VRF. I visit vintage watch fairs on a regular basis and practically always you can find at least 5 PN daytonas, close to 20-30 vintage Daytonas in stellar condition and a ton of DRSDs, MF 1680s and even the odd 5517. Rare? Come on. High horology? Here are a ton of guys sporting V72 or V726 Daytonas and no one in their right mind will be thoroughly impressed by their horological quality. After all these are mere standard movements, workhorses no more, no less. Great looking, but no Speedy is of lesser quality - and they made it to the moon for god's sake. If I had the money and could decide what to do with it, buy one PN/ Milsub etc. OR a 5730p AND a 5970p WITH a TON of cash to spare, I'd certainly know what I would do. Hell you might even be able to commission something from VC, AP, Lange or even Patek for these amounts. The only guys who know what they are doing in this market are the "collector" dealers and auction houses ripping off the millionaires with more money than sense.

Great work, I love stuff like this. I guess you are trying to do a Mark II dial, right? Imo you got one of the distinctive features really close, the coronet looks great. It's hard to tell from the resolution of your prototype whether you got all the serifes on the small fonts right, But the S in SEA-DWELLER looks a little off (imo the sweep is to wide, it's looks more clinched on gen dials), as does the S in SUBMARINER (the upper part needs to be longer on the right side, the left part below a little shorter so it does not stretch beneath the middle part). Hope my impressions make sense. Also check the 6 in 610, on the gen dials it looks - for a lack of a better word - a little odd. Here's a detailed shot of a gen for reference:

Nice. What dial is that?

Great comparison, thanks!

Wonderful build, amazing attention to detail, wear it well!

Nice! Looking forward to pictures of the finished build.