aeromatic

Thank you Brightight for the appreciation !

nice shot of your big crown! question whats the correct thickness of a tropic 17 crystal? found mine a little thin well not as thick as my tropic 19- 5512!

Yes you are so right! my mistake dont know why i wrote insert there!

Hello brendo22 i would suggest you start off brushing with a grain as you would when rebrushing to get a mat finish then rub over the watch using lighter strokes in a circular motion ,rub the steelwool in different direction for a good effect, then use a metal polish or paste (like nanuq suggested) to polish upto the required finish you may like the watch to remain unpolished, dont worry about starting you can always polish the watch back up ,there is no need to go to extreme your watch will age with normal wear and tear, and i would not reccmmend putting your watch in a plastic bag with nuts and bolts(unless you want to break your watch) for the bezel i dont have any advise as i have never faded one although i was thinking of rubbing a bezel with rubbing compound until the black finish get thinner and starts looking more silvery but i would only experiment on a spare bezel mabe some member can suggest a way to do it anyway good luck with you project!

A cool milsub! great work of art! i recently purchased a 5517 from a well known rep seller only to be disapointed by this purchase the case was badly done the tropic 19 crystal was very cheap thin type in the end i gave up on it and gave it to my watchmaker for parts he re-cased it and customised it to he own taste im sure he will post photos of it on RWG again well done!

Hi There docdoc i got my parts from yukiwatch my bezel insert was to bond spec without the 15 minute graduation markings this was an expensive project for me its worth noting that the bond 6538 in goldfinger/thunderball has a none correct bezel insert for this model the bond insert is from an ealier model from the 50s thin cased model, bonds 6538 must have been replaced with an older insert sometime when it was serviced even AD rolex service centres were guilty of replacing or upgrading with parts that were meant for other models and many times without the owner consent, dont forget back then these were tool watches not vintage so any updating to the watch was seen as a good thing with the result that many vintage watches are not to original factory spec. most early bezel inserts had a red triangle at the top(pearl) this was later changed due to divers complaining that they could not see it at depths. some were square fond older ones were round fond. so do we build our 6538 to bond spec or to factory spec this is only our decision!

Wow! toomuchgear! that is a great piece! cool! love tudors i hope my next project will be a tudor well done wear it with pride!

Thanks toomuchgear for the appreciations! i will check out your projects thanks again!

Thanks highoeyazmuhudee for appreciations!

Thanks Ronin oh and your profile photo rocks too!

Thank You TeeJay for your appreciations! yes this watch has a class look about it and stands out from my other watches, goes well with a tux! look great on a steel riveted strap too!

Thank you J0J035 for the appreciations!i dont have plans at the moment for buying a gen bezel insert (i have to recover in the bank!) first after my project! but i would like to see a photo and price thanks again!

Thanks Nanuq for the appreciations!

Thank you for appreciations Chipslap!i have also a rep 5512/3 like roger moore wore in the man with the golden gun i like old watches and own some watches from the 40s and 50s !

Hi There my friendly watchmaker! thank you for appreciations you will have to post photos of your great modified/custom made vintage rolexes reps and i loved your bezel pearl creations very close to the gen pearl ,so we dont have to worry about loosing our pearls<(that sounds great) i know this happens on gen vintage rolex

Hi There fxrAndy nice to know you, total cost was around $2500 usd not including the western union payment fees. and a watchmakers labour costs, this was for gen 1030 rolex movement,6538 case, with the brevet big crown,none 15 minute graduation,bezel,gloss guilt dial, golden handset,and a brevet riveted braclet, these were supplied by yukiwatch and the bond correct colour nylon strap was supplied by the corvus watch company

Thank You StormFather for the appreciations! oh and when its not on my wrist its locked up in a thick steel safe! Even bond cant force it open! Nice to meet you!

This Story started when i was ten years old and glued to the big screen,re-showing Goldfinger! the highlights of this bond movie, lets see there was that hat,the golden naked lady,the aston martin,and the scene that captured my attention was that close up shot of bonds rolex. With the internet i started realizing that i wasent the only one that loved the bond rolex, after finding that prices of gen 6538s were way out of my price range and rare,i was unable to find a correct looking replica. Then i found yukiwatch who could supply me with case,dial,handset i had to sell my large collection of reps to finance this project! my bond strap from corvus watches which i modified by cutting the steel keepers and making a cloth keeper as worn by sean connery,then when the parts arrived, i thought i have to find a real 1030 rolex movement i haunted ebay for weeks! After being out bid twice,i asked yukiwatch if he knew of anyone who had 1030 rolex movement,and was suprised he had one so i could complete this lifelong quest for a jb 6538 watch! Please excuse my photos i will have to replace my camera! First three photos (parts) were taken by yukiwatch! i wish to thank them for suppling parts for my dream watch!

Thanks Nanuq i will try that i like the top of the lugs to be slightly polished which you see on a few vintage subs! Yes I agree with you about the patina on older watches i also own some old swiss watches from the 40s 50s that have this patina!

Superb! looks like it was taken straight off mr sean connery;s wrist!

Hi There to tone down that new look finish i used wirewool the type plumbers use, rub the case and bracelet until you get a mat brushed finish do also the case and braclet edges to take away the sharp edge then i used a metal polish like autosol to polish the watch upto the required finish you may prefer it a little less or more polished up, the end result gives you a older more used looking watch, also use wirewool to tone down the acylic crytal this also tones down the look of the dial without doing any "work" on the dial which can not be reversed! I dont have any advice about aging a bezel insert,if any members have a suggestions please let me know! my watches are a 6538 big brevet crown,1665 comex,5512,redsubmariner,gmt/pepsi