Mapman57

Ofrei has pearls that should work. Here is the link Ofrei Pearl

Ofrei charges $35+ just for post to the UK - regardless of item value or size - kind of rules them out!

Bough an OEM Omega bracelet there once that was justified - but $35 P&P for a pearl......

Many thanks anyhow,

Does anyone have a recommended supplier for a new insert for this project - dont want to put too many $ into it?

Or, even better does anyone have one in the box that they would like to sell???? Can be used and marked - obviously!!!

Thing is this case set and bezel are sized for a modern saphire crystal? So the insert is full size 16610 and not the typical 5513/1680 Sub smaller size, such as on a PT vintage model. I got some of them but they do not fit!

Is there a source for an insert without the large modern Sub pearl? Please PM me if you have anything.

The holes on both inserts look a bit large. I would get a ofrei or yuki pearl with a dab of offwhite paint inside.

I personally like the bleached one better.

On a side note, is that a PT case? Keep an eye on the crystal at the 10 oclock marker, it may have been slightly damaged when pressing it on. My clark 127 looked exactly the same as yours and now leaks there.

Hi - the holes are not that large - it is the huge scale of the pics. The faded insert takes a PT vintage acrylic pearl, which sits within the triangle (pic below). Same is true on the gen insert.

That is indeed a PT case and the Clark 127 is a very tight fit! Thanks for the heads up on the 'damage' possibility. I have had it off and taken a close look under a loupe. It was actually a small scrape on the upper outside edge of the crystal (reflecting along the edge), caused when the retainer ring was pushed down a little off flat center. Cant see it being a problem, the piece has passed a 7ATM pressure test since assembly. But I will keep an eye on it!

This is the same PT insert with a PT vinatge pearl in ........

Great casework and finish - a really balanced shape finish.....

maybe this one - yuki but kind a ripp off price

Yikes!!!

I'will check with Angus to see if he can ship a replacement insert with pearl (as is standard in his 1680/1655). Maybe I can pop it into the gen insert - but the hole looks a little larger............?

WOW. There is a member on some forums that wants to sell a gen and honestly I can't see a difference.

Well done.

+1 = too close for comfort....got me thinking Chi had an alias elsewhere for a few moments.....Ha ha ha

Great endorsement of what you have achieved.

bleach the gen insert !

cheers,

Frank

Thanks Frank, thats a real option as well - do you think I could add an aftermarket vintage pearl to this? Any ideas on possible suppliers?

Oh ... wait! I do own the same watch

...and very nice it is as well!

Great piece of work Chi - a keeper for sure.......(you got my number?)

Very nice job. Why not snap the old aged insert into the old bezel, the new in the new and try each one out for a while and see what you like. One thing I would vote for personally would be a nice tritium pearl. I just don't like the no pearl look. In my case, since I wear mine every day, including whatever i'm doing outside, that big hole is a great place for dust and dirt to get between the bezel and the retaining ring/washer.Of course if you aren't in a dusty environment, that might not be a reason, just asthetics.

Many thanks panerai.....what a great suggestion on the bezel/insert combo's, it must have been MY idea?

Ha ha ha....sometimes you 'do not see the wood for the trees'.

Where might I get a vintage style pearl to add in, at a reasonable price of course?

Nice job......where did you get the 580 endlinks?...are they REP?

Many thanks bto.....yep unfortunately they are rep 580's .....came from Angus on my PT1665 93150 bracelet.....correct closed style. I will post pics once I have finished the final assembly.

So finally my eta 2846 serviced/regulated movement returns and I can re assemble all of my parts. I have an old thread running detailing the work and build - some may recall.

This is not a review - I will do that once finished ! What I will do now is express a HUGE THANKS to two brilliant fellow UK members who have helped so much - 'Cuschochris' and 'Mack' - not modders, just helpers and great mates!

Key elements include;

Case rework

CG's shaped

Lugs drilled out for 2mm gen bars

Gen 703 crown

Gen insert (to be decided)

Custom made retainer ring (no more plastic gasket!!!!)

Clark 127

Serviced and regulated movement

Sealed to 7 ATM water resistance

93150 bracelet and 93150 clasp and 580 closed end links

Ha ha ha - just noticed I left the standard lug pins in the pictures here!

The QUESTION is - shall I go with my aged / grey bleached vintage no pearl insert OR my Gen, no pearl UNBLEACHED black insert.

The addition of the new Clark 127 has kind of made the watch look quite new again. My old 127 was aged and acratched etc.

With the Gen black insert the watch has a kind of serviced , very well cared for look.

The bezel inserts are not glued/snapped in, the bezel assembly and retainer ring are not fully assembled on the following pics - they are just to show the effect of each insert in the final look.

PLEASE HELP ME SELECT THE BEST LOOK?

First up the new retainer ring - not fully assembled down - but a great improvement/upgrade.

WITH the Gen black insert.....in a new unused bezel ring

And now the aged grey bleached insert....in a used bezel ring

In my opinion, in real life the insert makes a huge visual difference that may not be as obvious here.....

Come on Guys and Gals - please get voting so I can finish the job!

I picked this old school slim cased 5513 on a folded rivet recently, for a bargain deal and I like it so much I decided to start a project and do some stuff to it......never had a battered tool watch before and never expected to like it after the original shock!!! It will evolve into something very aged but less 'battered' in appearance

Theres still lots to do here and all comments/suggestions are welcome.

Story so far is ;

- Crown swap

- Some gentle CG reshaping work

- Lug holes drilled for gen bars (but not fitted here)

- Aged and polished, aged and battered again.....ha ha ha (originally this was even more battered!)

- plexi battered and then polished back - but still old and bad - loving it!

- Insert bleached and recessed a little but not glued down here!

Planned next steps

- dial swap for a 4 liner 5512 that I have

- insert swap to an aged vintage style - less battered

- perhaps a little more off the inside of the CG's?

- shaping to case lugs to round and soften a little - add soft bevels to case to remove sharp edges, as per gen 1960's 5512 case set

- fit gen spring bars

- hopefully waterproof to 7ATM

Some point and shoot pics - please chime in guys

and the wristies....

Hope to hear from you...........:munch:

Definitely, a classic, in more ways than 1.

It is unfortunate, however, that nearly all of the original watch had been replaced (by Rolex) as it no longer matches the original 6538 spec. ....the original 1030 balance [censored] has been replaced with a later 1066 [censored] & it looks like some other movement components may have been replaced with later parts as well. Still, quite an exceptional story with a rock solid provenance.

Wow Freddy that is 'deep knowledge', thought you was going to say the dial had been swapped out !

Great to see the ageing and pitting to the case.

Had a mbw eurotimez version some time back.....nice pick up.

Funny I sold it on before I was into vintage Rolex as I could not stand having a $100k beater on my wrist...... now I have 6 other vintage pieces, it kinda messed that logic up.

Enjoy and its great when you can swim with your subs!

Thanks Dizzy.....wonderful story and picture set................ if you want to build an aged 6538 - here is your new benchmark. Just look at that insert, remarkable.

Thats a great post.....thanks!

Then again, perhaps OJ has got the 'real deal' secured away for Sunday Best? ..........No, he's just too honest a guy to that.....

Came back for another look - it deserves it!

Inspirational build.......

Courtesy of RYAKU over on RG thread just now....

Here we go:

SUB NO DATE

Outside Diameter: 36.55mm

Inside Diameter: 29.7mm

NEW SEADWELLER

Outside Diameter: 36.65

Inside Diameter: 29.7mm

Submariner

Outside Diameter: 37.65mm

Inside Diameter: 30.7mm

Old Sub

Outside Diameter: 36.55mm

Inside Diameter: 30.3mm

Maybe someone here can confirm....?

Thought the Josh version was high beat 2836-2 ....but I never checked - might be wrong?

Either way this is NOT the same watch as the PT version....different case and insert for starters.

What is the bracelet set up on this version?

Yup...seems there is MUCH hype for the GMT IIc's. I'm not much on the shiny ceramic bezels and the maxi-dial set up.

I'm really interested in the old Black Noob Factory EXP II....who knows, maybe I will get lucky.

Maybe you just missed a BK Noob Transformer for sale on RG............

Oooops...wrong thread D-Rock....I knew you was looking for a BK Transformer GMT also

Really great comeback piece.....

Good stuff here......but we never find time to wear them all and we never seem to stop adding more to the PAMILY!

Great pictures Pete and a great looking dial.

I have some sticky tape and glue if you need them for the rebuild .....

Simply wonderful - many congratulations!

Got the same parts list in the box except for the dial.....just need a dial! Just missed a similar dial on the bay Tuesday evening.......hope that wasn't it