mellons

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Is that an oyang case?

Mm with strapcode ratcheting bracelet

Thats a beaut

Classic once off build joe!

Well, what a surprise in the post today. Super home for the franken bronzo: custom watch box to specification from Betmen. Pre-V watch holder cushion + separate compartment for straps (waterproof sharkie waiting for engraved pre-v buckle) and of provenance documentation

The addiction to the millemetri continues. Here we are- hard to believe it has probably taken over a year to get to this point. I had an opportunity to purchase a genuine engraved mm dial in super condition and jumped at it (I think Feb 2015?). I confirmed provenance directly with Mr Bettarini that it was the real deal, with paperwork etc. In the intervening period while waiting for case then other components had to choose the right case, research and obtain the correct movement, choosing the correct hands combination and trying out different components for the perfect fit... well you know how it goes. Decided to install in a handworked bronze case (all areas modded- crown, cg, bezel and lugs) along with plexi and anodised aluminium caseback to make lighter. Tried all different configurations incl titanium case and thought this was the best combo with the engraved dial (like a proto hinged lug case if one was ever made). Is now extremely wearable and with modded wedding strap (elias alu sewn-in buckle and custom aluminium keeper) weighs a bit lighter than much smaller watches on bracelets (149g with fabric strap). Bronze is a superb material and I love how it constantly changes. Case has had a lot of work done to it (doesn't look like it however). Bezel reshaped, crown softened and reshaped, crown guard reshaped, bezel screws replaced, cg and cg pin stainless, case completely reworked, aged, reworked, aged again...stainless steel lug bars etc... (minor ocd stuff). Crown has had gasket modification so case should be capable of real world 1000m + water resistance. Has red plexi interior gasket also to lift interior a little. Managed over the summer to get that crazed effect in the plexi we have been trying to replicate- hard to see but it's there. Great thing is this can be worn as it was originally intended- 24/7 doing everything. Not one bit worried about knocking or scraping build- very robust and takes wear extremely well. Sourced an eta 2770 (yep this is original movement took a bit of research) and with esdee hands sent off to andy schuhren to assemble. The CP didnt have to be modded as the dial is one layer engraved (in superb condition). The original dial feet fit the movement perfectly as intended. Now just need box for all the bits and pieces... Here it is, in all it's franken glory: a vintage franken daily beater./ Just for show it's on a dow/budda waterproof sharkskin 24mm strap (notched) with bronze ennebi buckle. Tomorrow it goes back on to the modded fabric strap for water... First up the gen dials on the wrist, where it belongs... can you see plexi crazing- like gen!!

The addiction to the millemetri continues. Here we are- hard to believe it has probably taken over a year to get to this point. I had an opportunity to purchase a genuine engraved mm dial in super condition and jumped at it (I think Feb 2015?). I confirmed provenance directly with Mr Bettarini that it was the real deal, with paperwork etc. In the intervening period while waiting for case then other components had to choose the right case, research and obtain the correct movement, choosing the correct hands combination and trying out different components for the perfect fit... well you know how it goes. Decided to install in a handworked bronze case (all areas modded- crown, cg, bezel and lugs) along with plexi and anodised aluminium caseback to make lighter. Tried all different configurations incl titanium case and thought this was the best combo with the engraved dial (like a proto hinged lug case if one was ever made). Is now extremely wearable and with modded wedding strap (elias alu sewn-in buckle and custom aluminium keeper) weighs a bit lighter than much smaller watches on bracelets (149g with fabric strap). Bronze is a superb material and I love how it constantly changes. Case has had a lot of work done to it (doesn't look like it however). Bezel reshaped, crown softened and reshaped, crown guard reshaped, bezel screws replaced, cg and cg pin stainless, case completely reworked, aged, reworked, aged again...stainless steel lug bars etc... (minor ocd stuff). Crown has had gasket modification so case should be capable of real world 1000m + water resistance. Has red plexi interior gasket also to lift interior a little. Managed over the summer to get that crazed effect in the plexi we have been trying to replicate- hard to see but it's there. Great thing is this can be worn as it was originally intended- 24/7 doing everything. Not one bit worried about knocking or scraping build- very robust and takes wear extremely well. Sourced an eta 2770 (yep this is original movement took a bit of research) and with esdee hands sent off to andy schuhren to assemble. The CP didnt have to be modded as the dial is one layer engraved (in superb condition). The original dial feet fit the movement perfectly as intended. Now just need box for all the bits and pieces... Here it is, in all it's franken glory: a vintage franken daily beater./ Just for show it's on a dow/budda waterproof sharkskin 24mm strap (notched) with bronze ennebi buckle. Tomorrow it goes back on to the modded fabric strap for water... First up the gen dials on the wrist, where it belongs...

Now that is a museum piece

mm on shark with ennebi buckle today

Its a museum piece!

so finish on movement is only tell?

tried on a set of esdee bronze cg's pieces today:

river bronzo today

So package arrived- bronze mm with rubber and nato strap. I never had a bronze esdee and always regrette it, so when these came up I jumped. First impressions are that this is a big hunk of metal- well put together. Get it on a modded strap- quick side-by-side with alu mm. Some slight but notable differences in case shape. Casebacks are interchangeable, bezels are not. Nice piece, heavy with steel caseback. Vertical tooling marks are quite visible- wil need to sand down a bit. Let's try it out with a bit of patina- looks like we need to remove some of those machining marks Sand-down, polish up, then brush by hand... a gold one would be a bit much... Now to re-patina in blackening liquid: back in the torture chamber. Colour will tone down after a while: Next thing is change caseback to aluminium anodised, do crown gasket mod to get 1000m+ water resistace and grease up all seals... and remove lume pip... Modded esdee bezel screws to get deeper "clicks" in stainless steel to get closer to original. Need to get steel cg pin also... and possible a red bezel gasket some semi-finished wristies

getting very close...

super build how do dw case backs compare to jacob?

hi aj thanks i am a daily lurker....