JoJo35

What people will pay for a busted up worn out bezel!

It looks pretty close freddy. You may need to block sand more of a gentle curve into top of the lugs where they taper down. What kind of movement do you plan on using?

Thanks everyone for your compliments. As I've said about my other projects, the true talent here lies in the builder

Over a year ago I had the opportunity to hold and admire a very special divers watch that had a long history of deep cold water dives. I couldn't forget the beautiful vintage piece, and eventually decided to attempt to duplicate what I had seen. Today, I received a very special package in the mail from no other than the Master. Complete with a host of gen and hard to find parts, including a gen rivet bracelet A beautiful addition is always a gen crown/tube, and in this case "brevet" I've always loved the slim lines of the old subs The watch sits now, on my wrist (where it belongs!): I know I thoroughly enjoy this gorgeous piece. The dial is absolutely superb, and IMO one of RG's absolute best. This will be going along on the GTG next week, so those who attend will be able to see this work of art first hand Cheers, JoJo

I'm in for 3 manual steel and three manual titanium, thanks!

freddy, I understand completely where you're coming from. I think there are a number of us here in the same boat, but as I have said before, I think it is the chase that makes this hobby enjoyable for us. Like yourself, I could have bought at least one or two new gen daytonas. However... Unless someone had a loupe, and a factory reference book... ...even then

Hi Ubi, We have a support group meeting this coming Monday in NYC, come join us

Thanks alligoat! I agree with matching the lume on the hands with the dial.

Vly, do I count 17 altogether? I'll be with my gf

I usually have better luck than lately, but perhaps it is partially because the explorer was never quite so popular as the subs, and therefore less info is readily available. Here's my question for those who may know: 1) Gilt dial explorers without chapter ring, do these have gilt hands too? I thought they would be, but pictures I have seen appear to have silver hands with gilt dial. 2) 2mm springbars like the subs? (even though the cases are a bit thinner?) Or do the 20mm lug early explorers have the smaller diameter springbars like the 1601's? Pictures I've seen appear to have large diameter lug holes, and I would think the explorer would have stronger springbars because it was supposed to be tougher than your average watch, but I could be 100 percent off on this one too! Thanks for any input! Cheers, JoJo

Here's another plain jane

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rolex-6263-6265-6240-6...1QQcmdZViewItem

I'd get it if the mvmt would fit my 3646

Thanks for the link freddy. You know I'll be needing this book

Nice job on the 16800! Every now and then an old insert pops up on the bay, which would make a great doner for your pearl. I've been searching for a good gen 16800 for a while now with no luck Enjoy your watches and wear them well!

Sure, just use a heavy razor blade, and gently pry up. You can even wrap tape around the blade to help prevent scratching the case.

Thanks for the heads up Chieftang. I've been keeping an eye on this model, although the movement dilemmas of the reps are steering me away from them. I'll admit though, the watch is gorgeous, and agree with you about wanting a gen one day.

I vote for 6:30 too

Otto's is good. I'll bring a guest too

Interesting find freddy.. For fifty bucks, it might be worth taking the chance for someone who needs these parts

You're hard work is paying off

Thanks everyone for your compliments Both watches are fantastic, and it is truly a struggle to decide which one to wear! Silvio, both crowns are correct. The "new" is a late '70s 1680 with the 7030 crown/tube, newer version T127, and lume pearl replaced @ RSC. The "old" is original, complete with twin-lock, old flat top 127, and original tritium pearl

Thanks Nanuq! I agree the red is a work of art, and IMO, the dial looks even better than the untouched gen white dial

Like Stephane's beautiful pair of red and white 1680's, this pair has traveled the long dusty road to completion. The builder however, is none other than the Master Both are complete frankens, built to the hilt, and with nothing spared (except for maybe a $5000 gen red letter dial, although I was tempted). I know many of those who read this will ask why go through the trouble? To that I would say this hobby for me is just like any other hobby I have ever had. In that I mean the fun of researching and putting something together is more fun than just buying something. This was true for my scale models as an early teen, almost every one of my cars, the house, the boat, etc. I wish I had a quarter of the skill RG does, because even with years experience in airbrush technique and painting, I still cannot fathom how he has the ability to create the beauty in the dials that he does. Take a good look at the red sub dial, and you'll see what I mean. Magnified how many times in these photographs, his hand painted lume is spot-on and absolutely perfect. I am in awe just thinking of it. Not only that, but his expertise in rebuilding genuine forty and fifty year old (or older) movements is without question. Both of these watches have genuine 1570 movements that have been painstakingly disassembled and rebuilt by RG.