freddy333

Sorry to hear about the bike (& your injuries) & glad to see you back.

Not sure about the red sweep seconds on vintage tickers, but, overall, I really like what you have done . However, I would definitely replace those fake-looking rep rivet bracelets with either gens or Yukis, either of which are more suitable with work at this level.

Nanuq - those look damaged. Maybe during handling/shipping? I wish I knew a way to properly reshape end links as I have a few gens that are in similar shape.

I think it is safe to say that, eventually, many of Rolex's calibers will be cloned. This will not only be a boon to franken builders, but, also, to gen owners who, because of Rolex's onerous & unaccommodating trade policies, have found it difficult (at best) to source replacement parts for their watches. Imagine being able to source new ebauches & parts for the 72B, 722, 630 or 1030gmt.

Still wearing my 'Graph

I do not see that happening with my pics, which are generally resized to 1024x750 or so. Are you guys uploading larger (greater than 1600x1020) image files to Photobucket? If you are uploading directly from your camera phones, you are likely sending very large files. If so, they are probably being reduced (optimized) for a variety of reasons. Try resizing prior to uploading to Photobucket & see if they look better.

Who is NY (I thought it was a typo of MY)?

Interesting story. Welcome aboard & I hope your health improves.

What is this about & why do you keep bumping a thread you only started yesterday?

I would round-off the tips of the lugs & check the bezel (when possible) for the infamous too-widely-spaced 1-1-0, a sure give-away to knowledgeable watch mavens. Other than that, should be a beauty.

Unless you have the cash for a properly plated gold franken (a watch put together with some genuine Rolex parts to improve function/appearance), I would avoid rep 'gold' - it scratches/wears off easily, potentially limiting the usable lifespan of the watch. Further, if you do not want to be taken to task by knowledgeable friends http://rwg.cc/uploads/emoticons/default_wink.gif' alt=';)'> , you would do well to Read This 1st.

I do not have 1, but I would assume you need to compress the ends of the springbar until the bar can be slid out from between the lugs. I believe there are tutorials among the pinned articles in the Watchmaking forums.

We all have way too much free time.

The thing that amazes me (this is the 5th or 6th Passion Meeting, so I am getting used to seeing the watches themselves ) is how everyone is able to identify their own watch when it is time to leave.

I have not handled the finished product, but I assisted DW with the specs of this & some of his other cases. So it should be pretty good in accepting gen parts (you may need to modify the case or install a spacer ring to fit a non-gen movement, but check with DW for details).

Unless you are having ALOT of problems with the SL &/or there was a titanic shift in the earth's crust that relocated Stuttgart's designers and assemblers to the longitudinal plots previously inhabited by Motor City, I think that swapping a modern 'Vette for a modern SL would be a bad idea. And I say that as an ex-'Vette owner (red '68 427cid with black interior - a lightning-fast beauty that could not navigate a corner to save its life).

Whenever I see pics like that, I become suspicious.

I was just going to say that America makes great cars, as long as you drive on wide highways without turns.

They look pretty good depending on the price.

Ditto.

Alligoat - (Of course, with the usual disclaimer in effect that in vintage Rolex world anything is possible) I think those non-chapter ring dialed 5512s had their dials swapped sometime after the watch left the factory, because the only 55xxs I have seen in official Rolex documents that lack both the chapter ring & SCOC text are powered by non-chronometer-rated movements, which make them 5513s.