freddy333

Wearing 1 of my Newmans while searching (since last night ) for the (misplaced) roulette datewheel (professionally repainted) so I can recase/wear my freshly serviced OPD As usual, I put it somewhere so I would know where it is & forgot where is is.

The CGs looks great as-is, but I would lose the bracelet (looks fake from a mile away). The new insert looks better, but you need a better pearl (see if Ofrei's illumines dot will fit your insert). I would also replace the dial (which you said you were doing anyway), hands (try Clarks on ebay) & polish the case a bit (it should not look like it was sanded, even if it was). Nanuq has a great vintagizing scheme - he places the polished case (without movement) into a can full of coins (I would add some screws/bolts to the mix) & then shakes it until the desired surface effect is achieved. Overall, other than the bracelet, a good beginning.

You might ask DW for a sample of the engraving before you ship the watch. The engraving on the last 6239 case I received from him looked like it was made by hand (previous cases looked great).

Check out doubleredseadweller.com.

You will need to measure the pinions (the posts the hands fit onto) & then search ebay (try Clarks) or 1 of the watch parts houses for generics 'to fit Rolex' (Ofrei, Julesborel, Cousinsuk, etc).

To some degree, yes. You need a set of broaches, which are circular files/burnishers that you rotate in the hole to increase its size (Click the pic for the link) If you have a light touch, you can hold the hands while broaching them. Otherwise, you need a hand holder (Click the pic for the link) IMPORTANT - Be very careful & re-check the hole size FREQUENTLY as the difference between too small & too large can occur very quickly.

Have you checked with DW to see why you received a case without even the usual laser etched lug numbers in the 1st place? Very odd that your case would have nothing. I am pretty sure DW will engrave it for a reasonable fee if you are willing to return it to him. Alternatively, try some local jewelry stores, most of which engrave alot of watch cases. Just take them the blank case & tell them the original got worn away over the years due to the end links rubbing against the case. Many of the yavos who work in these shops would not know an antique from a toothbrush.

Wearing this while overhauling this

Correct. The 1665 & 5514 at the ends are gen-powered MBW mid-case-based frankens

Rodico.

Not nitpicking, I think it is misguided. 1 of these cases is gen & the other is a standard MBW rep case. Can you tell which is which (even if you know the history of each of these watches, I think you would agree that, in practice, the steel composition of each case is not a reliable way to gauge authenticity)

Remove the screw & plate adjacent to the arrow in your 2nd pic, then the datewheel will come off. Reverse to reinstall.

Why are people so concerned about the steel composition of their case? No one & I mean no one can tell the difference, visually, between the steel used to make a good rep 5513, 1680 or 1665 & the 316L Rolex used. In fact, with the possible exception of the brushed texture (which often looks better on reps), I cannot distinguish between my oldest, cheapest POS Sub rep case & my gens. Unless you plan to use your watch in an acid bath (in which case, 904L is definitely the way to go), I fail to see what all the hullabaloo over steel composition of rep/aftermarket cases is all about? If you are talking about a modern Rolex, which uses the slightly whiter 904L steel, then you might have a point. But, even then, very few people could ID a rep case without having the gen on hand for a direct comparison. I certainly would never put any money on my ability to identify the steel composition of a vintage Rolex watch on the street.

No need. Here is the link.

I would just clean off as much of the debris as I could & use the dial as-is.

All of the above

I have no direct experience with aftermarket 1680 cases, but I sort of agree with Ronin. I have found that Yuki's English communication skills are quite satisfactory, so I would just check to be sure you can return his case if it does not fit (my experience with other Yuki parts is that they will accept the part back without any problem as long as you demonstrate why it was defective or incorrect). In any case, unless you are 100% certain that crowns, tubes & crystals are gens, I would factor in the cost of gen replacements no matter which aftermarket seller you buy a case from (why would you expect to receive a gen crown/tube from a seller of aftermarket cases, crowns & tubes).

ebay 280631498110

Looks like a DW dial. Thanks.

I do not think the term 'reasonable' is in Phong's vocabulary. Just hope it is not too excessive & that his engraving skills are better than what I have seen of his watchmaking skills (which leave alot to be desired).

257s are (permanently) attached to a folded link 7835 for either a 1038 Zephyr or 5500 Air King

It just needs to be (properly) serviced. The A7750 is capable of matching the timing accuracy of its Swiss-made counterpart.

A beauty. Did the dial come from our DW or is it from another source? If DW, can you post a good, clear macro of the dial?

Phong provides this service (not sure of the cost) & I recall another RWG member (not sure who) offering something similar several months ago.

Ending the work week wearing 1 of my DJs