Nanuq

@LifeTrekker, that's a Big Crown build, and a darn handsome one too. What's the old saying? "Jump from the frying pan into the fire"?? You might do well to tackle a simple 1680 build first, get the hang of researching and sourcing parts, and putting it together. There's a whole lot of fun in that! Then start looking into a no-crown-guards build after you've learned the ins and outs and frustrations of the hobby. Don't burn out early. For a 1680 build, look for an old MBW watch or parts. Barring that look for an MBK. They take gen spec parts and ETA movements. Mine in the photo is a bone stock MBW and it's plenty believable on the wrist. I've already got a pile of parts to upgrade it too.

It's great for the quick-wind on the automatic movements too [emoji1360]

Done! You mean this one right?

Elvis

The bevels in your photos are more pronounced than others I've seen. In some genuine watches the bevels are almost non-existent. A couple of the lugs on mine are worn to look almost as big as your pictures, but other lugs are much smaller. Look at my first picture, left lug vs. right lug. The left one hits things more often than the right so it's worn more. The right lug bevel is very small. Sure it's possible to create bevels like those with hand tools. I'd recommend a good set of diamond jeweler's files. Remember, these were the hard working tool watches so luscious shaped bevels weren't that important.

The gen bevels are pretty mild. Here's a comparison between a gen and an old MBW.

Oh man, this is getting good. Ma brudda from anudda mudda!

Step away from the watch website. Lay down your credit card. It's okay... just come over here to the relaxing music. Deep breaths... calm deep breaths. You don't want to throw out your buying arm in the first week!

I'll race anybody ... but I get to pick the course!

What a gorgeous COMEX. We really need to make a trade, you know.....

@Legend, I was thinking more along the lines of Freddie holding two different things and seeing which are the fakes. *cough*

Archie! How's Betty treating you? ;-)

It lives among its similarly geriatric brethren, aged 74, 60, 55 and 46 ... all gen. But I treat them a little better now... Heck, 50 years is still wet behind the ears. Ive got one that's 106 years old and a pocket watch that turns 134 this year. Still run great too.

^^^ Good advice. Try freezing it first and then apply heat to get as much temperature "delta" as possible. Can you drill it from an angle with a long thin bit? That gives you a hole to work with. How about touching it with a MIG wire to stick them together, then pull both out? You could try soaking that last link in an alum solution, and see if it will dissolve the pin before the bracelet.

I think that one showed up here about 1968. It's got a few miles on the clock!

Wow there's a blast from the past, you too Cro! Great to have a couple of the old Silverbacks hanging around again!

You can check out any time you want, but you can never leave. Welcome.... to the Dark Side

A lot of my old friends are still over on the other boards, we go way way way back. It would sure be nice to see them pop in here once in awhile!

Here's a nice writeup Ken did a few months ago. It tells the story better than anything else.

http://www.ktuu.com/content/news/Randall-and-Team-USA-win-Womens--474678223.html

Local skiing phenomenon Kikkan Randall wins gold in the Olympic XC sprints! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO KIKKAN!!!!!

Well I don't know about that mate, the last one you made for me looks GREAT!

The canine patrols anticipated that too when they sited the Watch Repository. Behold titanium embedded into solid granite far up above the house. I wish they'd tell me the door code. I can hear them in there swimming in the champagne fountain! I hate that... it makes the bubbly taste funny.