Mendota Explorer

Bookmarked the link. It's the one I remembered. Awesome, awesome thread. Both of these have valuable info.

Nanuq, that is an awesome story. I love it. That is exactly the reason why if I try to attempt something of this magnitude, I do it right. It has to be like yours and dbane's, otherwise it's a replication. A rep serves a purpose too, but you would never have had that kind of bonding experience wearing a mere rep. I view vintage auto restoration the same way as these vintage watch restoration projects. If someone pulls up outside a restaurant driving a Corvette Stingray, it is completely irrelevant whether they purchased it recently, if they are the original owner, or if they sourced every part and assembled it from the ground up. It is stunning and awesome regardless. Showing it at an auto show or selling it is different, and then provenance and full disclosure plays a vital role. A Stingray is a Stingray whether one part inside the engine compartment is an aftermarket part built to OEM specs or if it was original. Again, selling and showing bring those details out to the open but not for pure enjoyment. Anyway, there is a wealth of knowledge here and this place is like a PhD program for vintage watch building! Dbane, thanks for the link. I can't wait to drool over your piece.

Amazing. That is exactly what I want to pull off someday. Exactly to a T. I thought I remembered seeing a recent thread in which you posted a bunch more pics of this beauty. Do you have a link to that thread by any chance? I can just search for it, too...

Nice work!!

See, this is really where I personally waffle back and forth. I look at your Big Gonzo build (before it was catapulted to the next level) and I would be totally happy with it as it was. But I totally understand the difference between this initial level and where you have ended up with the finished result. I would also be very happy with some of the incredible works of art that people have created using budget components, too. Countless members here and on the other forums have built astounding 6200 and 6538 builds using Silix and Tiger Concept cases. These are amazing builds, but obviously not gen spec and very budget oriented. I am only speaking for myself, but part of me wants to have both. I want the satisfaction of the tinkering part and building a budget build. Something I can wear daily and tinker around with from time to time to continue to modify it. I think this would be a 6200 for me. I also want an heirloom piece with as many gen parts as physically possible. 5510 or 6538. I want the satisfaction of sourcing the parts and knowing that I hunted it down and made it happen from the ground up. I want the piece to be something I can wear proudly and wear it anywhere, because it is a gen franken. Any watchsmith who is able to work on Rolex movements would be able to service it, too. To me, this would be more satisfactory than just buying a vintage or modern fully assembled watch, due to unique history of it and the process that I went through to make it all happen. There is a real story there. Dbane, what are the specs on your amazing build there? It is unbelievably stunning.

So it sounds like the only two options are Phong and MQ cases when doing a build using a gen movement. It seems like the case, dial, and movement are the 3 biggest culprits that drive up the price so much. This is an area where Adrian really has an opportunity to shine if he can get his gen spec case produced. If he could come in at a 3rd or even half of these others, that would be a game changer if it was as good. As for dials, if Ivan isn't within a budget, what is the next best dial option that would be socially acceptable to put on a gen movement? What would really do a gen movement justice? Or is Ivan really the only way to go if you want to have a piece that can be an heirloom to pass down to kids?

Not to veer off course since we are talking MBW, but it looks like the PT has the droop, and when viewed from the underside and top side it also has the right shape, but just a slight bit too much length, creating a narrower tip on the side profile vs the gen having more of a straighter up and down leading edge. Like a fraction of a mm. Would you leave it alone or just polish it out?

Great review. He sounds like a really good guy. I wish he were CONUS.

I like the meters first dial. Mine says hello.

Tough one. Very promising start to this. I'm no expert. If you do go the donor watch route, you can always store the rest of the gen parts safely for future use. Just put the 1030 back in and that piece would be back to good use. So you really aren't damaging anything. I want to try this a few years from now, but I'm starting to lean towards the 5510 now, since I can use a 15xx in it. Seems to be easier to find those.

Wow!

Frakk me, that is the money shot right there. Wow!

^ No kidding. For me, my birth year piece is a little more interesting (sorry ww12345). 1972 puts me right in the glory days of the vintage pieces. The red 1680 was in its production prime and the 1675 GMT Master was showing off her moves in style. I was kicking around online a couple of years ago for my 40th and I saw a red sub from 1972 with all original parts. As tempting as it was, alas I was not in a position financially to make that kind of commitment. Plus it was for sale by a reputable jeweler over in Italy. I don't think I would do a sale like that outside of the US. So I'll just continue rocking my PT red 1680 and making mods to it until I can get to a place where I can pick up the gen, whenever that day may be. My grail piece is to build a gen parts franken big crown 5510 or 6538, but that is also going to be down the road.

Great tips and advice. Very helpful tutorial.

Fantastic tips!

This is good info. Even though the pic links have expired, the instructions are very well written and easy to put into practice.

Thanks for serving, by the way.

Wow. 1991... I graduated high school in 1990.

Mjmj, I love this build. It is gorgeous. What are the specs on it?

Wow. It sure looks like the only way to go with a 1016 build is this case, his bezel, and then find a good dial and handset for your movement of choice. Oh, and a crown and plexi. ;-)

Wow. This is really fantastic. What a great build. I am inexperienced with actually working on movements myself, so maybe this is a really easy question, but did you take the gen datewheel and use it as an overlay on the datewheel that was already part of your movement? Is that an ETA based movement? How did you get the gen dial to seat properly on your movement? Did you cut the feet and then glue new ones on it, or use dial dots or something? Really nice work with this.

Nice looking piece!

Stick to the trusted dealers on the boards. Buyer beware.

How do you know Josh's has lume on the makers? Mine doesn't and he told me they all share the same dial. Granted, I bought mine in 2008 and I asked him about the differences between his versions in 2009, so it is possible things have changed.

Great pics, Nanuq! You have my ultimate grail vintage collection. Between your gmt, the small crown, big crown, and 1665, what else is needed? Maybe a 1016 and a red sub and that would be my perfect watch box. :-)