rolojack

A lot of pictures here to share two recent builds featuring two excellent Vietnam made dials. The quality of these dials is getting better ever month !!! Look at the shape of the subdials on the big red. And the crisp print on the PN. Both watches are cartel based, with all reshaped cases, Vietnam inserts and genuine service T21 crystals. What you can get for less than the price of a used V72 alone !!! I sincerely doubt you can get any closer to gen on such a budget.

That's an other special one made for a tue afficionado of unique pieces... Case started as a cartel 5513. From an old batch: lots of oddities in the details but after considering what could be done out of it the 6541 appeared to be a smart choice. The case was slimmed down, and more difficult: it was modified on the inside to accept the gen specs milgauss dial much larger than a sub dial. Bezel was crafted from a cartel 1655, and case back too. It was was shaved low done, almost flat. What can't be seen here is the movement retaining ring. The 2824 it held into a custom made pill box style brass ring clipped onto the movement. pretty much like the genuine. So the mount is very tidy, and the movement well protected inside. I will post some pics of the making afterwards...

It is a cartel based. Case was totally reshaped...

Thank you for the kind feed back !!! I really appreciate. Now: if I may say you must invest in a genuine bracelet. Or at least clasp !!! The head deserves it ! Enjoy it every day you wear it.

Thank you very much for your kind words ! These builds are very delicate indeed... It's very different from building rollies.

yes : Neckyzips

You are most welcome! that's the least I could do...

Thanks !!! Also: you can see the refinishing done between the lugs. I have the proper tootling to do that for a few month now and I can prepare the ideal gen like surface for engravings. No more weird / hectic erasing of the cartel engravings. it can be done perfectly. Cartel shape is concave there. After works it is flat as it should be ! So, if you need to prepare a case for engravings I can help.

Joe did them. His work is so tidy, I don't need to get to do it myself !

It is a high grade Vietnam made dial. It was really new... So it got a top clear coat, then was bathed in dye and thin stone powder mixed in water to mimic age. The result is a varnish that appears UV damaged, like many used gens... Not safe queens.

So, here is what is done better explained with a quick sketch of the mod performed. Skecth is just for illustration, it is not a working drawing... The top of the case is shaved slanted: looking at the drawing you will understand why I believe it is the best option. Shaving it flat can't work as we can't modify the inner part of the case on a budget as that would imply very expensive works that would exceed the price of a Vietnam made case. And the point here is to stay around 1/2 the price... Therefore, you can all get now why the retaining ring has to be modified too to sit properly on the case. Here is a case un-mounted, so you can see the shape of the parts. Once it is assembled you can't see at all that slope. That's the trick !!!! Now you know. Enjoy the pics.

Superb !!!! Really !!! The case profile is beautiful !

Magnificent !!! I'm light years aways from that level.... Very humble builds really.... That gives even more value to your kind appreciation of my work.

I agree a bi-compax would look great like that! Actually, the idea of Asprey is a combination of real facts: Bombe case: for Eaton. UK. Custom designs: for Asprey, UK as well. All made in the 60's. So here is the math. Bi-compax odd designs are 30's. Sold in Latin America and Italy. Different sprit... I've never seen a bombe made in that period, but why not re-write history? It's the whole point of this funny business: have fun creating unique time pieces... real conversation pieces!

Guys, I feel bad here and I must explain myself: it's not that I don't want to share. As some of you might have guessed I'm very active in restauring genuine Rlx watches, and my clients know my workshop... I can't afford to mix both worlds as I'm pretty sure they won't accept that dark side of mine... And I don't know who's out here on the forum. Taking pictures of my highly recognizable equipment is something I can't do. I am sorry... And I hope you understand.

.... just a dream... Re-caved Cartel case, Viet dial by Tonny.

Ha !!! I got that case to match a genuine WG case color, finally !!! The blue hue bright white color of steel was awful over the genuine lightly yellow tinted white gold dial. I tried and tried to find a workshop who'd accept to plate 18K white gold over steel for years !!!! Then I gave up, and turned to heat tiniting options. But professional ones ! The kind that offers a perfectly even color, and very lasting. Like plating. So I found a workshop that does blue steel hands. It was heated progressively in a special oven at 300° for 1:30 hrs. Before, the case was freshly repolished and very well cleaned in utrasounds and special chemicals as it should not have a single mark of grease or anything. It was on a bed of aluminum grains (sort of large powder) to ensure the heat spreads well. Then cooled in a chemical that settled the tint. Result is amazing !!! They told me it will be as resistant as a 5M plating which is good enough for me as it's an occasional watch. Look at the color besides the steel LV and the YG DD. It's right in the middle. Under some light it's yellow, under the next it's white ! Beautiful !!! Next will be a Noob DD 40 I just ordered since I now have a solution to the color issue !!! Parts were supplied by StoneP, engravings by Joe.

What to do with a spanking shiny new dial when you want your watch to display a respectful age? Clear coat, dye and pray.... And the result is always different... For some reasons I can't explain! Well, here it turned in an interesting way. Some sort of "salt" formed and gives a lot of depth to the dial. Case is all Cartel fully reshaped, except the bezel insert from Vietnam and the 700 crown form Athaya. Crystal is a genuine used T21.

I'm not crazy about these V2 cases as they don't allow to carve a correct 1016 case. It's a DJ case really... However, since there are little mods to do to complete a nice looking watch, it's probably the best option for a sweet Explorer on a budget !!! Dial is from Yuki, aged and re-textured, movement is a 2824. Beautiful engravings by JMB ! Very accurate, I love it ! Pictured after is a 1002 with a genuine case set and dial, powered by a 2824. Note the correct T12 domed crystal by Verlux ! It's fitted with Explorer hands to give it a pre-Explorer look. Not to modify the narrow dial central hole, the movement hour cannon was modified to a Rolex specs diameter, and so install Rolex specs hands.

cartel. Beautiful dial! Worth cannibalizing a vintage chrono...

dial feet must be relocated. You can always simply glue on a feetless dial but I find that dirty....

This one was a Sulka or something like that.... It housed a Landeron 48

I reshaped it.... Thanks for pointing it as I forgot to mention it.

Now stage by stage: here is the case after shaving the upper part and refinishing beteween the lugs/engraving. It's with family undergoing the same treatment.... Next stage is the top of the lugs reshaped, and the sides slimmed Then primary mirror finish on the sides... I drill the lug holes after. So the polishing does not dig too much metal around the final hole. Laste stage, after drilling the holes is cutting the bevels and shaping the CGs. Et voilà ! Final polishing. Then aging and re polishing. Result is above... Thanks for watching !!!

An other babe in the 40's chronos family.... Nice 18k solid gold swiss made case from the 40's housing a honest A Venus 175. Looks nice. Feels nice....