rolojack

I'm always excited by new challenges and this case transformation was one. This case started as a regular Cartel 6263. The dial is from MQ and had a phony narrow coronet printed on a it... Erasing the coronet made the dial look more like a 30's 40's dial, and making a "bariletto" style early oyster case became a very tempting option. So here it is ! The minute, hour and main chrono hands are Cartel, but the blue steel hands are Swiss made new old stock for a V72. The caseback is from a large cartel 7750 daytona rep. I trimmed it shorter and shaped it to remind of the domed caseback featured on the 40's Rolex chronos. The crystal is a domed Verlux T21. It is a very pleasant watch to wear !!! Very classy, not a model one would expect to be a rep at all.

Final touch on a classic build most of you are familiar with.... The owner wished to keep the thick crystal. It looks very good in hand actually !

Do you remember these dials? Those were fitted to the first cartel Daytona reps, sold in the years 2007/2008. They featured large cases with 20mm end links bracelets. Well, those dials were pretty nice: nicer than any other version they did after as a matter of fact !!!! The dial was shaved smaller, stripped and revarnished. New index were installed, a genuine coronet, a correct relume. Swiss made subdial hands, a new generation cartel case with assymetrical pushers totally reshaped, an athaya crown, gen T21 crystal, Vietnam Bezel, long tips spring bars and genuine bracelet. It's now looking more than half decent !!! 

I now perfected my technique to thin cases, and that allows me to realize more accurate PCG cases using the regular cartel case!!!!! See: this transformation consisting of shaving the mid-case upper part allows the crown to appear centered. Exit the low crown issue !!!! I recessed the crown tube seat for the crown to be under the bezel, as it should. This also leaves more metal to shape the CG. I could make good Square Crown Guards this way. Two are on the way, we will see the outcome, but I'm pretty confident. Enjoy the pics !!!

Thank you all for your comments!!! The watch is back in my hands for some final fine tuning... I'll take a few shots before sending it back to it's daddy!!!

the crystal is already shaved to the max. Problem is the thickness of it atop. And the dome T21 is a no go. I really wonder what T21 could replace a T19...

I guess stock varied from a dw to an other...

Thanks for the kind comments!!! I'm well aware of the look of the Gen... That crystal was changed already. As well as the hands were re aged and the bezel is now brassy. However, I could not find such a low profile of T19. So it's not as slim as it should be.

Damn.... You're killing me with that picture.... I really have to find a better crystal. Question is what to use? I won't find rep of that. It can only be an adaptation....

This is not the sales section... Sorry ! If it was for sale it would be posted elsewere. Nevertheless, thanks for the kind words !!!

Now, here it is with a better crystal from SK and correct spring bars with polished tips. Better no?

ah damn.... we can see the damage on the bracelet.... I was hoping it would be hidden under the headlink. Don't hesitate to send me one to redo if you can find one !!!!!!!

5 minutes ago, Sogeha said:

Loving the bevels

The metal quality is very good on these cases and clean finishes can be achieved.

I enjoy working on perfecting these DWs. I really think that version of the PN is the best dial he did. Here, I reshaped the case totally. Lugs top, sides of the case and bezel. I sanded the acrylic insert so it's absolutely leveled with the metal of the bezel.

Dial was textured and aged. It now has that rough texture you can see on Mazzariol macro pictures. Of course: gen coronet installed, gen crown and gen T21.

That watch was something else to do !!! Imagine: it started as a 1680 case ! Yes, the only cartel case correct for a 2824 movement I could find was a PT 1680. It was intensively modified as you can see. Trimmed from the top down to appear super slim. Bezel and dial are from Vietnam... CWP T19 super dome. TC 16610 hands aged to match the dial. Caseback was the 1680 caseback totally modified. Inside runs a swiss made 2824. Voilà !!! Something else really, and lots of character on the wrist. Ah, and of course engravings by Neckyzips. Beautiful as usual.

For your eyes is a build made using a MBW 1665 mid case and case back. It was a request to install a 5513 bezel assembly and a T19 to achieve a slimmer look. Dial is from Vietnam, DWO from PP and sunburst finish made by me. Gen insert and bezel assy from CWP. By the way: the gen insert is loose. So CWP bezel is not gen specs.... Athaya crown and TC 16610 hands set aged to match the dial lume. Inside runs a swiss eta.

On ‎06‎/‎10‎/‎2016 at 6:42 PM, newswire said:

Rolojack, any recommendation for aftermarket case backs that will fit a cartel that's more gen spec thinness? I find the cartel to be almost 3mm too thick.


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HR sells a Nicely profiled caseback

Bravo! What a journey... I love your effort about creating your own dials

That's the cartel engravings on the new ones... Clients are welcome but I'm booked till december....

This insert is pressure fit and no where near moving... So it might no be a cartel bezel.

I think it's the cartel. It wasn't sent to me directly from the dealer so I can't be sure... Only the owner can confirm...

13 hours ago, civic4982 said:

Wow amazing. Is the Joe who did these rocking engravings NECKYZIPS or a different Joe?


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it's Neckyzips

it's just that this crystal has little distortion... These specs are Gen like.

Yes, but my client wished it to be a round CG.... 

Two watches I need to service and fine tune. Note the nice font of the subdials numbers on the 6265 !

Enjoy the pics, Rolojack

A few issues to sort out and it's on its way to a happy owner... Cartel based, 2846, Vietnam dial with a nice brown hue, Clarks plexi, Athaya crown. The rational parts bucket.

Enjoy the pics, Rolojack

The GMT is now done... This watch... God !!!! It took ages to achieve but now it's finally allright. The hardest part was to get the handstack right. The height of every element is of paramount importance. If the lume is too high the GMT hand does not pass... And most dials you'll find will have the lume made too high, like on a sub. But this isn't a Sub! The dial was custom made in Vietnam on a gen spec plate with ETA feet. Roulette wheel, gen-all-you-can, meaning: crown+insert+crystal. Phong bezel assy. A big BRAVO to Joe for the awesome engravings ! Movement modified for the date and GMT to behave as they should on a gen movement: non quick set and non adjustable.

Enjoy the pics, Rolojack.