dbane883

The PCG 5512/13's mid cases are also slightly thinner (thickness from dial side to caseback side) than the rounded crown guard 5512/5513 mid cases.

Jk. Yes. The noob case is excellent indeed. It's nearly perfect.

That's not even close! One is green and the other is blue!

What about the bezel? Is it gen or did u glue the gen insert into the noob bezel?

Awesome. Congrats!

I've drilled many cases. Usually non-lug holed cases, which is much more difficult than just enlarging existing 1mm holes.

First of all, are you seriously drilling with a dremel? Are you at least using a dremel press? Or are you hand holding the dremel?

You really should use 1.25mm bits with a proper drill press at as high a speed as possible. Clamping the case with a two axis vice is also recommended. 1.3mm is not gen spec. Cobalt, tungsten, hss... Really doesn't matter much if you keep the bit reasonably cool.

Luckily, cartel cases are relatively cheap. These things happen and I'm sure your next attempt will be significantly better. Good luck.

Why not use a Yuki 3135?

Mini sand blaster.... Basically an air brush loaded with micro glass beads in the top hopper.

Looks like the new cerachrom Daytona.

GSW are gonna be quite stacked next year.   Should be fun to watch.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/kevin-durant-nba-free-agency-announcement/

Is that MQ's 16800 dial?

http://vintagewatchesmq.com/minhquy/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=678&category_id=87&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

I've never seen that dial in a sub anywhere. But doesn't mean it wasn't made for specific event.

Pics or it didn't happen.

Ditto & you might also consider spraying a light coat of matte varnish to the dial to add a bit of subtle texture & tone down the shine.

I've actually already lightly blasted it with micro glass beads to remove the garish sheen and creating a more favorable texture.

As for the hands, they still have the original tritium and was something I bus had lying around.

I've already taken it apart and will shape the lug tip profile over the next little while.

There's nothing wrong with a 1958 stamp on the 5510 or the 5508- that's when they first came out. The 1530 movement came out in 1957. Rolex was producing the 6538 and the 5510 concurrently at that time.

It's a beautiful build. But I'd love to see the hands recolored to more closely match the dial.

The stamp should not be "1958". It should be "58". In this case specifically, it should say "III.58" and NOT "III 1958"

Rolex never stamped out the full year as far as I know.

Here's a side profile shot compared to my phong 6538 (on top):

Obviously the "swoop" or tear-drop lug tip of the phong is preferred but there is enough material there to carve out the swoops to be much more accurate. The rehaut of the tonney case is very similar to the phong which is what leads me to believe that the same source provides phong, MQ and now tonney with the same raw mid case blank. Then each seller finishes off the details (like the lug tip swoops) which is why they vary from sample to sample. All other dimensions seem to be the same as phong.

Yes, an ETA wil fit any of these cases with the right adapter.

Given that the bezel is brass alloy-based, the complete tonney case set for $600 is a great value imo. Phong and MQ charge $300 for a bezel alone. A complete big crown phong case will run you anywhere from $1200-1500 depending on how he feels that day. Upon second look today, I actually think the bezel is better than phongs. (Note that the bezel on my 6538 is a gen service bezel and has a different profile to an original 6538 bezel.)

Case back stamp on the tonney case is incorrect "1958" but it's a common tell from other Vietnam cases I've seen floating around the market.

I could carve out the lug swoops but this was a impulse project and I just wanted a beater to save wear/tear on my other builds. I will likely part it out at some point, but the genesis of this was R&D. Someone had to take one for the team

I'd say Phong cases are still better if he sends you a good specimen. It can be hit and miss with him. But he is also 2-3x more expensive so that needs to factor into the equation.

Compared to Yuki, the Tonney big crown case is definitely better but a notch below Mingh Quy.

My guess is that tonney sources these cases from Vietnam just like phong and MQ. So for value, tonney cases are very good.

Hello fellow brethren.

Let me start by saying that this project was not overly thought out as I cobbled it together this week using various parts I had lying around the house and office.

Several months ago, Tonneywatches out of Singapore popped into the scene offered a variety of vintage Rolex parts, both genuine and rep. I decided to investigate his offering and ordered a 5510 midcase set as well as a claimed refinished 5510 explorer dial.

The case needed a lot of work (as expected) to get it right. Here's what it looked like:

It's very "boxy" and the bevels were quite poor. It has since been made a bit more correct.

The dial was advertised to be a genuine plate and the gilt was negative relief. There are some issues but certainly better than the other "gilt" dials from the likes of Yuki and HR. The lacquer was a bit too glossy and lume looked a bit too fresh. I've managed to soften the sheen a tad and patinized the non-glow lume a few shades.

Bezel is chrome plated brass. I managed to removed much of the chrome to reveal the brass and it accepts gen inserts. The retention ring is also gen spec.

For the crown, I used a gen 8mm brevet and replaced the crappy tube with an Athaya tube I forgot I had.

The crystal from tonney is poor and replaced it with a used gen T-19 service crystal.

As for movement, I used a gen cal 1530. Hands are gen 5513/12 hands.

Insert is a used mid font service insert.

Not sure I will keep this, but for now, I will keep it in the rotation so I put less wear/tear on my 6548. Here is the finished project:

Scotland will hold a referendum to separate from UK first I suspect.

There will be a cascade effect for sure.

There are so many things wrong with that. Mid case, tube, crown , bezel, insert, etc.

That sub is not genuine.

But I gather you already knew that. Why else would you ask on a rep forum while only having 2 posts?