CptTripps

Worked the dial today, and got a pretty good "gilt" going.

So I got Pic Envy and am digging into a 16520 build. First step: Finding a movement.

Played with my 1675 today. After seeing all the cool pointy crown-guards, I decided to work on mine. I started on the dial too...more in that tomorrow. Before: After:

Have you had a chance to install one in an LWO yet? Again....great job on this project.

I'm tempted to order a Rep G series, and mod the case slightly to match my Gen. If I can get it to where I can't tell the difference, my Gen will hit eBay so fast it'll make your head spin! I already have a dozen Gen straps and with the price of this watch climbing recently, I don't know that I'd have a compelling reason to keep it.

This is one I got from TrustyTime. I replaced the movement with a Swiss ETA I pulled from a vintage Rado. After drilling out the lug holes and aging the dial and crystal, I was in business. The dial was real nice, and the whole watch with an Asian ETA clone is only $20 more than a lot of the dials I've seen. Just a thought. ..

Actually, I did wet-sand using espresso...and 2000 grit. Then I threw it in the oven for 20min @ 250-deg...re-coated...baked again. Then I just wiped it, and we were in good shape.

I'm in!

Mine is sitting like this for a bit. Face on the movement...in a box that's in a drawer. Few of things I need before I move forward. 1: I'm still hunting the right Gen hands. 2: I'd like to get the new date-wheel installed before I go any further with it. 3: I've got a white Tacky on the way, so that'll need to arrive too. I'm buying a Gen Panda to hold me off, so I can take my time with this build. (Am I going to WANT to finish it...that remains to be seen!)

Do these help?<br /><br /><br />

I love that this one is $2,900...I've seen complete watches go for $4K a few times recently. Is there something special about this one? eBay Item: 350746243948

I don't have it with me, but these are from another thread. It's the shinny one on the right. From another thread:

Nicely done! I always loved the Sea Dweller. It's like the Submariner's esoteric brother

Here's the duo as of this AM. I worked on the 1675 a little. Just the bezel and crystal aging.

I spent some time with this last night. The movement in the 1016 didn't appear to be the Swiss one that I'd ordered, but I DID have an old ETA out of a vintage Rado that I never wear. So I'm using that instead. I pulled all the date/day wheels out, and it fit like a glove. I wet sanded the dial with coffee and 2000 grit to age it just a bit. Takes the "new" edge of. After some case-sanding/buffing/sanding I landed on a more vintage looking feel. I put everything back together and this is what it looks like right now. I need to make the lug holes just a smidge bigger to accept the better bars. The low-beat movement kept perfect time overnight, so that was a success.

I ordered a couple of watches, and purchased Swiss movements in them. One looked fine. This is the movement that was in the other. I'm thinking this isn't a Swiss ETA clone. Can I get a second opinion?

It appears as if the one in the pics is a genuine watch. No?

One of the reasons I joined this site was to learn more about the pieces/parts that go into working on a vintage Rolex. My brother is currently wearing the same Gucci watch he's had for the last 15 years. He commented a few months ago that he'd really like an Explorer I, as it was the watch that Ian Fleming wore. I've looked at a few 1016s, and knew what he was after, but that he wouldn't EVER want to spend that much on a watch. So I started looking at the parts needed to build him one. I decided to start playing with a rep, and then eventually build a franken/gen when I knew what I was doing. Hell, if we end up having a good year, maybe I'll buy him a gen. This will be a good project/placeholder until then though. So I ordered a few watches from TrustyTime to see what I could accomplish. I got myself a 1675 too, because I always thought the "vintage" watches would be fun to wear. Today, they both showed up. Right now, they both sound like a bag of glass. Here's the list of what I want to do to both of them. • Break down both to the stainless • Work the cases to age them appropriately • Work/Oil the bracelets to make them a little less "tin" and a little more "worn" • Age the Pepsi bezel • Age both dials...not a lot though • Bore out the lug holes a LITTLE BIT and replace the springbars with 2mm rounded After that, I can re-assemple and see what I've got. I'll re-assess and see if I want to go deeper anywhere. This ought to be fun!

Montauk ROO. Bought it last week...Got it Monday, and hadn't worn it yet. Pretty awesome!

BTW: I realize this was a metric-ton of work, and even though I'm late to this party, I can see that you went the extra mile to make sure it's done right. Bravo. (so far...)

Looks like there is such a beast in the real world after all. Just backwards. (And just my luck...) eBay Item : 300895640227

Gotcha...that's what I figured.

...or a black dial.

::: I'm sick or typing FrankenROO, so I'm just calling it a FR from now on ::: I have a gen dial in White (silver?) and a Rubber Clad with a black dial. Instead of buying a white tacky, or getting a second donor watch in the correct color, here's what I was thinking, I know it a "fantasy build" at that point, but might be cool. I took the rep movement out this morning and just placed the gen dial inside. What do you all think? Black tacky or should I get a white one?

Hmmm....yeah, I'min over my head on it. I think I'll take it to the local Rolex AD and have them take a gander. I don't want to trust that my coffee-amplified hands would be able to do such a thing.