TeeJay

I just wouldn't want an LV, so the GMTIIC easily tops the Sub in terms of construction and added functionality

Sorry to hear, I wish I was close enough to lend a hand...

Living in the UK, these aren't EDC items, but we were clearing out last week, and I found a couple of my other blades, so I thought I'd share I bought the bear claw about 10 years ago as I just liked the look of it, and the throwing knife was a gift from a friend. I modified the handle with zip ties and electricians tape to build it up into a more utlitarian handle like a hunting knife, rather than keeping it totally stripped down for throwing.

Fantastic to see it restored to full appearance

For me, it was a draw between these three...

I guess it depends how old or abused you want the watch to look... In the past, I've used scissor blades to put gouges into a case, as well as strategically grinding the case/bracelet against housebricks and ceramic floor tiles, and then using a green Scotch-brite pad to buff out. I recently re-finished the case of my vintage Sub to make it look more 'worn' rather than 'abused' For the dial, it's possible to use matte varnish to get a vintage finish, or baking the dial for a few seconds. The most common methods used for bezel inserts is a combination of sanding/scuffing, and then bleaching Vintage really has a quality all of it's own

Might not be telling the time, but I still can't stop wearing it and appreciating the dial Thanks to SpecialVAT for a very generous gift

Well TJ it would surprise me if that case was not available with a simpler movement and dial config, may be worth asking the selling site if they know of one

That's a great idea, I might have to look into that

Its a big ole case TJ, if i wasn't already working on a beast then i would be interested in this

It looks like beefy case, I really liked the Tudor 'prototypes' but I think one of the key components/features, was the end link covers which appeared to act as a ratcheting system for the bezel If the price on that wasn't so bad, I'd've been tempted to have bought one as a case donor for a partial project, but not at that cost

Now this is interesting

along time ago i was after the GP divers watch and now i see the case

in a homage/unbranded

so why have a we not had a good rep of this.

Hmmmmmm, That's the case used (with some modifications) for the US Military Tudor Sub 'prototype'....

That really is a quality build, pure class Congratulations indeed on such a fine project

... when modifying a POS quartz clone has the same pleasure and thrill as working on a mechanical watch

Before:

After:

Far from 100%, but definitely closer to this than it was

Other than them being fantasy models, what is actually 'ridiculously bad' about any of those watches?

That is awesome work

That's awesome. Let me know if there's anything I can do...or if there's parts you need. I might have some. I have some crowns leftover from a project Ubi helped me with.

The real question is, will it be better than TeeJay's??

Of course it will I can't think of a brother more deserving a forum gift

TJ film props!

have you seen sherlock holms yet the new one??????

I know, but they're still pretty pimpin' to carry I haven't seen it yet, I'm waiting for the DVD as I hate going to the cinema (yet I love going to shows )

+1 on the wouldn't buy an Invicta. I'm not quite sure why but I love these sterile dials. http://www.dajiwatch.com/Product_Show.asp?ArticleID=249 That looks awesome and is roughly half the price for the same watch offered from our dealers. I'm surprised there are as many "homages" available as there is but I just wish the higher dollar reps would follow. The design of watches today is usually so busy that removing a name would hardly be noticeable. Take this watch for example http://www.trustywatchguy.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=16_137&products_id=5773 Removing the Breitling and moving the chronometre certifie upwards would be unnoticeable to the majority of people.

I quite agree, that would definitely look much better as a sterilized watch I think the thing to remember, is the target market for such watches. It's not necessarily the collectors who appreciate a watch wether it's gen, rep or a franken build, but Joe Sixpacks who just want to wear a 'Rolex' to impress the skanks in the bar... If that's what they want, said watch will probably be sufficient (until they eventually get called out) but, the majority of members here, are genuinely watch enthusiasts, and more knowledgeable of the subject than members of the gen forums, who can be just downright snooty about what their purchases cost them... I'm 31, and a self-employed art consultant. Could I afford to be wearing a 54 year old Submariner? Inherited, but probably not purchased... Could I afford to be wearing a Daytona? Absolutely no way. That said, most of the people I associate with (friends of my wife) don't know the first thing about watches, so don't know the costs, so there's no issue. Last weekend, one friend asked if the Sub I was wearing was the one I'd built myself, and when I confirmed it was, he was suitably impressed with it 'as a watch', not because of what I'd built it to look like

Nice to see the sleeve at long last Here's to a quick recovery, or quick access to a sword-stick

To me, the branding is just a detail of accuracy. If that's how it should look, that's how it should look, nothing to do with passing it off as the real thing, and I don't think any of the long-term members of the community would ever even consider doing such a thing. I prefer sterile homages over the branded clones like Alpha watches, simply because they true to the spirit and aesthetic of the original, where the branded clones really have just ripped off an existing design, tweaked a few details so as not to get sued, and then slapped their own branding on it. To me, that's not creativity, and morally worse than something which is (intended to be) an actual reproduction in every way... Interesting topic of discussion, thanks for raising it

When you make a Franken Tudor that only you would want, that makes it about creating things. And the satisfaction that comes from it.

Precisely

To me... Building frankens is just more fun With gens, you buy them and you're done; on to the next watch. With building a franken, each part and component is a search... Mapping out the recipe list... And once all the pieces to the puzzle are collected, put it all together and make sometihng of it. It's far more fascinating to me, and I feel as though I've learned so much more taking this route than I would have had I just bought gens. It's truly been an educational adventure, and one that's taught me how to appreciate these tiny little machines as more than just a watch.

I agree entirely. Even buying reps without plans to modify has that same 'bought it... Next..." feeling as it's just a purchase, irrelevant of cost or provenance. But coming up with an idea, mentally stripping it down to get the recipe and then searching for the parts, that's the real fun

As I've mentioned many a time, for me, I simply don't feel that gens are worth the price tag (a philosophy which extends throughout my life from the clothes I wear, to the food I eat. I rarely, if ever, go 'brandname' rather than generic, and I consider reps as a way of getting a nice watch at a reasonable price. I think there's a difference between buying something (anything) out of the box, and buying parts or modifying an existing product, and while not everyone who gets into the hobby goes down the modding route, I feel for those who have a true passion for watches, for many, it is an inevitability, as I was discussing earlier with Deniz21, so I'll re-post my thoughts here: With watches, I've never let myself get too hung up on the 'little details', and just enjoyed them for what they are. The only rep I've intentionally modded as I wasn't satisfied with it 'out of the box', was my 1655 McQueen Explorer, as when it arrived, the dial had no luminous paint, and the 24 hour hand was a kind of wheat-yellow. The color of the hand I could have ignored, but a watch with no lume is no use to me, and I figured as I was going to have to take the hands off to lume the dial, I might as well tint the hand a darker red (as per the model with the luminous dot on the second hand) while I had the hands off Of course, I still don't actually wear the watch very much at all. I just don't like it as much as I thought I would, so I just keep it as a 'spare'

Thanks T! Took me awhile to develop some love for this watch...but finally it's kicking. I'm amazed everyday

on the beauty of the simplicity of the watch!

Hike

I think I know what you mean, I used to be it two minds about the mix between Roman and Arabic, but, it's a unique aesthetic, and I think once appreciated, it's a winning look My plan may take a while, but I think it'll be worth the wait

I posted a pic of the gen clasp. The rep is pretty much dead on.

I think it looks great

Sorry to be the sole dissenter here (as usual), but I do not think the rep 'engraving' looks sufficiently accurate to warrant highlighting it. Until they at least get the engraving correct, I think the less is more (harder to see) approach of the original version is better.

The engraving of the gen is thicker in the filigree, and in a side by side, yes, noticeable difference. But. If the rep was being viewed in isolation, I think it looks fine, and certainly better than just the engraving. I see what you mean that without paint it is less noticeable, but I think in terms of modding to bring closer to gen, I think it's making the best of the situation

PAM249 to Hump it!

I haven't seen a Cali in a while I have plans