TeeJay

Not as gaudy as I'd feared from the thread title, and while not my style, a beautifully done piece, I'm sure your friend will love it

If you send the watch back, they will likely not fix your watch and return it, they are more likely to send you an identical watch in replacement, and likely return the faulty watch to their suppliers... Sorry to read of your troubles, and hope you have a good resolution to this issue

I actually really like this...

Looking good

The watch will get considerably more scuffs when you wear it... I remember my parents buying a hifi from a store once. Should've been a brand new unit, but it was actually one which had been returned, with what appeared to be a ring from a can of paint on the turntable cover... When my 1665 arrived from the dealer, the bezel insert was half hanging out the bezel and needed gluing into place before I even put it on my wrist... Should it be perfect from the dealer? In an ideal world, yes, but this is not an ideal world and shit happens... Nice piece though, enjoy it

Thanks, I just wanted to be as thorough as possible in showing how the dial is made up Looking sharp, J One of these days, I might even finish my own Slowflake project

They were printed by Slartibartfast, who hasn't been on forum in a while... It's five step, two transfer process: First prep the dial blank with matte white paint. Then apply backing decal (builds up saturation of the black, but leaves white areas for text and hour markers) Then apply top decal and align, which puts the lettering and markers in place, and allow to dry. Then apply lume of choice to markers, cut the centre hole with a scalpal and then spray with matte varnish to seal it all If the outer diameter of the dial is 29mm, even if this doesn't go quite to the outer edge, I'd think the rehaut would cover that once it's cased up

Stunning

I've just measured the decals, and they must about measure 29mm (more likely 28.5-/+) did you need 29mm viewable, or just 29mm for overall dial size? Here're some photos of how the look assembled... Dial prior to installation... Installed... On Wrist...

Beautiful piece I would to suggest another alternative for mounting... A black leather fatstrap Paul Newman-style

Rig--LEFT

I'd wear the TT GMT If I could wear gold without having an allergic reaction to it

I have some waterside decals which can produce a no-date Snowflake... I can measure them up if you'd like?

The link I sent you is not a ceramic bezel insert. As for the site, I've never had issues with the dealer. The site uses an automatic feedback system which will permanently ban dealers after three negative feedbacks. That's right, three negatives, for any reason, and they are gone. I've seen perfectly good dealers burned by this system, simply because n00bs who clearly knew nothing about the hobby gave negatives for the most ludicrous things. For example, one person complained that when they took the watch to a jeweller to have the bracelet re-sized, the person said it was a cheap copy!!! Maybe they thought they were getting the real thing at some super-discount... With all sites, the photo of the watch is just for illustration. You will not receive that exact watch. You will receive another identical watch from stock which may be from a later production run, which may have some minor manufacturing variance (highly unlikely, but anything is possible...) The dealer I linked already has two negatives, and I need to order stuff from them which at the moment, I haven't got the money for. Please only order from them if you can afford to throw the money away on a wasted purchase with no regret. I'm not saying that you would regret the purchase, but to be honest, I am a little concerned that you may give them that third strike over a trivial matter such as the dial not being purple enough, or something equally silly, and frankly, I cannot afford to lose a reliable source of cheap watches. Buy the watch, or don't buy the watch, it is entirely your choice, but for the love of all that is holy, please do not order one and then complain unless something really goes wrong, like if you were to receive a box of broken watch parts and they are then unwilling to help... Andrew did not handle the situation with you properly, and is just another example of why I have never, and will never, do business with him. Here are links to three other two tones. They are more expensive than the first dealer, but they are a seller who cannot be affected by complaints/negative feedback as they have their own website... $118 http://www.watcheden.biz/rolex-submariner-automatic-two-tone-with-blue-dial-and-bezel-i-12360-p-1.html $358 http://www.watcheden.biz/rolex-submariner-swiss-eta-3135-automatic-movement-two-tone-blue-bezel-with-blue-dial-sapphire-glass-i-204118-p-1.html $458 http://www.watcheden.biz/rolex-submariner-swiss-eta-2836-movement-with-14k-wrapped-gold-two-tone-with-blue-dial-and-bezel-i-14458-p-1.html If you look at this page, you will quickly see the difference between the ceramic bezels (which look 'flat') and the metal bezels, which have (IMHO) a richer color to them... That is how I can say for 1000% sure, that the sub I first put a link to, is not a ceramic bezel, but is the older version http://www.watcheden.biz/Blue_v3074/Two-Tone_v3122/submariner-c-354-c-5.html

Good to know he is doing well

I don't know what model 16613 relates to If you mean the two-tone blue Submariner, the seller I linked to sells this version of it. http://www.cqout.com/item.asp?id=18125357 However, I understand that different releases (by Rolex) have variations in the end links on the bracelet... With regards 'cheaper materials', I find that it is often the reverse, and that the watches which Forum Trusted Dealers sell for about $120, are these same 'cheaper' watches being sold for a higher price... The ones I have bought over the years are almost always waterproof (only two in dozens of purchases have leaked) and all keep good time... There was another seller on this site which had a much wider variety, but they got barred from the site for breaching the three negative feedback rule when unrealistic n00bs complained about stupid things, but the seller I linked, I have had good experiences with, and happy with the watches I received

Personally speaking, I'd say buy one of these... http://www.cqout.com/item.asp?id=17987263 They're acceptable quality* and I've had no issues with this seller. At this price point, the watch becomes almost disposable should anything go wrong (but chances are, it will be fine) *Will probably have flaws in replication which a Rolex expert will be able to identify if they were to examine the watch, but to 99% of other observers, will just look like 'a nice watch', and should run smoothly

Beautiful watch, excellent work indeed

The link's not working I'll look forward to folks posting their acquisitions though

Very sweet piece

Totally unacceptable attitude from the dealer, the watch should have lasted considerably longer... My experience is that for the most, watches tend to be fairly solid (although a generation of the Planet Ocean was very prone to crown/tube failure) so I'd actually suggest buying the exact same piece again. I doubt you will have the same issue again

MICHAEL YOUNG!!! http://www.classicwatchparts.com

Possible to recover? Sheeeiiit... I've had my watch addiction controlled by external forces on my finances, and I no longer plan projects or purchases the way I used to, but that's not to say the love of the subject is no longer there... I'd compare it to a food addict who is forced to live on SlimFast shakes, and occasionally gets treated to a slap up meal... The hunger is still there, but the craving has gone...

I was pleased when I first did it, but the last few watches I bought which had cyclopses, I actually left in place, but it's all a matter of personal preference

I have a bit of a phobia of heated objects, so I held the far edge of the crystal using a t-shirt, and used the edge of a table knife to flick the cyclops off. I heated it in two second bursts till it eventually heated enough to pop off