TeeJay

"Nothing short of a visit from the spirit of Ian Fleming is going to convince me that the watch mentioned in OHMSS was anything other than the prototype Submariner (before it was branded a Submariner)..."

I have proof!

Back when I had a genuine 6538, James Bond would not give me the time of day.

...but since I made the "1016" out of odds and ends, he has stopped by every Saturday evening for a drink and to talk about watches.

Every week just before he leaves, he looks at my watch, smiles, and says "Nice Seiko".

That's James for you

MY

Ahh, I've had contact with them before, and was very impressed by their responses, so I'll definitely look into getting parts from there when funds allow Thanks for the confirmation

Unfortunately, the only way to get a good vintage Sub is to make 1

I know of no pre-assembled reps that do not contain numerous & glaring mistakes (yours is a prime example). Remember, too, that these early Subs had very low-profile (thin) cases & most reps use standard (thicker) Sub cases. You can get a general idea whether it is in the ball park by viewing your watch from the crown side. From this angle, the edges of the crown should extend beyond the top & bottom perimeters of the case (this, however, assumes that your rep was fitted with the correct 6mm crown & not a modern 7mm)

(This is a GMT, but the case dimensions relative to the crown are similar to an early Sub)

And if you do decide to try to improve the dial, you should also replace both the bezel & bezel insert, as both are wrong for an early Sub. I would also lose the bracelet (if it does not disintegrate in your hands 1st).

I was just wondering, where did you source the bezel? I've had a look on eBay just to get an idea of prices/availability, but wondered if you had a particular source you had used?

Hi folks,

I have a noobmariner with a very stubborn case back. I have the Bergeon 5537 cases back removal tool set, two Horb sticky balls and a nice roll of duct tape. Nothing is working. Any other tricks I can try?

Have you tried dishwashing gloves?

"Where are the Cellini and the dress models like the Datejust or Day-date? And even Air King! I rarely see these pop up anymore."

I like the rolex 1016, DJ, OPD, and AK best of all. "Bezel watches" like the GMT, submariner etc never seemed to me to qualify as "sport watches" because they are bigger and the bezels hang on pockets etc and can get knocked off during rough use/sports.

Rolexophiles call the GMT, submariner etc "tool watches" and I believe that may be a better name for them as they are suited to a particular use...submariner for diving/under water work etc and the GMT for travel because it is a timezone watch. Recreational diving is a "sport" of course but submariner lore claims they were made for underwater work with Comex etc, not recreational diving.

One exception is the Milgauss because it is a tool watch that looks like a dress watch.

All the watches mentioned above would have to be vintage rolex watches with acrylic crystals because all modern sapphire crystal rolex watches with applied markers on the dial, blind lug holes etc are "jewelry watches" as far as I am concerned. The only rolex made today that resembles the original rolex "tool watch" much at all is the 14060M because it still has pierced lugs and stamped sheet metal hoods and clasp.

Sapphire crystals and applied markers are not my style but the 14060M is as close as you can get to a rolex diver "tool watch" today. The new MG is also a good try except for the fancy bracelet and blind lug holes.

The James Bond submariner was a mistake according to recent research:

http://www.jamesbondwatches.com/

The movie producer Albert Broccoli supposedly supplied the first JB submariner to Sean Connery because it was all they had but the research indicates the JB rolex should have been a 1016 explorer, not a submariner.

I made a "1016" project watch out of parts...16234 case, GS PA464-64C crystal (rolex 22 clone), bezel cut to fit the crystal, Yuki dial, rolex 1520 hack movement etc and have worn it more than any rolex (genuine or imagined) I have ever owned.

So far, I got one compliment on it..."That's a nice Seiko".

:wallbash:

Not Dell Deaton...

:wallbash:

Nothing short of a visit from the spirit of Ian Fleming is going to convince me that the watch mentioned in OHMSS was anything other than the prototype Submariner (before it was branded a Submariner) That was, as described, a "Rolex Oyster Perpetual". Fleming described Bonds other vices in so much branded detail, I can't believe that he would miss the chance to 'name-drop' Explorer. Sure, he might have mentioned to a friend that he was considering using the same model watch as he wore himself, but, that doesn't mean he didn't change his mind while writing...

That first GMT looks like it's for kids learning to read

That's for sure It would look much better with the Explorer II-style bezel, like the Aeronaut... That said, I'm not overly keen on the thick lugs, they're a bit too chunky for my tastes

Ahhhhhhhh check this beauty, TeeJay!

*low whistle*

That is one nice piece The blue hands give it a really clean look

Welcome indeed Always nice to have new options

Yeh that was my take too. Hey, I'm wearing the most copied watch ever... thats fine I get that. But this guy runs a shop, he sells heaps of watches and he's a watch maker... just appalling customer service! Wouldnt matter if I gave him a quartz sub to adjust, he should have smiled nicely, performed the task asked and politely given me back MY watch.

Oh well... I'll tell everyone I know to not go there.....

Exactly, at the end of the day, they should simply do the work on whatever was brought in, not pass judgement and then behave like that... Someone like that deserves to go out of business. There was a really snotty jewelers in town, who used to claim that they specialized in Rolex repairs, funnily enough, they've had to take that off their signage recently

I took my gen 14060 into a local watchmaker to quickly have the clasp adjusted as the watch was a bit loose on my wrist (only picked it up that morning - I was too lazy to fiddle with the clasp myself and the dealer I got from was a 20min walk.. hey I'm lazy). Said watchmaker takes it out the back, adjusts the clasp and then returns it to me, throws it on the counter VERY roughly and quite aggressive... I then hear 'how much you pay for that fake rubbish' WTF??? I just spent 4k AUD on it.. fake my butt! I have to say having a so called professional behave like this nearly made my blood boil!

Other than that, my colleagues know about my watch issues... so they do notice new watches but other than that, I rarely get asked if I'm wearing a rep or gen.

As someone said on page 2 of this thread, I'm also new to wearing reps so I'm feeling a bit on edge about it and still deciding if it's for me. I've come from the other forums where its bad and I'm supporting illegal activity etc etc etc it takes a bit to get over that for some of us.. says she typing away with her new rep PAM049 on her wrist

That's absolutely disgusting behaviour. Okay, so your watch was gen, not a rep, but even if it had been a rep, the idea of a 'professional' treating someone else's personal property like that is utterly shocking. Crazy...

Not keen on the busy dial of the first one! But then I'm not keen on Breitlings etc for that very reason, so I think it's just my personal taste lol

I'm not normally a fan of busy dials either, I think what grabbed my attention, was the twin complications of GMT and chrono, I don't think I've seen that before on a mechanical watch

I was just wondering if Tudor ever did a GMT watch (no prizes for guessing my dastardly plan ) but, rather than asking like a n00b, I hit up Google for the results, and came across this beauty GMT and chronos in one watch! That's my kind of complications Take a peek

As for a pure GMT, I thought the Aeronaut was pretty cool too

I wish I could be of more help, it's working fine for me

Hi TeeJay,

You're quite right, the 5513 pictured has an HEV.

Helium escape valves were first developed and incorporated into 5513's (later 5514's), and finally into the sea-dweller.

IMO, it's a shame the HEV never made its way back into the basic no-date sub. These early subs worked well in real-world saturation diving, and IMO, the depth ratings that the sea dwellers became certified for moved beyond the pratical, and only became a marketing ploy for for diver wanna-be's...

Ahh, so those models were the transitional ones before the Sea-Dweller came about Indeed, a shame that the sub never featured the HE valve afterwards, but I guess Rolex wanted to try and keep the two models distinct from each other, in terms of features and functionality

Wow... That's pretty cool, TeeJay!

Any chance you can have one done up in a display case that reads:

'Proof that Tony Stark has a heart'

?

Thanks I would have loved to have been able to built one like that, but sadly, I don't have the facilities to make the actual display mount or etch it in. It might be possible to track down a suitable display case, but the mount itself, is the real problem, that's why I'm mounting this one in a mannequin's chest

can't wait to see the results buddy

Thanks, brother, it's starting to take shape now I've got the cowl fitted in the middle, now it's a case of taking sandpaper to the inside to make it opaque enough to conceal the actual light

you have to excuse me, but what the hell is that?

The answer to the world's energy problems

Nah, just kidding It's a prop replica I'm building of this:

In the movie, it's referred to as an arc reactor, a (what is most likely) cold fusion reactor which powers an electromagnet keeping shrapnel out of Tony Stark's heart, and his Iron Man armor.

I'm building a replica which I'm going to mount in a mannequin, which I'm going to paint up to look like marble

It was down a few days ago, but I'm browsing it right now...

I have it on rubber at the moment Teejay, S/Steel bracelet is on its way from PT too! The rubber suits the watch well, it feels and looks good on the watch, but for the extra money its worth having the option to change to give a new look.

Is it an easy change between the two? Rolexes and Omegas are pretty easy to change from bracelets to straps, is the Aquatimer about the same, would you say?

Thanks for all the continued feedback, guys I can definitely see myself getting one of these in due time

+1 - For most of the old timers here, t's not about passing off a convincing watch, but more like a fun and creative way to constantly perfect something. Call it "therapy." The results are the same, but the motives are a bit different. Just my 0,02 shekels worth of banter..

I'd agree with that completely

Still not finished, but really starting to come together now It's a good job I didn't have to build this to keep shrapnel out of my heart

Fantastic Am I right in thinking the Sub on the tropic strap has an HE valve? Is that a type of transitional model between the Submariner and the Sea-Dwellers, or just a custom build?

I'm sure I've said before, but what the heck It's the first letters of my first and middle names, spelled phonetically

Not bad at all mate. The scratches on the insert are a bit too long IMO. Radial scratches around the insert rarely happen IRL scratches across the insert are more common. Apart from that, great job.

Col.

Thanks, amigo I know what you mean My method was using the screwdriver I use to swap PAM straps round, rested one edge against the side of the crystal, then traced the other side across the insert, but as you say, they're a little long (although, as above, not as visible with the naked eye). I then put a few 'strikes' across the insert (like at the 7 position) to represent impact damage If I was to do another insert, then I'd not make the radial scratches as long, I just figured that might be the safest way for a novice to put some scuffs in, without going OTT and ruining the insert

I think what you have done looks very good. You might try Nanuq's trick of putting the watch case (remove the movement 1st) into a can full of coins & give it a good 5-minute shake. The coins should do a good job of aging the case & bracelet. Beyond that, I think the watch has too many irreconcilable issues to make it worth putting much more effort into.

I just had a thought, do you think that fitting a bezel like you used on your GMT project might help improve the vintage appearance of the watch?

Looks excellent Tee

Thanks I've got quite a bit of work planned for it which should hopefully make it a bit more socially acceptable than it is with its 'blacked out' GMT II dial That said, the quality of the lume on the rep dial is pretty good Just wearing it near a window, or going outside for a few minutes, and it glows brightly going back indoors... Holding it to a lamp for about two seconds, and it glows like a torch I know it's never going to be a 'perfect rep' in terms of replicating a specific model, but as I was saying to Freddy, I just want to build something myself, that isn't going to look 'box fresh' when I wear it. Having hit 30 and got married, I feel comfortable to wear a Rolex, but even if I had the funds to get a gen, I think I'd feel more comfortable with something 'inherited', rather than a brand new one

Sorry, but I was not inferring - explicitly or implicitly - that it looks like a DW.

Ahh, gotcha