scotrick

"Gold top vintage rolex watches were said to have around 80 microns of gold on top of the case and the bezels were solid gold, usually 14k.  The gold case top was a gold cap soldered on the steel case similar to heavy gold fill."

This is good to know, I haven't delved into them because I thought the gold might rub off like it has on some lesser brands I have owned.

Cheers,

Rick

2 hours ago, automatico said:

"...I'm always amazed about your knowledge of cases and movements  Rick!"

 

Thanks, I appreciate it! 

The bottom line (imho) is the 40+ year accumulation of 'useless knowledge' gained from my watch hobby is really not worth much in today's world outside of this and similar forums.  The mechanical watch seems to be going the way of the dinosaur as the current generation shuns traditional watches for I-phones and smart watches in their early $$ earning years.  Maybe mechanical and/or vintage watches will catch on later in life but who knows?  By then they may really cost a fortune. 

 

As for younger 'watch nuts' wanting to go into the repair trade, things are not rosy at all as the 'Big Name Brand' watch repair business is swinging toward 'corporate watch repair' as can be seen by the latest rolex move to cut off parts to almost all of the remaining independent US repair shops that work on rolex watches.  Since most brands have already gone or are in the process of going this route, repair guys will have to go corporate, go AD, or go independent and swap out batteries and quartz movements to pay the rent while searching for mechanical watch repair parts.

 

Forums like this one are unique because a large percentage of members know a lot about watches in general where the average 'brand forum member' usually only knows a little about certain watch brands...mostly reference numbers, movement caliber designations, and production dates, along with their most important questions of all...What's New?  Are they available yet?  Who has one?  How much are they?

 

Everyone wants a rolex but almost everyone wears a Timex. 

(or Citizen/Seiko/Fossil etc)

And yet the value of vintage rolexes is still quite strong even at the lower end where I generally hunt.  If it wasn't for guys like you and Misiek I probably wouldn't collect those  either!l  

Regards,

Rick

But you will still be in that rarefied 5%, I'm always amazed about your knowledge of cases and movements  Rick!

Cheers,

Rick

On 12/13/2017 at 8:48 AM, bobandshawn said:

Ahhh...I'll try a cigar! Thanks.

The silver dials also develop a nice patina.

On 12/10/2017 at 6:03 PM, bobandshawn said:

Bump?

I hope you  find a suitable method Bob.

Cheers,

Rick 

19 hours ago, interaktiv said:

Very nice!  Like this dial and handset match!

Cheers,

Rick





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1 hour ago, highoeyazmuhudee said:

probably to mimic the beat rate of a vintage rolex in a case that only takes movements of 2824 sizes

Makes perfect sense to me, and I have followed this with great interest, all the while watching my Airking’s 1520 second hand chug around the dial and wondering what to do with a spare 5500 case and NOS 2846 movement. 

On 6/17/2017 at 8:29 AM, Bart Cordell said:

Nice dial and crown guards Bart!

Cheers,

Rick

These old watches are still great to acquire, dependable, and serviceable!

I wore  my 6605 to a conference today,

The Cal 1065 was +1 sec on the day thanks to Misiek's reliable overhaul!

Cheers,

Rick

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Yeah I don't get that at all; on a pure aesthetic scale, not as attractive as most of the 6538 builds displayed here,

Ok Sunday the 26th at 130 pm , location in thread just be careful there are two Biggies in Hoboken so watch using the GPS use address in thread.

42 Newark Street Hoboken NJ 07030, my birth place!

 

Responses are good across the boards gonna be the best one yet!

This is still the place/time Mike?

Looks great J, could you do a 6538?. 

All three really nice!!

That's really nice on the rivet droptop!

Same watch, I wanted a more vintage look so used the Yuki matt yellow lume dial with the strap.

Hell yes!  This week a 1030 arrived running in the mail!   Date changed at 11:58, roulette Date Wheel!  Maybe too nice for the Big Crown build I was planning, anybody have a gen 6534 case to sell? Thanks!  

Beautiful job, Mate!

Thx for your response folks but I've spoken to a few that've managed to fit them on a v1. Apparently v2 is a much better proposition. I'm going to take the risk and get the parts in. I'll let you know definitively how I go.

How did it go Rosetech I was thinking of putting a new DW on mine. 

Automatico no one has mentioned Ingod's 6538 case.  I like his 4-liner dial, how do you think his case stacks up to Yuki, NDT, Phong?

No one can accuse me of knowing what I am talking about but from my sometimes disappointing experiences with vintage submariner cases...imho you are better off to spend the money for a higher quality case that will accept genuine spec dials, crystals, bezels/inserts, case tubes/crowns, and crystals.

Why?

Because high quality out of spec parts are very, very hard to find. Especially dials.

 

For Eta powered projects...MBK cases are fine but the 5513 and 1680 cases are made for 26.0mm dials so a 26.5mm genspec 1680 dial will have the minute markers partially covered. The stock MBK 1680 dial is not too bad if you can find one but some are very rough around the edges from being ground down to fit the smaller 5512/13 dial seat.

If you find a DW case and decide to use it for a 5512/13 project, remember that they are all made for 26.5mm dials. At least all mine were (8 or 9 of them).

Read up on DW cases before jumping in.

Read up on DW too before you order a case.

 

I have wasted a LOT of time and effort trying to make mismatched parts go together and if anyone wants one good 'keeper' watch, it is better to go 'first class' the first time around.

'First class' to me means maybe a Yuki case for genuine movement projects and MBK for Eta projects. Silix etc cartel cases are probably Ok but I never tried one.

Why Yuki and MBK?

Only because I have had good luck with them. There are 'better' cases available of course (J&W, MQ etc) but they cost a LOT more and almost no one can tell the difference.

 

Please remember I am talking about a 'keeper' here and not a 'quickie' to wear a while and flip off into the sunset.  

That was a really nice one!

I picked up a APOA Breitling for under 2G last night. not exactly free but a cleaning, servicing and maybe a relume it could be a nice profit.

Absolutely, picked up this old Chronomat with the service history and box on the Bay.  Put in an overhaul and a mainspring and it's one of my faves.