Dizzy

$tingray you can remove your insert and "flatten" it against a hard surface. If it's conical now that eats up some of the high sidewall. You might need to sand its perimeter so it snaps in but flatter might look better. I've done that on most of mine.

+1

I have also done this on a few watches and it works perfect.

When you compare the side shots of the crown position, you can see how inaccurate the WM9 really is. The case is a completely different shape and the bezel is totally different, the end links suck. I never understood the hype about the WM9's. They are close, but everything about it is just a little bit off.

dizz

HOLY COW!

Awesome daytona!!!

Doesnt get much better than that!

haha thanks Ubi!

I was planning on going "cheap" on this one, but the parts just literally fell into my lap. The dial is old and beaten up and matches the insert well. I dont have a better pic but I will take one next time. Some of the tritium was starting to flake off so I gave it a couple coats of matt clear to try to seal it up. The hands are from an old old old replica of an explorer 2 that I bought about 15 years ago. I used paint thinner to take off the black paint, and then put some vintage color lume on them. The GMT hand is pretty close to the dial but it clears without rubbing. The small date mag really bugs me so I dont really wear it. I'll need to get a new crystal ordered up soon.

Thanks guys!

The bezel is a little tiny too much faded for my liking, but it will have to do i guess. I prefer the insert with a bit more red. This one is a little too pink but im not going to change it. I'll leave it the way it is. The only thing i am going to change is the stock cartel crystal. The date mag is a bit too small. I never intended to take this one this far. I lucked out on the dial and really got lucky on the bezel assembly. It was mixed in with a whole bunch of old watchmakers tools and i got it super cheap. The spring inside is non Rolex but the rest of it is pure naturally aged vintage.

dizz

I like what you did with the dial. The lume color is just right!

nice work!

I finally got around to installing my gen bezel assembly and insert so I thought i would take a few pics.

cartel 1655 case

DG3804 GMT movement

Genuine Rolex GMT dial

Genuine Rolex retainer ring, bezel and insert

It turned out ok

Cool idea Nanuq!

You can also add a little stretch and length to these by stretching the links and shoving something inside the middle links so they dont spring back all the way. I took a regular rubber elastic band and cut it into little chucks shorter than the width of the middle links. Stretch the band and shove in the little piece of rubber. Acts as a "bump stop" to keep the links from coming all the way back together when you release it. Once in a while you have to check to make sure your rubber bumpers havent fallen out... and yes this is a bit of a "duct tape & hammers" sort of fix, but its a simple solution to those stupid bracelets that come with no extra links for guys with bigger wrists. I couldnt even wear my yuki bracelet because it was too small.. I had to mod mine just to wear it.

Helps with the arm hair pulling also

I'd post a pic but I've already torn my bracelet apart and converted it to a non-stretchy version.

Wow that dial is AWESOME! Nice work Chiman!

After seeing this, I want to convert my Cartel 1680 into a 5512!!!

Beautiful!!

dizz

Im here, been busy all summer and not online much. Im actually wearing the watch right now!! Its one of my favorites. The T-21 crystal is still in it. The yuki bracelet springs were driving me nuts so i converted it to a non-sping conventional setup (way too much work, dont try it). I replaced the crap asian movement with an eta 2836 from my MBW16610. I absolutely love the feel of this thing.

Heres an old pic after i got it pretty much finished.

Very nice!

I built one of these Cartel subs last winter. It is one of my favorite watches and Im wearing it as we speak! I had a little trouble with my bezel though. Next to impossible to get it back on. Looks just like yours, except I have a Yuki bracelet on mine. Its worth the money trust me. Get one.

No idea if it contains lye or not... but yes its a drain cleaner.

Awesome job! I like the bezel insert, its faded so nice.

he seems to have a reputation for selling fake rolex items as genuine according to his feedback. That dial looks refinished to me. I would want to see better pics.

Hey guys whats up?

I find that most aftermarket inserts need a pre-scuffing before the bleach can really do its job evenly. I usually pre-scuff and pre-scratch the insert to get the patina I am looking for, then i fade it. Seems to work well that way. I use 50:50 bleach water. Might have to give draino a try next time.

The dial in this watch is the one that came with the case. Submariner reps seem to vary wildly when it comes to case and dial sizes.

Thats very cool. Dial and CG;s are well done!

Nice work!

Wheres the pics!!!!!!!!

I use GS hypo cement on my tubes. Seals it and keeps it in place.

If the case is anything like the Puretime case, then a gen dial will be too small. It will work but there will be hardly anything holding the dial in place. I tried it and it kept slipping into the rehaut. The MBW1680 dial also was too small and its the same size as a gen 5513 dial i believe. the MBW case is awesome if you can get one, but if not maybe try the Yuki.

This is the second one that i did.... 16030.. All gen with ETA2836 and ETA Datejust hands. Not sure about the clasp. I bought it as a gen off ebay but I dont think it is. It looks good enough for me so I used it.

Its a beautiful watch and the most comfortable Rolex there is. Easy to build once you get all the parts together.

Thats a good question.

Seems to be the way its always been though. I know DW was thinking about making a 16520 case but I dont know if hes started yet.

Very cool my friend!!!

I always know that when you start a thread, its gunna be a good one

I just bought a 7205 rivet bracelet with 60 endlinks. Does anybody know if this will fit my DW 6263?

What would have bin a good price to pay for it? It looks like it has a bit of stretch and only 11 links. It was quite an inpulsive buy

Yes it will fit. I had one on my 6263.

It has now been replaced with a newer style 19mm folded link bracelet. This 19mm rivet may be for sale if anyone needs a nice gen bracelet for their vintage Daytona. Mine is the stretchy one with the springs and its nice and smooth and tight with no binding. Heres a pic below when it was attached to my DW 6263...