JSebWC

Right on. Congrats Mike. [emoji1303][emoji482] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ah Gun jam.. The 6350 build thread. The Original explorer

Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate the feedback mate! Cheers Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My new crystals arrived. Ordered 3 Received 6. Tip top crystals always over delivers. Ordered back up domed crystal the GS ET. and was most excited to try out the GS PT PRISM TITE as they have the beveled edge that I was after. However as you see on the package. They do have a grid pattern and the inside is the crystal has a prism effect on the slight domed top. This I was not expecting The profile with the beveled edge looks good and is similar to a factory service crystal however the grid pattern does add a distortion to the face of the dial. Only really noticeable in certain light. Hard to capture in a pic I don’t hate it and it would be another unique quark is the Milgauss had they offered a unique crystal like this but it is definitely not gen in appearance. It gives the watch a unique look ans I will try it out for a bit. Now If I can find this same crystal without the prisma effect I think it would be perfect. The search continues Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you Yes I do have a build thread started by JMB Thank you!

Ha Thanks for the warning!! I prefer a well cared for safe queen with some character than a piece that was heavily used and abused.. Both looks great in my opinion but with the dial looking so good on this piece I couldn't bring myself to age it more than I did....at least at this point...in the future my tastes may change. For this piece anyway. This : as opposed to this. This one however does look awesome on the leather strap .. Notice the variations of the hand sets. The first one is the 6204 sub hands with end pip. second is the merc with what looks like a more modern merc hand set and the third has the pencil hand set and lollipop seconds hand that that is common with the merc hand set Its interesting in the variations that show up on the early watches..either by year or parts availability or service and replacement Its why I really like vintage watches..they all have their unquie character all from the same short run of the 6350 but all slightly different

Wow Quite a focused collection of parts!! I look fwd to seeing the builds completed!!

Thank you Nanuq!! I am working on the case ageing now....started with some light marks yesterday and had to snap a few more pics. Just loving it!!

A little bit more aging and some proper pics of my recently completed 6350 Gilt honeycomb goodness

Freshly built 6350 Explorer

6350 Explorer 1

Not a 1016 but I think it belongs here

[emoji7][emoji7][emoji7] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here are the progress pics Parts next to donor watch. I pulled the 1016 apart for the movement The 1016 dial and hands are available if anyone is looking for a nicely aged look. I think I’m gonna hold onto the ver 1 JMB CASE as I think I may want to build a pre explorer bubble back down the road. Waffle dial is on a Rolex plate so I had to snip the feet and use dial dots. Fit the dial to movement Fit hands These were a snug fit. The minute hand popped off twice. Never had that happen before. A bit of persuasion and I got them on Aged the lume on dial and hands. Hands are ever so slightly lighter but I’m cool with it. I really like these sub hands as they are uncommon from the typical Merc hand set. The seconds hand with the pip at the end looks great as it goes around the chapter ring. Dropped it into the case and buttoned it up and she’s done !! Ain’t she a beauty. [emoji7][emoji7] Love how the dial captures the light. Fit to a rivet bracelet and it’s done !!! A few minor adjustments needed. The dial is ever so slightly off center. And the hands aren’t lined up perfectly but I’ll make those adjustments later. Today I am just armoured with the watch The thicker bezel and domed crystal really give the feeling of an older piece and you can see the lineage of the bubble back in its appearance. Absolutely thrilled with how this build came together. Big thanks to JMB For the case set and to the forum. This community is a great resource for allowing us to get our hands on and enjoy incredibly rare time pieces such as this The 6350 Explorer is the first of line and being named so after the successful climb of Mt Everest. Rolex really designed and built a looker in this reference. The dial. The hands. Just a harmonious combination of design elements in a pure tool watch with great heritage. These pieces are incredibly rare as a small number were made. Because is that. In today’s market. The 6350., depending on condition will trade for 50-80 thousand USD. i know own one for a fraction of that price. I couldn’t be happier. Thanks for the read and as always. Questions and comments welcome. Cheers [emoji482]

Update: Dial is done and arrived yesterday....a day ahead of schedule Thank you DHL! I am pleasantly surprised!! Pics can not do it justice beautiful gilt text and the lume is exactly the shade I was after...it looks more orange in the pic..but its a toasted almond colour. Dial is glossy which I was not expecting but I love how the waffle texture catches the light.☺️ I was thinking that I might have to send this away to a builder but it looks like this is gonna be a straight forward build I was worried about the dial fitting...seems no issue. The lume matching to the hands to the dial..also its very close....close enough for the girls I go with anyway so I wont need to relume the hands. I will age the lume slightly but all should be good. I was considering a seiko movement a 7s26 but I did want the ability to hand wind. I have a perfectly good 2824 from a 1016 build that I picked up recently that is running awesome so I will use that I did however want to have the date function removed from movement but I am to excited to get this built now that I have all the parts here so I am gonna live with it for now and down the road when and if the ETA shits the bed I will get another one and have it the date function removed on that one. I just didnt want the wait and worry of customs risks to send it to a builder. Wish me luck guys..Im going in ....pics soon...stay tuned!!

Cool watch @Lo' I can see the differences. I was just basing it off the swiss SCOC dial. yeah I am not what the original owner was going for on my piece. I know the explorer based 5504 have the precision dials but I've seen Amsterdam Watch company and Ming Quy listing the with a SCOC dial So it would be to assume it was a service dial ? This one was sold on ebay for $21000 USD

Yes the case back and crown wouldn’t be exactly accurate but I believe it is meant to represent a later 5504 Explorer. Where those parts would be used. Yes didn’t build this piece. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes. Minh quy. $$$$ But it’s the next best thing to finding NOS Rolex dial. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A small update : I received the case set from Justin last week. It’s even nicer in person. Thanks again J. It was a pleasure working with you on this special build. The bezel turned out great and looks better than in the pics. Neither of us were overly fond of the 6350 specific bezel. But I wanted to take this build one step above the others I’ve seen and go with an early production bezel with domed crystal Received my hands and crown from Raffles yesterday. Just as a point of interest. The raffles BREVET + crowns that they offer fit the stock tube that is on these cases. Spent some time shaping it. Still needs a bit more work to look right but happy it fit [emoji1303] Waiting on my dial. I hope to receive it in the next week or two and then we can get this thing together. Stay tuned Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

6542 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Turned out awesome Ricki!! Gotta be happy with that!1 Both of those pieces turned out awesome...I see that you had put your Milsub up for sale?! I am not a sub guy but you have me seriously tempted...

Yah I think we all know how this is going to play out for him.....Like him or hate him...it always sucks when we lose a trusted source for our hobby. It would be interesting to know how many "vintage watch dealers" that "used his services" will be impacted by him shutting down. I truly think that he does also cater to that side of the fence as well and since he knows the dealers are selling these "potentially franken " watches at such high prices he maintains his healthy margins and tells us cheapo hobbyists to take it or leave it.

You could also use dial dots. they work pretty good

Recent pic up from another forum. Early 1016 or 5604 if you will. JMB VER 1 case aged with bubble back case back Brevet + crown Raffles chapter ring Swiss dial and hands - aged GS crystal Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk