manodeoro

2 mandatory conditions if you want to keep your SELs bracelet : 1 - the holes you'll drill on the lugs must be perfectly centered with the existing holes 2 - you must enlarge the SELs holes up to 2.1 mm If I were you the first thing I would do is to order nice 2mm bars so you can check if you have to drill the lugs 1.25 or 1.2 mm (some 2mm bars have thinner spring parts). Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

May I hask you how much you paid for that 16610 ? Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

BP has a 16610 (I bought one a few months ago) and JF has a new 16610LV and will soon sell a 16610LN. From which seller did you bought your LE 26610 ? Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

Never heard of LE Factory. Noob, BP, JF ... but never LE Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

Definitely a "strange" early 16610 but whit some DIY mods it could be a nice daily beater. Is your bracelet a 93250 ? If YES you could drill the lugs and SELs so that they accept 2mm bars ... you can do that with a 1mm diamond file. But the first thing I would do, if I where you, is to check if the bezel can be easily removed. If YES you can easily rework the case and crownguards. Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

It is "something else" [emoji23] But, as I wrote in your thread, I'd really like to see better pics. Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk "le factory" ? What is your crystal size ? Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

This one is very nice ... and MUCH better than your "1680" [emoji6] Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

Strange watch ... some sort of mixed up : - drilled lugs like an early 16610 - 93250 SELs bracelet late 16610 - stubby crown guards and maxi dial like a late 116610 Would you post some better pics of the dial and case ? Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

Nicely done ... though "butchered" is almost an euphemism there. I'll add just one comment : "Next time you dive 2000ft down you'd better keep your watch INSIDE the u-boat" [emoji23] Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

The dial is designed with Illustrator then printed on white decal paper, put on the dial plate then 5 coats of varnish. I first tried to keep the original dial and put the COMEX and SWISS-TSo I modded the whole dial. I will show all the process in a specific thread went RWI is really back. Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

My 16800 build is a low budget (I'm not Norwegian and I dont work in oil & gas) so I'm trying not to be anal about details. I just bought a BP 16610 Sub and mod it myself to a "year 1984" 16800 COMEX : 1 - mod the dial to a COMEX one (remove the indexes, DIY decal, put the indexes back ... it turned to be an easy mod) 2 - drill the lugs for 2mm bars (most difficult part of the job ... almost ruined the case) 3 - drill a 93150 bracelet and 380 endlinks to accept 2mm bars 4 - rework the lugs to a thinner profile and redo the chamfers (work in progress) 5 - remove the engravings on the rehaut (just kept the serial number) 5 - engrave the caseback (diver's number will be 193 ... my son's size in centimeters) 6 - build a vintage service box I'll add a vintage leather strap from cheapnatostraps (I already made some myself but I'm short in time so I jsut bought one) with a rolex buckle (brushed with a polish coronet), put everything in the DIY service box and give it to my son next sunday ... if everything goes well. Here's a pic of the dial and one of the "service box) I'm definitely NOT Norwegian ... just French. My son studied instrument engineering in France (INSA) then oil & gas engineering in GB during 6 months. He needed an internship for his 5th academic year so he sent a resume to Aker Solutions in Oslo and got a 6 months job as an engineering assistant ... and they never let him leave. He lives there since 9 years now and since 2 years I have a Norwegian grandson BTW ... considering what he's earning there I'm not certain you would get a huge pay cut if you get a job in Norway. Norway and oil & gas jobs make everybody dream ... That's why my youngster son did quite the same studies and works as an instrument & control engineer for a small consultancy company. He's based in France so he earns much less money than his elder brother but he does a lot of consultancy missions abroad (only 26 and he's already worked in Norway, Singapore and Russia) so he really enjoys his work ... and he still hopes to get a permanent job in big oil & gas company.

Very great thread @altesporsche ... thank you VERY MUCH Though I dont have any ceramic bezel (I'm stucked on vintage and "early modern" watches so only metal inserts) I really appreciate the informations you provide here. Sharing experience is a great and very honorable behaviour. So it seems you work in subsea engineering ... oil & gas or else ? If YES you could be interested by the 16800 COMEX I'm building for my elder son (oil & gas instrument engineer in Norway) ... I'll create of thread about that build as soon it's finished, possibly next week.

Thanks for the pics and the feedback. I feared the design could be too crispy for a vintage dial so I'm really glad the dial turned out that nice. Look forward to see how it will look when a little aged.

+100 ... dont even need to build a real franken Here's a 76K$ 16800 COMEX sub ... not sure anyone would feel comfortable wearing such a watch and here is what you can get with 16610 dial and some skills ... just put it in a modded 16610 case with drilled lugs and 93150 bracelet ... enjoy

Now you HAVE to post pictures !!! Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

I'm afraid so. Didnt you checked the dial seat BEFORE selecting your dial ? Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

A lathe !!! So you're heavily equipped [emoji6] I too really hope your dial come out as well as possible With the work you're doing that A/6538 will be a very stunning and unique piece so I judt cant wait to see it finished. Which movement are you planning to use ? Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

OMG ... I'm definitely following your thread. Hope you'll take pictures while welding the bars. What is the tool (machine?) on your first pic ? Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

Here is what I would buy, if it proves to be possible to drill lugs with Dremel : - Dremel 3000 : 70$ (pic) or a "Rep" one (50$) - 43 mm adapter for Dremel : 15$ (pic) - 43 mm precision drillpress : 70$ (pic) - 43 mm stand : 15$ (pic) - drill bits and accessories : 30/80 $ So for about 180/250 $ I could get tools good enough to do all the work on my own builds (I will not mod for other members ... just my own watches). What do you think about that ??? DREMEL [url=http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=589536i608935.jpg][/url] 43 mm ADAPTER [url=http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=235120mbI9KX1oFqVCtbNZLxpAm7w.jpg][/url] PRECISION DRILLPRESS [url=http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=6982085027000FS15.jpg][/url] 43 mm STAND [url=http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=9134111supportdemachines4800000L1561844914141.jpg][/url]

At least could you just tell me : 1 - have you drilled lugs (non predrilled) with a Dremel ?.. YES/NO 2 - if "yes" then did it worked well ?.. YES/NO Those YES and/or NO wont be much time consuming but very much helpfull for me cause I'm in the process of picking the "right" tools to mod my watches (now I do most of the job with files, sandpaper and my hands). Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

So you have a Dremel workstation. Would please write a short review about that tool ? At least can you tell us : - have you drilled lugs with it ? - non-drilled lugs or only pre-drilled lugs ? A Dremel tool seems much more versatile than a drillpress for average user if one can drill lugs on some watches a year. Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

BTW ... Despite what I have read and writen I'll probably explore the dremel route. Yesterday we met for a "watches fab lab" and I tried drilling non-drilled lugs with a drillpress. Considering the speed we used and the time it took (about 1mn/lug) I really think it could be done with a dremel and it would not "kill" the tool if done properly and with care and "from time to time" (I would not try to drill 2 watches a week with a dremel). I'll let you know if it worked well or not, or if I killed the dremel. Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

LOVE that lumed insert [emoji7][emoji7][emoji7] So once again ... Could you tell where you git it ? Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

WOW !!! Beautifull watch Sir. And wonderfull insert ... where di you got this one ?. Some lume pics would be very much appreciated [emoji3] Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

I already thougt about trying that. Then I had a conversation with a seasoned member that had tried (n another forum). In conclusion : 1 - dremmel dedicated drill-stand is not very good 2 - dremmel is not easily fixed on a standard drill-stand 3 - dremmel drillers are good but a little weak for drilling stainless steel So here's what I think. For pre-drilled lugs : Get the same kind of diamond files I used, a good movie or a good episode of your favorite TV serie, a glass of Islay (or anything you prefer) and do just like me I did. I used the same tools on the bracelet last links and the endlinks and I did not have to open/cut the endlinks. So it's easy and riskless. For non-predrilled lugs : 1- mod your bracelet and endlinks first with the diamond files 2 - put the bracelet and endlinks on your case to check where you have to drill and mark it with a very thin permanent marker 3 - buy very good HSS drill bits (1mm + 1.3mm), drilling fluid (Tap Magic or else) 4 - search the forum for a member living in the same area and already owning a drillpress, get contact and fix an appointment 5 - get the watch(es) you want to drill + drilling bits and cutting fluid + a sixpack of cooled beer and go to meet your new friend 6 - enjoy a pleasant saturday afternoon, drilling lugs and sharing mod tricks 7 - go back home with your newly modded watchcase [emoji3][emoji3][emoji3][emoji3][emoji3] That's what I'll do next saturday. We meet (5 forums members)for a "watch mod fab lab" afternoon. I will learn how to drill lugs with a drillpress (2 cases) and other tricks and show how to make guilt decal dials (and other tricks). Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk