southcoast68

Excellent!!! All the best of luck with your project. Please post pics of the progress for us.

Hi all A little while back I beleive someone posted a link to a seller on Ebay that had case clamp assortments. I searched everywhere I could think of, but I am just missing it I guess. If there is someone here that knows what I mean and has the Ebay link, could you please post it again. Thanks in advance for the assistance!!

I like the dial on the SD, nice update. The "Ring Lock System" and the "Original Gas Esacpe Valve" should have remained on the caseback!!! Oh, and is that a ceramic bezel insert I see, or is it just the photo playing with my eyesight? Overall, Rollies are getting a little more rediculous looking every year now. It just seems like those folks just don't know which direction to go in nowadays. Edit; I guess that Platinum Day-Date does look pretty nice with gray dial, the look of understated luxury.

Hi all Its been forever since I have really worked on a project, and just today I had the time to start a modding project I wish to share around. I got this 5513 from Silix-Watch around the holidays with the hope of turning it into something a littel different. This is not a franken, but rather seeing what I can do with the standard issue rep stuff. See pics below, more to come later on, comments are always welcome. Its rather fun to try and make something look like its 40 years old in one afternoon, leaving just enough little scratches behind to make it more believable. I decided that because of the dial, this one would be good as a pointed crown guard model. I also dunked the bezel insert in bleach for a bit for a more faded look and took off the sharp edges from the bezel teeth so it feels less new. A few shots of the new crown guards. A shot of the case and its movement. Comming up, trying to age the hands and dial. Stay tuned.

This one made some interesting news at the time, folks prone to Epilepsy (spelling?) could not watch this video because it could cause a seizure in some folks. So it is offered here with a precautionary warning. Cool to watch and a good '80s song too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMylfkSDKV0 I suppose you all guessed I grew up in the '80s Totally!!!!!!!!!! Thats all (for now).

Not a music video exactly, but I laugh everytime I see it: Edit: nothing against our freinds in Germany, its all in good video game fun..

Or even this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvAVJTQeFiQ

I always liked this one: or this classic '80's one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2NrIALcNOw Cheers

That sales demonstration kit would be a real cool thing to have, well, all of those items would be cool to have. Must buy more LOTTO tickets and kick my positive thinking into high gear .

Wow, now that is cool!!!!!!!!!

Ok, here is another possible scenario (no fact to back this up, just speculation). Knowing that any Milgauss is becomming a high dollar peice worldwide and that value increases when all original paper work is still with the watch, consider the following. It was seen on the TZ post Freddy refered to that a collector had a 6543 (one of 80 supposedly), and sold that watch in favor of a 6541 that had all of its paper work, since the '43 did not have paper work. He/she regretted the sale, but none the less passed on one model for another based on proper history and paperwork. So, consider this, a watch collector has a 6541 in great running condition that has all of its paperwork in tact. However the bezel is in poor condition from use and the dial is badly faded. Along comes the 6541 in question here, it has a perfectly aged, clean dial and a beautiful bezel and insert (I continue to hold the bezel and insert a point of interest here just because of the age of these watches and the immense cost to replace one of these bezels with NOS parts since Rolex is surely not still producing these), however, this 6541 has no history or paperwork. Off come the dial and bezel to be used on the watch with all the history, and this watch gets a replacement dial. The bezel is not replaced since it would be more expensive to do so, and at this stage, the watch can be re-sold to someone else. Its still sold for a good amount of money, but still far less than what it would go for if it were complete, running and with authentication. The new buyer accepts the watch based on the fact that it is a Milgauss that needs restoration and service. The replacement dial is not noticed as an issue since it is viewed throught an old scratched crystal and the bezel is not viewed as an issue since it is on old watch and the cost of restoration would include funds for bezel replacement. After a few grand of restoration work, the owner has a watch that could still be worth 5 figures even without paper work. Meanwhile, the previous owner gets his watches restoration completed with genuine parts whaich cost nothing since the donor watch they came from gets re-sold for an amount that even covered the cost of the replacement dial. Another possible scenario is that the watch in question was put together using genuine parts obtained from ebay, watch conventions, old watchmakers stock, etc. Even a genuine case could be found in a watchmakers stock, after all, these watches are from the late fifties, and in that amount of time, anything can happen. Various parts from various Milgauss's (or Milgi??) without any authentication on their own, come together to form a desirable collectible timepeice.

Maybe so, some of the pics are a bit dark, but to me they still don't have minute or second hands that come over the chapter ring to the extent that the one The Zigmeister pictured. We shall see as the story unfolds I guess. By the way, even if it is a franken, I would not mind having it in my collection Edit; By the way - I seem to remember that Watchmaster offered a great looking rep of this some time ago, does anyone have pictures of that one for comparison?

I must say that this is one of the most interesting stories to be seen here in a while. If I may join with my 2 cents, I am agreeing with this being a franken (for now). I have a few resons for saying this. 1. The dial - we all know of the variances in vintage rollies, both Nanuq and myself have GMT Maters that have dials that supposedly "never existed" but have recently been verified as genuine, so there is no suprise in the variation in Milgauss dials as well. Still, this dial looks way too close to the NDTrading dial (notice how far away the hour dots are to the minute markers in The Zigmeister's pictures vs. Timezone pictures vs. NDTrading). Even then, I spotted one picture on Antiquorum of a 6541 with dot hour markers closer to the minute markers. But, in NO case that I could find do the minute or second hands extend beyond the outer minute track as shown on the one in The Zigmeister's pictures. Also, as was stated by others, the coronet at 12 does not look right. So, I am saying the dial has been replaced with aftermarket. 2. Why replace the dial - if this watch is all original and had been sitting for 30 years or more, the original dial would still be in there. It is possible that a dial replacement could have happened at some point years ago, but I don't think that even a replacement from Rolex would look quite like this one. 3. Where is the bezel - a dial would survive quite nicely provided the case was properly sealed, but the bezel is the one thing on a watch that would catch all kinds of hell over the years and would most likely show fading, scratches, possibly dents. Unless of couse this was a safe queen in which the bezel would be pristine and on the watch or The Zigmeister had not got far enough in the assembly of the watch before taking the picture. Now I say its a franken "for now" until we see other evidence since weird things do happen and this may just be one of those cases. In the end, short of having Rolex itself authenticate this one (and if I bought this one on the assumption that it is real, thats where I would send it) all we say here is speculation. The Milgauss is one of the vintage models that MUST have some sort of authentication either in the form of original paperwork or verification from Rolex since these models are just getting too high in value, and as was said earlier that amount of money will make folks do shady things. With all this said, I hope it can be found that this piece is found to be authentic, especially if it was purchased as so. If not, it says volumes of the ability and skill of todays modders. Either way, looking at these pictures, you all got me craving a rep of this one now

The only thing that bothers me is the dial font and size. ROLEX looks way too big on this one to me. Although the black chrono hand with the white arrow tip is a nice touch.

I was dissapointed in thier new store in Orlando FL. They had NO Rolex, NO Panerai, NO Breitling, NO TAG Heuer and NO Omega, but they DID have Swatch They had some Zenith, Oris, Hamilton and others though. When I asked about Omega, they told me "we don't get much request for those here" . Big dissapointment, would never go back.

Omega Speedmaster chronographs were also available with a "pulsations per hour" bezel, which I can only assume was intended for medical purposes (measuring heart rate). Maybe someone here can verify this for us.

Like alot of us here, I have owned many gen watches (4 Rolex's at one point, now I only have 1) and as far as I am concerned, the differences one would feel between rep and gen could only be determined if BOTH the gen and rep were held side by side. A while back, I held my $118 Sub LV next to a freinds genuine black Sub. Overlooking the obvious difference in the bezel color, and maxi dial of my LV rep and his regular black Sub, the differences in weight, fit and finish, bracelet and dial print were almost non-existant and this is with the LV rep in my left hand and his gen in my right. I handed both of them back to him and he commented that any differences were not so serious and in fact, if he did not know mine was a rep, he would have not guessed it. Based on this, your freind was guessing and it was more your reaction that confirmed his suspicion. Either way, what he said to you was un called for, but since I do not know you or your friend personally, I will withhold any further comment on that part of the conversation. Bottom line, if you enjoy the watch (and hopefully your freind did not sour your opinion on the watch) that is really all that matters. Yacht Master is a tough one though, there is yet a version of this one that really pleases me as far as its closeness to the gen IMO. But, the quality of the watches we get through dealers here greatly surpasses any china town or flea market find. Thats the problem with owning a watch that says Rolex on the dial whether gen or rep, most folks will ask "is it real" and still more will consider it a fake no matter what you say. In fact, the only folks who really appreciate Rolex and thier history are watch fanatics, and alot of those folks are here. You really have to like the design and look of thier brand to appreciate it, and I beleive you do, otherwise you would not be here. Don't worry about your YM Armin, its fine, enjoy it in good health. By the way, what was your freind wearing for a watch? Peace out.

I got a kick out of one letter that said many divers never worn thier watches on a dive, and thus refered to them as "cabin dwellers" About 8 years ago, I saw a COMEX 'dweller at an NAWCC show here in Florida. The asking price was about $6,000 if I remember. I would have bought it if I could have afforded it not even realizing its history and I could make it a part of my retirement fund. I guess I'll just have to be satisfied with my COMEX rep instead.

Hi all I just came across this on doubleredseadweller.com and its pretty interesting. Many here may frequent DRSD.com, but for those who have not, I include this link (replace xx with tt) hxxp://www.doubleredseadweller.com/comexletters.htm There are also some real nice photos of various dive professionals using thier watches as the tools they were made for. DRSD.com is a great resource for any Rolex-head - check it out! Cheers

Are we talking frankin' Daytona, or is that lovely example all original Rolex. Either way, its a closeup of one of my holy grails. Sweet

Nice!!! Thanks for the update.

I usually spend a couple of hours a day on the various watch forums, and thats mostly reading. Sometimes I get the time to share a story and some pictures, but thats not often. Reading the info that The Zigmeister has shared with all of us, I can't even amagine the amount time and effort spent on such informative material. I think I speak for all when I say THANK YOU The Zigmeister!! thank you for all you do here. We all should remember that many folks here have jobs, family and lives outside the forum, and we should respect that. As far as modern methods of communication not necessarily being a good thing, I totally agree. There once was a time where ASAP still meant you had a day to get something done. Now, everyone expects an answer within the minute and we all should be reachable 24/7. I'm sorry, but my cell phone has an off button, and I use it. Sometimes you just got to unplug and take a breather. 130+ e-mails? unbeleivable...

Pembroke Welsh Corgis' are cool. See avatar at left.

If it were me, and the watch in general was good (tells time, chronos work and reset, good dial, no loose parts, etc.), I'd live with it. Its a real hassle to send one back for a replacement. Especially considering that the replacement may have more serious issues than just a small ding. Cheers

Not just Invicta, but Oris, Anomino Polluce and Maurice Lacroix. In the August 2007 issue of International Watch, an article spotlighting Sellita and its "picking up where ETA leaves off" indicates that thier movements are based on sizes and standards already established by ETA. There is also note of Sellita treating all of thier customers equally, not just the big important groups. Not saying that Sellita would be actively supplying the rep makers of movements, but business is business, and if a large watch factory places a large order of movements??.. If I am not mistaken, TTK once offered a Omega SMP with a Sellita movement a while back. So who knows, in the future Sellita may be the swiss alternative to ETA in replacement movements for the hobbiest as well as manufacturer. More choice in the market place is not a bad thing. Does anyone know if the supply houses offer Sellita movements as of yet?