one80

Thanks. Are there any good references for the printing process if I was to go down the path myself?

Is there anyone that offers custom dial printing, particularly for vintage Rolex dials (including gilt)? There are some very good quality ones out there, but most seem to have some minor discrepancies...

Yes, I've been talking to Crownartcustoms re. a red triangle insert. I've also ordered a Mk3 to suit a 5513 build, which I've started on also (with a Rubys case and MQ dial) but there's something that draws me back to the BC's...

Thanks both. Have been chatting to crownartcustoms over the last few days, and have a very nice blue/grey Mk3 on its way to Australia now .

Who has the closest to gen Mk3 insert? Everything I've found so far has been waaay off...

Thanks Nanuq. My heart is definitely set on a big crown. I’m still learning towards the 5510 as I want to use a gen movement. starting with the dial - is there a list anywhere? The VRF dial project isn’t working at the moment. I think it was only the following for the 5510: - 2 line 2 colour gilt print (white depth) - 369 with Explorer Logo (small) Was there a larger logo 369 dial, or a red depth also (like the A/6538)?

Hmmm... maybe I am making a rod for my own back with the BC. Any guidance on who has the most accurate 5513 case? Rubywatch modded, pr Phong? Who does case modding these days? Dbane?

Thanks again for the replies. I've found a couple on MQ's site that I'm happy with the font, just not so much on the artificial wear... Have emailed to see if he can supply a "as new" one, and do the wear myself. Am I correct that the 6536/6538/5508/5510 are the only ones that share the same bezel size? The more I head down the vintage big crown path, the more I wonder if a 5512/5513 wouldn't be a little easier...

Thanks for those links. Going off the 4-digit insert guide (stickied) It seems I should be going for either a Hash-Red or MK1 inset to be period correct?

Who has the most accurate 5510 bezel insert? For most of them that I’ve found the font is waaaay off. Phongs seem ok but most are overly “aged”z

I appreciate you taking the time to write that. Sadly, this sounds like exactly the sort of overly complicated, expensive and difficult journey I'd subject myself (and my family) to... A few questions, being new to this: Would a genuine 1520 movement reduce the amount of modification needed to the hands and dial (if using a Phong/MQ/Ruby case)? Assuming a 1520, what would be needed to swap from a MQ to a Dark Lord dial down the track? Is that the same as you've noted above for an ETA? Who has the best red triangle inserts? And lastly, how does one find the Dark Lord?? BTW - that is a lovely watch you have there too.

For a whole franken, prices seem a little higher with MQ, but his dials do seem better quality? Thoughts? I’ve been seeing “the dark lord” mentioned for dials too. There seems to be some mystique around him though, and hard/difficult to find?

I'm happy to send >$5k for a nice franken. My thinking is that I'll be unlikely to be in a position to buy a 6538/5510 with papers, provenance etc, but I can get something close, even if not 100% gen parts. And even the parts alone will probably not depreciate over time (based on the last 5-10 years). Ha! No, I'm still not scared off... yet 😉

Thanks for the reply. Since posting my original query I've been thinking about purchasing a complete watch from either MQ or Phong, where it comes with the genuine movement, and slowly changing the parts over to gen as/when I can find them. Any thoughts on who would be a better option if I went down that path? The dial's MQ has appear better, but there are a lot of comments (including above) that he can be difficult to deal with... Appreciate that the gen parts are going to be expensive, but I have my heart set on getting something that is as close to gen as possible.

I’m looking to build a franken sub big crown - either 6538 or 5510 and was hoping for some help with the following: Ideally I want to use as many gen parts as possible - where the best places to find these (dial, bezel, movement, etc)? Are the "refinished" dials that Minh has actually genuine dials that have been reapplied, or are they 100% rep? It seems genuine cases are hard to come by - are Phongs cases sill considered the best? Are there other manufacturers that can match a gen case I'm leaning towards the 5510 based on the movement as it's newer and probably easier to find parts for. Anything else I should consider?