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Hello all, I have been doing some research (killing time) while waiting for my 5513 case to be engraved, polished up and to then sit down with my watchmaker and complete my 5513 build. In that time I've been wondering about how to get the gen bezel insert a bit more "unique." In that, I've been looking up how to get a tropical insert, as I think I sort of prefer it to the faded out "ghost" look, although some of the ghost inserts are *gorgeous* and those of you that have them, you know who you are and I'm jealous. That said, I think I'm going the tropical route, I've always like the sort of black/brown colorways and I think it'll be eye-catching. Here's some links on what I've found on "baking" insert's to achieve a tropical effect. I will let you all know how it comes out on mine. Warmest Regards http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=msg&goto=5111077&rid=84922#msg_5111077 http://forum.atgvintagewatches.com/showthread.php?4872-Tropical-Rolex-a-worrying-discovery! http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=188300 I'm sure there are a few other good resources out there... I'm keen to try this! Baking my dial worked well.

Well i found myself quite bored today waking up early on a Saturday with not much to do. Then i remembered that i have a Donerix Tobacco strap laying around that i bought off another member here on pure impulse at a good price. I wasn't really as fond of it as I hoped when i received it and it's been laying in a drawer waiting for a watch that's on repair anyway. So I figured i would give it some character and patina (please forgive me Donerix ). And since I'm a sucker for vintage and aged looks, i gave it a beating. So this is what the strap looked like before i went berserk on it: And two hours later after dish sponges, keys, lip balm, forks, lotion, knives and general abuse while watching TV, this is the result: I am really pleased with how this came out, and now I'm really looking forward to putting this on my 186 Arktos once it gets back from repairs! I might give it a rundown with proper leather wax later and another wack or two later on if it gets to dry.

Hi there, This is my first thread and first time aging somthing, so I would appreciate any tip I can get. the photos where taken with a camera phone, so I apologize in advance.. I was simply too nervous to handle anything else ingredients: * Tiger concept sterile watch from ebay. * raffles time 6200 dial (doesn't fit the case- needs shaving down) * cup of joe (extra strong) * oven preheated to 150C -> then seeing that its not enough for me 200C (on the second try) tools: * basic watch maker kit. * rodico on a toothpick (do deal with the tiny hands) * Q tips- to "paint" the hands after tearing down the case I dealt with the individual parts: rehout- pretty straight forward, preheating with a hair drier really makes things easy. work the insert with sandpaper then pop in bleach for 2 min. wash with fresh water dry and presto. case- just went mid-evil on the sucker. dial- now here is where it became interesting. I really had no Idea what to expect.. so I experimented on 3 dials at the same time. *note that the explorer 111490 is my experimental lumming dial- so different thickness of lume were effected slightly different. (I seem to have misplaced the image of the TC dial before) 20 min of heating on 150C (+ turbo function on oven) got the tiger case to this: granted its not much.. so I decided to try coffee and the heating on 200C (+ turbo function on oven). I just popped the dials for a quick swim in steaming coffee then placed them on some tin foil (for ease removal) *** this is when thing became intense.. so keep an eye on the dial while its in the oven*** after 2 min in the oven I got this: and compare to the non coffee: hands- now these were not effected at all by time in the oven alone. so I just placed them on the tin foil and gently painted them with coffe with a Q tip. then popped in the oven on 200C (+ turbo function on oven) for about 5 min- I am pretty shure the can handle longer. in the case: So what have I learned? * very gentle dial aging- preheat oven to 150C for about 20min * hard core overkill dial aging- coffee dip + turbo 200C for about 2 min (i'll probably settle for 1 min next time or 150C for longer) * I am undecided about the hands. * the hardest part is to get yourself going.. once you start you see there is nothing to fear really.