Watchmeister Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 The Project This project comes from a new member who may well offer his services here to others upon full vetting. More on that later. When the member contacted me and showed me some of his work I quickly confirmed his identity through a mutual acquaintance and decided to take the chance and commission a couple of pieces (read as paid for up front) for myself and another member. These pieces are not cheap owing to the fact they are handmade. Further, all materials, machining and assembly methods are the same used at the time the gens were built. The basic case is carved from a block of Stay Brite steel (not 316L). The solder is proper silver solder and appropriately aged. The buckle is actual bronze and the leather on the strap is aged beautifully. The crystal is a hand formed replica of the Bluepoint 40.2 crystal which is appropriate for this particular 3646 and very rare. What drew me in is the fact that these pieces are not CNC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paralizer Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Kind of makes it look easy there....if you had the right equipment. pretty sweet thread, thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalayclass Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 simply amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hava Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Looks great, a little expensive but unique and handmade..... thanks for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slickdick Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Indeed amazing, i'm speechless... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted September 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Kind of makes it look easy there....if you had the right equipment. pretty sweet thread, thanks for sharing. Actually, watching the process and seeing how many hours and the skills through pictures sent as the cases were built makes me appreciate the piece more. I have many more pics but picked a couple of random ones from along the way. It is amazing to watch a piece start as a block of steel and then to see all the hand machining, lathing and final file work. Even the forming of the plexi is very cool. It is such a diferent world from the current world of CNC where someone draws an accurate CAD and a computer executes it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w0lf Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 This looks familiar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltatahoe Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 deltatahoe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virgil Hilts Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Damn, Kruz. Those are epic. Wonderful work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Very very interesting project. But only for people who can also afford genuines, not for the average rep enthusiast. But really really SUPERB find and very nice post, info & pics. Thanks Kruzer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky Posted September 28, 2009 Report Share Posted September 28, 2009 Love the case back. that is what I miss with the standard vintage replica's, the caseback is not good. VDB his casebacks are awesome as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 Well it will be easy to find the watch smith, Just look around for some one who is glowing Is he realy using radium????? Not doupting you for a second but i dident even know it was alowed never mind available. Hats off to this guy, top top work, propper workman ship Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted September 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 It's funny you bring up the radium. Yes, he does have radium properly contained in a lead box but the topic was how much I wanted on the dial. Apparently the gen had a fair amount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanikai Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 One of a kind.. and Kruz is bringing it to RWG only AC Lani Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
projectologist Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 It's funny you bring up the radium. Yes, he does have radium properly contained in a lead box but the topic was how much I wanted on the dial. Apparently the gen had a fair amount. The type of emissions from Radium are not strong enough to penetrate the case, movement and case back to a degree that's harmful long-term, especially given the amount typically used on a dial. The real danger was the direct exposure to the Radium dust inhaled by the unprotected dial makers back in the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted September 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 Sounds right. Don't know what I was thinking. I don't think they were out to kill their frogmen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mir36 Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 (edited) Kruzer00: Congratulations on your investment paying off. I personally would be very interested in the 240 bridge and PreV case set projects. Please keep us updated. Awesome stuff! Edited September 29, 2009 by mir36 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earlgrey-erfurt Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 The neverending Mark Johnson thread.... but good that YOU get what you have paid for Helmut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishgodeep Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 I'm dumb struck - better start saving the pennies ( or who needs 2 kidneys anyway !!!0 Clearly this is putting things on another level!! Best FGD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star69 Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 nice - but 2500 for a fake case ? WOW not that its not worth it - but is there a marked for that ? cheers, Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VDBroucke Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 very nice and is not a fake case... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paralizer Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 Actually, watching the process and seeing how many hours and the skills through pictures sent as the cases were built makes me appreciate the piece more. I have many more pics but picked a couple of random ones from along the way. It is amazing to watch a piece start as a block of steel and then to see all the hand machining, lathing and final file work. Even the forming of the plexi is very cool. It is such a diferent world from the current world of CNC where someone draws an accurate CAD and a computer executes it. Let me rephrase my statement. that level of craftmanship makes it look easy. I can certainly respect the time and effort put into a project like this. And I can understand the price as well. I have a mechanical/industrial engineering background so I've spent time on a lathe before. I'd really like to find a friend who has a shop in his back yard and try my hands at something like this myself. Either way, thank you for sharing and I'm anxiously awaiting an update on those dials. Congrats for your patience and drive to take on a project like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star69 Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 very nice and is not a fake case... pardon - replica case Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravishingrick Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 (edited) The type of emissions from Radium are not strong enough to penetrate the case, movement and case back to a degree that's harmful long-term, especially given the amount typically used on a dial. The real danger was the direct exposure to the Radium dust inhaled by the unprotected dial makers back in the day. Would not want to be wearing a radium lumed piece day in and day out, but heck that is just my opinion. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_04kZGR_ltmE/SnaCXFBrsqI/AAAAAAAAEdM/IQTDxbdanYo/s1600-h/Giger-Counter-Panerai.jpg Source: http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/part-3-complete-history-of-rolex.html Edited September 30, 2009 by ravishingrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star69 Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 Would not want to be wearing a radium lumed piece day in and day out, but heck that is just my opinion. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_04kZGR_ltmE/SnaCXFBrsqI/AAAAAAAAEdM/IQTDxbdanYo/s1600-h/Giger-Counter-Panerai.jpg Source: http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/part-3-complete-history-of-rolex.html the famous radium girls come in mind i had to remove all my watches with radium dials from the house after i read about them .... but im a pussy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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