seafoam Posted February 6, 2010 Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 Before I install this one and get another for my 1680 i wanted to get some opinions on this vintage insert. I currently have the standard MBW insert. This insert was cheap so i figured I'd roll the dice. looks.....ok to me. other opinions would be very welcomed. thanks. seafoam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorilladame Posted February 6, 2010 Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 (edited) Looks nice to me. Wounder if you get the same effect when you install a Yuki pearl on the original MBW Insert... I got the other Version from Wholesaleoutlet990 for my 1665 project (pics are made after a little bleaching ;-) ) So I think yours is a lot nicer... Sorry for the shitty pics from my iPhone... Edited February 6, 2010 by Gorilladame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cats Posted February 6, 2010 Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 I have one laying around for my 1680 and never installed it so i can't tell you anything about the dimensions and if it fit's properly. One thing which struck me was the pearl. IMHO you have to change the pearl cause it's way of. Currently i have a gen insert on my 1680 and a PMWF with a Ofrei pearl on my 1665. To be honest the PMWF looks real great and i don't see a lot of differences between them. 1680 with gen insert 1665 with PMWF And a comparison shot with 3 of a kind ( insert on 16610 is also gen ) Hope this helps you to decide which insert to buy. Carpe Diem Cats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seafoam Posted February 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 Very nice Cats. Ofrei is rather pricey but i can see why now. Thanks to both of you for sharing. I may have to go back to the drawing board... Edit: would you say it's an improvement over my current MBW insert? Crappy pict Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted February 6, 2010 Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 Seafoam, it's a given that the flat white pearl on an MBW insert isn't any good and I don't know if you can pop it out or not- my guess is you can't. Otherwise everyone would have already done it! The WO990 insert has possibilities- you could possibly put an Ofrei pearl in there and end up with a decent insert for a little over $50. Certainly worth a try. The other option might be to try to vintagize it with some paint or something... The PMWF insert at $65 + $7 s&h is a little pricey and $20 for the Ofrei pearl and you're up to $92- damn, if you could get a gen, it wouldn't cost that much! I saw a 5513 insert from Clark's the other day and I can't tell if it's an all acrylic pearl or not: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230429181301&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT This might be worth checking into. A shot of the back of your WO990 insert would be nice- looking for the pearl to go all the way thru the insert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seafoam Posted February 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 Seafoam, it's a given that the flat white pearl on an MBW insert isn't any good and I don't know if you can pop it out or not- my guess is you can't. Otherwise everyone would have already done it! The WO990 insert has possibilities- you could possibly put an Ofrei pearl in there and end up with a decent insert for a little over $50. Certainly worth a try. The other option might be to try to vintagize it with some paint or something... The PMWF insert at $65 + $7 s&h is a little pricey and $20 for the Ofrei pearl and you're up to $92- damn, if you could get a gen, it wouldn't cost that much! I saw a 5513 insert from Clark's the other day and I can't tell if it's an all acrylic pearl or not: http://cgi.ebay.com/...e=STRK:MEWNX:IT This might be worth checking into. A shot of the back of your WO990 insert would be nice- looking for the pearl to go all the way thru the insert. Good advice alligoat. I'm on a mission. thank you sir! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted February 6, 2010 Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 Me, too! Keep me posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seafoam Posted February 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 Me, too! Keep me posted. Will do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanikai Posted February 6, 2010 Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 Yukis has the better insert the only catch is you have to buy the pearl separately... the gen can be had on the gen fora's and ebay sometimes... better price on the gen fora's though WSO is cheap but inaccurate Clarks has the incorrect pearl also but the size will fit the acrylic.. and Clarks also sells the acrylic pearl... theirs cannot be bleached out.. WSO and Yuki's can.. Yuki's fades the best to silver metallic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorilladame Posted February 6, 2010 Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 Can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanikai Posted February 6, 2010 Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 it just may need a small drill bit to open a hole on the MBW insert (from the back of the insert).. that may work well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmj Posted February 6, 2010 Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 Before I install this one and get another for my 1680 i wanted to get some opinions on this vintage insert. I currently have the standard MBW insert. This insert was cheap so i figured I'd roll the dice. looks.....ok to me. other opinions would be very welcomed. thanks. seafoam It looks good to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seafoam Posted February 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 Thanks for all the comments guys. I've been all over the place today: Ofrei, Yuki, WSO (for another version), ndt, ebay, clark, parts4rolex you name it. I'll get it right somehow. I might try the WSO insert just for now to see if it grows on me. foam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted February 7, 2010 Report Share Posted February 7, 2010 where do you find these PMWF inserts you guys are talking about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorilladame Posted February 7, 2010 Report Share Posted February 7, 2010 http://www.pmwf.com/Watches/WATCHSALES/WatchAccessoriesSalesTable.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShawnBeever Posted February 7, 2010 Report Share Posted February 7, 2010 This is an ofrei pearl fitted to a standard MBW insert. The insert is very soft so I carefully opened up the hole from both side with small file. If you drill it and the drill catches I think you will distort the insert. You also need to sand the insert thinner, so it goes further into the bezel, creating a small lip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted February 7, 2010 Report Share Posted February 7, 2010 Nice job on the MBW insert with Ofrei pearl, Shawn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seafoam Posted February 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 Nice job on the MBW insert with Ofrei pearl, Shawn! Agreed. Very nice!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyd3 Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 PMWF or MBW with acrylic pearl installed is the way to go. The PMWF insert is not cheap, but in my opinion, it is far superior to the others out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorilladame Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 couldn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavidoc Posted February 10, 2010 Report Share Posted February 10, 2010 Keep in mind when sourcing an insert that you can find modern gen inserts for $100. That is the cost for them that most dealers charge, including the two I use. Gen inserts do pop up time to time and can had for around this cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Loiz Posted February 10, 2010 Report Share Posted February 10, 2010 This is an ofrei pearl fitted to a standard MBW insert. The insert is very soft so I carefully opened up the hole from both side with small file. If you drill it and the drill catches I think you will distort the insert. You also need to sand the insert thinner, so it goes further into the bezel, creating a small lip. Wow man...i just love vintage "no dates".U have a jewel on your wrist.Is it really a MBW? I must have one!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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