"Late Model" Orange Explorer II

[jmb]

Seems I remember somebody posted a pic of this thing a month or two back and it intrigued me so I ordered a cheap one to mess with. Of course, it came with the wrong crown (I've came to expect that with cheap Explorer IIs and GMTs). After installing the correct crown and tube I looked at the movement wrong and screwed the keyless so I had to rip it apart and put stuff back where it belonged. In the process of recovering from that goof I then knocked a chunk of white paint off the minutes hand and left teeth marks on the GMT hand! Sometimes it just doesn't pay to get out of bed...

Well, I finally got it stuck back together with all of it's "user applied warts" and figured I'd toss up a couple pics - just for grins.

I remember thinking, after seeing the pic, I would either love it or hate it and I think my feelings are leaning NOT toward the love side. It's not a bad looking watch but the dial is just too "busy" and at night it's got more crap lit up on it than a Christmas tree. It will probably wind up in the for sale section for cheap and somebody else can give it a paint job!

For your entertainment....

Here it is as received:

And after changing the crown - made a big difference even all other things considered:

Oh well, ya can't win 'em all I s'pose!

[geo1nah2a]

Come on.. give us a lume shot

[alligoat]

Funny how the lugholes have disappeared and you've got a bracelet with SEL's. The rep mfrs just keep updating stuff! I also like the CN datewheel.

This Chronotac Explorer 2 has worked out well for me at $70.

And it's not a fake, it's a knock-off! At least no one will ask me if it's real! Those gen vintage Explorer II's are getting so expensive, it's crazy.

Oh, shoot, JB, I missed the sapphire/mineral crystal on yours.

[TeeJay]

Looking good, but I totally know what you mean about the dial being too busy and it not being an easy watch to love