freddy333 Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 To Happy Motoring! So, which would you choose - pilot's cabin or executive suite? (Sorry, neither is for sale) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtanak Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 OMG... orgasm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panerai153 Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Personally, the executive suite all the way. the white dial Pan Am is a sweet watch!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Is it an either/or question? How about BOTH?? That's my vote, anyways... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianT Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Geez.....that a tough question...both rock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brightight Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 For goodness sakes don't show JoeyB that white dial Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 White, but only if you can get the meatball engraved on the back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted June 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Thanks All. Each has its pluses & minuses. Here are a few quick, side-by-side macros. Let me know if they sway you either way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 I like the black dial much better. Can you switch the white dial's date window to the black one? Then you'll be 99% of the way home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Black, if it were my watch and my wrist (I wish). Rarity and history aside, the black dial is much more visually appealing, plus the quality of your black dial's replication looks superior to the white's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted June 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Is it an either/or question? How about BOTH?? Normally, that would be the obvious answer. The problem is that it took me 2 years to gather up all the parts for this 1 & I was extremely lucky to run into a couple of the NOS gmt parts. But the dials are too good to let either sit in my parts bins. White, but only if you can get the meatball engraved on the back! Again, normally, I would probably do that & the thought has crossed my mind (several times). But all the parts for the Phase II watch (with the exception of the insert) are gens & valuable, so I do not think modding is an option here. Anyway, there are so few (authenticated) white 6542s around (I have only ever seen pics of them) & I have seen them with 3 different casebacks (1 with a plain caseback), so it is probably best left as-is. I like the black dial much better. Can you switch the white dial's date window to the black one? Then you'll be 99% of the way home. Oddly, I was thinking the white dial's date window looks a bit small (the black 1 the gen KR-repaint dial). Rarity and history aside, the black dial is much more visually appealing, plus the quality of your black dial's replication looks superior to the white's. Each has its strengths & weaknesses. The paint/finish quality on the black is clearly better (nearly equivalent to Rolex's application quality). Also, as I mentioned to Nanuq, its date window is the proper shape/size. On the other hand, I think the fonts are more accurate on the white dial & there are at least 4 different coronet styles that I have seen on 6542s & each dial fits right in there. But the word ROLEX & the line below it seem more accurate on the white dial Here is the most common version of the 6542 (note the style/shape/size/position of the fonts) 3 albino gens Rarity aside, & just looking at each dial on its own, I am kind of swayed in favor of the white dial, mainly, due to its more accurate fonts. I think it is also quite spiffy looking with a nice contrast between the dark red/blue insert & white dial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 I do like the fonts better on the white, and I would have gone that way but for two things. The top of the 12:00 triangle looks slightly curved, and from what I can suss out from the photos online, it should be flat like the black dial. Second is the "E" in "ROLEX", its middle "leg" should be above center like your black dial. Stephano's photos notwithstanding. I wonder if that was just a "gilt thing"? edit: also look at "certifiEd" and "mastEr" and "chronometEr". They're apparently all different. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 I'll be totally honest, I don't like the white dial at all with the GMT. Historically speaking, yes, very cool, but on a purely aesthetic level, it just doesn't do it for me. Plus, given the rarity of the watch as well, if being called out or having to explain the watch is any kind of fear, the watch becomes unwearable... Just my .2c Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 White :thumbsupsmileyanim: :thumbsupsmileyanim: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cats Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 It's the black 6542 for me. Carpe Diem Cats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyB Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 It's too late, I saw it... freddy, I agree with your assessments. What I've seen of all the pictures on line both 'models' of the 6542 have many variances. And a good many are from the Rolex factory themselves. The dials used on the black were both gilt and white lettering, some 'T <25', some not. From what I read the bakelite insert lasted only about a year from Rolex, and was not installed in the Pan Am 'Executive' white face. Any bakelite insert watches they got in for service were replaced with the stamped insert. Later, after the 1675 came out any 6542 that came in for service was subject to getting the stamped insert, new 'Superlative' dial, the larger 4th hand and all black numbered date wheel. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the changes, so I don't know if the watch owner had a choice in the changes or not. As you've said before, the bakelite insert was fragile and it is likely that none that we've seen are original, all an aftermarket from one source or another. I had not seen any pics of the white dial without the Pan Am globe on the case-back, but that is further 'good news' to me! It says to me that there is quite a bit more 'flexibility' in building a 6542, and it has the benefit of being the correct hand stack and no crown guards to be judged by the replica experts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 If both is not an option, then white would be my choice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donerix Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Wow guys - you are really in a different league ... I would probably give my left arm for either version (and I am not even a Rolex kind of guy). If I had to choose one: I would ............. no I can't even make a decision they are both beautiful. I hope you can do both at some point and post side by side pics of the finished results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted June 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Nanuq - Agreed on all counts. The thing is that, from what I have seen, 1950s Rolex watches contained even more than the usual Rolex variations. As far as the triangle at 12, there are flat tops, curved tops, flat top triangles close to the minute track, flat top triangles away from the minute track, curved triangles close......well, you get the idea (2 out of several variations - note the distance between hour/minute markers & shape/position of triangles relative to minute markers - dial at right (excepting dial color) is very similar to my white dial) In the end, I think there is more than sufficient variation on the albino theme along with enough debate to make this 1 fit right in, with room to spare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted June 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 some 'T <25', some not. The T<25's were all service/replacement dials. The originals had only SWISS at 6 o'clock. From what I read the bakelite insert lasted only about a year from Rolex, and was not installed in the Pan Am 'Executive' white face. As I understand it, all of the white dials (only about 150 or so) did originally come with Perspex inserts. The (most) official recounting I have is that the white dials were constructed from the left overs of the original 6542 manufacturing run, which was designed from the beginning to produce a set number of watches (for Pan Am flight personnel). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyB Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 The T<25's were all service/replacement dials. The originals had only SWISS at 6 o'clock. As I understand it, all of the white dials (only about 150 or so) did originally come with Perspex inserts. The (most) official recounting I have is that the white dials were constructed from the left overs of the original 6542 manufacturing run, which was designed from the beginning to produce a set number of watches (for Pan Am flight personnel). Obviously that is quite possible. I went with the date that the white dial watch were released to PanAm which was after the change to the stamped insert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted June 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Thanks for all the input, guys. White it is. Seeing how well the dials (both) came out, I need to have the date wheel repainted as well. So, for now, I will put the watch together with an all-black date wheel. The finished Phase II (gen-powered/cased/braceleted) product should look something like this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Looks great freddy! You are definitely 'franken builder' of the year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Freddy that is going to be stunning, just stunning, if you ever think of selling it give me chance to sell a kidney and a testicle please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Wow Freddy! Just wow!!! I love the white dial (as you may have guess from my posting a while back!!!) Nice find there for sure! Looking forward to the finished product! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now