Vintage Oyster Perpetual

[jmb]

After listening to the Brethren and ordering a few more parts I feel that the Oyster Perpetual "Franken-Lite" is about as done as it's gonna get, well maybe a better fitting set of end-links at some point but I'm in no big rush.

After revision 1 there were several inaccuracies that needed to be attended to so Rev 2 sported a Clark T12 crystal. This dial was originally paired with a set of silver Dauphine style hands so this became Rev 3. Although the Jubilee is a nice comfortable band this morning it came off and a Riveted Oyster went on in it's place so this can be considered Rev 4 and the final rev.

One observation to correct a bit of bad info I mentioned about the case. I had originally thought the bezel would snap down onto the Clark with no mods, and I originally installed it this way but found the crystal "skirt" broken when I removed the crystal this morning so I sanded about .004" off the ID of the ring and it was perfect.

Parts List:

Gen Oyster Perpetual Dial

Rep 34mm Tudor Prince Date case with Tudor stamping turned off the case-back

Ofrei Silver Dauphine style hands with a black sweep hand

Riveted Brushed Oyster bracelet

ETA 2836-2 movement

Clark T12 crystal

Not too much else to say other than enjoy the pics.

[JoJo35]

Very nice JMB, but why not a gen bracelet? These are cheap on the bay. Perhaps even a gen 16mm buckle and leather strap

[Justasgood]

J,

Very nice result. It looks like it should and a nice Black Gator/crock strap would make this one Killa!

Wear it in good health my friend.

[freddy333]

Looks good as-is, but I think the hands could use some enhanced patination (a few minutes of baking time) so they match the rest of the watch. After that, I would call it done.

[TeeJay]

It looks fantastic, bro I agree with the above comments about baking the hands, and that the watch would also look really nice on a leather strap

[jmb]

Freddy, I tried yesterday to get some age on the hands, even resorted to some metal etching solution that contains phosphoric acid and that didn't even leave a spot! If I stick 'em in the oven will it darken the silver finish? Bake at 375 or hit 'em with the broiler? The gen hands looked a bit like tarnished silver but I imagine these ofrei hands are chrome plated...

NO STRAPS!!!! I've never liked 'em and if I ever bought a watch with a strap that's the first thing that was "upgraded"! No offense to strap lovers...

[freddy333]

I agree about the straps (no). Apply a bit of iodine (for color) to the backside of the lume & then bake the hands in the center of your oven. (I usually place them, shiny side up, on aluminum foil.) As far as temps & times, you have to gauge it by eye. Start at around 300 degrees for 5 minutes. Then, pull them out & have a look-see. If they match the dial, you are done. If not, put them back & increase the temps 50 degrees for a few additional minutes. Be careful not to go too high or too long, because dessert can go from tasty to overdone in less than a minute.

[alligoat]

Nice job, JB!

I would think a little bit of tea or coffee might give you some patina on the hands and maybe it wouldn't affect the lume, which would be nice.

[jmb]

goat/freddy - So, the iodine or coffee is basically a "paint or wash" that give the appearance of age but actually does not attack the actual finish on the hand? And as far as the heat goes I take it that it gives the lume a brownish tinge?

[freddy333]

Apply the iodine only to the backside of the lume. Get as little on the hands as possible. It will not damage them, but can leave stains that are not very authentic looking. The iodine provides enhanced patina (be careful not to apply it too evenly - a bit of splotchyness is good) & baking gives the parts some age. This is an art, not a science, which is why most of this requires experimentation to get the look YOU want.

[Brightight]

I just love your 34mm Rollies JMB, I'm beginning to think one of these might be my next franken!

I use woodstain (alcohol soluble) to age hands and lume, and also on dials. It's the stuff I use for guitar refinishing work - http://www.stewmac.c...uid_Stains.html - the Vintage amber is the one I use most, with brown and yellow also. It can be diluted with denatured alcohol/methylated spirits to control the final result and tried out on white paper till you get approximately the effect you want, then just paint it on. Further small dabs of the mix (maybe more concentrated) can be added to give blotchiness. Very controllable.

This is the effect. Chapter ring and some of the text treated with amber to simulate aged gilt, lume dots done with yellow and brown (they don't look this yellow in real life!) then the dial sprayed with matt lacquer -

[jmb]

Bright - The dial is "naturally" aged I just need to get the hands to look not quite so "brand new". I will admit that your technique makes that Sub dial look absolutely ancient!

I've really started to like the 34mm size for daily wear. They are light weight, don't slide down my wrist and cause "crown callouses", and don't seem to get banged and smacked on stuff as much as the bigger watches.