importr Posted July 28, 2010 Report Share Posted July 28, 2010 I'm wondering if the old version is still available, or if it's only this newer one, which has the silly 2-piece dial & sunken date: http://www.ok-replica.com/breitling-navitimer-chronograph-swiss-valjoux-7750-automatic-movement-white-dial-with-black-subdials-and-stick-markers-p-5369.html http://www.ok-replica.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image_additional&pID=5369&pic=7&products_image_large_additional=images/Breitling/2009060221_08.jpg but it does have a better bezel and slightly thicker lugs than standard Navi rep. This is a new case. http://www.ok-replica.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image_additional&pID=5369&pic=4&products_image_large_additional=images/Breitling/2009060221_05.jpg So I'm thinking of building a tribute to my old genuine Fighters, and hopefully using a combination of old & new Fighter rep, WHITE dial. Maybe PolexPete already tried this project? I've got a genuine Breitling calibre 13 on its way, with correct DW and signed rotor. Though it could go to another watch if the Fighter isn't available. I may try to buy a domed crystal - mineral or acrylic. If mineral, i'll get it AR'd. I will file the case horns to the correct angle, and strip the donor parts and brush them all. I might even tint the hands, as the gen white dial Fighter has darker (large) hands. So if anyone has bought one recently, please tell me who supplied it! Pics would be good too. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By-Tor Posted July 28, 2010 Report Share Posted July 28, 2010 My favorite Navitimer. I would buy a rep instantly if there was a good one available. I actually owned one back in 2005. It looked like this. Lots of flaws... the biggest being the polished case and bracelet. The subdial concave shape (which is characteristic for Navis) was achieved by stickers. It'd be nice if there was something better than this... and with BRUSHED case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
importr Posted July 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2010 I remember that watch BT, I remember how you lovingly photographed it too. My Fighters reps (1 black & 1 white) were the next revision, with solid subdials If we ignored the fact that it was a Serie Speciale, it'd be a very good rep of an Old Navitimer. What was the logic to produce a Fighter with glaring errors? if Mister MBW or Mister WM9 could rework the Navitimer, they'd have a whole new market! as for the subdial stickers LOL I guess that Factory didn't have the tooling to re-create the dished guilloche effect back then. Obviously things moved on, as the 2008 Super Avenger arabic dial is almost indistinguishable from the gen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www_watch Posted July 28, 2010 Report Share Posted July 28, 2010 Lots of flaws... the biggest being the polished case and bracelet. Let's not forget about the caseback. I couldn't stop laughing for at least an hour when I first saw that..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jj69 Posted August 2, 2010 Report Share Posted August 2, 2010 I just turned mine into an Old Navi with a gen dial and custom datewheel. FYI, my local watch guy told me the dial had to be shaved a bit to fit the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polexpete Posted August 8, 2010 Report Share Posted August 8, 2010 So I'm thinking of building a tribute to my old genuine Fighters, and hopefully using a combination of old & new Fighter rep, WHITE dial. Maybe PolexPete already tried this project? Hi Importr, i recieved a newer version of the fighters when i ordered a Serie Speciale from Andrew and took it apart to see what would fit. Unfortunately not even a gen dial would go in, the opening is too large. Its only good if you keep it stock, it no good for modding. But at least the dial and slide rule lined up.... I did get an older version off of him after but this was back in Jan/Feb time i believe, not sure if they're still around... Cheers P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
importr Posted August 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2010 uh damn. I knew it seemed too easy! Thanks for saving me the time & the money anyway...I'll have to find a suitable donor for this Ling movement now cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hackR Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 ......strip the donor parts and brush them all. what was used to brush the parts?...what tool(s) and process(es)? ......and custom datewheel. where did you get/make/source a custom datewheel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
importr Posted January 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 @HackR For case & bracelet brushing I use Artifex Wheel attached to a variable speed drill (clamped). I have 2 grades, both 150 (coarse) grain. The Hard compound gives a matte finish like Breitling OEM The Medium compound gives a satin finish like Omega OEM - also works well on Titanium, for the Breitling matte finish. using Scotchbrite pads etc. has it advantages for hard to reach crevices. I also use small patches of very fine wet 'n' dry for some edges. Those fiberglass pens are useful but only for tiny jobs, not scratches. This is part of my original Fighter modding post a few years back: First, remove the straps and case back. Use Blu-Tac in a big blob or (if its too tight) the correct Breitling-style caseback or Jaxa-type tools. Remove crown, take out movement and also the pusher buttons. Removing the buttons can be tricky as the tiny 'C' clips can get lost. I then removed the glass, especially if it has AR. I used a proper watchmakers tool, an abrasive wheel that feels like compacted soft sand...here's where I bought it http://www.cousinsuk.com/default.aspx?disp...roductid=456115 ...fitted to an upright variable speed drill. Have it on slow speed and press the case against it so that the brushing happens in one direction only. If you dont want to buy the wheel, it is also possible to use a new scouring pad. I would say that the wheel produces the most even and tidy pattern. Having said that, I used BOTH, to get the parts that the wheel wouldn't fit in. Try to get the same grain and direction all over the watch case, including the bezel. The wheel might scratch the glass, thats why I took it out. Next, you need to brush the crown and then the buttons. Try to have the brush pattern happen in one direction only... ...the genuine... Now thoroughly clean the case and glass, might even be worth putting the vaccum cleaner nozzle near it. The particles from the Artifex wheel get everywhere! Use the Blu-Tac to get hard to reach bits out. Refit the pusher buttons, mov't etc and crown. Finally refit the caseback. My Genuine Fighter Navi has a polished caseback. So I would leave it as is. Stand back and admire your work of art! (hopefully) Real on the left, rep on the right [/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Defender110 Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 if i remember correctly.. the cartel at one time made a very limited run of 1:1 Serie Specials with Swiss 7750 and correct brushed cases from the factory. Rare as hens teeth as his was years ago before all the modern day rep advances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
importr Posted January 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 You are sort of right, but the cartels' 1:1 was correct for an Old Navitimer, but the bezel, sapphire (should've been high dome mineral) crystal, case lugs were wrong compared to the gen I also remember that it was an extortionate amount of money, plus the date wheel was the ETA type. $888, for what is basically a mildly modded rep? Andreww & ByTor may have already listed these, but AFAIK, these are the only credible Navi reps, in chronological order of release: 1) 50th Anniv & "calibre 23" arabic dial - Seagull manual wind, no date 2) "calibre 23" baton & arabic dials - a7750 tricompax low beat 3) Serie Speciale - a7750 low beat *sometime during this period, when asian 7750s were still very unreliable, the Cartel modded one was released* 2 & 3 then released as hi beat and proved to be more reliable 4) 2nd gen 50th Anniv - a7750 tricompax. Turned out to be a dogs dinner of a rep 5) 2nd gen Serie Speciale - a7750 with better case & bezel etc. but still had the wrong crystal (see URL at top) PolexPete's watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreww Posted January 27, 2011 Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 I think you are spot on with your chronology Importr. The brushed Serie Speciale that they released was simply a brushed V2 with a swiss movement. All the same errors, and a bit of a stretch at almost $900. I'd have to say that of all the Navis I've seen, the genuine Fighters is by far the nicest. The beefier bezel and case and the brushed appearance really made for a very macho looking watch. Regular Navis are awesome, but the SS took it to the next level As for making a franken Navi, the only real formula is an old school fighters, a gen Old Navi dial, a proper datewheel, AR, and a tricompax caseback. Aside from the model number and the color of the slide rule insert, you'd have a pretty convincing rep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hackR Posted January 28, 2011 Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 man...terrific post, Importr...pix, method and history... thanks for sharing the details... R- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolexman Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Just 2 weeks ago I tried to buy a Navi SS with Andrew and upon receiving QC pics I noticed it had the 'regular' Navi case back. After emailing him my observation he contacted the factory which told him the SS case back is out of production since 2 years..... So I changed my order. Apparently these Navi SS are out of production, or at least the case back is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
importr Posted January 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 Interesting...was it a Serie Speciale dial, the non sunken one? And did it have the correct date font? If the answers are YES, I am thinking that this would be a good base for modding. Care to post these QC pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolexman Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 These QC pics are about 2~3 weeks old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
importr Posted January 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 Thanks for posting the pics! I see it has the cal.23 caseback, still, not a big problem as a gen dial can easily be got. Good to know that this version is still available too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polexpete Posted February 2, 2011 Report Share Posted February 2, 2011 My Fighters reps (1 black & 1 white) were the next revision, with solid subdials Importr, sell me one of these, please, please, please.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
importr Posted February 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2011 Importr, sell me one of these, please, please, please.... Dude, i would if i still had either of them! The black went on ebay a few years back (since they were so common on these forums), and the white one went to my mate, who still has it and wears it often! I'm waiting for his a7750 to pack up and then I will take it back "for spare parts" muhahaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hackR Posted August 12, 2011 Report Share Posted August 12, 2011 a great reference thread as i mod my v1 Fighter... a couple questions... 1) did you ever file down the lug horns?...(hesitant to do so, but would make a difference)... 2) is the gen black dial a matte, gloss or semi-gloss finish?... 3) how much of a gen dial needs to be shaved down to fit in this case?...(the answer is probably in Pete's thread)...even tho gen dials are works of art - it seems that without a gen slide rule, its still just a hybrid...does the gen slide rule fit into these cases?...could be a moot point, as it seems that finding a gen slide rule is tough... thanks, Gents... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougaree Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 a great reference thread as i mod my v1 Fighter... a couple questions... 1) did you ever file down the lug horns?...(hesitant to do so, but would make a difference)... 2) is the gen black dial a matte, gloss or semi-gloss finish?... 3) how much of a gen dial needs to be shaved down to fit in this case?...(the answer is probably in Pete's thread)...even tho gen dials are works of art - it seems that without a gen slide rule, its still just a hybrid...does the gen slide rule fit into these cases?...could be a moot point, as it seems that finding a gen slide rule is tough... thanks, Gents... 2) The gen dial on mine looks matt. 3) I still see a little bit of slide rule markings on the gen dial once it's installed into the case with rep slide rule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wzyho Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 I am slightly confused. I own the version of the Navitimer which By-Tor referenced in his post, and I was thinking of doing some mods to it. From what people have said, I suppose I could: 1. buy an old navitimer dial off fleabay and replace the dial with the crappy stickers 2. replace the slow beat movement with the a7750 and 3. AR and I should be all good to go? Just wondering if the gen dial and A7750 would fit into the old case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cougaree Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 This is mine with gen dial. I was lucky and bought this from here. If you have to replace the movement, why not a gen ETA 7750? However, if what you have is a Navi Tricompax, then I'm not so sure if gen dial will fit. Speaking of AR. Does gen Navi of this vintage have AR on the crystal, Gents? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreww Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 Yes it does Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
importr Posted November 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Sorry HackR, I completely missed this post! The gen dial has a slight sheen to it. Not completely matte, and not shiny. in fact the rep superocean abyss has the same sheen as gen! I didn't file the case horns as I didn't get the old navitimer case. Since I originally typed this thread I went and found a gen fighters! Therefore the project was shelved. The gen B13 went into a BCE. IIRC, you shave off 0.5mm , making the dial 1mm smaller in diameter. Best check your rep dial first to be sure. hth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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