The Miltary Officers Rolex

[chiman12]

While waiting for some parts to come in for my projects, I was looking at the extra parts that I still had in my parts bin. I discovered that I actually had a few interesting parts and then proceed to wonder what type of watch a miltary officer would wear.

I had a California Tudor dial handy and I've always like the looks of the dial, but the matte finish on the dial was "beat." So I resprayed the dial with Kryon matte finish and the result I got was an antique, pebblish finish, with a slight patina to the markers. I also had an extra Tudor 2483 kicking around. So I proceed to put it all together, using sub hands...

I need a case to house the dial and movement and I had a gen Tudor 7996 case available. The case is only 34mm (JMB style baby!!), but I thought this case size would be appropriate for a officer to wear in the 60's. The only problem is that the 7996 original had a date function and the crystal had a cyclope. The crystal was also the new style with the bevelled edge. I really like the edge, but of course the cyclope had to go. So I proceed to file down the cyclope with my hobby file.

I filed the cyclope down until it was pretty much flat with the crystal. Then I sand the rough marks down with a 6 micron sandpaper...

I hit the crystal with the buffer and the results were perfect!

I especially love the finish of the dial...it's a little different. Shown at an angle to so that you can see more of the characteristics of the "pebbling"

The complete package with a black NATO strap...

Looks like a good officer's watch too me!!!

Thanks!

[miquel]

Nice work!

I love what you did to the dial!

[Nanuq]

Fantastic!!! Love it!

[lhooq]

All these tiny Rolexes and Tudors! The Panerai guys must think we're a bunch of sissies!

Wonderful results, C. I love the rugged and classic looks of your "California rose"!

[StormTooper4]

Great work, looks really good

[pr0digy30]

Nice project... great work as always Chi!

[redwatch]

Love the Cali Tudor dial Chi!!! That looks sick! Well done! What is the watch that this dial was originally installed in?

[FxrAndy]

It sounds great, can wait to see it when i get home, damn you firewall!!!

[alligoat]

Pretty resourceful Chi, great job!

[camiel]

Very nice job. I'm surprised at how well you managed to buff the crystal

[FxrAndy]

Looks very good, almost looks like a bubble back case, definatly looks the right age

[TeeJay]

Absolutely LOVE IT!!!!!!!! :tu:

[dluddy]

Love it Chi. Came out great

[jmb]

Very interesting looking piece! Fantastic job on the "cyclopectomy".

[lhooq]

I'm loving that dial texture more each time I see it! That effect would be perfect for a vintage Fifty Fathoms.

[chiman12]

Thanks guys!!!

red...I actually bought the dial itself a long time ago in it's beat up condition on E-Bay. It has been sitting in my parts box ever since.

Andy...I thought the case looked like a bubble back also! I tried numerous to fit numerous Rolex end links on it, but they all didn't seem to fit, they weren't quite curved enough and the lugs look like they stick straight out...

Rolex 5048

LH...that sounds like a good idea! I finally did get a case for my FF...hhmmmm

[ubiquitous]

Absolutely killer, Chi! I dig these Cali dials...

[redwatch]

Wrist shot??

[rolexmaniac88]

What a beauty!

Love the textured dial...very much so

[william1670]

Great result,looks the part,btw thanks for the tutorial

[P4GTR]

Thats quite a piece for something you threw together with parts. Charming!

If I threw a watch together with my parts it would look something more similar to this-