omgiv Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Well the day has finally come when I feel like I have something to share with the board. This project has been in the making for about six months. This board has been killing me because there have been so many great projects in that time. Most of the waiting has been for the funds to come in. Anyway, Here is my new GW 1665 from '79. The final piece of the puzzle came yesterday in the form of a Phong 1665 case. I had ordered a different case from another parts source but was not happy with the case. The deal breaker was that a genuine crystal would not fit the case (crystal seat was too small). Fortunately, this was not the case with this one. I did a little bit of case modification to the crown guards and edges of the case. After that, I started the assembly process. Once the case was assembled, I pressure tested it to 10 atm to see if it would leak. It had a leak around the HEV and I had to swap some of the gaskets for it. I tested it again and the leak was gone. The only "problems" I had were the spring bars. I don't know if this particular watch uses different spring bars from a 5513/1680, but they were sticking out past the lug holes. I filled the spring bars down and polished them back up and they seem to be fine now. I wonder if the lugs are too skinny, but it doesn't really bother me. The other thing that is a little bothersome is that the bezel spins a little too freely for me (even after bending the bezel washer). I don't think it bothers me as much as a genuine bezel and retaining ring would run though:) Anyway, I just wanted to show some pictures and get some feedback from you guys (good, bad, or ugly). Thanks for looking and for being such a great place to come. Genuine 1570 movement serviced by me Genuine luminova dial Genuine luminova hands Genuine luminova insert Genuine Tropic 39 crystal Genuine 703 crown and tube Genuine 585 end links Genuine 93150 bracelet Phone 1665 case with custom serial I love how you can read the dial from the lume Here she is next to my new BK/WM9 V2 Sub (gen crown, bezel and retaining ring, crystal, and insert) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyd3 Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Fantastic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Looks great, I! That reminds me... I need to get started on mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Spectacular! Boy that case has a nice shape to it. Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Well done. Really. 2 relatively minor recommendations - do not file down the springbars. The gens often stick out a bit beyond the sides of the case (that is a good thing & 1 of the indicators I look for on gens). The other thing is that I would soften the inside edges of the CGs a bit more. As they are, I do not think they match the 'age' of the rest of the case. It almost looks like the case was sanded, but the owner forgot to sand the CGs. Hint - when Rolex replaces a crown/tube, they lightly polish the area in & around it &, after some years, it shows. Unless the bezel spring is damaged, a good bend should tighten it up. On a (properly adjusted) gen, the bezel should require you to press it down (firmly) before it will rotate. If it spins freely (or moves during normal wear), the spring probably requires a more severe bend. Even so, well done (but keep an eye peeled for a vintage -- bold font -- gen bezel/insert). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbutlerman Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Wow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Very impressive list of gen parts and a beautiful job. Congrats and wear it well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosnik Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Stunning... my compliments! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vlydog Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Nicely done indeed! Send me a PM when you are ready to sell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omgiv Posted November 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Thanks for all of the compliments!!!! Coming from guys, that means a lot. I doubt that this one will be up for sale, but I am a bit surprised at how much wrist presence this thing has @freddy333: The spring bars were poking out more than I have ever seen. It was so much that it could have easily snagged on something. The next time I have the bracelet off, I will put a new one on and snap a picture. I did smooth out the inside of the crown guards but probably erred on the side of caution. I did that the polishing wheel to them after working them, so the inside did get polished after all was done. The next time I change the tube out, I will maybe do a little more work. Thanks again to everyone for all of the compliments!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 man looks great only thats not gen is the case huh. that is some serious commitment one day i hope to have something similar , the price tag scares me tho the reason for your pinbars sticking out might be because your lugs look noticeably thinner than any ive seen on a SD modern or vintage. even on a gen case theyre right at edge ready to stick out. compare lug thickness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star69 Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 C$$L !! cheers, Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkwbkw Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 My goodness thats beautiful! I have a 1570 just waiting for a new home and I've been half-assing it for a while now. Your watch has given me the inspiration to go big! Time to drop Phong an email Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselpower Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Lovely work. Well worth the effort. Congratulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Spectacular! Boy that case has a nice shape to it. Well done! Spectacular, and the case shape looks great like bob says, it is noticable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolexmaniac88 Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Congrats on this beautiful piece you assembled! A true stunner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cats Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 :wub: :wub: :wub: Great watch and also soem very good pictures which give a true impression of this beauty. Wear it well Cats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronin Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Looks amazing. Good work. Can I ask what other case you abandoned in favor of Phongs? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omgiv Posted November 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Thanks again for the replies! The lugs do look thinner than the ones in the picture highoeyazmuhudee posted. I have some in my archive that look similar to my case, but they have obviously been polished. @Ronin - I sent you a PM about the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panerai153 Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 you have put together a really beautiful watch. :thumbsupsmileyanim: I hope mine comes out looking as good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 Awesome!! I love it! Makes my MBW based 1665 look like crap! ha ha ha You sure dont see many 1665 service dials around. I can only imagine what that dial cost you... Good work my friend! Time for you to enjoy your new watch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 Here's a gen 1665 from my photo album As you can see, the lugs are quite a bit thicker here's a DRSD, But someone said my 1680 had been overpolished on the lugs, this isn't much of a lug shot, but it looks like your SD, it is what it is. I'd leave those springbars in there and go on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolfire Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 Amazing 1665! I need a Phong case now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyB Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 Beautiful! Well Done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praetor Posted December 1, 2010 Report Share Posted December 1, 2010 (edited) ditto...the lugs do look thin, even thinner than submariner. I think it was like that even before any bevelling. Otherwise it's great. I like a modded MBW case better though. Edited December 1, 2010 by praetor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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