To begin a seamaster project or not?

[danza1812]

So I was looking into a new case for my Smp quartz, then using the old case as a base for a 007 limited edition mod project.

The new cases come complete with crystal, crowns, bezels and gaskets. So all I will need is an eta 2824, gen hands and a dial, preferably a 007 dial but would settle for the original 2531 dial? So for an approximate cost of £650 I will have a brand new looking Smp quartz and a pretty darn good franken with everything gen except movement.

What are your thoughts on this project.

Thanks.

[danza1812]

Finished product will look like this:

But with my tatty old case of course!

[dbutlerman]

Hmmm...so this would be a Gen Quartz that you started with, correct? Are the quartz and auto cases the same?

[danza1812]

I believe they are the same case ref 168.1623, I'll have to check.

[danza1812]

Ah so quartz is case ref 196.1503. Every other part fits both cases such as bezel etc. Not worth the risk though. I'll just look for a new bezel for my Smp and try find a decent rep that accepts gen dial and bezel if there is such a rep?

[slickdick]

With omega, just buy used genuine. Unless you want to do a project.

Makes no sence to franken money wise. for a few dollars more, all the nitpicking about this and that becomes obsolete.

[danza1812]

I agree, but I was planning to do it in conjunction with refurbishing my 2541. At which point I was just making use of the old case.

[cougar1]

Interesting, good idea, why not go for a black bond instead?, Sell the bezel to raise funds for the black bezel? Or will the black bond dial not fit the old case?

You could also go down the route of creating a 2254 setup with the right parts? To me the 007 already looks too close to the blue bond to make it really worthwhile.

There are lots of different things that might be worth doing to create an almost completely different look. Some people on some of the gen forums were doing projects a while back using non-AC smp dials, PO seconds hands etc, they looked completely different and interesting and made a unique project. Either way, let us know how it goes!

Edited September 8, 2011 by cougar1

[cougar1]

Have a look at these two:

This to me looks like almost the perfect watch...never made

Edited September 8, 2011 by cougar1

[cougar1]

Oh right, didn't read that you had abandoned the idea, silly me

[danza1812]

Yeah I considered the black but I'm led to believe the case sizes are different. So I'll probably just try to source a new blue bezel for my Smp to freshen it up and start looking for another watch.....maybe if I could find a decent rep Smp I could use my gen bezel on.

[danza1812]

By case sizes, I mean the automatics and quartz cases. Regardless of colour. I can only find replacement cases for the automatic seamasters. I could build a black quartz from my old case if I could get hold of a quartz case, the eta 255 movements are dirt cheap!