jmb Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 When building a Rolex people sometimes ask why they need a date wheel overlay since the movement has a date wheel. If there ever was a more compelling reason to build nifty Tudor projects I can't think of one!! The common movements used in reps have a date wheel proportioned for what can be thought of as an old 4:3 TV set while the window in a Rolex dial is similar to the newer 16:9 HD sets! You have to stick an overlay over the native date wheel or you'll wind up with something like this: To compound the Rollie builder's life even further the vintage builds will usually require a font with "Flat threes" and "open sixes and nines". Seems most of the more easily obtainable overlays come with "round threes" and "closed sixes and nines". Here is my solution to this issue... Most overlays come printed onto what looks like a brass or stainless steel disc with the SS ones being the more common (at least as I've seen it). These things can be dunked in lacquer thinner or acetone, stripped, brushed, painted, BBQed, etc., and re-covered according to your needs. Brother Ubi was nice enough to loan me a gen vintage style date wheel which I used to create a clear decal. Is it perfect? No, but unless under extreme magnification it looks pretty good and will certainly pass the "wrist test". I started with an overlay that was on a SS substrate: I then brushed it in a radial direction with a Scotch Brite and applied this: To get this: Which I epoxied over the sanded 2846 date wheel like so: Installed the dial and had this: Which fully assembled looks like this: This finished pic shows the font under considerable magnification so it does look a bit "soft" but this is not really evident "on the wrist". If anybody needs to make themselves some vintage overlays drop me a PM as I printed plenty of extras and even have a few overlay "blanks". 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 now THIS i LIKE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txrob779 Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 Good thread Justin...I can vouch for this...I watch him overlay MY datejust ...I have an old ETA 2846 movment and the date was just as seen it was off center when he switched cases,,,,,the dials date window and new cyclops didnt line up. It does now brilliantly. Thank You Justin, Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsiadeCuba Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 wow this is very informative. you tha man jmb! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkay Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Awesome .. a man of action! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Nice job JB! So when people ask who has the correct Rolex DW overlay for a vintage 1680/1665, we can say JMB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted September 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 It might pass casual observation... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praetor Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 I think that most vintage rollie reps would pass the wrist test from casual observers/ collectors. It's not them we're fooling, it's ourselves. That's why it's necessary to go the distance XD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyB Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evanvito Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Awesome. Looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Nice!!!! Bravo sir! Bravo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krpster Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Nicely done J. You truly are a man of action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Looks good to me! I could definately use a few of these! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPN Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Wow, learn something new every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
username here Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted September 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 nice! I HOPE you like it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ephry73 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 The ones I bought from you Justin worked out great! I still have one left. I used the ones in a "sterile" SSD aged PVD case that I'm still working on. Awesome work! E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted September 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 I'm glad they worked out for ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vlydog Posted September 29, 2011 Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 Nice Job J! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ephry73 Posted September 29, 2011 Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 Justin, Do you by any chance want to sell that 1680 dial? E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted September 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 Not mine... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmacnz Posted May 28, 2012 Report Share Posted May 28, 2012 Are any of these date wheels still around? Have a feeling Im going to need one for a 2846 powered 1665 real soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted May 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2012 PM me when you decide... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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