redwatch Posted March 23, 2012 Report Posted March 23, 2012 Hello fellow watch enthusiasts! Just thought I would start a post introducing my next little project. I am planning on building a Franken 168000/16610 transitional submariner (the triple zero). So far, I have the following parts: TC Sub Case Set (rehaut sanded down & soon to have lug holes drilled in it) Genuine T<25 Spidered Submariner Dial Genuine Fat 4 Bezel Insert with aged tritium pearl Need to find a bracelet and the elusive 593 end links for it. Also need to find a nice 2824 date wheel overlay with rounded 3's and open 6's and 9's. Looks like I might have some help on that one with one of our famous modders here Here's a pic of the dial which is on it's way from New York. Special thanks and kudos to Ubiquitous for finding this dial for me!!! Check out the spider web cracking on this dial!!!! More to come soon 2
asciwhite Posted March 23, 2012 Report Posted March 23, 2012 OOOooooh this will be good Love the spider webbing!!
irolexu Posted March 23, 2012 Report Posted March 23, 2012 In case you decide not to use this dial I have a 168000 dial! no cracks
redwatch Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Posted March 23, 2012 In case you decide not to use this dial I have a 168000 dial! no cracks The cracks in the dial are what make it so special Besides you have to have the dial in the right kind of light to really see them. Otherwise the dial will look aged when you look straight down on it. (At least I think that's how it works!)
asf Posted March 23, 2012 Report Posted March 23, 2012 God daaaayum I can't wait to see this completed. I love that dial
TeeJay Posted March 23, 2012 Report Posted March 23, 2012 Can't wait to see how it looks when it's finished, bro When funds allow, I'm going to be undertaking a 16610 to 16800 project, from the budget end of the spectrum
irolexu Posted March 24, 2012 Report Posted March 24, 2012 The cracks in the dial are what make it so special Besides you have to have the dial in the right kind of light to really see them. Otherwise the dial will look aged when you look straight down on it. (At least I think that's how it works!) Wow thats really interesting, would love to see that in person. so the cracks are just something that happens over time?
correctime Posted March 24, 2012 Report Posted March 24, 2012 That's going to be sweet. Congrats on the project.
tabularasa415 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Posted March 24, 2012 That's gonna be awesome. I wish I was just a little younger so the 168000 could be my birth year gen purchase instead of the 16800. I can't wait to see it when it's done! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
gavidoc Posted March 25, 2012 Report Posted March 25, 2012 Red That will be a good watch but I didn't think the spiderweb dials were found on 168000's. Only some of the 16800's.
redwatch Posted March 25, 2012 Author Report Posted March 25, 2012 You could be correct in that. Either way, I'm looking forward to the project. All I know is I want a submariner with tritium dial and hands, lug holes in the case and a nice bracelet
spooky driver Posted March 25, 2012 Report Posted March 25, 2012 Red That will be a good watch but I didn't think the spiderweb dials were found on 168000's. Only some of the 16800's. what makes the dial go all spiderwebish?
krpster Posted March 25, 2012 Report Posted March 25, 2012 what makes the dial go all spiderwebish? Was wondering the same thing. Cool project BTW.
prospex44 Posted March 25, 2012 Report Posted March 25, 2012 Wow, i also would love to see some more pics of the project process! I think it'll look amazing!
DeeKa Posted March 25, 2012 Report Posted March 25, 2012 The spiderwebbing was due to a small batch of dials which were produced with a wrong mixture of laquer. Same as for the cream dial Ex II which also was only a small batch of dials (originally )... Dee
redwatch Posted March 26, 2012 Author Report Posted March 26, 2012 Exactly D. Also happened with the 5513's as well. In researching it a little bit more, I did find reference to several models of Rolex's that suffered from the spiderweb dial. It's quite hilarious reading about the "issue" in the gen forums. Most of them absolutely cringe when discussing the spiderweb dial claiming it as being absolutely worthless. Of course, these are the same guys that dislike tropical dials! Anyways, so far in my research, it seems as though the following Rolex's had issues with the cracking, spiderwebbing or crazing of the laquer: 5513, 16660, 16800, 168000, and the 16550.
rower Posted March 26, 2012 Report Posted March 26, 2012 (edited) This is my 168000. Unfortunately a number of years back (before a lot of studying) I went to the AD and had it serviced. They put a new dial in it, as you can see. I asked for my dial and they said to get the new dial I had to turn in the old one. I asked that my old dial be put back and they said it was gone. A hard lesson learned. They did give me the T bezel insert with pearl. Someday that will end up in a project. Edited March 26, 2012 by rower
stilty Posted March 26, 2012 Report Posted March 26, 2012 As for your date disc, I still have one in white and a few in champagne. see this old post for more details:
redwatch Posted March 26, 2012 Author Report Posted March 26, 2012 As for your date disc, I still have one in white and a few in champagne. see this old post for more details: http://www.rwg.cc/to...lex-date-discs/ Sweet!!! Sent you a PM!
redwatch Posted March 26, 2012 Author Report Posted March 26, 2012 Just a little update on the project progress. Found a set of 593 end links and a gen 703 crown. Having the date wheel from Stilty will really make a difference! Can't wait for that one!!!
redwatch Posted March 26, 2012 Author Report Posted March 26, 2012 Further updates: Dial & Bezel just arrived. Amazing how different the crazing can look under different light!!!
cougar1 Posted March 26, 2012 Report Posted March 26, 2012 First time I've seen Spiderweb dials, makes an interesting effect, looks cool actually!
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