alligoat Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 A year or so ago, Ubi built a beautiful pair of Day Dates, one with a black dial and one with a white dial. He used modified Datejust cases in stainless and old 1556 Rolex movements. They turned out beautifully to say the least. I fell in love with the white dialed DD and decided it would be a fun build to pursue. So I slowly began assembling the parts. One of the early items was a DJ 16000 case. Alas, it was only a midcase with a case tube- no caseback. Next I got a white refinished DD dial for the 1800 series watches and finally a couple of months ago I landed a 1556 movt on ebay for a decent price. I picked up some crystals from Clarks (T-114, 135 and 118), some hands and a 1500 series stem. Luckily I was able to use a rep fluted bezel since I had nothing else lying around. The final purchase was a nice 600 series used crown. It all came together today and I'm pretty happy with the results The dial is the pie-pan dial and I love the white color on it. The date and day wheels are what might be a light silver color. When I bought the movement, it came with a black dial and I just thought the DD wheels were white. Now I'm not sure- are they an aged white or a light silver? Nevertheless, they are a shade darker than the white dial. Thank God they're not champagne! Finding old stock 1556 parts could be tough these days. Here's a parting wrist shot below. I'm still struggling with my iPhone and picture talking- my wife says life would be easier if I got the iPhone 4s! I'm still on a croc like leather strap for a while and may work on a 78360 or an ss presidential. The rep bezel is ok, but a gen fluted bezel would be nice. Like I said, this has been a fun build, but Phong modified my case and it ain't cheap! But Phong did a good job. He put a little nick in the case I furnished him, but he replaced it w/ another 16000 case and everything worked out fine. Now I just need to find another 16000 caseback so that I can put my old DJ back together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woof* Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Wow! That's really nice Alligoat! Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Nice! A timeless classic IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Very cool, M! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indyberetta Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red series 3 Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Love it, I want to know what the mods to the 16000 case are. It looks the rehaut is machined down but what else I don't know. Day date is a must Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted August 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Thanks guys, and good to see you again Indy! Love it, I want to know what the mods to the 16000 case are. It looks the rehaut is machined down but what else I don't know. Day date is a must I'm not exactly sure what Phong did to the case, but my guess is that he turned the case on a lathe and shortened the inside rehaut so that the movement sits higher in the case and the stem lines up correctly. The hands sit very high and I tried three crystals before a T-118 worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danielv2000 Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 That's very nice! You don't know how many times I've stared at Ubi's white DD thread... I agree, a DD is a must! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbh Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 I've got a SS presidential bracelet that I lightly modified the end links to fit a gen DJ case, before I found a gen jubilee bracelet. Let me know if you want it and I'll send it your way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiman12 Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Very classy M! Really like it on the leather strap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 "Classy" is le mot juste! Terrific build, M! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted August 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Thanks guys and thanks KBH for the bracelet offer. I've got a presidential bracelet already, it came on my $60 Silix Datejust which I never wear. But I'm probably leaning more towards a 78360 oyster at this point if I do go metal. Or maybe a 7836- I think I have one of those also. My Datejust franken works well on a 93150, but I don't know if i'm going to get that 'sporty' on the DD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjjoyce1 Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Very nice! I think the President bracelet would set off the bezel nicely. Go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBOGH Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Wow, that does look nice. Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Pure class My .2c would be to use a jubilee bracelet with a fluted bezel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted August 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 Well I tried some bracelets today- the presidential fit ok, but it just wasn't my style. The jubilee didn't fit- it's a rep bracelet and the end piecesjust never fit on any gen cases. Next up was the 7836 off of the Josh 1655 and a set of 455B rep end pieces which were on my 16014 DJ. That combo worked pretty well. I don't know if I have a 78360 bracelet in my pile of junk or not. I'll look some more tomorrow. I'd sure love to run across another set of the 455B end pieces- they seem to fit pretty well on the 16000 DJ cases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 The 455B is a life-saver. Still, I hope you find a good jubilee, as I think an Oyster looks too utilitarian for a Day-Date. In fact, I think you should slap on a gold fluted bezel, and a Tridor bracelet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 Well I tried some bracelets today- the presidential fit ok, but it just wasn't my style. The jubilee didn't fit- it's a rep bracelet and the end piecesjust never fit on any gen cases. Next up was the 7836 off of the Josh 1655 and a set of 455B rep end pieces which were on my 16014 DJ. That combo worked pretty well. I don't know if I have a 78360 bracelet in my pile of junk or not. I'll look some more tomorrow. I'd sure love to run across another set of the 455B end pieces- they seem to fit pretty well on the 16000 DJ cases. Another option, would be to swap the bezel for a flat one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mymanmatt Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 I like it, alot!! The stainless pres bracelet is a must, I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fitch Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 Great build and a timeless piece you got there! beautifull Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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