sneed12 Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 This is my GMT IIc. I've been working on getting this model right essentially since I started doing mods... over the years I've bought maybe a dozen different ones, 2 or 3 to keep and the rest to tear down for parts. Recently I purchased the new superlumed GMT IIc. I was impressed with the case (rehaut engraving is excellent!) and dial but the hands, as some others have noticed, are quite green. It was no problem for me as I was planning to install the guts from the CHS GMT IIc that came out a while ago. I used the CHS movement and hands (superlumed by Ruprekt), the superlumed dial, and a BK DWO for the build. I painted the bezel with platinum paint, and then it was time to try and figure out how to use a gen crystal with it. When I tore down the new case I was pleasantly surprised to find that the bezel construction is gen-style, that is, there is a retaining ring that presses down over the crystal and the bezel snaps on to that. Unfortunately, the retaining ring is slightly oversized, meaning that gen parts were difficult to fit--the bezel literally falls off if you install a gen crystal and gasket (I tried). The rep gasket is much thicker and holds the bezel on, but the opening is too large to hold a gen crystal (it falls out) since the rep crystal doesn't have a step at the edge. After playing with it for a while, I had the idea of turning the rep gasket over (upside down). This seems to have done the trick, although I still worry a tiny bit about the crystal falling out--I will probably take it apart and use some UV glue to make sure it all stays put. So this watch now has a gen Rolex crystal with AR'ed cyclops installed. Pics: bezel teardown (sorry, I didn't take the actual bezel assembly itself apart, I'd already painted and glued the insert before remembering to start taking pics) Gen crystal installed with gen gasket (you can see that it fits, but it WILL NOT hold the bezel retaining ring on, it just falls off b/c the ID is too large) wonderful black hole effect Finished product after playing with it Few shots of the whole box--it's almost done now, all that's left (I think) is to source and install a gen dial in the white explorer II. Both the super-hulk and the GMT IIc now have gen crystals with AR'ed cyclops installed, and if you look you can see the effect even in th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobster Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 Stunning, absolutely stunning. Great collection as well. When do you find the time to wear them all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmj Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 Very nice !! And yes great collection too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
correctime Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 (edited) Great work sneed. That's a Beauty for sure. With that particular version of CHS mvt. does the date work of the hour hand or the GMT hand?? Edited August 26, 2012 by correctime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninja Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 are you able to get the bezel numbers any thicker, I think that's the only tell left on this, apart from that its perfect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtguk Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Looks bloody good S is the crystal the same part no as the sub ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sneed12 Posted August 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Looks bloody good S is the crystal the same part no as the sub ? Yeah With that particular version of CHS mvt. does the date work of the hour hand or the GMT hand?? Off the GMT hand are you able to get the bezel numbers any thicker, I think that's the only tell left on this, apart from that its perfect No, unfortunately, this bezel insert is a totally different shape than all of the other rep bezel inserts I have ever seen. It has a really deep "lip" that fits down into the bezel and any rep bezel insert sits way too high in this bezel assembly. On the other hand, I think that you could replace it with a gen bezel assembly entirely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImWatchingYOU Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 How is your bezel? Does it click in firmly, or still has "play" ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eton Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Fantastic!!! Looks amazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sneed12 Posted September 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2012 UPDATE: I finally got around to changing the crown and tube. The crown that this new superlumed GMT IIc rep comes with is absolutely god-awful. Shape is entirely wrong, it's almost completely flat and the coronet sucks. You can see it very obviously in the first pic of this thread. Unfortunately, the rep tube will not take a gen-spec crown and I wanted to get the build done so I didn't deal with the crown at the time, but I had time today, so gen-spec tube and WM9 crown are now installed. I cut a slot into the old tube and unscrewed it installed the new tube and crown and reassembled the watch. Made a huge difference. How is your bezel? Does it click in firmly, or still has "play" ? You can mod the spring since it's right out in the open. Clicks firmly with almost no play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyB Posted September 10, 2012 Report Share Posted September 10, 2012 Nicely done. The crown makes a huge difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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