Lo' Posted November 18, 2012 Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 (edited) Good morning everybody! Very new to all this but I have been lurking in the shadows for a while. Now I feel ready to take the plunge and would like to begin with my "grail": A vintage Rolex Explorer I with tritium dial. Anyone can recommend a maker? I see that there is a post from a fellow countryman (Accio) which has bought from this "jmb" but I cannot seem to find any trace of a seller by that name in the forum. Any pointer will be appreciated. Thanks in advance Have a great weekend Lorenzo Edited November 18, 2012 by Lo' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lo' Posted November 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2012 (edited) I'm replying to my own questions... As it seems I had not been looking long and hard enough. I found JMB! Unfortunately in one of his posts last September he states that he's going to take a break from building 1016 reps... My usual luck... Edited November 18, 2012 by Lo' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 (edited) Welcome aboard Lo'! You might check with jmb and see if he's got anything left over. If not, you can go with the Trusty vintage Explorer 1 and hopefully it will work for you http://www.ttw168.co...products_id=567 It's generally regarded as a good rep and even though we suspect the eta will be an asian clone, it nontheless will hopefully function well. Another thing to do is keep using the Search Function and keep reading- there's a lot to learn around here. One of the things you can learn how to do is build watches- like the Explorer I- I built this one for around $500 I used a gen 1601 Datejust case, a relumed Yuki dial and a 2824-2 eta movement that I had lying around. Other parts were a set of Clark's hands, a jmb bezel and a Clark's T-22 crystal. It's more than a vintage Explorer I from Trusty, but it's a solid watch and WR to boot. You can learn how to build watches by sticking around here, but starting with a watch from Trusty (Andrew) would be a good first step. Edited November 19, 2012 by alligoat 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 That's a good dial right there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lo' Posted November 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 (edited) Hello and thanks a lot for the welcome, highlights and pointers. I have been visiting the Trusty Time site and I effectively find the 1601 rep there to be (at least on picture) quite good. I have just been enquiring about the availability of the piece and hopefully will receive a positive answer that will allow me to place an order. I also have tried PM'ing JMB and am currently waiting for an answer from him if he will care to. For what is about assembling a watch by myself... let's say that each individual has got his own skills, handicraft is not one of my assets, I am fairly satisfied with having learnt to fit a bracelet/strap on a watch without scratching it (too much)... That said I keep reading avidly because I am curious and convinced that knowledge, any kind of knowledge, is power. Cheers Lorenzo Edited November 19, 2012 by Lo' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhorn Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 That's a good dial right there. Wish Yuki still made them like that ... a good, reasonably priced dial is the last thing I need for my build. I don't want to go the Space Dweller route from ingod44, and I'm not sure the ND Trading offerings at $255 are worth it, even on sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lo' Posted November 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 I have been visiting Yuki's site a few minutes ago. The only truly beautiful "vintage" Exp I dial I saw is backordered and judging from what they wrote in the notes is not going to be back in stock anytime soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
If you see Kay Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 I've got Trusty's 1016 and I vintagized it. I have since "unvintagized it and restored it back to looking "as new". I have a new Clark crystal on it that was modded to fit right. Trusty's lug holes are my biggest beef. But you can drill them out bigger. The lug hole pins are curved to fit the bracelet properly. Don't let that stop you. It works just fine. Just don't loose them. Don't know how proper lug pins will work though once you drill out the holes bigger. I have mine on a gen Rolex alligator strap, so not an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
automatico Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) "Very new to all this but I have been lurking in the shadows for a while. Now I feel ready to take the plunge and would like to begin with my "grail": A vintage Rolex Explorer I with tritium dial. Anyone can recommend a maker?" I put a few together and here is what I did: 1...start with the dial and hands, genuine or replica, with dial feet for Eta, DG, rolex etc depending on movement to be used (if possible) notes... *genuine trit dials are pricey, replacement T25 dials with Luminova are good too (any dial will work with an Eta if you cement it to the calendar spacer) *try to use a slow beat (21600 bph Eta 2846 etc) movement, not a 28800 bph model (2824/2836 etc), any dial will work with an Eta if you cement it to the calendar spacer *DG 2812/13 etc (21600 bph) is not as easy to mount 'no feet' dials on but it can be done *rolex 1520/70 really needs proper dial feet, (if using a date movement you will need a shorter canon pinion and hour wheel, sweep sec pinion is the same) *Etas are a lot cheaper than rolex! *get a movement spacer for the movement/case combo if you can (may require a little bit of machine work), do not use a plastic spacer but go with a metal spacer and case clamps/screws, sometimes you can cement the dial to the movement spacer without a calendar spacer...'Stilty's Spacers' etc 2...measure the OD of the dial and make a note 3...find a case, genuine (1600, 16000, 16200, or replica case) that will work with the dial note...use a case with lug holes if at all possible and drill them to 1.3mm, then shorten to fit and polish the tips of a set of submariner springbars 4...get a proper 1016 crystal, I use GS PA 464-64C because they are the same spec as genuine and only cost $9 or so 5...get a bezel, a DJ bezel will not work because the 1016 crystal has a thicker sidewall (and top) note...the bezel may have to be 'professionally' fitted if it is aftermarket 6...if using a genuine 1600, 16000, or 16200 case, the standard tube and crown will work (sapphire cases use a 5.3mm tube with a 6.0mm crown), replica cases will usually accept genuine tubes and crowns so it's usually best to go that route 7...decide on a bracelet type...folded, rivet, or later model 8...read all you can on the forums about 1016 projects 9...find someone on the forums who will help you after you get the parts (some members may have a few parts left from projects) 10...disregard all the above and try to find one already assembled (best idea imho) Good luck! Edited November 20, 2012 by automatico Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lo' Posted November 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Hello and thanks to all those which chimed in with their comments, you're being plenty helpful! After thinking the matter over for a while and having pondered a number of possibilities, I have decided to give Trustytime a chance; I have just ordered their vintage Exp I after obtaining a "go" from Andrew in regard to the item's availability. Let's see what I get. Of course I consider this as a starting point but I hope I'm not going to be disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck P Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Been thinking about a vintage 1016 too. Let us know what you think when you get it. I just got a 1665 GW from Andrew and it is awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lo' Posted November 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Been thinking about a vintage 1016 too. Let us know what you think when you get it. I just got a 1665 GW from Andrew and it is awesome. Thanks for sharing Chuck... I hope I'm gonna be able to say that my Exp I is awesome too Would you care to post a couple of pics of your new baby? Just curious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lo' Posted November 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 I just got an email from Andrew; the 1016 is ready to ship and it's going to be one of those with the "super precision" inscription on the dial. As such this reference can be dated back to the late fifties or early sixties. It needs to be "vintagized", is there anyone doing this kind of things in EU? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
If you see Kay Posted November 23, 2012 Report Share Posted November 23, 2012 I just got an email from Andrew; the 1016 is ready to ship and it's going to be one of those with the "super precision" inscription on the dial. As such this reference can be dated back to the late fifties or early sixties. It needs to be "vintagized", is there anyone doing this kind of things in EU? Please post up the pic once you get it. I'd like to see it myself, just out of curiosity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lo' Posted November 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2012 Please post up the pic once you get it. I'd like to see it myself, just out of curiosity I surely will. Now all I have to do is wait... and wait... and... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lo' Posted November 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2012 (edited) Wish Yuki still made them like that ... a good, reasonably priced dial is the last thing I need for my build. I don't want to go the Space Dweller route from ingod44, and I'm not sure the ND Trading offerings at $255 are worth it, even on sale. Ok this is something I need to ask: Let's pretend I get an SD dial and it fits inside the case and all that jazz. How do I get rid of the "SPACE DWELLER" extra line? And one more thing : I have been visiting NDT and - correct me if I'm wrong - they sell gen parts and watches built with gen parts. Am I wrong? It's not very clear... Edited November 24, 2012 by Lo' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhorn Posted November 24, 2012 Report Share Posted November 24, 2012 ND Trading's dials and hands are designed to be used with gen movements, but are not gen parts. To pair with an ETA movement, you would clip the dial feet and would buy hands (like Clark's or gen Tudor) that work with the ETA movement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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