janeto72 Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 While i can appreciate the workmanship, I personally have no interest in a TT or smurf offering. Classic SD 16600 would get my first vote. well then...no soup for you!!!!..LOL!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmtlover Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 Here is a little teaser for the 16613 project..... TC V2 DWO in champagne color.... TC V2 DWO behind TC V2 16613 Dial..... Interested in how you will get the midlinks gold plated on the TC bracelet. I am currently on the same project as you, perhaps we can share info? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wks Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 TC 16613 all the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmtlover Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 TC 16613 all the way Well I am going for a gen insert, gen datewheel, gen hands and WM9 dial from BK ;-) Bracelet will be the hardest to achieve for both of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
correctime Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 (edited) Well I am going for a gen insert, gen datewheel, gen hands and WM9 dial from BK ;-) Bracelet will be the hardest to achieve for both of us. I know a jeweler that's in the process of molding links for these high priced TT Bracelets He's working on the first run of the 14k and 18k bezel rings too. (yes...he's a jeweler/gemologist and knows how to add the alloys to 14k for that darker 18k look....though he's doing a few in 18k too) Edited January 29, 2013 by correctime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmtlover Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 A friend of mine is goldsmith she will try the bezel for me in a couple of weeks. 18k plating. The problem I have is to somehow tear the bracelet apart so that we can plate the midlinks. Unfortunately TC couldn't deliver a bracelet that wasn't put together yet. So all the links separate. That would make the job a lot easier. Interesting to see if your friend succeeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janeto72 Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 If we can get enough interest to order 100 bracelets...TC can get them unassembled.Then once plated they can be assembled.We need 100 orders though to get this done.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmtlover Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 What price does he calculate for the 100 pcs? What are people willing to pay for a good TT TC bracelet? $150? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janeto72 Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 Whatever the cost is right now....$49.00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
correctime Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 A friend of mine is goldsmith she will try the bezel for me in a couple of weeks. 18k plating. The problem I have is to somehow tear the bracelet apart so that we can plate the midlinks. Unfortunately TC couldn't deliver a bracelet that wasn't put together yet. So all the links separate. That would make the job a lot easier. Interesting to see if your friend succeeds. I will keep you posted. He used the gen 16613 parts...actually disassembled the Bracelet links for the making of the moldings. He sent them somewhere here in the US to see about having them produced but it seems the links have a coronet/hallmark somewhere on them and the Co. said they wouldn't do it. I'm not exactly sure where he stands on production of the bracelets at the moment but I do know he's molding/machining the 14k and 18k bezel rings himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmtlover Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 My goldsmith doesn't have a problem with plating a TC bracelet. As long as I can get separated bracelets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wks Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 I think all two tone lovers would buy a well made and well plated or wrapped tt bracelet. It is one very important element in perfecting reps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
automatico Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 "He sent them somewhere here in the US to see about having them produced but it seems the links have a coronet/hallmark somewhere on them and the Co. said they wouldn't do it. I'm not exactly sure where he stands on production of the bracelets at the moment but I do know he's molding/machining the 14k and 18k bezel rings himself." Not meaning to be a downer but I am guessing just the cost of 18k gold for the center links will add up to $500 to $700 for 12 or 13 hollow center links at today's crazy prices ($1650 troz). You will also need two 18k hood strips and a way to solder the strips to the hoods, or a set of tt hoods. I had a 12 link genuine GMT oyster converted to ss/14k in 1994 by MSB Watches in Miami and it cost $550 plus $90 for one complete additional link to make 13 links. I talked to a few people who did tt conversions back then and they used special order 14k or 18k tubing to make the links and formed them to shape with a die press after cutting to size. The center links had to be within a few hundredths of a mm so the link would not bind or be too loose...this is not easy to do. You will also need a way to disassemble and press the links back together without leaving a mark. At this time (1994), an Italian made high grade ss/14k unsigned 20mm oyster bracelet was around $400 to $450 iirc...today they are around $1000. I have done quite a bit of 'lost wax' gold casting and it would be extremely difficult to cast links (using this method) with enough precision to work without making them oversize to begin with and then machining each one to size. When making rubber molds for shooting the wax, there is probably 5% to 10% shrinkage in the rubber mold so the wax model will be undersize to start with even when using high grade 'pink' casting rubber. If the die casting method is used, the parts will come out with much more precision but most smaller gold casters do not use this method. Cast gold pieces are also more brittle than forged/die struck gold pieces. Lost wax gold casting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmtlover Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Thanks for your input! If we can get bracelets in separate then the next step is easier. As you say plating is difficult. Especially with the small tolerances between the links. The price for plating the midlinks won't be as steep as $500 though. Probably more 250-350. But then the clasp.. That's hard. And will be a big challenge.. But maybe just use a noob clasp.. They aren't that bad and probably the best there is available at the moment since the MBW's aren't manufactured anymore.. So TC endlink plating TC midlinks plating And noob clasp.. Unless someone has something better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cib0rgman Posted February 1, 2013 Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 well then...no soup for you!!!!..LOL!!! The Soup Nazi, lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janeto72 Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 we need to get an order together for 100 bracelets so that I can get them completely unassembled..... let's do a poll... put your name down and next to it how many you would be in for..e.g. janeto72 +10 etc..etc......TC will contact you once we hit 100 pieces and we will go from there... remember this is a poll for interest in this project.... 16613 project-93253 TWO-TONE TC Bracelet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ta8088 Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 Oh [censored] I better hide my wallet ............. bring em on Tc, Love your work You and me both. A TT sub at the level of TC's other offerings will have me shelling out some money. Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightynimrod Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 (edited) Definitely interested in a TT, stick me down for a bracelet. If your going to be doing the full watch i'll be wanting one of those too Edited February 2, 2013 by mightynimrod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wks Posted February 2, 2013 Report Share Posted February 2, 2013 County me in for one bracelet also Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janeto72 Posted February 21, 2013 Report Share Posted February 21, 2013 So gang, were ready to start on the 16613 two-tone project.....members can pm me for further instruction...i'll contact the members already showing an interest in this project via pm... JT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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