ogladio Posted March 17, 2013 Report Share Posted March 17, 2013 Have been lusting for a Rolex 6538 for quite some time. Especially the version with red triangle bezel and explorer dial... Guess it goes to back to seeing gen inspiration like these: Started hoarding cheap parts (total sum slightly above $100): - Silix ROL5 case set - 3-6-9 dial and hands from Rafflestime - Athaya 8 mm crown, 0,9 mm for auto movements - DG2813 movement, movement - Yuki pearl After a couple of destroyed dg2813's (or just with keyless works issues) and I started realizing my limitations when it comes to oyster homages. There also started to appear superb looking budget builds from Akira on the forums - especially some with stunning tropical dials... Took contact and it turned out he was a great guy to talk to, exchange inspiration and ideas with - and for some reason he gladly accepted to help to help. I was a very happy man, kudos mate! Here's how the case set and dial looked stock, pretty crappy looking dial to be honest: Pile of parts: Here's what Akira set out to do: - drilling lugholes - shaving, fitting plexi - reluming, ageing dial + hands - ageing insert - ageing, polishing case - drilling case and glueing Athaya tube into the case - tropical brown dial The hope was that the dial would end up magical like this gen: To be honest, I had no real hopes starting out with the cheap parts I did. It's not Phong and Minhq in the parts list after all... However, when the pictures started coming from Akiras shop I literally just fell of my chair And now, I just couldn't be happier with the end result I'll skip to end results now, hope it gives inspiration to the rest of you guys. Donerix was kind enough to make me a custom strap with buckle for this one. Please shoot in any questions here or comments! Wristies: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cc33 Posted March 17, 2013 Report Share Posted March 17, 2013 To take that dial from what it was to what it is now is amazing. Great job, very tropical indeed! Congrats and thanks for the post I for one love love love no crown guard subs. They are so special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cc33 Posted March 17, 2013 Report Share Posted March 17, 2013 I would kill to find a rep bezel like the one in your first pic. All it takes is a t19 instead of a t17 and that bezel to turn a 6538 into a 6538A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panerai153 Posted March 17, 2013 Report Share Posted March 17, 2013 Beautiful, beautiful job!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted March 17, 2013 Report Share Posted March 17, 2013 Nice work, but you definitely need to put some wear on the external parts to pull it off. Which method did he use to achieve the tropical look on the dial? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eduardor Posted March 17, 2013 Report Share Posted March 17, 2013 Dial looks great man! congrats to you and Akira on this build! That strap great to but as freddy said you need to beat up the case so it looks old. Dial looks great man! congrats to you and Akira on this build! That strap great to but as freddy said you need to beat up the case so it looks old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ogladio Posted March 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2013 Guess Akira need to step in if he wants to share his methods. Here's a pic of the dial from when it was outside of the case at an earlier phase: Thanks btw guys for the comments on the case - a round in the screws-and-bolts box and buffing might do it good. I'll see when the right moment comes to uncase again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted March 17, 2013 Report Share Posted March 17, 2013 Congrats to you, and great work by Akira! F is getting rather good at this sort of thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akira Posted March 20, 2013 Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 Thanks for the kind words all around. Ogladio is a true gent and pleasure to work with! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted March 20, 2013 Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 Okay boys, we need to start a "Bribe Akira" pool. Everyone chip in some cash and we'll finally see how he gets that great tropical look! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akira Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 Okay boys, we need to start a "Bribe Akira" pool. Everyone chip in some cash and we'll finally see how he gets that great tropical look! Nanuq, is there a specific dial you need to be tropicalized? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 Nanuq, is there a specific dial you need to be tropicalized? That's it, rub salt in my wounds. I'm going for the Tropical Hat Trick. My 1665 and 1675 are tropical, but my 6536 refuses to come out of the closet, so to speak. So I'm thinking about ways to tropicalize my Daz-built 6538. He's got a spectacular vintage patina to the dial, but if it was tropical brown, I could die a happy man. There's my conundrum. A brown sharpie or spray paint are my ideas so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 Excellent results in that dial, F! Very well done indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flex Posted April 2, 2013 Report Share Posted April 2, 2013 oh my, excellent tropical dial....just like gen...spill the beans please can't be heat alone...the dial didnt show micro bubbles? dont beat it up..lots of gen have mint case. just let that come natually. each scartch will have a story to tell. flex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted April 2, 2013 Report Share Posted April 2, 2013 I bet it's A1 Steak Sauce! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akira Posted April 2, 2013 Report Share Posted April 2, 2013 I bet it's A1 Steak Sauce! Damn! Nothing can get past your sharp eagle eyes M! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panerai153 Posted April 3, 2013 Report Share Posted April 3, 2013 Great job!! Just wear the heck out of it, over time it will vintigize itself. And, it will all be natural. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akira Posted April 3, 2013 Report Share Posted April 3, 2013 Well, since y'all talk about it. I aged the case to look like a well cared case with tropical dial. You'll see similar samples at the passion all the time. Thats how the case looks on a close up: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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