Jump to content
When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
  • Current Donation Goals

My Rolex Explorer 1, a 1016 build. Lots of pix.


eray

Recommended Posts

Hi, all. I thought I'd share my recent 1016 build with you. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

 

It began as a simple, inexpensive Silix model

 

IMG_3638_zps0ceaebbc.jpg

 

Then I subjected it to some aging and made a couple of straps for it

 

ExpDarkLeatherRT2_zpsb1f6906a.jpeg

 

ExpDarkLeatherRT1_zps87bf8d76.jpeg

 

ExpDarkSteelRT2_zps77471c77.jpeg

 

 

ExpDarkSteelRT1_zps782f01d4.jpeg

 

ExpDarkBlackRT1_zpsfe9948a5.jpeg

 

ExpDarkBlackRT4_zpsedac416c.jpeg

 

ExpDarkCanvasRT1_zpsdc93fdc9.jpeg

 

ExpDarkBlackRT1_zpsfe9948a5.jpeg

 

ExpDarkBlackRT4_zpsedac416c.jpeg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks so much for all the kind words, guys. I really appreciate that. I'm totally delighted by this watch, and it proved to be a fairly straightforward build. The only non-stock part will be a Clark crystal, which is now en route.

Here are a few details about this project:

It's a bit hard to see in these pictures but I aged and dulled the case, bezel and crown quite a lot, then turned to the dial and hands. I soaked them first in espresso, then in tea, but even after an hour they refused to pick up almost any color. So what I did was paint the dial and hands with espresso, tea and a very tiny bit of shoe polish. Then I sealed this tint in with matte lacquer, flicking most of the lacquer on with a toothbrush a little at a time, and allowing it to dry between coats, because slathering it on more heavily just washed away the coffee and tea beneath. Then I baked the hands and dial for maybe ten minutes beneath a 100-watt lightbulb. And voila.

DuDro, thanks a lot regarding the strap. I was really happy with it. Unfortunately I can't point you to another one, if that's what you meant, because I decided to try my hand at strap-making and this is a one-of-a-kind piece that came from a $3 belt I got at Goodwill. It underwent treatment with several grades of sandpaper, steel wool, two colors of shoe polish, candle wax, beeswax and a few other things and came out looking rather well-used. Which is what I was hoping for.

Thanks again for the all compliments, folks. Cheers!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great job on the dial and hands! A proper bezel and lug holes and you're home free!

Hey, jmb, thanks very much! I didn't even realize the bezel was kind of problematic until the watch was about done. Do you have a good replacement you could recommend?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

this is a one-of-a-kind piece that came from a $3 belt I got at Goodwill

 

This is my favorite part of your build. I find a lot of cool stuff at thrift shops that I use in other things. Leather belts are the easiest thing to find and use. It's how I started in leather work too.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...
Please Sign In or Sign Up