My First Build

[2camsam]

This is my first watch build.  It started with a sympathy purchase about five years ago of a bottom drawer fake Rolex (see last picture for the type I bought) from a guy who had received it as a gag wedding present and who was selling it along with everything else he and his wife owned in order to keep their apartment.  It sat in my cabinet until last month, when I picked up another one and decided to make a sterile Sub with all the parts.

The case, dial, DG2813 movement and bezel are from the first one, the bracelet and case back are from the second, and the rest of the parts-repro Rolex military bezel insert, cyclops & case back gasket, crystal & gasket and generic clasp are courtesy of Ebay, Esslinger, Otto Frei and Raffles Time respectively.  Refinishing was conservative and ultilized the Testor’s model paints I had on hand; after stripping the brass dial with thinner (I think the black is lacquered or anodized as it didn’t come off except around the date window) I polished it with Flitz and painted the hour markers back in with Flat White Scale Tint.  The rehaut was too shiny so I matted it slightly with Dullcote on a Q-Tip, but aside from that I left the case alone except for replacing the brass bezel stop with a stainless version made from a cut down springbar plunger.  The bracelet was given a going over with a Squadron Tri-Grit sanding stick followed by Flitz for the final polish.  The finished product looks a lot like a Submariner but not quite, which is what I was trying for.  As for the mechanicals, when the build was all done I double checked the beat rate with the excellent Audacity software, and after just a few tweaks I have the movement regulated to-and no, I’m not kidding-0 seconds per day (+1 second when worn over the course of a day and -1 overnight when stored crown up).  Talk about beginner’s luck! 

 

 

[flyr]

Very nice! A unique combination that turned out well.

[FxrAndy]

Hmmm I like the dark rehaute

Good work

[SSTEEL]

Certainly different, well done!

[2camsam]

Thanks everyone!

[panerai153]

well done, never have to worry about getting called out with this one!!

[2camsam]

The rehaute is actually the same color-the pictures just don't show it well. 

Edited May 17, 2013 by 2camsam