Nanuq Posted October 12, 2013 Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 For your viewing pleasure, the Big Gonzo build is finally done.Thanks to cc33, Denimhead, Big Dazza, Deiselpower and Ziggy, now I can just enjoy it. For now ... this is Phase-1. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted October 12, 2013 Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 Gorgeous. Wear it well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted October 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 Thanks O/S! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted October 12, 2013 Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 Love the watch, but the case & crown need a bit of enhanced patination to reduce the conditional incongruity between them & the dial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cc33 Posted October 12, 2013 Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 I really came out well, congrats!! The dial looks really cool, dead ringer for your gen 6536-1 dial! Ziggy really made that happen quickly, what a star, he will be truly missed Bezel looks so gen like its amazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ephry73 Posted October 12, 2013 Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cc33 Posted October 12, 2013 Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 Freddy, believe it or not that case (came from me, Minh case) has already been aged, the bevels are not sharp anymore and are much less visible. I guess it needs a little more of what Nanuq does best, ageing, which he will do I'm sure. Look at what a new case looks like and here's a pic from a recent sale of a big crown, the case is still sharp but dial has heavy patina, lots of them got water/moisture damage at one time but that really doesn't affect the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted October 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 The theme behind this one is subtlety. it's very hard to capture with the camera, but the case has what appears to be decades of mars and dings, mostly polished out during service. Mostly ... there are still dings all over it but you have to get the light reflecting just right to see them. Held in the hand it feels right, that intangible something when all the details fall together. Viewed through the crystal the dial appears nearly identical to my 6536, save the depth rating and lack of residual gloss. Removing the crystal lets one angle the light to maximize the visibility of the damage. The one things that still bugs me is the tip of the hours hand. Argh. Let the detail ageing and fine tuning begin! This is day-one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyB Posted October 12, 2013 Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevedrk Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Excellent job! You have a real beauty there.Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dlf Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Looks spectacular....but one pic?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Dazza Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Congrats mate looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 the case has what appears to be decades of mars and dings, mostly polished out during service. Mostly ... there are still dings all over it but you have to get the light reflecting just right to see them. Held in the hand it feels right, that intangible something when all the details fall together. It is the (still) crispness of the case (& crown) edging that does not fit with the dial. At the very least, I would go at the entire edging of the case (& crown) with a fine file & then use a steel brush Dremel wheel to round/smooth things out. With your 'gentle' touch & usual vintaging technique, it ought to turn out just right. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtguk Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Awesome looking piece B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmj Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 wow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted October 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Now I'm on the hunt for pieces to create Phase-two.• Gen slate grey insert,• Tropic 17 (already found one for $600) or Tropic-19 with a vintage profile,• The Mother of All Dials. Yeah that's right buddy, I'm looking at you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cc33 Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 I have a t17 non superdome for 200$ if you need it, it's sealed in rolex plastic also have a used sd I'm not using but 600$ is too much, I get them (t17 sd new sealed) from dr. b for 450$ shipped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted October 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Non Superdome? On a 6538? Isn't that kinda like kissing your sister? Pics?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cc33 Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Lol, well I had no idea it was a non sd until I got it from an ebayer. I paid 200$ and thought I got a steal until I noticed it was non sd. I'll try to take pics through the plastic in the am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted October 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Yeah I bought a tropic-16 and tropic-17 like that, in wax paper envelopes. The one I got the $600 price for is doubtless the same. I think I'll have to find a Sternkreutz with the same dimensions as a t-19 and thinner, more curved dome. That's the ticket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyB Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Talk to Gary Clark. He makes his crystals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 How about a run down of the build specs- I got the Minh case part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redxds Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 How about a run down of the build specs- I got the Minh case part. I second that. I really want one. Sent Via Tapatalk HD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted October 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 This watch is joining my stable as a workhorse; it's going to see a lot of rough duty and water. So I wanted it to be tough, yet visually accurate. I chose not to go with a gen movement because I didn't want to be afraid of hurting it when it inevitably floods. So the pieces are: Minh Quy case set, Mystery bezel (it came with the case), ETA 2846 movement, Minh Quy "best quality" $300 dial (he also sells a $1,000 dial that's not significantly better), CWP gilt hands for ETA with big bubble, Yuki movement adapter ring, Gen t-19 service dome crystal, Minh Quy riveted oyster 7206. From the spec sheets it was supposed to drop together effortlessly. The dial had feet for a 1030 movement so they were cut off and dial dots used. But that added thickness and caused a stem height issue. I looked at 2892 movements instead, as the stem is 0.7mm higher. In the end I used the venerable workhorse 2846. Ziggy did the build and he had to machine the case to make the stem align. Yep I'm committed to using ETAs now, I'm fine with that. The Yuki spacer ring was a joke. It's spec'd for a gen case, but wouldn't go in the MQ. Then it broke in half. Ziggy machined a custom ring for it. The dial and hands got the Big Dazza ageing and lume, Then I had Ziggy relume them to a whiter shade of pale to match my 6536. Yuki is sold out of his oh-so-nice early 7206s, but MQ sells a "best quality" piece that's nearly the same for $280. The one I got was an absolute piece of crap. I spent a lot of time shaping it up and it's pretty good now. Squinky sells a 7206 clone on eBay that's WAY better quality. What did I learn? The contemporary homage parts houses are now where the auto industry was 50 years ago. With old cars you "fit" parts, you don't "install" them. Having Ziggy do the build was key, as he's a true watchmaker and has the skills to build parts from scratch, or correct existing ones. Thanks for reading! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteM Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 I thought this was a thread about Ted Nugent... Not some old rubbish Rolex .... That some bear will end up nicking... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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