docblackrock Posted December 8, 2006 Report Share Posted December 8, 2006 Visited a great little shop today doing some Christmas shopping, when I spy with my little eye.... So if you like vintage rollies, and like a bit of physical vapour deposition, this could be just the ticket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eunomians Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 Wow, interesting. It's a fast way to reduce the value of your watch! Looks neat though. James Dowling had a 5513 done in PVD with the dial turned around so that the crown was on the left side á la Sinn EZM1. Killer lookin' watch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 Think I first saw these earlier this year... Supposed to be an article on them in an issue of Octane. I believe TB was doing this for B&S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docblackrock Posted December 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 Quite right Randy, I heard about them last year and may have even posted then They're not on general sale as such but custom orders and I was lucky enough to see one of the Subs being collected. Even at a brief glance, the PVD was not what we usually see in a vintage Pam say from davidsen, more a gunmetal almost titanium (except shinier) finish. Euno, interesting point about value - I don't doubt you're right in the short-term especially when paying around four and half grand (or $9000 of your funny money ) but I often wonder what the long-term investment value is of these given the extremely limited run? The man behind it makes an analogy with COMEX, however those were custom-built by Rolex themselves and were a commercial order, whereas these PVDs are a private enterprise. Still that said, as a comparison in LE models, I believe the Chuck Yeager/Real McCoys GMTIIs ('modern sapphire crap' to you Euno ) produced in Japan a few years back before the company went under, now change hands for mucho yen. However, despite the risk of devaluation, I can't help feeling that whilst it's nice to see a project like this especially from an enthusiast/collector such as George Bamford, I would personally much prefer a vintage Sub/GMT as God/Nature intended . Anyway, here's that original article and also some pics of the Yeager GMTs.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrgod Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 I think I prefer the PVD-Sub, that TTK was offering some time ago.. or even the Colamariner This reminds me of the bespoilered custom cars from the happy 1980ties.. You could pay silly money to "improve" your car to personal preferences.. Today these cars are considered the pinnacle of bad taste, and prices are rock bottom. The "flatnose" Porsche 911 is a prime example. This conversion was considered to be more aerodynamic than the regular 911, and could actually be carried out by the factory. Too bad it ruined the 911s classic good looks. Just like customizing the classic Submariner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 Speaking of value... It's interesting. I would never recommend a watch as an investment. However, these days, my exception would be vintage Rolex sports for mid-term gain. Better return on your money than stocks, IF you have the right pieces, in the right condition with the right accessories. In my opinion, the PVD'd pieces by B&S/TB are interesting, but more of a novelty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbj69 Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 it was probably just pvd without beadblasting , that gives it that shiney look, they look amazing to me to and i might have to do me one lol, nice find joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eunomians Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 I have always thought that the Yeager GMT was interesting. There has been quite a buzz about them in Japan for some time. I think that there are a lot of fakes that were made since (at least for a while), it seemed like you coulod find them at every watch shop in Tokyo. I could be wrong. At the same time, there were quite a few Sinn EZM-1 miliary issue BUND pieces in Tokyo at the same time (yes, I did mention the EZM-1 in my earlier post). I thought that this was strange, too, since a BUND issue EZM-1 is ultra rare. I beleive that there were about 10 that leaked into the public domain (and at least 4 are accounted for in the USA). And, for the record, here is the infamous PVD 5512 with the reversed dial á la Sinn EZM-1 Sorry, pic is so damn big Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbj69 Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 I have always thought that the Yeager GMT was interesting. There has been quite a buzz about them in Japan for some time. I think that there are a lot of fakes that were made since (at least for a while), it seemed like you coulod find them at every watch shop in Tokyo. I could be wrong. At the same time, there were quite a few Sinn EZM-1 miliary issue BUND pieces in Tokyo at the same time (yes, I did mention the EZM-1 in my earlier post). I thought that this was strange, too, since a BUND issue EZM-1 is ultra rare. I beleive that there were about 10 that leaked into the public domain (and at least 4 are accounted for in the USA). And, for the record, here is the infamous PVD 5512 with the reversed dial á la Sinn EZM-1 Sorry, pic is so damn big oh my i never have seen that one euno, that is sweet man, and they did the pvd more like the panerai with beadblastin, wowowoowwowowoo nice find joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 ...And, for the record, here is the infamous PVD 5512 with the reversed dial á la Sinn EZM-1 Ahhhh Dowling's Destro... I remember reading about the time he wore it to Basel, and was hoping to get some sort of reaction from the Rolex execs at the show... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsph Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 a lefty, pvd 5512 or 5513 is absolutely brilliant. no doubt. but i have to say, in general, these bamford and sons pvds get me jealous to the point of being almost angry! i mean, these bamford ones are basically saying, i am so filthy rich, i've got so many 5513s and gmts laying around the house, i now find them boring, so i'm going to personally run a handful through pvd, put my own name on the dial.... this is seriously filthy-rich business. look, i'd like to have so much money and watches that i'd go and do this, but as a guy who not only can't afford a single 5513 -- frankly, can't even get his hands on a half-decent 5513 REP! -- it gets me angry-jealous! it's not right! look, could some dealer talk to some manufacturer and get us some good 5513s? then i could get a couple, get one PVD'd and made lefty, and then the world would go back to spinning quietly on its axis! i don't need this taunting, folks! please lobby with your favorite dealer -- they're not listening to me! imagine... armies of rwg heroes, with lefty pvd 5513s... it's just too awesome for words... jsph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 Building a good 5513 is easy. start with an MBW 1680 case, procure a nice 5513 matte dial, remove the datewheel, swap the crystal with a T-19, add a gen insert, crown, tube and bracelet, drill the lugs and you're set. See? Easy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsph Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 (edited) "easy", he says!... man... it's $800+ just to get _started_, with the mbw base watch and the $400+ gen dial... yikes! nobody has to do that to make a great 1680 or 1665. and much of it has to do with the dial -- so, why doesn't anyone make a nice simple rep of the 5513 dial? no... if it's approaching $1000 just to get the basics of this watch, that's no good. besides, if you're going to put that much money and work into it... and STILL it's based on a 1680 case, which is not fooling anyone (including, most of all, the wearer) compared to what the 5513 cases looked like... ?... ( http://www.oysterworld.de/5513vs14060.htm ) (yes, i'm perfectly happy with a mbw 1680-based 5513, but maybe in the $400-500 range, not in the $1000-range, with a gen dial trapped inside. that would be grim! george/mbw almost got it right recently, and then they put in their version of the gilt dial... so close, but so completely far if you want the classic -- see eunomians' recent post... ) seriously, though. why is the 5513, the famous grandfather of submariners, completely forgotten and ignored in the rep world? and it would be a more popular seller -- a more manageable size for most people than the 1665, a more streamlined look and crystal than the 1680, with a demure dial, no date/cyclops....) instead, i have to get told that to get anything looking anywhere near the watch i want, i have to put in $800-1000 just to get started. what a prospect... people are walking with 99% perfect, $100 "newbiemariners", or brilliant mbw 1665s and 1680s for ~$400, and i'm stuck with this. god forbid some manufacturer think to make a rep. 5513 dial... now, that would make it... easy... jsph Edited December 9, 2006 by jsph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 I believe MBW has a 5513 that one could start with as a basis... http://www.replicacollector.com/members/in...showtopic=27007 EDIT: Oops... I see you're already aware of this one as I see you have posted in that thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsph Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 thanks, ubiq. yup... i... well, let's just say, this mbw 5513 was going to be my ticket, until they went and made it with that gilt dial... so, yes, right, i'm actually not at all further forward, given that it's the $400+ gen dial that keeps getting kindly suggested as my "solution"... they may as well have not bothered, since it's just the 1680 case, though the crystal they've put in their 5512 and "5513" are decent enough. if somebody could make a 5513 (WHITE-LETTER!) dial that's nearly as good as the ones they're putting in the 1665s and 1680s, i would be GOLDEN! that's what i thought george/mbw would do, but they went with that funny gilt variant. ugh... so... basically... i'm screwed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 You could always have CWP/MY print you a custom 5513 dial as a nice low cost alternative... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsph Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 um... "CWP/MY"... ?!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 You have PM! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJGladeRaider Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 Visited a great little shop today doing some Christmas shopping, when I spy with my little eye.... So if you like vintage rollies, and like a bit of physical vapour deposition, this could be just the ticket I wonder if we could find someone to PVD an MBW (Ziggy??)? I like that look, and I especially would like it if it had super lume that glowed like a torch. Is PVD complicated to do? Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 PVD is not a difficult job to do... Most gun and firearms specialists can probably do the job. IWW used to provide this work, outsourced to a third party, but they have sworn off doing reps. Now, that might only apply towards the PAM reps, but I'd have to imagine that their stance would be across the board with regards to this policy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eunomians Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 Ubi is right, IWW will not PVD any reps period. Those days are long over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.