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The Official Franken/modded Thread


ubiquitous

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Alright, gang... I know many of you have them, so let's see those franken/modded watches!

I know you've all seen mine ad nausea, but to kick things off, here are a few from my watch box... Most of them are personal works, but a few are collected arts from other skilled hands :)

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165258-11255.jpg

165258-11256.jpg

165258-11257.jpg

The ones that have come and gone...

165258-11258.jpg

165258-11259.jpg

165258-11260.jpg

165258-11261.jpg

:)

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I seem to remember a really faaaaabulous Seanaster a while back.....for me, it will forever be the King of the Frankens..... perhaps with the exception of the legendary DTRLWWR (the real connoisseurs will know what I'm talking about here).

But back to the Seanaster: I guess the guy who modded it is modest and polite: he doesn't want to blow the others away....

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I've had some. First... my MBW 1680 (Palpatine mods). Loved this watch:

165496-11184.jpg

165496-11185.jpg

On the left: WatchMaster Tudor "Military" Snowflake. Crown guards modified by me. Loved this too:

165496-11186.jpg

Just a small mod: Pearl on Noobmariner. Improves the watch a lot:

165496-11187.jpg

Aftermarket bezel insert filed extremely thin on the GMT (which makes the crystal sit higher):

165496-11188.jpg

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my mods and frankens aren't as spectacular as urs, but since u asked.. don't laugh!!

pam177h w the usual stuff plus bigger and thicker crown and CG..

165547-11142.jpg

pam024 w polished bezel..

165547-11143.jpg

165547-11144.jpg

dirty dialed 001b..

165547-11145.jpg

AP RO Jumbo w modded bracelet and modded crown to non screwed down..

165547-11146.jpg

pam192 w darkened ti case, brushed CG and bezel, black minutes and hour hands, modded deployment strap and display caseback..

165547-11147.jpg

165547-11148.jpg

pam040 w solid caseback, non AR crystal and dark ti case..

165547-11149.jpg

165547-11150.jpg

165547-11151.jpg

original design of the pam195

165547-11152.jpg

165547-11153.jpg

dsn pam009 w patinaed pvd case and filled in sandwich dial..

165547-11154.jpg

165547-11155.jpg

165547-11156.jpg

pam112h w the usual..

165547-11157.jpg

165547-11158.jpg

pam196 w siwss 7750, no recessed datewheel..

165547-11159.jpg

165547-11160.jpg

pam212 w 7750 case and manual wind movement, dial, pushers..

165547-11161.jpg

165547-11162.jpg

165547-11163.jpg

PAM176H w the usual plus thicker crown and CG..

165547-11164.jpg

165547-11165.jpg

pam001 w the usual, lello crown, non AR crystal..

165547-11166.jpg

165547-11167.jpg

2006 pam236 daylight w modded dial and modded tapered bracelet..

165547-11168.jpg

panerai 201a w wabi case and dial, non AR crystal..

165547-11169.jpg

165547-11170.jpg

wm 1680 w modded pearl, inner crownguards and bracelet..

165547-11171.jpg

mbw 1665 w modded pearl, inner crownguards and gen crystal..

165547-11172.jpg

Edited by azgjav
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V- I love your franken PAMs! The white tritium dial... That Lefty... :wub: The genuine parts in both of those is enough to make any PAM fan drool!

Pugs- Of course that GST qualifies! Gen dial... Quite possibly the most exact GST rep I've ever seen! And I always love looking at that one.... Gen dial and Ziggy'd- Can't beat that!

Robi- Glad to hear that old 7928 is loved :wub: I always like to make sure that my departed works land in good homes; this one is in great hands!

(p.s. Unfortunately, the white dial Daytona is not for sale... But thanks for the interest ;) )

Ruo- I LOVE those Omegas! Those may as well be gens for the parts content!

Timm- That looks like an old TW Best! Hang onto that one... A legend in it's own time and already a collector's piece!

Manuel- You KNOW how I feel about the franken-DJ's! :wub:

BT- How on EARTH could you part with those beauties??

az- What can I say... That is an unreal collection of modified goodies! A nice, diverse mix! I especially love the patina'd T-dial PAMs that you did!

BTW- Looking forward to seeing those MBW's reworked!

Great stuff guys... Every single piece is fantastic!

Keep 'em coming!

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Funny you should say that... I built one of these El Primero Daytonas for my son. Someday, when he's old enough, he'll take over :)

...Until then, I get to wear it (mwahahahahaha)!

I feel sad... cos I don't have a franken and can't post in this topic...

but i thought i would still post... :p

Ubi, just wanted your opinion regarding daytona's... the ss daytona is one of those very sought after watches with waiting lists at AD's i hear.... but I wonder, which is the more sought after model? and in what order...

the el primero daytona? the 2001 daytona with secs at 6? or the newest daytona with the triangle markings on the bezel instead of the lines? I myself don't like the one with the triangle marking...

oh... i guess the vintage daytona 6263 is also very sought after?

I might just be contemplating on building a franken el primero like yours... but looks like it will cost about 3000???

Thanks

Richard

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my mods and frankens aren't as spectacular as urs, but since u asked.. don't laugh!!

pam177h w the usual stuff plus bigger and thicker crown and CG..

165669-11097.jpg

pam024 w polished bezel..

165669-11098.jpg

165669-11099.jpg

dirty dialed 001b..

165669-11100.jpg

AP RO Jumbo w modded bracelet and modded crown to non screwed down..

165669-11101.jpg

pam192 w darkened ti case, brushed CG and bezel, black minutes and hour hands, modded deployment strap and display caseback..

165669-11102.jpg

165669-11103.jpg

pam040 w solid caseback, non AR crystal and dark ti case..

165669-11104.jpg

165669-11105.jpg

165669-11106.jpg

original design of the pam195

165669-11107.jpg

165669-11108.jpg

dsn pam009 w patinaed pvd case and filled in sandwich dial..

165669-11109.jpg

165669-11110.jpg

165669-11111.jpg

pam112h w the usual..

165669-11112.jpg

165669-11113.jpg

pam196 w siwss 7750, no recessed datewheel..

165669-11114.jpg

165669-11115.jpg

pam212 w 7750 case and manual wind movement, dial, pushers..

165669-11116.jpg

165669-11117.jpg

165669-11118.jpg

PAM176H w the usual plus thicker crown and CG..

165669-11119.jpg

165669-11120.jpg

pam001 w the usual, lello crown, non AR crystal..

165669-11121.jpg

165669-11122.jpg

2006 pam236 daylight w modded dial and modded tapered bracelet..

165669-11123.jpg

panerai 201a w wabi case and dial, non AR crystal..

165669-11124.jpg

165669-11125.jpg

wm 1680 w modded pearl, inner crownguards and bracelet..

165669-11126.jpg

mbw 1665 w modded pearl, inner crownguards and gen crystal..

165669-11127.jpg

Azgjav,

Some of your panerai pictures showed dials and other deteails looking "aged" and old. It looks really nice. How were you able to get that patina?

Thanks

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Ubi, just wanted your opinion regarding daytona's... the ss daytona is one of those very sought after watches with waiting lists at AD's i hear.... but I wonder, which is the more sought after model? and in what order...

the el primero daytona? the 2001 daytona with secs at 6? or the newest daytona with the triangle markings on the bezel instead of the lines? I myself don't like the one with the triangle marking...

oh... i guess the vintage daytona 6263 is also very sought after?

I might just be contemplating on building a franken el primero like yours... but looks like it will cost about 3000???

Richard,

Seems that just about all genuine SS Daytonas are highly sought after. Of course, the vintage Cosmos, especially the Newman's and early 6239/41's with pump pushers (in original, or as close to original condition as possible), and of course, the 6263/5's. Very collectable.

With regards to modern, the 16520 is more collectable than 116520's, as the 16520's are no longer in production. However, some are more collectable than others. For example- Early R serial pieces with original dials, bezels, etc are highly sought after; incidentally, A serial daytonas at the end of prouction are even more collectable as there were only very few produced in this era, as the model line was transitioning to the 116520. Of course, S/W/T black dialed Patrizzi's are fetching HUGE premiums on the market ($25k - $30k). Not many out there as most dials have been changed for non-chocolate subdial rings.

Of course, the collectability doesn't end at just SS. Vintage 18k 6263/5's, 14k 6239/41 PN's and 16528's are also coming up in demand.

Unfortunately, the 1165xx's just aren't quite as collectable, as they are current production with an open end on build.

With regards to building... I do indeed have $3k+ into each watch. Yes, folks, that's each (total is $6k and change between the two). Sounds like a lot... And it is. But considering that these frankens have genuine El Primeros inside, along with a number of genuine parts, I personally feel that having a 1:1 with gen for a fraction of the price is worth it (standard 16520's are now selling at $9k - $11k, depending).

165794-11055.jpg

165794-11056.jpg

:)

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Heywood,

may i ask what you did to both the Seamaste 300 and the Gold airking?

thanks!

they look fantastic!

They are both assembled mostly from genuine parts. The Seamaster was a case kit from Watchco and the Oyster was built from parts from all over the place-incorrect but genuine movement that was put together, refinished dial and aftermarket hands.

By the way that's quite a collection of modern Seamasters you have. Nice!

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PAM 196 (7753 old case) with superlume (The Zigmeister) and palp crown installed. Someday will have a Finepics datewheel and AR as well.

165881-11042.jpg

Vacheron Constantin Overseas with superlume and cross transplant (both The Zigmeister). Will add AR. Currently having technical difficulties with the bracelet, but I think I've located the necessary screws to have this thing back on my wrist soon...

165881-11043.jpg

Currently in the pipe:

Rolex P serial 16610 (Older TW Best Classic) franken... TWG Dial superlumed, TWG date wheel overlay, TWG bracelet, genuine 16800-81 bezel insert, genuine crown and tube, CGs shaped, lug holes and bracelet drilled, gen springbars installed.

Breitling Seawolf Avenger Ti... gen dial, maybe gen bracelet, AR.

IWC Ingenieur... superlumed dial, Lello datewheel (hopefully), unchipped bezel ring (waiting to arrive), AR.

Omega Seamaster 2255.80... gen hands, gen dial, hopefully a new crystal with AR.

About to purchase:

PAM 063 2892 GMT... already superlumed and has Watchmeisters' 6mm cyclops installed. Will get another Palp crown and a Jimmy Fu CG.

Further down the line:

Rolex 1665 white seadweller... Watchmeisters datewheel, Ubi vintage bezel insert, T39, lug holes drilled, etc.

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With regards to building... I do indeed have $3k+ into each watch. Yes, folks, that's each (total is $6k and change between the two). Sounds like a lot... And it is. But considering that these frankens have genuine El Primeros inside, along with a number of genuine parts, I personally feel that having a 1:1 with gen for a fraction of the price is worth it (standard 16520's are now selling at $9k - $11k, depending).

:)

Edited by the collector
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