ubiquitous Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 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 The ones that have come and gone... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 Well...here they are my 'expensive' beauties (white 003 and destro 022) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 Does this count as a FrankenWatch? It's got a gen dial and has been Ziggified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryyannon Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 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.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marrickvilleboy Posted December 9, 2006 Report Share Posted December 9, 2006 Three of my favorites - Blue Seamaster, Black Seamaster, Limited Edition 007 Seamaster. All have major mods - including genuine movements in all of them. =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manuel Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 And Rolex 15000, now belongs to friend: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotoman Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 dammit i want to post here - but mine are still in progress in other hands sooon, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2005SUBMARINER Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 hey UBI that white face daytona is beautifull man ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By-Tor Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 I've had some. First... my MBW 1680 (Palpatine mods). Loved this watch: On the left: WatchMaster Tudor "Military" Snowflake. Crown guards modified by me. Loved this too: Just a small mod: Pearl on Noobmariner. Improves the watch a lot: Aftermarket bezel insert filed extremely thin on the GMT (which makes the crystal sit higher): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manuel Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 WM tudor sub...The best rep out there I say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azgjav Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 (edited) 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.. pam024 w polished bezel.. dirty dialed 001b.. AP RO Jumbo w modded bracelet and modded crown to non screwed down.. pam192 w darkened ti case, brushed CG and bezel, black minutes and hour hands, modded deployment strap and display caseback.. pam040 w solid caseback, non AR crystal and dark ti case.. original design of the pam195 dsn pam009 w patinaed pvd case and filled in sandwich dial.. pam112h w the usual.. pam196 w siwss 7750, no recessed datewheel.. pam212 w 7750 case and manual wind movement, dial, pushers.. PAM176H w the usual plus thicker crown and CG.. pam001 w the usual, lello crown, non AR crystal.. 2006 pam236 daylight w modded dial and modded tapered bracelet.. panerai 201a w wabi case and dial, non AR crystal.. wm 1680 w modded pearl, inner crownguards and bracelet.. mbw 1665 w modded pearl, inner crownguards and gen crystal.. Edited December 10, 2006 by azgjav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted December 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 V- I love your franken PAMs! The white tritium dial... That Lefty... 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 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! 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marrickvilleboy Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 Randy: NEVER SELL THOSE DAYTONAS! they are so good...you must pass it on to your kids just like they say with the PATEK PHILIPPE ads: "You don't actually ever own a Patek, you just look after it for the next generation" =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted December 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 NEVER SELL THOSE DAYTONAS! they are so good...you must pass it on to your kids 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)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heywood Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 Here are a few of mine. And a few more in the pipeline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marrickvilleboy Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 (edited) Here are a few of mine. And a few more in the pipeline Heywood, may i ask what you did to both the Seamaste 300 and the Gold airking? thanks! they look fantastic! Edited December 10, 2006 by Marrickvilleboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahchard Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 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... 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrnixon Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 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.. pam024 w polished bezel.. dirty dialed 001b.. AP RO Jumbo w modded bracelet and modded crown to non screwed down.. pam192 w darkened ti case, brushed CG and bezel, black minutes and hour hands, modded deployment strap and display caseback.. pam040 w solid caseback, non AR crystal and dark ti case.. original design of the pam195 dsn pam009 w patinaed pvd case and filled in sandwich dial.. pam112h w the usual.. pam196 w siwss 7750, no recessed datewheel.. pam212 w 7750 case and manual wind movement, dial, pushers.. PAM176H w the usual plus thicker crown and CG.. pam001 w the usual, lello crown, non AR crystal.. 2006 pam236 daylight w modded dial and modded tapered bracelet.. panerai 201a w wabi case and dial, non AR crystal.. wm 1680 w modded pearl, inner crownguards and bracelet.. mbw 1665 w modded pearl, inner crownguards and gen crystal.. 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youpmelone Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 Ubi, stop posting that! getting nightmares..Waah! Man they look great :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmena Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 And Rolex 15000, now belongs to friend: Yes yes yes thanks Manuel... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 my mods and frankens aren't as spectacular as urs, but since u asked.. don't laugh!! I guess you Pams are just modded and not Frankens.. If not what are the genuine parts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted December 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 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). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heywood Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 PAM 196 (7753 old case) with superlume (The Zigmeister) and palp crown installed. Someday will have a Finepics datewheel and AR as well. 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... 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the collector Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 (edited) 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 December 10, 2006 by the collector 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.