jmb Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 With the recent resurgence of interest in vintage Explorers I kinda got the itch to build another one. Since I got into this hobby my quest has always been "best bang for the buck" and have searched out cases, hands, etc, that look decent and are wallet friendly. I've tried to prove that cheap doesn't always mean crap. I have had pretty good luck with the DJ cases that I mod up to make vintage Explorers with and now that I found a source for reasonably priced vintage style Explorer Dials I decided to see just how inexpensive I could get with a reasonable looking Explorer build. The dials aren't perfect ("OYSTER PERPETUAL" a bit large and indicies are a kinda chunky) but on the wrist they aren't that bad PLUS the chunky markers have some great lume that glows all night! I like that since I don't see as good as I used to... I took one of my 2824 case-kits and married it with one of my gilt dials and a DG2813 movement and I think the results are not half bad! I took the matte gilt dial and sprayed on a couple coats of clear, wet-sanded with 1500 grit, then hit it with some automotive clear-coat polishing compound. After this treatment I took a piece of wadded up tissue paper and swirled it around on the dial to put some fine scratches in it to tone things down as I was going for an "aged" look. I then mounted the dial to the 2813 with a medium dial spacer which lined the stem up with the case tube pretty well. I then popped on a set of gilt hands that I hit lightly with the 1500. I am not really a big fan of straps but decided that a strap was the cheapest way to go, and I had this new strap from a movement donor, so on it went! I'm wearing it right now and am impressed with how light it makes the watch, I really can't tell I'm wearing it! Build List: 2824 DJ case with drilled lugs Clark T22 Crystal Custom bezel DG 2813 movement Gilt hand set for a21j "Budget" Gilt Explorer dial gloss clear-coated Black leather/nylon strap Case clamps and screws Here's a few pics, not really sure why the hands turned out silver looking and the dial print silverish white (I used natural lighting) but they are gold-toned in real life! Thanks for looking and not laughing TOO loud... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVNE Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 That's pretty darn impressive compared to any TD offerings under $400. Easily upgradable too as the watch funds grow. Thank you JMB! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue. Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 Looking pretty good, J! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Champagnesky Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 Looks great! Skickas från min iPhone via Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 J, I'm amazed when I think about the sort of 1016 rep $150 would have gotten me all those years ago--or even would get me today! Stunning achievement. It's no wonder you've already got tire-kicking nit-pickers on your sales thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kin tama Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 Indeed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StormTooper4 Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 nice job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptopman Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 Very nice. Sent from my droptop using telepathy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archetypal Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 Great work as always. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck P Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 Excellent. And as DVNE said, perfectly upgradable over time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted July 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 Going, going, gone! Thanks RWG! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted July 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 Upgradable is the name of the game on this one. My first "upgrade" would be a 2824 movement, then I would shop around for a dial. When a dial and movement was in-hand then do a swap-out - that way you could wear the watch while shopping around and spending according to your budget... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptopman Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 Thanks JMB, what a deal on this one. Already shopping for a dial and will have Matt put in a Swiss ETA when I find a gen dial. For now I can see how I like it on and how much $$$ I want to put into it. Awesome deal man. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted July 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2014 To be honest after you find your dial and movement you might be just as good selling this one (probably for what you paid) and getting a case kit since you expressed the desire for a bracelet. You can PM me and I can go over the options with you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptopman Posted July 9, 2014 Report Share Posted July 9, 2014 Ok thanks. I will do some research and wear this one a bit. Sent from my droptop using telepathy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hcaht Posted July 17, 2014 Report Share Posted July 17, 2014 Wow! That is real pretty. Oh the possibilities. Nice work sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximo101 Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 Most definitely want one, too..... this looks very nice and it seems to be more wearable than a Rolerai Hornlug. What size in mm is the case exactly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martijnp Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 amazing work like always Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptopman Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 Most definitely want one, too..... this looks very nice and it seems to be more wearable than a Rolerai Hornlug. What size in mm is the case exactly? 34mm case, 20mm lugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 34mm case, 20mm lugs. 36mm, surely? 34mm would be ref.5500 Explorer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptopman Posted August 4, 2014 Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 No kidding, I didn't measure it but looked smaller than my 36mm DJ. My bad. I guess I should know that or at least looked it up before posting. Sorry about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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