XRT Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 6538A: mods by RBJ69 -base model from WM -case refinished -lug holes drilled for 2mm pins -brevet mold casted over ETA crown tube...the effort that goes into this mod paid off but requires a ton of work -bubble seconds hand made for ETA movement (Michael Young), painted white -OEM gold Tudor hands -hands painted (vintagized) -aftermarket insert painted (red arrow) and pearl dot fasioned with lume and epoxy -installed aftermarket bezel assembly (Michael Young) 6263: mods by RBJ69 -case refinished -lug holes drilled for 2mm pins -new Tropic installed (by Ubiquitous) -Michael Young custom dial installed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miquel Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 (edited) Wow! That's very nice! It is something a lot of us will try to achieve with the vintage subs! Brevet crown is a nice touch. Edited March 29, 2006 by miquel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 A gorgeous pair!! The 6538 is However, I'd like to see a detailed pic of the 6263 dial!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marrickvilleboy Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 WoW! look at that 6538! that is very very well done! congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XRT Posted March 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 I'd like to see a detailed pic of the 6263 dial!! It isn't perfect but it is better looking than the one that came on my DW6263: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 Looks great!! I may have to do the same for mine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
700club Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 WOW! They look great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 drrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooooooooooooool.... They truely are stunning pieces! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eunomians Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 Nice Daytona dial. Wish I knew where u got it from (seriously) Also, can u explain the mold for the 8mm Brevet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 Those are some pretty awesome watches! That 6538A looks like it's right out of Skeet and Urul's book- page 31! I wonder what the guys over at Timezone would say if you posted a pic over there! Of course I realize that we can't do that, but we take this whole watch thing to a level those guys don't even think of! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 Nice Daytona dial. Wish I knew where u got it from (seriously) Also, can u explain the mold for the 8mm Brevet? Euno- Ya gots mail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XRT Posted March 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 Euno- I bought the dial from Michael Young (classicwatchparts.com). The original dial that came on it was scratched and DW had gone MIA at the time, so I had to find someone else to source me that dial...Michael to the rescue. The brevet crown was a hell of a project for Joe. I bought a brevet off of Ebay and sent it to him. He still has it in his shop. He made a mold of the crown (more like 20+ molds to get it right) and poured in a molten alloy(you'll have to ask him about the composition- but it is damn hard when it solidifies.) He then quickly took a 7mm ETA rollie crown (which he had prepared already- grounded off the teeth, shortened and thinned), fixed it to a jig that hangs perpendicular to the mold and pressed it into the molten alloy (many iterations had to be done to get the darn thing perpendicular so it will sit flush with the watch case and so the alloy wouldn't drip into the backside of the crown -buggering-up the threads.) Then you wait for the composite to cool and remove it from the mold...voila (not quite that easy as the brevet symbol or lettering or crown teeth many times-over would not come out looking quite right, so the whole process would have to be repeated at least 10+ times.) He still hasn't made another one successfully for his own watch (he gave me the first and only one made so far since I am such a persistent pest) as he has been busy working on everyone else's watches. -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indyclmbr Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 Nice work-the watches are superb. You two make a good collaborative team, dreaming up the projects and making them happen. That 6538 is beautiful! Climb on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XRT Posted March 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 Thanks. It sure is a fun hobby. It gets expensive, and sometimes frustrating, when you start getting obsessive about the details. Fortunately for me, RBJ gets equally as excited about trying to recreate the look of some of these rare parts and get them to work on our watches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the collector Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 Nice work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbj69 Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 it was hit with some green rouge on a jewelers buffing wheel , it comes kind of dull but dont do it too much or it may make the lines thinner quickly cause i dont think the bezels r made of sturdy steel , feels like a cheap alloy acutally but looks great, thanks for your compliments guys makes me want to get on those pointy cgs for the gmt now wowowowo lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallguy83 Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 You two kill me. If I only had the time/money, I'd be all over some of these vintage projects. Keep it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eunomians Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 Thanks for the information... I always enjoy your projects. Once again, it is a joy to look at the pics of your lovely watch. On another note, how is that 1675 coming along? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XRT Posted April 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 no progress yet on the 1675 the parts have all been acquired though (except the silvered date wheels) ...if people would stop sending Joe their watches and he would be more careful with that thumb we could get him to focus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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