Picked this up today...

[droptopman]

Hi guys. Picked up this project 5513 today. Only have a couple of crappy pics until Tuesday when she arrives. Probably going to do a full restoration on it. 7.3 million serial. Cool story. Bought from a guy selling for the original owner. Bought new and wore daily for 30+ years. Clearly needs some TLC but case looks nice and thick. Original MKIII. Bracelet will go to MY for restoration. Case to the bevel master. Then to Matt for a service and new dome.

Not my grail birth year Bart piece but a fun project.

Merry Christmas

[dbane883]

Nice rep. Congrats!

[Revere]

Have you considered leaving the case as-is? I'm a sucker for untouched cases.

edit: that is to say, if it is untouched. If it's already been polished then to hell with it, get some new chamfers on it!

Edited December 24, 2015 by Revere

[droptopman]

Have you considered leaving the case as-is? I'm a sucker for untouched cases.

edit: that is to say, if it is untouched. If it's already been polished then to hell with it, get some new chamfers on it!

Yes I may and I agree. Pics are bad so hard to tell what I bought. It may be in better or worse shape than I think. Hey maybe just a new dome and a little TLC and a great daily beater. Hell maybe some polywatch and my Dremel will fix it up....lol

[jackflash]

Very nice! Congrats and happy Christmas!

[panerai153]

Very nice!! I agree, maybe A service, and a good Crystal going over with polywatch would suffice. I love wabbi!!!

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[mjmj]

Stunning!!

[Beachcomber]

Gen or rep?

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[Alfalover]

I think its a rep or at least the hands have been changed, the lume on hands and dial are different

[Beachcomber]

Not a rep, he got it from the original owner who had it as his daily wearer for 30 years. Changed hands are not indicative of a rep.

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[dbane883]

I was jk. It's gen.

[alligoat]

It is interesting how the hands have turned a shade of green, can't say I've ever seen that. If it were mine, I'd probably change the hands. Note the straight "S" in submariner. Certainly you'd want to service it and maybe polish the crystal. Nice find!

[droptopman]

@alligoat,

Yes the hands were my biggest concern. Even in the crappy pictures they look green but Seller says they are better in real life than the picture but I have my doubts. Nice catch on the dial you are the only one who commented on that.

Thanks guys, thought this was priced fairly for what it is so took a chance. Outside of gilt, I dig the Maxi's. The story got me too and the seller is a newer WIS and really seems to be a good guy.

Not quite like doing a franken build, but a cool project and a chance to restore something close to its original state.

Fun Stuff

[Beachcomber]

Are you doing the restoration yourself?

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[alligoat]

A set of vintage tritium hands would be a good score!

[Dlf]

Congrats !

[droptopman]

Are you doing the restoration yourself?

 

 

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Depends on what it will need.  If I go full resto, no I do not possess the skills, so it will travel all over to get to the people who do.  If I just do some surface work I can do that.  I enjoy doing what I can and feel pretty confident doing light/finish work.  I am still "building" my workbench/tools and skill set so not ready for anything major yet.  Maybe in the future.    

[misiekped]

A matching hands is a must

Pm me if you in need

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[Champagnesky]

Great watch

[UmpaHimself]

Is it possible the dial was relumed or replaced during service as the dial lume looks pretty damn white for how old the watch is and how used it looks. Fantastic piece either way, I kind of like the hands. If it was me I would only service it and maybe a crystal polish if everything else is original.

[Beachcomber]

Dial had not been relumed, it looks fine to me.

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[CharlieUK]

Great find!

Keep it away from RSC, they dont give a crap about vintage pieces and will throw new hands on there and proudly charge you for it.

Since the shape and size of the hands looks good, id send to pbdad to relume them to match. 

[droptopman]

Is it possible the dial was relumed or replaced during service as the dial lume looks pretty damn white for how old the watch is and how used it looks. Fantastic piece either way, I kind of like the hands. If it was me I would only service it and maybe a crystal polish if everything else is original.

I think the dial is good. Daily wearer so never been stored away to darken up. The dials with dark plots are mainly safe queens that spent a lot of time in the dark.

[Revere]

Some vintage lumes also did not age, it can depend on the lume composition. There are many 1016s, for example, that can be found with bone white lume regardless of where they were stored.

[Nanuq]

Roger that, my 1665 is forty years old and the lume is bone white.