speedbird100 Posted June 15, 2016 Report Share Posted June 15, 2016 Some notes on the build: List of ingredients: Cartel 1675 21j, folded oyster, not shown. Clark crystal Clark bezel ring Factory faded serif insert Flat case back M2M gilt chapter ring dial Raffles small GMT hand The case was thinned a bit but I didn't go too far into it because it would be pretty easy to mess it up. I marked out the profile of the PCGs and cut them in then re-polished using a small polishing wheel and green polishing compound. Took about an hour to get it all right. The cartel case lends itself to PCGs but with the case being chinky and the CGs being short, you wind up with PCGs that are a little chubby. Can't really be helped and it's really one of the many "that'll do" moments you'll have when building a 1675 under $500. Now you can go with a phong or yuki case, but you're approaching gen DJ money at that point. I've drilled the lug holes for the Rolex 2mm spring bars as well. The dial was positioned and held down with dial dots, and it was a bit touchy, but it's on firm now. The dial came from a m2m deal and I don't know where it originated. The plate is stamped with the Singer logo which is a nice touch. The dial was only a few microns larger than the case so it fit perfectly, nail-bitingly so. Hands were installed with my hand press, everything cases up. I tinted the lume to match the dial. The crystal fit like a dream, and the bezel set needed some sanding but after a little work I pressed it over the crystal, all snug. The insert is a pre-faded insert I got from eBay and it looks the part. I'm not a big fan of the bleached inserts because they always look modified. This one is lightly faded and retains that gen look. Pricey at $50, but to me it was worth it. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Cordell Posted June 15, 2016 Report Share Posted June 15, 2016 Very nice build ! I need to make a gilt dial like this for my 1675. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themannier Posted June 15, 2016 Report Share Posted June 15, 2016 Just gorgeous, congrats on this build Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedbird100 Posted June 15, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2016 Thanks guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2pac Posted June 16, 2016 Report Share Posted June 16, 2016 I like it! The dwo It's open 6&9? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedbird100 Posted June 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2016 Thanks! Yep, open Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted June 17, 2016 Report Share Posted June 17, 2016 Looks good! I think the under $500 builds are the best! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StormTooper4 Posted June 18, 2016 Report Share Posted June 18, 2016 That dial is a cracker. Great job looks excellent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedbird100 Posted June 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2016 Thanks guys, quite pleased Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperHero Posted June 19, 2016 Report Share Posted June 19, 2016 Sweet. Well done sir. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentflight Posted June 19, 2016 Report Share Posted June 19, 2016 very curious where this dial would have come from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedbird100 Posted June 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2016 Thanks everyone. The origins of the dial are a mystery. Originally from a m2m deal. The plate is stamped "singer" if that helps. I doubt it's an original singer plate though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanillaxavy Posted June 19, 2016 Report Share Posted June 19, 2016 the dial looks like a MQ or tonnywatches dial sent from BOOOOOOOOOM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denimhead Posted June 19, 2016 Report Share Posted June 19, 2016 Very nicely done, I quite like the fact that it still looks fresh rather than too over aged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedbird100 Posted June 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2016 Thanks! It's hard to do patina that looks convincing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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