ajoesmith Posted January 12, 2007 Report Posted January 12, 2007 Hi Guys well i recently bought an IWC aquatimer like this: All Stainless but i prefer the Titanium look but unfortunately its not available in Ti. Well i did a bit of research and found that there is a process called Aluminium Oxide Blasting that will make Stainless Steel look basically like titanium. I havent received the case or bracelet back yet but i have been sent some pics of the finished process on the case. Well without further ado here are the pics, what do you think?? like Titanium?? I still have a little work on the bezel to do but i think its looking much better than the SS.
Pugwash Posted January 12, 2007 Report Posted January 12, 2007 Wow. Very, very wow. All that's missing is an AR coat and you have a killer. Did you leave the crystal in for the blasting?
linkukbora Posted January 12, 2007 Report Posted January 12, 2007 Very nice.......that's as close to Titanium look.......care to share your leads?
ryaku Posted January 12, 2007 Report Posted January 12, 2007 Very very interesting. Now you gotta colour the bezel but i bet you'll do a great job If i'm not inopportune...how much does it cost such treatment?
ajoesmith Posted January 12, 2007 Author Report Posted January 12, 2007 Im not sure if the crystal was left in for the blasting or not ill have to ask the guy that did it As for revealing my contact id rather not divulge now as im sure he doesnt want to be bombarded with emails and im not sure if he would like me posting his name on a rep forum, or his contact details. Im also thinking of getting the IWC Ingenieur with the Numbered dial and having it blasted as its also supposed to be in Ti. If i do ill keep you posted. As for AR i might be contacting Chieftang about it The blasting only cost around $50!!! cheap mod if you ask me!!!!
Seadweller4000 Posted January 12, 2007 Report Posted January 12, 2007 For any blasting you need to remove crystal, tubes... etc. I did it with a common old sub rep which I now call my stonemariner! http://replica-watch.info/forum/viewtopic....ht=stonemariner
Usil Posted January 12, 2007 Report Posted January 12, 2007 (edited) That looks great. How will you paint the bezel? Spray paint with numbers covered with something? How would you cover all those little numbers so it comes out perfect? Usil Edited January 12, 2007 by Usil
ryaku Posted January 12, 2007 Report Posted January 12, 2007 He also should repaint the hands, white in ti version if i'm not wrong.
Usil Posted January 12, 2007 Report Posted January 12, 2007 The weight of Stainless Steel and the look of Titanium - the best of both worlds. Usil
ajoesmith Posted January 16, 2007 Author Report Posted January 16, 2007 Bracelet now done as well. Looks good When i get all back ill assemble again and take pics for you guys enjoy
Watchmeister Posted January 16, 2007 Report Posted January 16, 2007 Looks great. Enjoy it. I am curious as to how you are going to redo the bezel.
ajoesmith Posted January 16, 2007 Author Report Posted January 16, 2007 Looks great. Enjoy it. I am curious as to how you are going to redo the bezel. Yeah, the bezel..... not really too sure about that yet, anyone got any ideas?? even if i do the bezel and get it the correct colour, there are still alot of flaws with this watch. 1 - Its the the wrong size compared to the Gen, Rep is slightly smaller than Gen 2 - The Ti version should have all white hour markers and hands, the Rep markers and hands have silver borders like the SS model. I might just leave the watch as is it depends how difficult it will be
Chronus Posted January 17, 2007 Report Posted January 17, 2007 Me likey! Should've given my brother a watch to take out to you. He's in Tokyo for work until the weekend ! He still can't get into the food there, he tried sushi for the first time and felt sick. I told him to stay safe in that case and try Kobe beef or chicken teriyaki.
thomasng Posted January 17, 2007 Report Posted January 17, 2007 Didn't the Aquatimer rep exist in Ti??
ajoesmith Posted January 19, 2007 Author Report Posted January 19, 2007 Didn't the Aquatimer rep exist in Ti?? oh yes it certainly did, very nice indeed check it out here: http://www.time2watch.net/IWChome.htm
PAMman Posted January 19, 2007 Report Posted January 19, 2007 Didn't the Aquatimer rep exist in Ti?? The gen Aquatimer was Ti but AFAIK the rep was (is) SS only.
Chronus Posted January 20, 2007 Report Posted January 20, 2007 The gen Aquatimer was Ti but AFAIK the rep was (is) SS only. Sir, you are correct.
ajoesmith Posted January 27, 2007 Author Report Posted January 27, 2007 Didn't the Aquatimer rep exist in Ti?? Sorry misunderstood, the Rep was only SS not Ti. Thats why i got it blasted. By the way the case and bracelet are on the way now so i should receive them in a week or so. Ill keep all updated. Joe
Sylar Posted February 1, 2007 Report Posted February 1, 2007 Cant wait to see the updated pics of the bracelet. Its looking hawt.
supermanx Posted February 2, 2007 Report Posted February 2, 2007 You should be able to paint the entire bezel then send off the color you dont want. The bezel looks more polished then the rest of the case on the gen (or at least the few shots I've seen on the web.)
ajoesmith Posted February 6, 2007 Author Report Posted February 6, 2007 Well I got the case and Bracelet back this morning and so when i came home i assembled this little beauty. If you don't know what I've done please read the earlier post, but basically the case and bracelet have been blasted by a process called 'Aluminum Oxide Blasting' giving the Titanium look. Enjoy the pics, i apologize about the Pic quality as i got a new camera and it isn't quite up to the closeup shots. Its a Casio Exilim EX-S770, great camera but not for close ups. Anyway enjoy the pics
Pugwash Posted February 6, 2007 Report Posted February 6, 2007 Was that another one on the desk behind it?
ajoesmith Posted February 6, 2007 Author Report Posted February 6, 2007 Was that another one on the desk behind it? Yes Mr. Pugwash, very observant Its for sale in the for sale section if anybody wants it And before anyone asks, i dont think im going to bother with the task of painting the bezel, i think it looks great as it is. but maybe one day......
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