one80 Posted April 18, 2021 Report Share Posted April 18, 2021 Who has the most accurate 5510 bezel insert? For most of them that I’ve found the font is waaaay off. Phongs seem ok but most are overly “aged”z 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted April 18, 2021 Report Share Posted April 18, 2021 This is more a question of what will be acceptable to you. First of all, google rolex 5510 and look at at the various inserts- a lot of them have the red triangle. WSO990 has one of those https://www.ebay.com/itm/BEZEL-INSERT-FOR-ROLEX-SUBMARINER-5508-5510-5512-5513-6538-65 It's not great but maybe it'll work for you. WSO990 also has the insert with the acrylic pearl in a silver triangle BEZEL INSERT FOR VINTAGE ROLEX SUBMARINER 5508 5510 5512 WATCH AUTOMATIC BLACK | eBay I used that insert in my 5508 build and it's ok- the pearl was good, font so-so. Or go for Phong's insert- I'd get the one that's for the for the vintage subs at $95- either the vintage or new look. It's not distressed so you can age it yourself or let it age naturally. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one80 Posted April 19, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 Thanks for those links. Going off the 4-digit insert guide (stickied) It seems I should be going for either a Hash-Red or MK1 inset to be period correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted April 19, 2021 Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 Yes, but I doubt you'll ever find one. Gen inserts are absolutely out of sight and all you can hope to do is find a decent rep insert and maybe do a little aging to make it less noticeable. Phong's two vintage inserts are ok and there is the 6538 inserts down the page which can also be used on a 5510. There's a book "Vintage Rolex Sports Models" by Skeet and Urul which shows various 5510s- starting with a 6538 type insert shown on Phong's site and finally ending with the vintage type insert that Phong has which was used in the middle 60s. The thing about inserts is that they are a wear item and get replaced. And I promise you Rolex could care less about replacing the insert- they'll do it in a heart beat if it's worn out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted April 19, 2021 Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 My friend built the most extravagant Big Crown Franken I’ve seen. He painstakingly researched every last detail and in the end decided he had to have a genuine red triangle hash insert. He found one, nearly NOS, authenticated, and paid over $4,500 for it. If I’d done that I would never wear the watch. The inserts aren’t held in THAT well and it would be ruinous to look down at your wrist and see it missing.Heck, when I replaced the gen T39 Superdome on my 1665 I almost stopped wearing it because I didn’t want to crack it on something, and that was a paltry $350 crystal.YMMV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one80 Posted April 19, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 (edited) Thanks again for the replies. I've found a couple on MQ's site that I'm happy with the font, just not so much on the artificial wear... Have emailed to see if he can supply a "as new" one, and do the wear myself. Am I correct that the 6536/6538/5508/5510 are the only ones that share the same bezel size? The more I head down the vintage big crown path, the more I wonder if a 5512/5513 wouldn't be a little easier... Edited April 19, 2021 by one80 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted April 19, 2021 Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 1 hour ago, one80 said: I wonder if a 5512/5513 wouldn't be a little easier... Yes & for a variety of reasons. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted April 19, 2021 Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 It would be orders of magnitude easier and far more believable on the wrist. My buddy here is the watchmaker at the Rolex AD and he has never seen a Big Crown being worn. And he has worked on exactly one, that someone found at the bottom of the Russian river, many years after the band broke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one80 Posted April 19, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2021 (edited) Hmmm... maybe I am making a rod for my own back with the BC. Any guidance on who has the most accurate 5513 case? Rubywatch modded, pr Phong? Who does case modding these days? Dbane? Edited April 19, 2021 by one80 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted April 20, 2021 Report Share Posted April 20, 2021 I’m pretty sure dBane is done taking in project watches. I have a Phong case for my Snowflake and it’s very very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribal Posted April 20, 2021 Report Share Posted April 20, 2021 Maybe this?!?I have it on my desk. ; )Gesendet von meinem Mi MIX 2S mit Tapatalk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hologramet Posted May 28, 2021 Report Share Posted May 28, 2021 I have a perfect Tall5 redtriangle insert from Crownartcustoms. That is the most accurate one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one80 Posted May 28, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2021 Yes, I've been talking to Crownartcustoms re. a red triangle insert. I've also ordered a Mk3 to suit a 5513 build, which I've started on also (with a Rubys case and MQ dial) but there's something that draws me back to the BC's... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted May 28, 2021 Report Share Posted May 28, 2021 I have a perfect Tall5 redtriangle insert from Crownartcustoms. That is the most accurate one.Wow, I’d like to see a pic of that. I have a gen MkII on the Big Gonzo and it’s crumbling like the metal substrate was rolled out wrong or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hologramet Posted May 29, 2021 Report Share Posted May 29, 2021 Wow, I’d like to see a pic of that. I have a gen MkII on the Big Gonzo and it’s crumbling like the metal substrate was rolled out wrong or something.This one was just released by him:[imf]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210529/764fdebc9d1f2a88c1fef67dc77cc0e8.png[/img]————And below is 1/2 I have. The other one is more tropical/aged and going in a purple hue like the gen ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted May 29, 2021 Report Share Posted May 29, 2021 Magnificent. I've been thinking about a replacement for what I have now on the 6204. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hologramet Posted May 29, 2021 Report Share Posted May 29, 2021 Magnificent. I've been thinking about a replacement for what I have now on the 6204. Then his latest is the way to go... contact him via instagram och via RWGRed triangle Tall5 for 5510, 5508 and 5512 square/eagle beak cg around 59-60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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