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My VJ72-based Vintage Daytona


Virgil Hilts

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Well, this is it. It's taken me almost three months and a stupid amount of money, but it's finished. Here are some pics of my 6265. Kit came from a connection in Singapore, the dial is a DW I sourced from a fellow (amazingly helpful) forum member and I picked up the hands, genuine Tropic 21 crystal and Valjoux 72 movement on eBay. All I've got left to do is put a genuine bracelet and a genuine crown on it and that should about wrap it up. I also have a black bezel and a couple of other possible dial combos, but I'm keeping it like this for awhile. Case has appropriate markings, along with serial and model numbers (6263 to be exact). Some of the black on the bezel came off when the guy put the bezel on. At first it kinda [censored] me off, but now I think it helps make it look a little broken-in.

Thanks to Avitt, Ubi and Nanuq for all their help in getting this thing done.

This should just about wrap it up for me and reps - I figure it's going to be pretty difficult to top this one. (Unless luckyyy comes across with more info on that McQueen he posted the other day) Have a look - I'm sure there will be some suggestions for improvement and I look forward to hearing them.

And no, I won't tell you how much I spent. :)

Cheers.post-143-1144988191_thumb.jpg post-143-1144988213_thumb.jpg post-143-1144988238_thumb.jpg

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Funny you should mention that - I was thinking of going into my friendly neighborhood Tourneau this weekend.

Virgil Hilts, I spent several hours yesterday investigating the various pieces necessary to build this same watch. I think the fun is in the hunt, and I'm hooked. The Jimbo (EE?) 6263 only wet my appetite. I may be doing some selling to fund the project.

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I wonder if this rep will be more valuable personally to you than a genuine watch ... I have a feeling that the effort it has taken will make it so much more, which is a much greater feeling than maxing out a credit card to get that nice one in the shop window even if they both cost the same :thumbsupsmileyanim:

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The hand of the 3am subdial is not pointing exactly at 30?

Yes, the Valjoux 72 needs an overhaul, tho it's running well right now. Sometimes the 30 sec subdial reset is a little off, as is the second hand. I'm going to see if The Zigmeister is willing to give it a thorough once-over, but I'll wait until I get the gen crown and tube.

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what happened to the bezel´s numbers? It seems that the black has faded away, which gives the feeling of total vintage watch...congratulations

Manuel,

The bezel was a bit of an accident. I mentioned it in the original post. Can't decide whether I want to fill the black back in or not yet. It does make it look a little worn-in, which I like.

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I wonder if this rep will be more valuable personally to you than a genuine watch ... I have a feeling that the effort it has taken will make it so much more, which is a much greater feeling than maxing out a credit card to get that nice one in the shop window even if they both cost the same :thumbsupsmileyanim:

Chronus,

I own several gens, including a '61 5512 Sub, an Omega GMT and a Cartier Tank Francaise. The only reps I own anymore besides this Daytona are a DW Daytona and a Fiddy. I think I'm done with reps now, at least for awhile. This project has indeed been a bit of a treasure hunt - one that, for the most part, has been a lot of fun. I don't mind spending money on great genuine watches, but I just can't justify dropping $25,000+ on a vintage Daytona. So my goal was to have a watch that would fool even the WIS's of the world for a whole lot less. Of course, taking the caseback off and looking at the movement would give it away in a second - the Rollie version of the VJ72 has some distinctly different mods to it versus a stock VJ72, but, externally, at least, I think this one will do the job. I may try to source genuine hands and genuine pushers eventually. We'll see. Anyway, I'm glad you like it. Here's a couple more pics of the new guy with my genuine 5512.post-143-1145037672_thumb.jpg post-143-1145037735_thumb.jpg

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