Guest avitt Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 I just finished assembling this Daytona Cosmograph 6265: Upgrades/features include: A conditioned DW case Timeman dial, with coronet transplanted from DW dial Genuine vintage crown, with generic tube Genuine Tropic 21 571 end links Hollow 78350 bracelet Exceptional bezel, with very deep stamping Wittnauer VJ72 movement with microstella balance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Beautiful work & watch, Avitt. My only complaint is that it looks too new (and I only wish I had that problem). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stilty Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Beautiful watch! Nice job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dachshund Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 KICK ASS WATCH for sure!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avitt Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 (edited) Beautiful work & watch, Avitt. My only complaint is that it looks too new (and I only wish I had that problem). Thanks, guys. freddy333: On my Daytona's, I've made a conscious decision to give them a "straight from the RSC" look (as if the RSC would still service these...). I like the crystal perfectly clear, the case smooth, but without major blemishes, and the dial clean. To me, there is a real beauty in the radial starburst pattern of the dial, and the concentric rings of the subdials. There a sharpness, and sparkle that I like to show through as new. The only thing that I feel is missing here is some slight aging of the "tritium" markers. This is apparent on genuines...even the safe queens. I have done this with black dials before, but it was my determination that it is too risky on a silver dial. I am afraid the the dying agent may stain the dial itself, which would look quite unsightly. Here is a picture of a genuine, which represents my ideal: Edited June 14, 2007 by avitt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribal Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Fantasic work... Best Vintage Daytona i've seen yet. I love it..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 The only thing that I feel is missing here is some slight aging of the "tritium" markers. This is apparent on genuines...even the safe queens. I have done this with black dials before, but it was my determination that it is too risky on a silver dial. I am afraid the the dying agent may stain the dial itself, which would look quite unsightly. Avitt -- A brown or rust (or whatever your preference is for aged tritium) artist's pencil should do the trick. No muss, no fuss & and every artist's supply (and some office supply) has them. But, were it mine, I would leave them the way they are. The thing that catches my eye is the overall pristine appearance of the entire watch. The crisp lines and perfectly smooth surfaces. Even after a Rolex overhaul (which is usually the look I go for myself), I do not think the case and dial would look quite that pristine. Actually, I think what bothers me (and it is a relatively minor detail) are the perfectly rounded edges. I think you may have smoothed them a bit too accurately. New, the lines would be crisp & clearly defined. But after 30+ years of use, Rolex overhauls & successive polishings, there would be some irregularities in the lines of the case and bezel. That is why I purposely took a file to the sides of my DRSD (you can see this in some of the recent shots of the He valve side of the watch), so the light would reflect differently in the peaks & valleys of the metal that would have appeared after successive polishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avitt Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Avitt -- A brown or rust (or whatever your preference is for aged tritium) artist's pencil should do the trick. No muss, no fuss & and every artist's supply (and some office supply) has them. Thanks freddy. I had been using liquid stains. I'll give your method a try on some old dials... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tassilo75 Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 :o :o FANTASTIC Watch !!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff g Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Boy do I envy you. I searched for a DW case for the 6265 for quite awhile, but had no luck. Eventually I wanted this watch so much that I settled for the piece you see here. Certainly not the caliber of your Daytona, but for me it will always be my favorite model. I especially love the silver dial. The depth of your tach etching is impressive. Way better than the photo of the gen you illustrated. On my piece the etching is way to shallow, but...I LOVE this watch. Beautiful work. Wear it well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avitt Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 The thing that catches my eye is the overall pristine appearance of the entire watch. The crisp lines and perfectly smooth surfaces. Even after a Rolex overhaul (which is usually the look I go for myself), I do not think the case and dial would look quite that pristine. Actually, I think what bothers me (and it is a relatively minor detail) are the perfectly rounded edges. I think you may have smoothed them a bit too accurately. New, the lines would be crisp & clearly defined. But after 30+ years of use, Rolex overhauls & successive polishings, there would be some irregularities in the lines of the case and bezel. That is why I purposely took a file to the sides of my DRSD (you can see this in some of the recent shots of the He valve side of the watch), so the light would reflect differently in the peaks & valleys of the metal that would have appeared after successive polishes. I've been thinking about this statement, freddy333. I agree with you, regarding the 1665. That watch is clearly a tool watch, and should show some heavy use (I wouldn't hesitate to wear mine while doing work around the house, yard, or car). However, the Daytonas, while from the same era, were luxury watches...and chronographs at that. As such, they were not subjected the same abuses (unless they were owned by GP drivers ). For me, it is completely satisfying for the Daytonas to have a crisp, polished look. (I really don't want them to have the "Jensen Dinh" look.) Remember, also, that these watches are in my regular rotation...They are bound to pick up some scratches and dings from normal use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watcher Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Beautiful watch my friend. I have just built my V72 6263 but it does not yet have the correct bracelet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Avitt -- In reference to your watch, I was referring mainly to the normal wearing down of edges that occurs over the course of successive polishings & overhauls it probably would have received by Rolex over the past 3 -4 decades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 That is gorgeous, avitt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brook0 Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Lots of Daytonas being built. One of the best. They say it was not popular when new, funny how that has changed. My fav. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Great job, avitt! These Daytonas you guys are putting together are awesome. And thanks for the link to www.jewelryandwatch.com/ over in watchers post- this time I'm saving it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 www.jewelryandwatch.com If you go through the entire site, these guys have some very interesting stuff (though some of it is poorly made), but expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manuel Posted June 15, 2007 Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 wow i like your watch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitimany Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 Excellent, I love the bezel, can you tell me where did you buy the bezel ? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eunomians Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 Gorgeous watch, Avitt! I am very impressed with the silver. I think that I might have to add a silver dialed Daytona to the fold. Wow, what a watch... Part of what makes it so great is the amount of time, perserverance, and patience it takes to carefully collect/mod all of the appropriate parts. Finishing a watch like this is akin to savoring a lovely 1993 Pinot Noir. Maturation comes only via time & great effort sprinkled with a little good fortune. Enjoy your lovely timepiece! Cheers from your buddy Euno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the playful eyes Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 Hot damn! That's nice! I just love the white panda dial. Good job avitt! I just finished assembling this Daytona Cosmograph 6265: Upgrades/features include: A conditioned DW case Timeman dial, with coronet transplanted from DW dial Genuine vintage crown, with generic tube Genuine Tropic 21 571 end links Hollow 78350 bracelet Exceptional bezel, with very deep stamping Wittnauer VJ72 movement with microstella balance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmg Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 Avitt, I'm a big fan of your work, it turned out beautiful! I'm partial to the silver dial too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 Damn, will you lot stop making me want a vintage Daytona? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 Pug -- Why would you want one of these old things when you could have one of these new things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir-Lancelot Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 Dayum thats nice. Very very well done my man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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