subzero1 Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 I have always loved my 024A from EL, I like the sub line from panerai, and I liked the fact that the bezel did not have the hash marks between 12 and 3. The circular markers on the bezel and the circular hour markers on the dial combined with the brushed circular bezel gave this watch the feeling of being a "study in circles", which I really liked. The one thing I was always vaguely a bit unhappy with was the fact that the case and crown were highly polished and only the bezel was brushed, giving too much of a bling effect to a watch that by design should have been strictly ruggedly masculine. Here is what it looked like before I decided to mod it: Definitely a good looking watch. But I thought it could be even better with an all-brushed case. Less accurate to the gen? Sure. But since I think panerai missed the boay on this one (and since there is no Ti brushed 025 reps available), I figured "why not?" So, some time with some fine grit sandpaper, a brillo pad, and a scratch-pen, here are the results: Hope you like it, I know I'm ecstatic! [update 9/29/2007] OK, the next step I took was inspired by BBB (that's bigbadbrad to the rest of you). He experimented with "vintaging" some of his panny dials by putting them in the oven and the rubbing them with instant coffee grounds. I really liked the look he was able to come up with, so I tried it myself. I disassembled the watch, removed the hands, removed the dial, and put them into a non-stick baking pan and popped them into the oven at 500 degree Farenheit. 20 minutes later I pulled them all out, re-assembled everything and Voila! Here is the result: Now I'm even happier with the watch and I have to give a big shout out to Brad for inspiring this final step. [update 10/1/2007] OK, I decided to knock out the icky green pearl with a screwdriver and a hammer, then I "aged" the case with the use of some force and a concrete wall and floor. Put it on an aged MP strap, and here are the results: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 That looks awesome I achieved a similar vintaging effect by accident on an Omega project watch when I left it under a daylight bulb for a few hours to dry condensation from it, and the lume went the same color as you have there. Out of curiosity, does the lume still glow, or is it a reduced flourescence? I think that might well be a future project I'll have to tackle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subzero1 Posted September 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 Thanks! Hands still glow a little, but the dial doesn't glow at all anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 Thanks! Hands still glow a little, but the dial doesn't glow at all anymore. You're more than welcome I have a friend who I think would absolutely love a watch like that (he's not a real watch guy, but I know that that's 'his style') Ahh, I wondered if that might be the case, as when I baked the lume on my Omega it hardly glowed anymore. The thing I did find interesting, was both the hands and dial received the same baking, yet the lume on the hands was untouched and remained white, but the lume on the dial and insert pearl, went an orangey yellow (and the pearl fell out ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willith Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 The dial looks good, nice work. You need to beat up the case a little bit now or were you going for the NOS look? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 Looks good. Wear it well. The outcome of the hands glowing but not the dial is very common on older tritium gens so good work on that. You do have to do something with that pearl though. It needs to be aged. I went the other way and polished everything to complete the deco look. My pet peeve are the metal bezels on the hour markers. I am likely to take a shot at removing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subzero1 Posted September 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 I think I'm going to take a screwdriver and a hammer to the bezel pearl and simply knock it out. I saw someone here with a 187 that had a smashed pearl and I thought it looked pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 Great work on that case. I love that brushed look. Makes for a more balanced look. Vintaging has worked well too IMO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 I think I'm going to take a screwdriver and a hammer to the bezel pearl and simply knock it out. I saw someone here with a 187 that had a smashed pearl and I thought it looked pretty cool. Carefull with the hammer, you wouldn't want the shock to affect the movement (unless you strip the watch first, of course ) Sounds like a good plan though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subzero1 Posted September 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 I went ahead and smashed out the pearl, and with the help of some concrete walls, beat the hell out of the watch case as well. Put it on a very vintage looking MP strap and it looks HOT now I'll post pics when I get the camera back from my wife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted October 1, 2007 Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 I went ahead and smashed out the pearl, and with the help of some concrete walls, beat the hell out of the watch case as well. Put it on a very vintage looking MP strap and it looks HOT now I'll post pics when I get the camera back from my wife. I can't wait to see the results to the case Did you mask the crystal, or did you let that take a few knocks as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subzero1 Posted October 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 Updated with pics of the latest rounds of mods. If you look at the first pic at the very top of the post before any mods and jump straight to the last pic after the latest round of mods, it has been quite a journey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 That's looking damn good If I can get my Vintage Planet Ocean project to come out half as good as that, I'll be happy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willith Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Now that looks like a vintage "tool" watch. Nice work, hopefully you don't cut yourself on some of those ragged edges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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