Stephane Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Rolex 1655: the so called Steve Mc Queen. Pictorial/review of a "community" project Preambule I have narrowed my collection to the watches I truly love. No surprise I guess if I say…mainly Rolex The 1655 was missing in my collection so I knew for a long time that I needed one at a certain point I started a thread a while ago to gather informations and of course went to my buddy MM to be educated. I like the way he teach me how to look at this hobby. Specially when it comes to Rolex. The 1655 isn't different from all Rolex: everything is possible from service dials to bezels or bracelets. This thread is full of informations. Click here! The start Vlydog was putting parts together to build his own 1655. I took it over And now, I want to go till the end and add some more changes to it in the future. Initialy he bought the case from TooMuchGear. TMG got it from TTK and it was a "supposed MBW/MBK" watch As you can see…the engraving is a little weird: Vlydog added the following parts to the package: Crown: 241-600-0 JT-03 Tube: 24-6020 OE-05 Gen Omega flightmaster hand set Gen Tropic 116 The first modification As the case came without lug holes, the first thing to do was to drill these holes. There is only one friend who could take the challenge as the case was really not the best one to do this: Omega. After Omega's work… It wasn't an easy job, and one of the holes isn't "perfect" but good enough for me anyway. Big thank you man, that was a very nice gesture, as usual. The final modification Once this watch has left from TooMuchGear for Vlydog, then to me, then to Omega, the natural road was to send it to MM Here is the dial before MM applied his magic: Here it is, aged the way I like it: Of course the Omega hands have been installed too… And the genuine tropic 116 also. Finally the gen crown and tube are perfect in my opinion (241-600-0 JT-03 and 24-6020 OE-05): The bracelet and end links In the case of my 1655, bracelet wise, I have no stock bracelet that could fit it or that would be accurate. So I accepted the offer of a trustable member to get myself a genuine and in great state 78360. Of course, this reference is to be consider as a "replacement" but isn't it nice? The endlinks? Well again they are "replacement" and 501b They do fit well enough to match my standard Conclusion The final treatment has been "the coin treatment" to make voluntary scratches on the watch and even on the tropic. I know, I know, most of you like a pristine watch but I don't. I'm more and more thinking to age my entire collection to make every single watch look like "they have an history"! The Nanuq way There are probably more mods to come, like an orange hand, but so far, I am very happy with the results. I sincerely want to thank all the members who posted in that thread with a lot of information. And of course, a special thank to TooMuchGear, Vlydog, Omega and MM! Thanks for looking and reading. Cheers Stephane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Beautiful job Stephane! Another cool watch for your Rolex collection. My two bracelet charts say the 78360 with 580 endlinks is correct. The earlier 7836 w/ 580's (or 380's or 280's) is good and the earliest 7206/58 combo would have to date to the late 60's, I believe. Enjoy your new beauty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimster Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Excellent work! Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribal Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Really a beauty Great work from all involved partys. I think you get a more andmore complete collection. Congrats again my friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Looks great Stephane. Welcome to the club! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmg Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Stephane, My left over parts couldn't have met a final better ending -your MM does amazing work! Even though my own 1655 hasn't received much wrist time lately this watch has a special place in my heart. I still find it hard to believe that I had an idea/discovery that actually panned out for once with the Flight Master hands. It makes a huge impact in the appearance. Great post as always and wear it well my friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronin Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 LOVE IT!!! Curious about the "Coin Treatment". Please enlighten me... Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southcoast68 Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 LOVE IT!!! Curious about the "Coin Treatment". Please enlighten me... Thanks. Carry it around in a pocket full of change perhaps and let the coin edges do the aging work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted January 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Beautiful job Stephane! Another cool watch for your Rolex collection. My two bracelet charts say the 78360 with 580 endlinks is correct. The earlier 7836 w/ 580's (or 380's or 280's) is good and the earliest 7206/58 combo would have to date to the late 60's, I believe. Enjoy your new beauty. Thanks for confirming Alli...you are a precious source of information for our community As for the endlinks, I'm not very exited about them anymore. I have a spare 580 pair but can't fit them to any of my watches... Excellent work! Jim Thanks for the compliment...seing yours was a pure pleasure Really a beauty Great work from all involved partys. I think you get a more andmore complete collection. Congrats again my friend. Yeah, a lot of great people around this one Tirb'. Only one missing: you Looks great Stephane. Welcome to the club! Thanks D. It feels good to be part of it Stephane, My left over parts couldn't have met a final better ending -your MM does amazing work! Even though my own 1655 hasn't received much wrist time lately this watch has a special place in my heart. I still find it hard to believe that I had and idea/discovery that actually panned out for once with the Flight Master hands. It makes a huge impact in the appearance. Great post as always and wear it well my friend. Thanks TMG. I feel even better sharing a piece of it with you We made it ! LOVE IT!!! Curious about the "Coin Treatment". Please enlighten me... Thanks. As SC68 says here under Carry it around in a pocket full of change perhaps and let the coin edges do the aging work? Something like that. Or put it in box with coins and shake it But what you propose open a lot of hope for my entire collection. Carying a watch in a pocket full of coins is a very very nice idea. I'll start tomorrow with my "rep" 16800 @ ALL, thanks for reading and commenting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cats Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 One word "BEAUTIFULL". Carpe Diem Cats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By-Tor Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 I know how much you wanted one, so I'm really happy that you finally got it. Vintage Explorer II has certain "spirit" that makes it very special. You definitely have the greatest gen/franken Rolex collection of the whole membership. I wouldn't mind having it... but an average guy like me could never afford it. Enjoy my friend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shundi Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Superb watch and an amazing story! Congrats!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazarini Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Steph, as always looking good, the finishing touches on it are spectacular... Another build by team RWG a true end product of the community makes my hart sing guys ! Congrats to all, cheers Laz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polexpete Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Awesome watch Stephane and great team work to put it all together, without which i couldn't have made mine. Thanks to all ! Cheers P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted January 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 One word "BEAUTIFULL". Carpe Diem Cats Thanks a lot Cats. I must say I love it I know how much you wanted one, so I'm really happy that you finally got it. Vintage Explorer II has certain "spirit" that makes it very special. You definitely have the greatest gen/franken Rolex collection of the whole membership. I wouldn't mind having it... but an average guy like me could never afford it. Enjoy my friend! Thanks By-Tor. Well, the Rolex collection is great but costed me an arm...I hope to not spend a leg in the future I'm not into clothes or shopping or anything traditional. I guess it's a matter of choice, but this hobby is really my only "serious spending". Superb watch and an amazing story! Congrats!! Thanks for your nice words Shundi. Steph, as always looking good, the finishing touches on it are spectacular... Another build by team RWG a true end product of the community makes my hart sing guys ! Congrats to all, cheers Laz I agree 100%. A watch is not only a watch! Even if very nice. It's the story around it that makes it special! Awesome watch Stephane and great team work to put it all together, without which i couldn't have made mine. Thanks to all ! Cheers P. I'm happy to join you on the 1655 Pete. Congrats to you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By-Tor Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 I'm not into clothes or shopping or anything traditional. Let's leave clothes and shopping for women and David Beckham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elepaolo Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Great job Steph, if you ever will decide to sell it, just make a whistle!!! I hope it will go better than our last deal... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted January 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Great job Steph, if you ever will decide to sell it, just make a whistle!!! I hope it will go better than our last deal... Thanks Paolo. Well, unlike our 16800 deal, this one doesn't need a new mvt or date wheel Sorry again for the confusion but there was nothing good in selling you that 16800 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 A great addition to your collection Stephane!, i just wish you would not age them so much, but that is how you like to see them and i am sure that is what maks you have a satified smile every time you look at them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elepaolo Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 I want to tell this in public: Stephane is one of the most fair guys I've ever known. Period. Good luck for everything, mate! Thanks Paolo. Well, unlike our 16800 deal, this one doesn't need a new mvt or date wheel Sorry again for the confusion but there was nothing good in selling you that 16800 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselpower Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Wonderful to see so many members pulling together to create a fantastic piece. Well done one and all and wear it well Stephane. Superb work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted January 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Wonderful to see so many members pulling together to create a fantastic piece. Well done one and all and wear it well Stephane. Superb work. Agreed DP, agreed. Many thanks. I feel honoured to be part of the "Rolex Owners Club" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youpmelone Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 Wow Stephane! very very nice, congrats wear it well. 1655 the one watch I need to have...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flex Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 Beautiful watch.. Make me kind of regret selling my NDTtrading 1655 case for $350.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 Make me kind of regret selling my NDTtrading 1655 case for $350.. How did I miss that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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