Please post pictures

Sorry I misunderstood- [img=http://img125.imagevenue.com/loc198/th_52480_L1000821_122_198lo.JPG]

In the meantime, here's one of mine

Nice-Great minds think alike

Yes-Lemania used to make their own watches but specialize in making movements for high end watches. It used to supply movements for the Breguet Aeronavale Mk 10 & AP . Now owned by Swatch Group

That's right-this was before Patek came out with their in-house movement-Excellent movement & very collectable if you can get your hands on any of the old watches.

Quartz or mechanical?

Have you thought of having a customized watch ?

MK2 (wwwmkiiwatches.com) allows you to create a customized watch ( with certain constraints. It uses ETA movements so it should be reasonably reliable.

I would suggest you check out the website & obtain the drivers watch in the style of the submariner & order the NATO strap similar to what Sean Connery wore in Dr No.

^

Oh yesss ( he pants )!!

This post has been edited by jind86: Jul 20 2010, 11:02 PM

Would you know anyone who can remove the crown guards for the Submariner? It would be interesting to buy a pre-owned one for modification & worn with similar patterned NATO straps

Bamfords & some of the watch customizers on line seem to offer versions without the crown guard but in PVD black. The prices they charge are astronomical.

The other possible project is to take an existing day date and change the dial to a "California dial" which may make things interesting. Not sure if anyone can do this locally

Thanks for the tip-Could be a start of a new hobby

I studies Yuki's website against the prevailing prices for a similar model Submariner in good condition sold at auctions. If I were able to procure all the parts & build the watch myself , it would be significantly cheaper than buying an existing pre own model.
I would need to buy a watch building kit from Ebay to get started.

Another watch worthy of this project would include the Paul Newman Daytona & The Steve McQueen Explorer with the Orange arrow.

Any further information or sources you have on this would be appreciated

Have to study the web & get all the tools.

According to some of the forums I've read it's not too difficult to do.

Yuki has most of the parts & movements are available through EBay

The alternative is to obtain all the parts & ask the watch repair shops like the one at AmCorp Mall if they will assemble the watch for a fee . Learn from them & subsequently work on the Paul Newman & Orange arrowed Explorer.

What do you think?

There's quite a number of different tools to invest in . The websites & forums on the internet that make it sound easy but then again they were also hocking watch parts & tools.

A good half way house is to assemble the submariner with an ETA movement first pending the purchase of a cal 1080 Rolex movement. No plans to sell the watch . Even if the watch movement was genuine, the movement serial numbers would not match that of the case . It would not fetch the price of the authentic version which sells in the mid 5 figures in mint condition with box & papers.

Let me find time to drop in Amcorp Mall over the weekend to enquire on the possibility of outsourcing the watch assembly & it's cost. Don't want to spend too much money on tools & time on this.

Yuki adviced against doing it myself as a novice. He has all the parts for the watch with the exception of the movements which are currently unavailable.

Skped a friend who builds & restores watches as a hobby. It appears that there is a special device required to remove & re-seal the Oyster case unlike other watches. He is also of the view that this is not something a beginner should attempt ( unless he has deep pockets ) & suggested I practice my watch making on Chinese & Russian Mechanical versions before moving on to the better stuff.

It looks like TSC might be the only solution ( assuming Yuki is able to supply the movement.)

Submariner in the following models : 6538 0r 6536 which uses cal 1080 or 5508 or 5510. Still cheaper than buying the last version of the watch with no date dial ( US$4,000 to $5,000 on the pre-owned market . The original version with the extra large crown & no crown guard is commanding low 5 figures .

In the meantime , here's something I picked up on EBay for a ridiculously cheap price . Took out the leather strap & bought a few NATOs to accompany it which makes it more comfortable to wear.

Yuki very very helpful. Currently has no movements ( ETA or otherwise ) available.

This watch is a "Eugene Meylan" re-issue of a watch Glycine made in the 1920's It's about 40 mm in diameter & has clear legible indexes. The movement is an ETA automatic.

Glycine, as you may be aware makes military & aviation watches. The original version of this watch was mechanical & had indexes that contained radioactive elements for easier night vision. Not good for one's health unfortunately.

The watch came with a garish colored leather strap which I exchanged for an original Glycine leather strap. The humid climate is not conducive to the wearing of leather straps on a day to day basis hence the NATO strap which is cheap & comfortable.

Would you have any pictures of the Rolex Sub you are referring to?

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Added on July 23, 2010, 10:35 amSee my thread on this for details-

Don't feel the size is too big given the current trend for larger watches

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Added on July 23, 2010, 11:01 amBTW would you have a source for California dials? I'm thinking of changing the dial of my old datejust

Thanks

This post has been edited by beau: Jul 23 2010, 11:01 AM

This is big


46 mm

Or this



44 mm

Neither-This was made from a stock of old IWC movements. The original dial had to be replaced as it contained radium 226 on the markers . It wasn't cheap but still cheaper than buying the original IWC version of the B-Uhr which goes for 5 figures . Wanted the mechanical version but was quoted a significantly higher sum than the auto version.

There's a number of these one man shops in Switzerland & Southern Germany that fabricates watches with old movements.

The original LACO version was 55 mm not very wearable to say the least.

Only if you bring along a few nice looking women who don't mind being molested too!!

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Added on July 24, 2010, 1:31 amHave to be discreet as some of these individuals do outsource work for the brands & moonlight to make these pieces. The purchases are also opportunistic in the sense that these individuals happen to come across some stock of old movements & decided to re furbish them & put them in new cases

This post has been edited by beau: Jul 24 2010, 01:31 AM

No problem in sharing the sources.I will need to check with the group & makers if they are fine in welcoming new members/customers. The problem is these type of watches are not readily available & depends on the watchmaker finding the stock of old movements . I'll be happy to pm you once I receive such notification.

It usually works this way:-

1. The watch maker will send an e mail informing prospective customers ( who happen to be mutual friends ) that he's found a certain number of a certain type of movement with a brief write up on the history of the movement as well as his suggestions on what it can be fashioned into.

2. He will poll the said customers on their preferences & send another e mail with his suggested path forward, lead time & price. Some makers will require payment in stages ( payment by way of wire transfer or paypal) or a deposit before work is commenced ( usually a sum sufficient to cover the purchase of parts & materials )

3. Some individual requests may be catered for eg Breguet blued hands etc but there is little bespoke options especially where the case & dial is concerned given the costs in fabricating these items .

The whole process can be a lengthy one so patience is required. By way of an example a maker sent a message informing the group that he came across some old Breitling movements . The group will provide feedback etc . Consensus is vital as this affects the price of the finished product.

The group tends to be trusted individuals-the watch maker need to trust them to make payment and they the maker to ensure the movements supplied are authentic. There is little or no after sales warranty unless one is located in close proximity ( old movements can be a tad temperamental to say the least ). The big plus point is the flexible warranty care-if one happens to be in the locality & the watch maker is available, drop in & he will service or repair your watch in most instances free or for minimal costs , provided it doesn't involve the purchase of major parts.

Most of these makers tend to be collectors themselves & prefer not to sell to traders . This also means that they will not substitute non authentic parts where possible & it can be a while if the watch needs fixing while they source for parts.

The other option is to buy wrist watches which have been converted from pocket watches.

Results have been mixed on that front.

BTW Panerai owes its re-birth to the discovery of 100 old Rolex movements which have not been fabricated into watches in the 80's . Those pieces are now selling at USD$50,000 to $60,000 at auctions etc.

Hope this is helpful