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NCRich

Explorer - mild tropical treatment

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NCRich

I got this cartel explorer M2M next door to play with.  All the explorer dials come either stark white or babyshit yellow.  Neither seem very realistic for a 20-30 year old watch.  I had some extra dials so I thought I would try to mildly age one.  So it came with the babyshit dial:
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I had a couple of extras in the box in white, this one is a Yuki

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I want that to be ivory or light tan, with a tiny bit of browning on the dial.  Popped it in the over at 425F for 20ish minutes.  I relumed the hands to match and put a couple coats of matte lacquer on the dial.

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9d2Nn5Q.jpg?1

Its a nice case set.  It wears nice and has a domed plexi.  If they had drilled out the lugs it would be great.

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Pretty easy mod that I think really makes the watch more realistic.   Just don't leave it in the oven too long or it will ruin.

 

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McGilli
3 minutes ago, NCRich said:

Popped it in the over at 425F for 20ish minutes.

Stuff  -  I will never, ever learn.

Always fascinated to hear how things are done, especially with making things look older. Definitely looks the best of the 3 dials.

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Glaude

So you cooked it ? That's awesome ! The result is spot on what you described ! 

Great works and thanks for sharing !

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Luxuracer

You make it looks and sounds ... so easy ... ;)

Beautiful work as always ... but you are missing the lume shot.

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NCRich
15 minutes ago, Luxuracer said:

You make it looks and sounds ... so easy ... ;)

Beautiful work as always ... but you are missing the lume shot.

It shouldn't have any lume, its old!

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Luxuracer
1 minute ago, NCRich said:

It shouldn't have any lume, its old!

Everyone likes lumes ... ask @McGilli

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McGilli
10 minutes ago, NCRich said:

It shouldn't have any lume, its old!

So - what is the life expectancy of the lume that would have been used back then?

And, how old is this watch supposed to be?

I need to make sure the math checks out ;) 

Thanks @Luxuracer I was just about to watch a movie - but now I need I know to get this sorted - no lume... I can't sleep until I know these details!!!!

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Theviking

Nice work Rich, what about the hands? I have a cartel SD I plan to age but the hands are shiney as fuck. Also trying to work out if I should spray Matt the dial or bake it or both before I do a shaky relume.

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NCRich
31 minutes ago, Theviking said:

Nice work Rich, what about the hands? I have a cartel SD I plan to age but the hands are shiney as fuck. Also trying to work out if I should spray Matt the dial or bake it or both before I do a shaky relume.

I don't want the hands aged on this.  I just wanted it to look 20 years old on the dial and hands.  Hands would still be shiny.  You can use a manicurist fine sponge pad to take the shine off the hands. Just buff it with that a few swipes and it will tone right down.  Scotch brite works too.

If you bake that dial be very careful, it goes brown in a flash.  You would matte spray after you cooked it.

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Theviking
2 hours ago, NCRich said:

I don't want the hands aged on this.  I just wanted it to look 20 years old on the dial and hands.  Hands would still be shiny.  You can use a manicurist fine sponge pad to take the shine off the hands. Just buff it with that a few swipes and it will tone right down.  Scotch brite works too.

If you bake that dial be very careful, it goes brown in a flash.  You would matte spray after you cooked it.

Arigato Sensei

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JSebwc

Nicely done Rich. Looks great. That case set does look nice with such a shiny bezel. Do you plan on drilling the lugs ?

Do you plan on cooking the others a bit longer to see what kind of results you could get. ?

I wonder if adding a mild acid or a cleaning solution would help age the paint
In the heat ??

I really wish we could replicate some of the spectacular tropical dials f2613ee8c03a61b1303f9f9fe758786e.jpg

This one is a favourite of mine!!

9062013690e896cee12183a18797c9b4.png



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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NCRich
4 hours ago, JSebwc said:

Nicely done Rich. Looks great. That case set does look nice with such a shiny bezel. Do you plan on drilling the lugs ?

Do you plan on cooking the others a bit longer to see what kind of results you could get. ?

I wonder if adding a mild acid or a cleaning solution would help age the paint
In the heat ??

I really wish we could replicate some of the spectacular tropical dials f2613ee8c03a61b1303f9f9fe758786e.jpg

This one is a favourite of mine!!
emoji7.pngemoji7.pngemoji7.png
9062013690e896cee12183a18797c9b4.png



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have done it with others several times.  There is a post somewhere in the vintage section with three different dials. 

edit: found it

 

 

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repmaster1234

Nice one Rich! Reminds me I need to send those 6542 parts to you.

22 hours ago, JSebwc said:

I really wish we could replicate some of the spectacular tropical dials

I did one of these dials earlier this year 

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NCRich
1 hour ago, repmaster1234 said:

Nice one Rich! Reminds me I need to send those 6542 parts to you.

I did one of these dials earlier this year 

That is a beautiful thing.

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JSebwc
2 hours ago, repmaster1234 said:

Nice one Rich! Reminds me I need to send those 6542 parts to you.

I did one of these dials earlier this year 

Holy smokes that is beautiful!!   Please check you DM  I NEED THIS!! 

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BlameTony

Tremendous work. I'm working on my own 1016 at the moment. This is very inspirational.

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