semperfi55 4,657 Posted March 2, 2022 Let's take a brief moment away from the dire global situation. Here's last year's thread: I finished off last year's SOTC with this wall of text: So what if the entire collection is Rolex? Nothing wrong with that, but I don't want to shut myself out of the rest of the watch brands. There are many vintage Heuer, Blancpain, AP, VC, Tudor and Patek watches that I'm interested in. Of course, for most of them there are no OOTB reps, nor are there cheap parts for them available. If I plan to expand the collection in that direction, it would be a long term plan requiring a lot of learning. In the past year, I have improved my practical knowledge in designing and printing decal dials, while reading on pad printing, anodised dyes, and electroplating. @Glaude has been very helpful in the technical aspects of these processes.The hope is that in this year I can continue acquiring more skills to make better quality dials and making gold plated reps. Over time, hopefully I will accumulate enough skills to build non-Rolex vintage reps as well. With that in mind, what has changed this year? 1) Rolex Dumping Last year, I was busy buying up all different models of U1 Rolex reps. This year I have been selling them on. I have had my fun with reps of modern Rolex. 2) Daytonamania With Extra Steps That's pretty obvious from last year's SOTC, but now I'm moving on from the modern Daytonas and shifting more focus on vintage Daytona builds. It's certainly helped since JKF have resumed production of gold plated Daytonas. 3) Moar Decal Dials This is an ongoing effort which I am still trying to improve. I am glad to have branched out of Rolex and made decal dials for Omega and Doxa reps. There are a few more designs offs the beaten track that I did not complete in time for this SOTC, so more to come 4) Still, No Electroplating I really need to stop procrastinating and complete the kit. Let's see if I can finally do gold plating next year 5) Imposing Box Limit I haven't made a conscious decision to set a hard limit on watch numbers. But I have stopped buying more watchboxes, which certainly slows down the buying. I think a box limit is a good idea, it will force me to sell off some watches to make room for the new. It'll keep me thinking on how I could shape the collection moving forward. As usual, gens first followed by reps. Gen Collection Casio Edifice EFB-508J (New) Casio G-Shock GA-2100-7AER (New) I'm finding these CasiOaks rather fascinating. It's also quite refreshing to have a sturdy watch rather than one that I have to baby/worry about. Casio G-Shock GA-2100-4AER (New) Casio Edifice Chronograph EF-503D-7AVDF The Swimming Casio Chronologic Watch Cuervo y Sobrinos Triple Calendar Dan Henry 1972 Alarm Chronograph (New) Because I can't afford the Orfina. Dan Henry 1939 Military Chronograph Diamond Dubey & Schaldenbrand Index Mobile Rattrapante Poor man's rattrapante GUB Glashütte Watches Henry London Heritage Square 29mm There's Dan Henry, but there's also Henry London Great value for a small quartz piece at about 20-30 quid each, do not pay the full overpriced retail. Henry London Heritage Square 34mm Won't be in the gen collection for long now if I can replicate a certain dial. Hugo Boss Dual-Time Ingersoll Union IN1203RWH Jean d'Eve Sectora Double retrograde hour and minute hands, using quartz movement. There is a larger men's version which has a mechanical movement but also more expensive. Junghans Max Bill Automatic 027/4700.00 Junghans Chronograph 4092589 E403 MJW The Ascendant Creative and impractical time telling by Mr Jones Watches. Oris Artelier Jumping Hour Oris Divers Sixty-Five 4.20.18 Raymond Weil "Tank" Watch Ray Rolex Datejust 16220 Seagull Seiko Flightmaster SNA411 (New) I succumbed to TGV's incessant propaganda and bought this. Love busy dials that sacrifice legibility. Seiko Presage Fuyugeshiki SSA385J1 Because of this watch, I thought I would buy the SBGA211(snowflake). Thankfully I felt underwhelmed when I actually tried on the Snowflake. The SLGH005 looks tempting too but it doesn't have Spring Drive. Seiko Age of Discovery 6M13-0010 Shanghai Skagen Ancher SKW6082 Swatch Animal Wheel GZ120 Swatch x MoMA: Starry Night (New) Swatch collab with New York's Museum of Modern Art Swatch Black-One Chronograph SUSB416 (New) Looks like Lego TagHeuer Monza CR2113-0 Tianjin 1963 Chronograph Simple Timex Another Timex Vague Watch Co. Vabble (New) This is a Japanese brand selling Bubbleback homages made in China. It greatly pleases me that the case diameter is 32mm, and the end links of this rivet bracelet is done well. It is an actual cylindrical end link, as opposed to a weird flat end link type(that mimics a cylinder) that Raffles sells. The only other place that sells this type of rivet bracelet is Forstner, which is rather pricey. My Tudor 7928 rep has the raffles bracelet and Omega Ranchero Albino rep has the Forstner bracelet. You'll see what I mean further down (if you get that far) Waltham Maxim Calatrava Homage Soviet Watches These ones seem increasingly inappropriate to wear as the situation gets grimmer. I'm still unsure what to do with them. I collected them because they looked very different to what I am used to. Some are very likely re-dials. Luch Modern version made in Belarus. Novel timetelling gimmick. I have no idea who buys the Meistersingers for thousands, just for the same one hander. Poljot Raketa Sturmanskie Sputnik Vostok Rep Collection A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Tourbillon A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin 205.086 A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Moonphase A. Lange & Söhne Datograph 403.032 Audemars Piguet 5043 with Türler Signature Henry London watch with decal dial Audermars Piguet Royal Oak 5402 A Series “Oman” (New) 15202 base rep with decal dial. This specific 5402 was perfect becasue it has the same case diameter as the 15202 , and has a plain dial as opposed to the usual tapisserie pattern. Yes the dial is wonky due to a difficult to cut date window. Don't scrutinise it too hard. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15202 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15454 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar 26579 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 26320 PVD Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourillon 26510 Blancpain Villeret Quantième Complet 6654 Breguet Classique 5177BR/15/9V6 Breguet Classique Chronograph 5247BB/12/9V6 Breguet Regulator Tourbillon 5307PT/12/9V6 Breguet Tradition 7057BB/11/9W6 Breitling Navitimer Montbrillant Datora A21330 Various Cheap Cartier Quartz Cartier Tank Basculante A Reverso but not really... Doxa Sub 300 "Black Lung" (New) Seestern+Decal dial build of the vintage with a different Aqua Lung logo. I should probably scrape off some of the orange in the bezel to make it more worn out. Doxa Sub 1200T National Underwater and Marine Agency (New) Seestern+Decal dial. Finding the right blue-turquoise was a challenge for me, even then this isn't the exact tone. It's hard to compare with photos off the internet. Franck Muller Crazy Hours Glashütte Original Panorama Date Moon Phase Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer Heuer 980.031(New) My own build using a gate Sub, decal dial which has a luminous surface and a quartz movement as per gen H. Moser & Cie Venturer Big Date Jaeger-LeCoultre Gate Watch Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso Classic Automatic My very first rep! Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Jaeger LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin MB&F Legacy Machine Split Escapement Omega Railmaster CK2914 (New) Mbari dial + Tigerconcepts case+Uncle Seiko Speedmaster style bracelet Omega Ranchero CK2996 (New) Mbari dial + Tigerconcepts case Omega Ranchero CK2990 Double Signature (New) Decal dial + Tigerconcepts case I noticed in the gens the "Seamaster" line is a slightly different white compared to the rest of the dial text, which might support the story that Omega added that extra line to help sell the unpopular Ranchero. Quite pleased with the result here. Omega Ranchero CK2990 Albino Dial (New) Decal dial+Tigerconcept case+Forstner rivet bracelet Panerai Luminor Submersible 682 Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda Tourbillon Patek Philippe 3519J with Gübelin Signature Decal dial Patek Philippe Chronometro Gondolo circa 1910s-1920s (New) I very much like the vintage rectangular watches and also double signature dials. I designed the dial based off an existing Patek, but its dial was housed in a rather large case(for the time). This one is under 30mm across. The small size definitely tests the limits of my printer. Many dauphine hands were destroyed while trying to broach them to the right size. The numerals were a joy to draw out in Illustrator. A prettyb uild if you squint hard enough Patek Philippe “Exploding Numerals” El Trust Joyero circa 1910s-1920s (New) An accompanying piece, with a signature from a different jeweller. Again the gen was housed in a much larger tonneau case. Patek Philippe Chronograph 130 with Hausmann & Co. Signature Decal dial mod on Dan Henry 1937. Patek Philippe Chronograph 530R Patek Philippe Chronograph 5070G Patek Philippe Chronograph 5170"A" Need to gold plate this into a J Patek Phillipe Chronograph 5975G Patek Philippe Chronograph 5370P Patek Philippe World Time 5131J Patek Philippe Gondolo 5112J Patek Philippe Calatrava with Beyer Signature Bentima with decal mod Patek Philippe Calatrava 5196J Patek Philippe Calatrava 5116R Patek Philippe Nautilus 3800/1A Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711A Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 Tiffany & Co. (New) 3KF Patek Philippe Nautilus 5726A Patek Philippe Nautilus 5980A Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712R Rolex Air-King 14000 Rolex Datejust 16233 Linen Dial Pic from last year's SOTC used here as placeholder, as I have disassembled the watch to redo the keyless. Rolex Datejust 16013 Tapestry Dial Pic from last year's SOTC used here as placeholder, as I have disassembled the watch to redo the keyless. Rolex Day-Date 18238 Mother of Pearl Dial Rolex Day-Date 18238 Brown Vignette Dial Needs to be recased into a vintage style case. Rolex Day-Date 18238 Blue Vignette Dial Needs to be recased into a vintage style case. Rolex Day-Date 18238 Rolex Day-Date 118206 Rolex Day-Date 128239-0023 Rolex Day-Date 128235-0037 Rolex Day-Date 128238-0069 Rolex 6234 Oyster Chronograph Rolex Yachtmaster Chronograph 6242 Prototype Phong dial Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6239 Dark Blue/Purple Prototype Phong dial Rolex Daytona 6239 Paul Newman Dial Rolex Daytona 6241 Paul Newman "John Player Special" (New) Rolex Daytona 6263 Gold Rolex Daytona 6263 Arabian Knight (New) Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6263 Paul Newman Oyster Sotto (New) Rolex Daytona 6263 Paul Newman Lemon Dial (New) Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6264 Paul Newman Lemon Dial (New) Rolex Daytona 6265 Paul Newman Dial Rolex Daytona 116509MTAO Rolex Daytona Artisans de Genève "La Montoya" Rolex Daytona Artisans de Genève "La Barrichello" Rolex Daytona 116520 Rolex Daytona 116506 Rolex Daytona 116523 Rolex Daytona Blaken PVD Rainbow (New) Rolex Daytona 116599RBOW Rolex Daytona 116595RBOW Rolex Daytona 116598RBOW Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116588TBR Rolex Explorer 6610 Red Depth (New) Tigerconcept case+Decal dial, maybe one day I'll get a proper JMB case and redo a dial for that build. Rolex Explorer 6610 Albino (New) Gate 1016 rep + Decal dial+Tigerconcepts hands Rolex Explorer 1016 Space-Dweller JMB case+Yuki dial. The case certainly makes a huge difference! Rolex Explorer II 1655 Rolex Explorer II 16550 Cream Rail Dial (New) This started out as a 16570 polar dial which I converted using spray paint and decal into a rarer Explorer II transitional reference. Hour markers changed to match the look of a 16550. Rolex Explorer II Polar 216570 A U1 special that is actually smaller than the gen. Perfect for me. Rolex GMT Master 6542 with Serpico y Laino Signature Rolex GMT Master 6542 Pan-Am Albino Dial Rolex GMT Master 1675 Rolex GMT Master II 16710 Black Bezel Rolex GMT Master II 16713 Rootbeer Rolex GMT Master II 116710LN Rolex GMT Master II 116710BLNR Rolex Milgauss 6541 Rolex Milgauss 1019 CERN Dial Tiffany & Co. Decal mod Rolex Milgauss Label Noir Tourbillon Rolex Single Red Sea-Dweller 1665 JKF base + Yuki Dial + weak DIY lume attempt= Must Revisit Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 Polizia di Stato (New) Rolex Sky-Dweller 326934 The August watch Rolex Submariner 6204 Split Logo Decal dial needs to be redone, the " Submariner Perpetual" printing needs to be improved. Rolex Submariner 6204 Albino Rolex Submariner 5513 Explorer Dial Double Swiss Underline (New) Such a mouthful. Decal dial on JKF base. I tried my best with the white underline and T<25. Rolex Submariner 16610LV Rolex Submariner 16613LB Serti Rolex Submariner 116610LN ZZF V1 Rolex Submariner 116610 Bamford Stormtrooper Rolex Submariner 116618LV "Gold Hulk" Fantasy Rolex Submariner 116618LN Rolex Submariner 116618LB Tudor Submariner 7923(New) One of the rarer early Tudor subs with a red depth rating. Decal dial. Tudor Submariner 7928 JKF base+Yuki dial Tudor Heritage Chrono 70330N Blue Tudor Heritage Chrono 70330N Black Tutima Flieger Chronograph One of my very earliest modding attempts where I had printed my design onto photo paper. Placeholder photo from last year used as the watch is disassembled for service and making a new decal dail for it. Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionelle 47009 Vacheron Constantin Historiques 1955 Corne de Vache Vacheron Constantin Harmony Complete Calendar Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921 Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Retrograde Day Date The Tuesday watch Well done for making it to the end! Thanks for taking the time! Till next year, and here's to more vintage builds 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Devil 2,796 Posted March 2, 2022 What an interesting collection! I love the day dates. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BravoDelta 22,288 Posted March 2, 2022 An amazing 186 pieces! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NCRich 13,714 Posted March 2, 2022 Love it. So unique. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paccbet 7,176 Posted March 3, 2022 Always impressed with your collection mate. Huge fan of the decal builds! Nice Heuer Sub btw 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
semperfi55 4,657 Posted March 3, 2022 16 hours ago, Devil said: What an interesting collection! I love the day dates. All the ones with the interesting dials are from the Gate as well! Good value. 16 hours ago, BravoDelta said: An amazing 186 pieces! Ah crap How did you count that? Manually? There were 2 pics of the same Reverso Duoface, so uh, it's actually a lower number than what you suggested! 16 hours ago, NCRich said: Love it. So unique. Thanks Rich! Your tutorials got me into modding in the first place! 15 hours ago, paccbet said: Always impressed with your collection mate. Huge fan of the decal builds! Nice Heuer Sub btw Thanks mate, I will need to revisit some of the decal dials still to improve them. Except the Heuer, that took waaaay too long to optimise. I'm not disassembling that any time soon! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tribefan 6,768 Posted March 3, 2022 Dammit. In addition to the never ending search for another Cuervo y Sobrinos Triple Calendar, I need to add a Dubey Rattrapante and a Seiko Age of Discovery to the list of watches I will never find. And if you run out of room for that RG ALS Datograph, I have a home for it in the US. I'll even send you pics of it whenever you want. And those are just the ones I covet the most, damn there are some fab pieces here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAJ75 920 Posted March 3, 2022 If ever a collection demonstrated the glorious madness of this hobby better I haven't seen it..... The breadth & depth of both vintage & modern is really impressive. Personal favourites: The 1019 Milgauss, decal dial is a nice touch. Patek 5170. 6263 Gold. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abe Fromen 1,618 Posted March 3, 2022 How the hell do you decide what to wear? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
als86 5,101 Posted March 3, 2022 Very impressive and a great viewing experience! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Easy_beaching 35 Posted March 22, 2022 What a lovely collection with a lot of unique references. Took me awhile to get through it all, but definitely worth it. Enjoy!Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kungen99 87 Posted Wednesday at 19:09 This Is an insane collection ! I got all excited by seeing so many different watches I never knew existed. How many of these are still around? And do you make sure all of them get regularly winded as ive understood that's important? and are you a watch smith or can conduct easier watch maintenance? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites