KeNnY 29 Posted August 2, 2011 Hey all ! So as title say this will be Rolex Explorer II RADIOACTIVE modding! Replace dial, crystal, respray GMT hand and complete relume This Explorer II I have won from Roberts auction, and I wanted to mod it (as I do with all my watches). First I though that the zoom cyclops is not 2,5x (I was wrong later) so I have ordered an spare crystal from Clarks, I also have bought for 10€ an white dial, that I think is more nicer that the orange one (doesn't look that much vintage). As you know the watch was waterproof already from stock so I hope it is waterproof now also (didn't tested yet ). I wanted also that this watch will glow like from Chernobyl, so what a great day, that I have also the GExtreme lume from W@tchlume available, I have mix it with C1 from W@tchlume (ratio 80/20) also and I used matte binder. Also when I already have an timegrapher this was great idea to regulate the movement from -25 seconds per day to +5 seconds per day ! Now lets get already to pictures. This is stock lume, it was there, but only for couple of minutes, then the dial was dark. THis is not good to me !!! :lol: Now did you see the GMT hand ? That is one PURE PINK-ORANGE color right there ! It even reacts to UV glow, then it glows !!! Lol, it really don't look like orange, even that camera makes it look kinda good, but in real life it is not that orange how we would want on the Explorer II. THe first crystal was from Clarks and the second one was rep crystal. As you can see Clarks is a bit better magnification than the rep. Oh shit, I also remove the GMT bezel ? I never had this construction in my hands. Nicely glued back in with UV adhesive, so It should be waterproof, I will test it soon. Also putting back the bezel was pain in ass, because I don't have dies for it, so I had to improvise Hands are ready for relume and the GMT hand is ready for respray. Yes soon you will be Orange ! Stick with tape so we will not damage the black paint (I don't want to respray the hands for whole day). The dial compare. The white markers dial looks much better, also the text is bigger and clearer. I will use the white markers dial. And lets relume, here are pics after the relume !! It is a bit wonky but I have fixed it as you will see in next pictures. Hands relumed and as you can see I have also fixed the dial markers. Now when everything is dried up (I used the hairdryer to speed up the process ) lets build this baby back ! But WTF ? FUCK ! I have again damaged keyless ! Wait a minute ! No the keyless is ok ! I have not pushed the crown fully, it goes hard back in ! Dial assembled and now final pics in night ! I will put daylight pictures next day ! ENJOY IT ! I LOVE IT ! Total time of modding: 3 hours 17 minutes Yes for the people that are anal about that the relume of the PRINTED dial is not so clear and sharp like from printer, done it with my shivery hands only, and this was my second printed dial relume. I am happy with the results, and the human eye is not that good for macro shots like camera, so in real like the markers look sharp. The watch is now waiting for better bracelet, with full links that I have ordered from Alpha HK. I will just swap the buckle from this bracelet and have nice heavy bracelet that I like I hope you enjoyed it as I did, and thank you for sharing and have a nice Evening going to bed lol. Daylight pictures added Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nick C 0 Posted August 2, 2011 Brilliant Kenny great work Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KeNnY 29 Posted August 2, 2011 Brilliant Kenny great work Thank you for your kind words , glad you like it ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
solkryssare 109 Posted August 2, 2011 Outstanding work! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
robznet 0 Posted August 2, 2011 Beautiful work again Kenny - you always amaze me!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Del 4,499 Posted August 2, 2011 Amazing work Kenny! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KeNnY 29 Posted August 2, 2011 Outstanding work! Thank you Solkry ! Happy you like it ! Beautiful work again Kenny - you always amaze me!! Thank you for kind words robznet ! I hope I will still continue to amaze you ! Amazing work Kenny! Thank you Del ! I am also very happy with the results. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nunu78 1,743 Posted August 2, 2011 Hail to the Lume King. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KeNnY 29 Posted August 2, 2011 Hail to the Lume King. Thank you Nunu ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
powderfreak 0 Posted August 2, 2011 Kenny, open a watch business, you will be rich soon Seriously, very nice work, your Explorer is a lot better now imo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bklynboy 0 Posted August 2, 2011 I have complete lume envy ! My puny lume is not even in the same galaxy... Nice job Kenny BTW - I have used Alpha for bracelets also, but this watch I put on shark mesh from wjean28, cost $59 after $10 WIS discount, almost as much as I paid Robert in the auction . . . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
part_timer 0 Posted August 2, 2011 Enjoyed the process + pictures. Thanks for showing Kenny! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Archaon 4 Posted August 3, 2011 Thanks fir sharing, you know i am watching you for the printed dial reluming jobs.... Cant wait to see a printed dial with numbers on. :-) AMAZING!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gottahaverolex 0 Posted August 3, 2011 Superb work Kenny! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeMcNair 0 Posted August 3, 2011 Nice work! awesome work ken!!!!! keep it up bro!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KeNnY 29 Posted August 3, 2011 Kenny, open a watch business, you will be rich soon :P Seriously, very nice work, your Explorer is a lot better now imo thank you powder ! I am thinking about it already, it is time consuming when you have also other job, but I already spend 400-500 € for tools and stuff, so it would be good to start it officially. I need to finish watches I have now on my desk and I can go with it fresh I have complete lume envy ! My puny lume is not even in the same galaxy... Nice job Kenny BTW - I have used Alpha for bracelets also, but this watch I put on shark mesh from wjean28, cost $59 after $10 WIS discount, almost as much as I paid Robert in the auction . . . That look sweet on mesh !!! Really ! Maybe I will get also mesh for my baby ! Thanks for the tip ! And thank you, yes I though that white indexes will be stronger lume but it was not, so relume must come ! So far I have only powered it with UV torch and my light, can't wait how sun will make it glow, when I will come back from out to dark room. Enjoyed the process + pictures. Thanks for showing Kenny! Thank you part_timer Glad you like it ! Thanks fir sharing, you know i am watching you for the printed dial reluming jobs.... Cant wait to see a printed dial with numbers on. :-) AMAZING!!! Thank you Archaon ! Yes, I have Panerai with printed dial to be relumed soon, I need to test my procedure of colored lume for daylight color and I can relume that baby also. Superb work Kenny! Thank you gottahaverolex ! Nice work! Thank you GBOCH ! Nice work! awesome work ken!!!!! keep it up bro!!! Thank you Mike ! Glad you like it ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akira 0 Posted August 3, 2011 I really like how professional you work with your watches....not like me, I'm a keyless breaking dummie! On the other hand, I like my vintage watches to look vintage So bright relumed Explorer II isn't really my thing. But great progress on reluming directly onto the dial Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twall 1 Posted August 3, 2011 Superb job! I wish I could do that. I'd relume most of my collection! Again, just a great job with the whole thing, not just the lume. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KeNnY 29 Posted August 3, 2011 I really like how professional you work with your watches....not like me, I'm a keyless breaking dummie! On the other hand, I like my vintage watches to look vintage So bright relumed Explorer II isn't really my thing. But great progress on reluming directly onto the dial THank you for your kind words Akira I am afraid of damaging keyless also, so I always take it easy, but it happens to me also sometimes... But as you can see I have disassembled it and assembled with no problem, there is nothing you can damage I was wondering to make my Explorer II vintage look also, but hey, I like new look of the watches, not beat up style so my Explorer II is NOS NEW OF STOCK lol and I am lume whore hehe, I wonder how the gen lume was on this watch when it was new. Thank you again, hard to make it so sharp on edges but I have already found a way and correcting things with tooth pick Superb job! I wish I could do that. I'd relume most of my collection! Again, just a great job with the whole thing, not just the lume. thank you twall, glad you like it ! And everybody can do it, you must just practice Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KeNnY 29 Posted August 3, 2011 KENNY is AwEsOmE HaHa ThAnK yOu WaT! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KeNnY 29 Posted August 3, 2011 Daylight pictures added Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KeNnY 29 Posted August 4, 2011 NEW full links bracelet from Alpha Watch came today, so I swap it asap ! now it looks awesome and I wore it for whole day Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeMcNair 0 Posted August 5, 2011 As always, awesome work ken!!!! Who is this "alpha" I keep hearing about? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
