A contemporary James Bond Rolex

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Comments

  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,535MI6 Agent
    All the PX mods to the crown guards that I have seen are not at all like the photoshopped picture. The crown protrudes to far on a raise platform and looks odd when looked at directly from the top. Looks OK at an angle, but it's not good at 90 degrees.
    ..................Asp9mmSIG-1-2.jpg...............
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,750Chief of Staff
    Asp9mm wrote:
    Looks OK at an angle, but it's not good at 90 degrees.

    Sounds like my 'pleasurecenter' :#

    Sorry...carry on.... ;%
    YNWA 97
  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,638MI6 Agent
    What year Tetrapack?
  • jared_nomakjared_nomak Posts: 1,943MI6 Agent
    Wow love what your doing, you will end up with a really nice piece
    Ross
  • UNCLE27UNCLE27 EnglandPosts: 1,144MI6 Agent
    A lot of work. And I've said, I can't wait to see the result. Maybe you'll end up with something as timeless as this.


    image.jpg
  • UniversalExportsLtdUniversalExportsLtd Posts: 7MI6 Agent
    Seems like everybody likes this idea 8-) So to mix it up with a slightly different perspective, here's a honest opinion from a fellow vintage rolex & Bond fan ;-): All you're doing is ruining a nice LV Sub and turning it into a monster frankenwatch. I hope I'm wrong, but I really doubt you will derive any pleasure from owning or wearing this thing once the novelty wears off. If you took all the cash and monetized all the time and energy you're investing into this project, you could easily have a beautiful 5513 or even a 5508. Yes, they might not glow in the dark, tell the date, or be safe for diving. But either of these two vintage pieces would be light years closer to having the heritage, charisma and soul of your dream 6538. On top, you'd be investing your money, rather than spending it.
    Sorry.
  • minigeffminigeff EnglandPosts: 7,884MI6 Agent
    Seems like everybody likes this idea 8-) So to mix it up with a slightly different perspective, here's a honest opinion from a fellow vintage rolex & Bond fan ;-): All you're doing is ruining a nice LV Sub and turning it into a monster frankenwatch. I hope I'm wrong, but I really doubt you will derive any pleasure from owning or wearing this thing once the novelty wears off. If you took all the cash and monetized all the time and energy you're investing into this project, you could easily have a beautiful 5513 or even a 5508. Yes, they might not glow in the dark, tell the date, or be safe for diving. But either of these two vintage pieces would be light years closer to having the heritage, charisma and soul of your dream 6538. On top, you'd be investing your money, rather than spending it.
    Sorry.

    Wow! Ya not dell deaton in disguise are ya?

    Personally what people do with their coin is up to them, as long as no one is getting hurt or ripped off I don't care what any of you guys do.

    I can see where you're coming from UE, but I'm sure Markus has thought long and hard before starting this project of his. He's not the type to blow money on a whim and he's certainly got the drive and passion to see it through.

    Besides, it's nice to see something different and unique instead of yet another farmer jacket or TF suit.
    'Force feeding AJB humour and banter since 2009'
    Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
    www.helpforheroes.org.uk
    www.cancerresearchuk.org
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    edited October 2013
    Hello guys,

    thank you for your opinion, UEltd and you are absolutely correct!
    I have been playing with that idea for more than a year and the only thing that spoke against it was exactly what you are saying!
    I am infact ruining a very nice Submariner LV and turn it into a kind of frankenstein watch - which means that besides the case modification - I am only using genuine Rolex parts.

    MG, thanks mate for defending me, but like I have said, he's absolutely correct.

    Now there are 3 points which I can put against your argument:

    1. I own several vintage GMTs (all in original condition) so I am aware of the feeling of owning one. Never fancied a 5513 and I'll have a 5508 one day for sure.

    2. Money: Because I am selling the rare flat4 insert and metal bracelet - this watch will cost around 50% of a reasonable 5513 at the end. But still a lot of money for sure *

    3. Resale value: The article is not complete yet. In another chapter, I'll show you a case modification, that has been done the right way (imo). The owner became a friend of mine and after the mod, he put his modified 14060 on sale and it went within hours for a higher price than what he paid. So such a thing has it's market for sure if it's done the right way.

    Anyhow your concerns are permanently in my head - I will never 100% get over them - but I will do the project and back up all possible results.

    Thanks again! -{

    * worst case scenario day would be selling the movement & dial & hands alone if I can't sell the complete watch which would then cost me around US$ 1000,-- for the ruined casemiddle part.
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    Short update:

    bezel insert has been done in the correct configuration - case is ready to be modded!

    dsc00395i65u2qgdrt.jpg
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • UniversalExportsLtdUniversalExportsLtd Posts: 7MI6 Agent
    Bondtoys wrote:
    Hello guys,

    thank you for your opinion, UEltd and you are absolutely correct!
    I have been playing with that idea for more than a year and the only thing that spoke against it was exactly what you are saying!
    I am infact ruining a very nice Submariner LV and turn it into a kind of frankenstein watch - which means that besides the case modification - I am only using genuine Rolex parts.

    MG, thanks mate for defending me, but like I have said, he's absolutely correct.

    Now there are 3 points which I can put against your argument:

    1. I own several vintage GMTs (all in original condition) so I am aware of the feeling of owning one. Never fancied a 5513 and I'll have a 5508 one day for sure.

    2. Money: Because I am selling the rare flat4 insert and metal bracelet - this watch will cost around 50% of a reasonable 5513 at the end. But still a lot of money for sure *

    3. Resale value: The article is not complete yet. In another chapter, I'll show you a case modification, that has been done the right way (imo). The owner became a friend of mine and after the mod, he put his modified 14060 on sale and it went within hours for a higher price than what he paid. So such a thing has it's market for sure if it's done the right way.

    Anyhow your concerns are permanently in my head - I will never 100% get over them - but I will do the project and back up all possible results.

    Thanks again! -{

    * worst case scenario day would be selling the movement & dial & hands alone if I can't sell the complete watch which would then cost me around US$ 1000,-- for the ruined casemiddle part.


    {[]
  • CrwilsnCrwilsn Posts: 65MI6 Agent
    edited October 2013
    To throw out another option there are some companies that make aftermarket parts including cases for these watches. I am not talking about fakes but high end replacement parts made to fit genuine parts. I have dealt with one of them and been extremely happy with the results. Yukiwatch.com can provide a case set for about 750 that is indistinguishable from your gen case that will take gen parts. He can even have your correct serial number engraved. Buy that one, shave the crown guards, and put all your parts in it. Plus you can get one with lug holes drilled which is a huge improvement over the later watches. Only rolex can get away with taking away features and charging more money.

    While he caters more to the rep market, look up tc sub on google. His cases are spectacular and he shows in his blog how well all the gen pieces fit in his case. I think a mid case runs around $150. Use this and swap over all the gen parts.

    I shaved the case down on a cheap gmt rep after seeing that project x watch. It's not really that hard if you are careful but I don't think I would risk on a gen rolex.
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    Thanks for the info, Crwilsn,

    I understand what you mean but I don't want to deal with anything aftermarket. It would just destroy the joy to wear a Rolex watch.
    Additionally, I doubt that such an copy middlepart will be as well in terms of waterresistance compared to the original one.
    A failure in that field would cost me more than the savings when using the aftermarket casemid - damage to the movement/dial/hands

    As for the potential financial loss: Like said previously even these modificated watches obviously have a market, so I won't lose much money if the modding is done correctly (no pod, pointy shape etc.)
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • CrwilsnCrwilsn Posts: 65MI6 Agent
    edited October 2013
    I get where you are coming from. I have a Rolex GMT and there is definitely joy in wearing that piece.

    Keep in mind though that once you modify a submariner to that extent, Rolex will never touch that watch again. In their mind it is now a Franken watch that needs a new midcase before they will service or provide replacement parts for it. Even many authorized service centers will not touch it for fear it is a fake and they will loose their access to gen parts if caught by Rolex.

    As for the water resistance it is not the metal midcase that makes your watch water resistant, it is the gaskets. I 100% agree and would not use aftermarket gaskets and expect it to seal correctly. If the specs on the case are correct (which they are in both the cases I mentioned above, ecpecially the TC) the watch will maintain the same depth rating as the original watch.

    At the end of the day the watch is yours to do with as you please, though Rolex will disagree and disown it. Why do an irreversable mod to it that can be done to a identical $150 midcase instead.
  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    Don't want to take sides here, but I have re-read the whole thread from the beginning and I still miss one piece of information: why go for this modification, and what exactly do you want to achieve, Bondtoys?
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    edited October 2013
    Hey Jag,

    in the initial post, I have tried to explain that I wanted to create a Rolex, which the modern Bond would choose himself in the tradition of the no-crownguard Sub 6538 (Dr. No - Goldfinger).

    We can discuss, if he'd choose a watch from the rack and go so far to do a modification (I doubt that) - or maybe purchasing the ProjectX (remember that his Bentley for example was highly individualized) - just like Craig did.

    Regarding Crwilsn's waterresitance remarks:
    Unfortunately it's not that easy. The genuine gaskets are only one part of the puzzle.
    An Oyster casemid has 3 openings: The bottom, the part where the crystal is mounted and the crown part.
    Keeping these areas waterresistant permanently is something, all companies are permanently working on and imo, only Rolex got it right.

    So it's not that easy just to copy/paste some dimensions to achieve the qualities of a Rolex watch. If it would be, everyone could do it and would have done it.

    The modification of the crown quards will not compromise the waterresistance qualities of the Oyster case - it may affect the protection of the crown in very tough situations a little - but "normal Oysters" can easily maintian their qualities without crownguards.
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • welshboy78welshboy78 Posts: 10,320MI6 Agent
    As for Bondtoys ruining a perfectly good LV.....

    Well he has over 50% of the LV production in his hands so he can afford to ruin one :D
    Instagram - bondclothes007
  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,535MI6 Agent
    welshboy78 wrote:
    As for Bondtoys ruining a perfectly good LV.....

    Well he has over 50% of the LV production in his hands so he can afford to ruin one :D

    More like 65%.
    ..................Asp9mmSIG-1-2.jpg...............
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    the goal: World Domination of the Wooooooooooorld! :D
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • minigeffminigeff EnglandPosts: 7,884MI6 Agent
    Asp9mm wrote:
    welshboy78 wrote:
    As for Bondtoys ruining a perfectly good LV.....

    Well he has over 50% of the LV production in his hands so he can afford to ruin one :D

    More like 65%.

    If you look carefully through all the hair it's actually 75%. :o
    'Force feeding AJB humour and banter since 2009'
    Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
    www.helpforheroes.org.uk
    www.cancerresearchuk.org
  • Asp9mmAsp9mm Over the Hills and Far Away.Posts: 7,535MI6 Agent
    minigeff wrote:
    Asp9mm wrote:
    welshboy78 wrote:
    As for Bondtoys ruining a perfectly good LV.....

    Well he has over 50% of the LV production in his hands so he can afford to ruin one :D

    More like 65%.

    If you look carefully through all the hair it's actually 75%. :o

    I've always wondered why he hasn't grafted some of that on to his noggin'. Maybe because he would look less like his favourite Faberge prop if he did.
    ..................Asp9mmSIG-1-2.jpg...............
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    Shegshinesh doesh not come from head hair :D
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    Case modification in progress.
    Watch this place!
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    case modification is supposed to be finished this week.

    Will post pics soon! -{
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • danjaq_0ffdanjaq_0ff The SwampsPosts: 7,283MI6 Agent
    Looking forward to it -{
  • welshboy78welshboy78 Posts: 10,320MI6 Agent
    Looking forward to this one!!! Hurry up! :D
    Instagram - bondclothes007
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    Patience, 007, patience.!

    Quality beats speed - we don't want to see another nightmare in green here :p
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • richmenstoysrichmenstoys GermanyPosts: 1,482MI6 Agent
    :))
    Bondtoys wrote:

    we don't want to see another nightmare in green here :p
    **everybody needs a hobby**
    https://www.instagram.com/wearitlikebond/
  • welshboy78welshboy78 Posts: 10,320MI6 Agent
    Instagram - bondclothes007
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    holy crap! :s
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • welshboy78welshboy78 Posts: 10,320MI6 Agent
    :))
    Instagram - bondclothes007
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