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Tropical 5512 and basic mods [PICS HEAVY]

K

kilowattore

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JKF Rolex 5512
Tropical dial and basic mods​




Ok, here's the second watch I got from JKF. This rep shares the same case set as the 1680 I reviewed HERE] which is reasonably accurate. The main difference is in the plexi used by the factory, which sucks bad imho, and of course the lack of date mag. Everything else is exactly as the 1680, case, bezel, insert, bracelet and all. Also the lume color on the dial and hands is exactly the same as the 1680, they really did their best at the factory to keep production budget under control ;)

I then decided to go for a round of basic mods and see how this watch would look using only stock modded parts. Here's what has been done:

- Crown guards slimmed from the outside. I tried to remove the crown tube in order to be able to shape the guards on the inner part but I couldn't. I am not sure whether the tube is press fitted or screwed in the hole, maybe some of you guys knows it?



- Ugly pearl removed and bezel faded to a blueish tint



- Stock dial cooked in the oven to get a brown tropic hue and relumed



- Hands relumed to match and slightly aged. I wanted to keep the "blink" of polished hands yet make them look as they're 50-60 year old.



- Plexi swapped for a sternkreuz tropic 19 (code XS303.472), they offer another T19 which has different shape (code XS305.451). I know I already mentioned in another thread I would have followed NCRich advice and use a T39, but once I had them all here and test-fitted them I could not resist the high domed round shape of this crystal :)



- Lightly aging on case, basically simply removed the high polishing and left some marks on the case.



Further mods to be done imho:

- Inner CGs shape is fundamental imho, then one can go for PCG or square CG or whatever but without modding the inner shape all other reshaping is almost useless imho.
- Better crown as well, I will try Athaya's once I figure out how to remove the stock crown tube.
- Better pearl, I see Athaya is offering an acrylic pearl which I plan to try, although I really like the look of the bezel without pearl
- Rivet or folded bracelet

What do you think?

And now a "couple" more pics ;)


































That's it for now, any advice on mods or any detail I'm missing is more than welcome. Next 5512 has to be a gilt dialed one :)
 
Last edited:
K

kilowattore

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That's it for now, any advice on mods or any detail I'm missing is more than welcome. Next 5512 has to be a gilt dialed one :)
 
NCRich

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Nice! I have that plexi on my Comex as well. It is nice too, not as hefty. The crown is screwed in on these models. I use a three sided small file inserted into the tube to remove it. If you get an Athaya crown and tube it will screw right in without drilling and tapping. It does help to countersink it a bit though.

Once the tube is gone you can use a small file to flatten out the inside of the CGs if desired.
 
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kilowattore

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NCRich said:
Nice! I have that plexi on my Comex as well. It is nice too, not as hefty. The crown is screwed in on these models. I use a three sided small file inserted into the tube to remove it. If you get an Athaya crown and tube it will screw right in without drilling and tapping. It does help to countersink it a bit though.

Once the tube is gone you can use a small file to flatten out the inside of the CGs if desired.
Click to expand...

Tube is screwed in. That's what I needed, thanks! :)
 
G

GC

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Said it next door, I'll say it again... Porn!
 
N

newswire

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Just bleach to get that dark blue color for the insert?


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N

newswire

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Just bleach to get that dark blue color for the insert?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
A

Azel

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Result is amazing. Really a super cool budget watch.
 
atgm

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@killowatore I definitely think you should look for some kind of pearl... the bezel insert is a great color and a vintage color pearl would really make it stand out. You've vintagized the watch in a way that tells a story of it having been taken care of over the decades; a pearl adds to that feel IMO. :)

... if you were to sell this, what would you ask? :p
 
K

kilowattore

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atgm said:
@killowatore I definitely think you should look for some kind of pearl... the bezel insert is a great color and a vintage color pearl would really make it stand out. You've vintagized the watch in a way that tells a story of it having been taken care of over the decades; a pearl adds to that feel IMO. :)

... if you were to sell this, what would you ask? :p
Click to expand...

I have ordered an athaya pearl today... but it's for another watch tbh :)

Building such watch is not expensive at all. The donor watch is cheap and no custom part was added. And I don't feel like asking 500 usd for case work ;)
 
K

kilowattore

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Tbh the only mod I'd feel like doing atm is installing a new crown (and a better shaping of CGs). Since NCRich has been so kind to let me know how the stock crown tube is removed, that's a mod I'm definitely trying soon :)
 
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CharlieH

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Looks great. I like that you didn't sandpaper it. I hate that look.

Maybe break the edge on the bezel a bit?

Your call. It looks good. Like the dome.
 
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federicob

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Spettacolare...ho visto che sei italiano mi puoi dare due consigli per una built di un vintage grazie

Nice...i see you are italian...can i pm you for a vintage built thanks


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kilowattore

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CharlieH said:
Looks great. I like that you didn't sandpaper it. I hate that look.

Maybe break the edge on the bezel a bit?

Your call. It looks good. Like the dome.
Click to expand...

I DID sandpaper it. Both case and insert. Just used some care and increasing grits :)
Good advice on the bezel, I liked the polished look, but I agree a bit more wear would be more appropriate.
 
K

kilowattore

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federicob said:
Spettacolare...ho visto che sei italiano mi puoi dare due consigli per una built di un vintage grazie

Nice...i see you are italian...can i pm you for a vintage built thanks


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Click to expand...

Sure, pm me for any advice you need so we can talk in italian :)
 
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emameme

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kilowattore said:
Tbh the only mod I'd feel like doing atm is installing a new crown (and a better shaping of CGs). Since NCRich has been so kind to let me know how the stock crown tube is removed, that's a mod I'm definitely trying soon :)
Click to expand...
Pay attention when you Will try to remove the tube, because mine was glued too. The positive thing is that when you will go to thread, the thread Will be more bigger :)

Inviato dal mio A0001 utilizzando Tapatalk
 
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