Gilt 5513
Turning a nice watch into a nicer one
Turning a nice watch into a nicer one
A journey from this
To this
My "side passion" for vintage Rolex is growing strong and this time I had the chance to build a gilt 5512 using a yuki dial.
First thing I'd like to say is the yuki gilt dial, although not a "real" gilt dial meaning no negative relief technique, is a very good dial. The black paint is extremely glossy and reflective,prints are reasonably crisp with a good gold hue. All in all it's a good approximation for those who are not likely to spend hundreds for a MQ dial. It still needs work though. The indices are machine lumed, thin and flat. Color is not very natural too, that's why I had to relume it.
This is a pic from his website
Relumed with dark puffy lume
Yuki hands have been relumed and aged to match, despite the aging they still glow strong
The case is a cartel/JKF 5512 which has been completely disassembled in order to perform the following mods:
- crownguards reshaped, outside thinned, inside straightened
- Athaya crown and tube installed
- Sternkreuz T19 XS 305.451 - I liked a flat top for this build
- Bezel tooth smoothened, assembly tightened
- Athaya pearl refinished, lumed and installed
- Insert faded to greish, it has an almost blue hue under strong light
Athaya pearl makes a great difference imho. Also visible here the different finish of the top of the lugs and the smoothened bezel teeth.
- lugs drilled for 2mm springbars
- case aged and softened to a low polished look with only a few marks
- smoothened brushing on top of the lugs
- bracelet aged to match the case
- cartel 580 endlinks modded to accept fat springbars
- I did not forget about the case back
Few more pics
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