Guaging interest - Vintage dial work.

[Bonesey]

Chaps, I'm interested to know if there's a call for this.

I see a lot of people willing to vintage up their own cases but hesitant to venture inside the case for fear of their ability to remove and set hands etc. This is of course understandable. However dropping in an already vintaged dial + handset already on a movement is pretty easy.

If I offered:

Raffles-Time dials (http://www.rafflestime.com/servlet/the-Watch-Dial/s/26/Categories)
Which was already vintaged/lumed/aged etc
Along with matching aged and re-lume hand set
On a brand new DG2813 from CousinsUK

And sold for a package of about $70-$90 USD (depending on dial) along with detailed instructions on how to change over from your own watch.

Would anyone be interested?

 

[Deadbear77]

That's a great idea.


Sent from my iPhone using my fingers

 

[replicaking]

not bad

 

[WatchnScotch]

I think I would be. I have never owned a vintage Rolex Rep, but I think I want to soon!

 

[Rick914]

Plug and Play does make it a lot easier....I think your on to a good thing! Might be able to offer a complete "kit" with the cheap basic tools needed to complete the job.

 

[dznrguy]

Yes! I loved your tutorial, but it scares the crap out of me to open up the watch.

I agree that maybe offering some tools would be great and/or a selection of dials, and links to REPs that would take those dials. Another thing that might be great is a series of how-to videos on youtube or vimeo or something that can be accessed. Just dreaming here.

I'd possibly be interested in ... red sub, pepsi GMT, maybe a Tudor sub.

For the record... this is a wicked idea.

 

[Bonesey]

Most reps, especially vintage ones take a ±29mm dial so there shouldn't be a lot of compatability issues with the vintage reps that I work on.

 

[05tbowner]

I could use some work done on a few 1655 dials!

 

[dznrguy]

Most reps, especially vintage ones take a ±29mm dial so there shouldn't be a lot of compatability issues with the vintage reps that I work on.

Good to know, Thanks! I'm new to this, so I wasn't sure.

 

[ajs914]

I think you should offer dial + install service. Have some dials and bezel inserts done ahead of time so the buyer can pick and then let them send you their watch for installation. I think stem removal and hand removal is probably daunting for someone who has never done it.

I f--'d up the keyless works on a movement the first time I did this.

 

[SecretAgentMan]

I think you should offer dial + install service. Have some dials and bezel inserts done ahead of time so the buyer can pick and then let them send you their watch for installation. I think stem removal and hand removal is probably daunting for someone who has never done it.

^^^^^^

This! A lot of us like your idea but some of us are scared to open them up & start messing around........

 

[Bonesey]

I think you should offer dial + install service. Have some dials and bezel inserts done ahead of time so the buyer can pick and then let them send you their watch for installation. I think stem removal and hand removal is probably daunting for someone who has never done it.

I f--'d up the keyless works on a movement the first time I did this.

This is what I'm talking about. The offerings would be a dial/hands combo already pre-installed on a brand new movement. You wouldn't need to worry about removing hands or stems. All you would need to do is take out your old movement, drop in the new one, re-install the movement spacer (which is two little screws) and then re-insert the stem you originally had. Easy peasy

 

[correctime]

He's right.
I'm no pro for sure but installing the "ready made" mvt with dial/hands already on is something most of you should be able to accomplish. And it's rewarding to look down at the time on a watch you love and be able to say "hmmph...I put that in there"
Bonesey my Brother...I do believe you're on to something good. GREAT idea.

 

[ogladio]

But hard to remove old movement without pulling out the stem right?

 

[correctime]

But hard to remove old movement without pulling out the stem right?

What's the issue with pulling the old mvt....it's being replaced with this new one, right.

 

[Bonesey]

Sure, but it's a $10 movement and you're dropping in a new one. All down to you what you do with the old movement and dial/hands. Guess I could run a recycling scheme

 

[correctime]

Sure, but it's a $10 movement and you're dropping in a new one. All down to you what you do with the old movement and dial/hands. Guess I could run a recycling scheme

:lol: Thread rating and rep points added for that one Brother.

 

[ajs914]

This is what I'm talking about. The offerings would be a dial/hands combo already pre-installed on a brand new movement. You wouldn't need to worry about removing hands or stems. All you would need to do is take out your old movement, drop in the new one, re-install the movement spacer (which is two little screws) and then re-insert the stem you originally had. Easy peasy

Sounds great!

 

[Bonesey]

Now I just need Raffles to start re-stocking their dials and/or offering more of them.

 

[Rick914]

Yes! I loved your tutorial, but it scares the crap out of me to open up the watch.

I agree that maybe offering some tools would be great and/or a selection of dials, and links to REPs that would take those dials. Another thing that might be great is a series of how-to videos on youtube or vimeo or something that can be accessed. Just dreaming here.

I'd possibly be interested in ... red sub, pepsi GMT, maybe a Tudor sub.

For the record... this is a wicked idea.

Ya a video is a great idea! With a few simple tools supplied anybody can do it really. Bones is doing all the hard work. For customers to afraid to do it there's always a modder or local watchsmith. Honestly though it's not hard, the stem in these DG type movements are simple to pull and install.