1978 5513 Submariner modification review

[hautehorloge]

Hey guys!

I thought i would share with you my latest modding result with my all new "old" 5513 Submariner. Hope you enjoy!

I got the watch from my dear friend Ingelero. It is a Cartel one originally purchased from Josh.

That is how i got it:

I tried to keep the watch with it's original parts for now - this is what i did:

- Softened all edges
- added slight dings and repolished them
- reshaped crown
- reshaped crownguards
- refinished dial with a mat varnish & flour mix to get the effect of raised but dead tritium lume
- brushed and repolished the chrystal
- greased all gaskets
- broke pearl and painted it brown to give it a saltwater effected look
- oiled the bracelet
- sanded down the bezel and applied the aluminium dust with mat spray varnish as a finish (cause i don't had bleach on hand)

The goal was to achieve a used but refurbished look, so that the watch looks old but well treated and not overpolished.

Mod process:

Dial refinished

The heavy and not so heavy tools:

And the glory result!

Hope you guys like it and look forward to your comments!

Best
HauteHorloge

Update:

I bleached the bezel today with mold cleaner which contains bleach. I think the result is absolutely lovely!

Update:

Added a better crown and a generic T39 chrystal (as I like the look) today!

 

[joe_chill]

Nice, good job. I like it!

 

[arcadia]

You did a bad job. Let me buy it from you....

 

[hautehorloge]

You did a bad job. Let me buy it from you....

Hehehe - no chance!

To take it to an even higher level, I planned to install a 702 crown / tube and a Clark's T19 service dome. And I will have the case back engraved with my initials and my date of birth.

 

[hautehorloge]

I bleached the bezel today with mold cleaner which contains bleach. I think the result is absolutely lovely!

 

[Subjeff]

Looks good bud! Wear it well!!

 

[arcadia]

Why remove the pearl?

 

[hautehorloge]

Looks good bud! Wear it well!!

Thank's! I really love it and it's a great alternative to my modern models.

 

[hautehorloge]

Why remove the pearl?

I decided that the broken and brown pearl doesn't match the style of the watch anymore.

 

[feloniousmonk]

Looks amazing!

 

[al358]

Wow, awesome modifications.....congratulations and wear it well.

 

[Ezio]

Looks good mate really

 

[bc1221]

Very nice!
Cant wait to get my 1680

did you sprinkle flour on the dial?
I thought I'd just paint some coffee on it brunch on some matte varnish.

Planning a vintage relume for mine though.

I think you should have kept the pearl. Taking a lighter to it would have given it a nice brown/yellow aged look.

 

[egroegart]

definitely beautiful. awesome job on everything. It really does look aged nicely. I do agree about the pearl though. I think they just look like a broken watch without the pearl. but everyone's taste is different.

 

[txrob779]

Awesome....that is right up my alley. Killer

 

[d4m.test]

Looking fine already. Can´t wait to start working on mine in the 2nd half of August Congrats

 

[Subjeff]

Awesome....that is right up my alley. Killer

You like it because it's old like you! Lol

 

[hautehorloge]

Thank you all very much for your compliments - i really appreciate them!

Quick question: What T19 would fit the cartel case the best? I'm looking for the service dome appearance, the flattest possible.

@bc1221: I used the flour mixed with flat enamel to give the flat factory lume a more raised and genlike texture. I then added tiny dots of brown color onto the markers and hands. Working lume is not important for me. As this is supposed to be Tritium, the glow on a gen would be long gone.

 

[hautehorloge]

Update:

Added a better crown and a generic T39 chrystal (as I like the look) today!

 

[omegagmt]

Beautify piece. Great work! Looking for a vintage sub as we speak.