So one of the recent projects i have undertaken is aging a 16610 franken. Granted i have been out of the watch modding game for some time and without a lot of my old tools i had to improvise.
I purchased the watch already built from @herrlehmann (great to do business with) and then sent it off for service, gen balance/bridge, and gen datewheel install. Already had a gen bracelet and all i really had to do was the dial/hands/insert aging and case reshaping.
Heres the specs:
Viet case set
Vs3135 movement
Sternkreuz xtal
Gen balance and bridge
Gen dial
Gen datewheel
Gen hands
Gen crown/tube
Gen insert
Gen bracelet
And heres a before pic:
First off was lug and crown guard reshaping. I went for a more worn/slightly overpolished look. I believe it is a Bivintage case set and my only gripe is that one of the lug holes is ever so slightly offset. Causing me to shave a bit extra off of the 1 o’clock lug without being perceptible while facing the watch. The crown guards were very “boxy” so i slimmed down and softened the edges.
Moving onto the dial i had to get creative. I used a test dial of the same flavor and a whiskey smoker. Placing the bare dial in a glass and using the smoker to envelope the dial for approximately 5mins at a time. After 3 rounds i achieved the desired affect but the glossy dial became textured and the text was tinted a goldish/brown color. In order to only tint the lume plots i molded a piece of rodico and pressed the dial on it to cause an imprint. Then slowly cut out slots for the lume plots, placed the rodico on the dial and then placed the hands in the center of the rodico. After about 4-5 5min rounds of smoking, the lume plots had a beautiful pumpkin tint and the hands were a shade or 2 lighter. What i learned is to instead place the hands face down on the rodico in order to tint the backside as the hands took on an almost gold color which i had to painstakingly clean off using q-tips dipped in sprayway glass cleaner. Also really take the time to get the rodico tight around the edges of the lume plots to avoid cleaning the smoke residue on the dial and use rodico or an old case to cover the back of the dial to avoid a ton of residue on the movement/datewheel once installed.
Here is an after pic:
And my inspiration picture:
Lastly i aged the lume pip by placing the insert in the oven on broil for 2-4mins at a time until desired affect is achieved.
Overall i am very very happy with the outcome. Watch keeps +1SPD and is waterproof with some great patina. In the future i want to get a gen xtal and gen bezel to top it off. Til then ill be enjoying this on the wrist of my drinking hand.
P.S.
Thanks to RWI’s staff for everything they do and i wish i never left. Cheers! If anyone has questions feel free to shoot me a message.
I purchased the watch already built from @herrlehmann (great to do business with) and then sent it off for service, gen balance/bridge, and gen datewheel install. Already had a gen bracelet and all i really had to do was the dial/hands/insert aging and case reshaping.
Heres the specs:
Viet case set
Vs3135 movement
Sternkreuz xtal
Gen balance and bridge
Gen dial
Gen datewheel
Gen hands
Gen crown/tube
Gen insert
Gen bracelet
And heres a before pic:
First off was lug and crown guard reshaping. I went for a more worn/slightly overpolished look. I believe it is a Bivintage case set and my only gripe is that one of the lug holes is ever so slightly offset. Causing me to shave a bit extra off of the 1 o’clock lug without being perceptible while facing the watch. The crown guards were very “boxy” so i slimmed down and softened the edges.
Moving onto the dial i had to get creative. I used a test dial of the same flavor and a whiskey smoker. Placing the bare dial in a glass and using the smoker to envelope the dial for approximately 5mins at a time. After 3 rounds i achieved the desired affect but the glossy dial became textured and the text was tinted a goldish/brown color. In order to only tint the lume plots i molded a piece of rodico and pressed the dial on it to cause an imprint. Then slowly cut out slots for the lume plots, placed the rodico on the dial and then placed the hands in the center of the rodico. After about 4-5 5min rounds of smoking, the lume plots had a beautiful pumpkin tint and the hands were a shade or 2 lighter. What i learned is to instead place the hands face down on the rodico in order to tint the backside as the hands took on an almost gold color which i had to painstakingly clean off using q-tips dipped in sprayway glass cleaner. Also really take the time to get the rodico tight around the edges of the lume plots to avoid cleaning the smoke residue on the dial and use rodico or an old case to cover the back of the dial to avoid a ton of residue on the movement/datewheel once installed.
Here is an after pic:
And my inspiration picture:
Lastly i aged the lume pip by placing the insert in the oven on broil for 2-4mins at a time until desired affect is achieved.
Overall i am very very happy with the outcome. Watch keeps +1SPD and is waterproof with some great patina. In the future i want to get a gen xtal and gen bezel to top it off. Til then ill be enjoying this on the wrist of my drinking hand.
P.S.
Thanks to RWI’s staff for everything they do and i wish i never left. Cheers! If anyone has questions feel free to shoot me a message.
