249 or Vintage Cali Dial

[savage_here]

OK guys. I've been looking at these watches ad nauseum for a few weeks.

I'd really, really like to buy a 249, but I can't find anybody with an acceptable model.

Davidsen has one in swiss, but I don't like the shape of the plexi crystal and it's pretty high in price.

Everyone else seems to have the same dial. It's the one with "California" printed at the top. This was what the gen prototype had and the rep actually came out prior to the gen. When the gen showed up, it didn't have that text (thank God!).

We won't even go into crowns since every single one of them that I've seen is way wrong.

Anyway, so as a backup plan, I started looking at vintage models. Josh has a nice one and it's only 45mm as opposed to the 47mm 249. So, I thought that might be a good option. But, it has fixed lugs and I'm not too hip on that. I really, really dislike the look of the screws on the strap and it's a pain to stitch the strap right onto the lug (although I can do it, I'd rather be able to switch straps whenever I like).

So, I've got a couple of questions for the masses.

1. Has anybody seen a 249 with a decent case/dial/crystal? I'd take Asian or Swiss at this point.

2. Has anybody seen a vintage cali dial with screw lugs rather than fixed. BTW, I've seen the one Enzo has for sale, so exclude that one.

3. Lastly, does anybody know how much trouble it would be to retrofit a davidsen dial to somebody else's case? I'm guessing it's not going to be a drop-in!

Thanks in advance for any help on this.

Best regards,

Savage

 

[savage_here]

Bump.

Anyone? Anything? Please...

 

[Highflyingclive]

My 47mm California from Josh has a domed crystal.

Davidsen has the correct "non-California" dial. It may need reworking in order to fit the Joshua case.

I received a vintage 6533 from Davidsen recently. Nice watch - but I didn't like the "pill-box" crystal... so Ziggy is going to replace it with a domed plexi crystal.

 

[JOEJOEJOE]

My 47mm California from Josh has a domed crystal.

Davidsen has the correct "non-California" dial. It may need reworking in order to fit the Joshua case.

I received a vintage 6533 from Davidsen recently. Nice watch - but I didn't like the "pill-box" crystal... so Ziggy is going to replace it with a domed plexi crystal.

Does DSN have black dial now? I thought he only had brown dial, which is supposed to be Platinum version.

 

[savage_here]

Does DSN have black dial now? I thought he only had brown dial, which is supposed to be Platinum version.

Yes, he told me he has the black dial.

 

[hooligan]

Buy the vintage 45mm one from Josh (I used it as a base for my mini-Fiddy project), then buy the cheapest 183/210 case you can find. Put the movement/dial/hands from the vintage Rad into the new case. Now you have the vintage look with non-fixed lugs.

:wink:

 

[savage_here]

Buy the vintage 45mm one from Josh (I used it as a base for my mini-Fiddy project), then buy the cheapest 183/210 case you can find. Put the movement/dial/hands from the vintage Rad into the new case. Now you have the vintage look with non-fixed lugs.

:wink:

This seems like a sensible way to go. I do love the blue hands on the actual 249, but I may have to give a little there.

Now, off to see if anybody has a 210/183 that croaked on them...

I wasn't really looking for a project, but this may be the only way.

Thanks for all the responses.

Savage

 

[geo1nah2a]

Buy the vintage 45mm one from Josh (I used it as a base for my mini-Fiddy project), then buy the cheapest 183/210 case you can find. Put the movement/dial/hands from the vintage Rad into the new case. Now you have the vintage look with non-fixed lugs.

:wink:

This seems like a sensible way to go. I do love the blue hands on the actual 249, but I may have to give a little there.

Now, off to see if anybody has a 210/183 that croaked on them...

I wasn't really looking for a project, but this may be the only way.

Thanks for all the responses.

Savage

Always double check for the crown/tube health when buying second hand. 183 are notorious strippers Soft metal and hand winding don't mix that well.. Same goes for the screws holding the wires of the strap.