BP Seadweller.. Best SD available Period

[benjji]

thanks smpfan.. the problem on bp is the cavity betwen the teeth is small... i dont understand if its sufficient to polish the inner to enlarge and deepen it...

 

[Smpfan]

I will have a look on that. A BP SD will be my next project. Parts are laying around yet.
But Ado mentioned it already. If you want to do this really good you need special machines and tools. It would be an enormous effort.


Cheers

Andi

 

[Smpfan]

So I just took two fast pics with iPhone and loupe for comparison.

SSD with reworked bezel:

BP with stock bezel:

And here we have a mega fat example of a beautiful gen:

But there are also tinier gen watches:

Cheers

Andi

 

[ado213]

Great work guys, every picture puts us a step closer, now all you have to do is select the bezel cut everybody likes the best and agrees is nearest to gen !!¬

The mega fat example works for me !!

 

[Smpfan]

This "fatty" is absolutely gorgeous! It's my favourite. Mainly the older SDs are really chunky. Some more eyecandy from chunky ones:

Cheers

Andi

 

[benjji]

thanks Smpfan... after looked a lot of pics, i think there are more variants on bezel for the varoius series of sd ... not problem at all.. there are the most closer as bp i found..

 

[Smpfan]

I completed my SSD project just some minutes ago. I will create an extra thread about this.
Two very fast wristshots.

Cheers

Andi

 

[ado213]

Nice work Andi, I know the work you've put into this, excellent effort and top marks for the bracelet, those links look really tight. A pain in the arse to do, but you stuck with it to the end, I admire your determination..

 

[Rudy40]

Guys you should think about another fact. Look at all the SD's which were builded over the years! They are varying considering bezel teeth depth and chunkyness of the crown guards. So you may want to do a research on the web and you will find out that some gens DO look like your rep! Newer models seem to have a tinier bezel and CG's.
Another point which varies is the recessement of the SEL's between the lug ends. Older 16660 are significantly more recessed than newer models and so on.

I reworked the teeth of an old SSD bezel with a needle file and repolished them because they were too tiny. It is doable but very difficult. As Ado told you need a lot of mashining to do this in a professionell way.

Cheers

Andi

I dont mean to contradict myself here!

But I agree with you the more i look on the net at these gens! Every since yesterday since ado made his post...I have looked at endless gens and read about specs...I have also even looked at a gen that belong to a customer at a local AD in for service! The gen had been re polished 5 times and serviced twice..It had a very similar bezel scallops than my BPSD..There are so many variation's when they come to gens counting 4 i have seen..Two of them being close to the BP SD and the SSD
So the more i look at them...The more i think maybe living with what i got....Unless someone can machine a deeper and wider scallop...I'm sticking with what i got!

I actually seen a SSD that belong to a member over at RWG that had better scallops than the BPSD i have...So if your bezel is decent...I suggest go with what you got...Until something comes along that is a better offering! I also agree with (KBH) the SSD is a better built watch...Its down fall is the non gen construction bezel assembly for me! The gen construction bezel assembly that the BPSD sports makes it easier to change the insert and crystal...Other than that ...I had a Rick914 modded SSD that made all of my other SD builds look sick!

 

[benjji]

yes! There " was "( since Sd is out from 2007) many variations of the bezel, and above all, most gen sd which we see in ad conc. and net are old and was polished more times, including bezel.

I've posted some pics above and you can clearly see that the bottom of the bezel is not shiny in origin ( on some series). this picture for me is proof that current bp bezel is almost close to Gen sd

 

[Smpfan]

The SSD is far better build than BP SD. The non gen bezel construction is not the problem for me. It is fitted by spring wire. The round metal sheet with TWO noses for clicking is very solid! It clicks very reliable and far better than BP's gen like construction.
And SSD has got a working He valve. Bracelet is superior against BP and on par with TC 93160. BP's big advantage is the case itself and its finishing. The rehaut on BP is decent, too. Not wokky. That's the reason why I bored the SSD out and made a new rehaut with measurements I took from BP's.
Another point I recognized is the steel Noob used for the SSD. It's very bright and shiny after polishing. Also very hard to mashine, high quality.


Cheers

Andi

 

[mattt74]

Guys, I've read the most of this great discussion, and I think it's one of the most interesting till now.
Congrats to all those who brought here so many precious informations.
However there is something I've not been able to find: a listing of the best option about the dial. And as you understood from my previous posts that's a very big problem for me.
So, could we do a grid of what we think are the best solution in order to have the best dial on the BPSD?
Choice could be between:
1. Stock BP dial
2. TC 16600 dial
3. same as point 1 and 2 but relumed
I left apart the 4th option, that is a gen Rolex dial, because of the totally different cost. Even if an used one at the right price could be a great improvement...
Ok! What do you think?

 

[Smpfan]

Best choice but expensive, too:
TC's SD dial with markers from TC's KH-Submariner dial and hands.

TC's SD dial has got markers with far too small round rims.
Another good choice would be an relumed old SSD dial.


Cheers

Andi

 

[benjji]

perfect Smpfan. there was an guy who replaced sd markers dial with kh... this is the best choise since gen dial is much expansive and difficult to find..

other issues is the greenish on day light... i dont know if tc standard sd dial has this issue.. bp dial yes sure!

my advice maybe ask to Thomas (TC) for kh defective dial.. some months ago he he was selling them for $ 35 and you can use just the markers

 

[mattt74]

Benjii, you are right: BP is green for sure on daylight. Basing on my TC sub with std TC dial, I expect TC 16600 is greenish too!
I don't know if KH has the same problem, maybe some one who own could refer...
If I'm not wrong TC special price was for damaged std sub dial, not KH.
I will ask Thomas and see what he is gonna answer.

 

[Smpfan]

TC dial is brighter and whiter than BP at daylight but very matte lume. At night stock BP lume on mine is very very strong!

TC dial is very high quality considering paint and print but I think they put too much lume into the round markers. So you get only a small rim which isn't visible like gen.

Stock BP dial has got another flaw. The squared markers are too short against gen.

I think it would be difficult to find better markers than KH.


Cheers

Andi

 

[benjji]

just a clarification. we are used to seeing old sd version above all...not all version have wide round rims. latest sd versions especially.
this is my gen dial (new stock) it not has wide rings, maybe 6-9-12...not for the other markers

 

[Smpfan]

Hm... Generally Rolex used thicker marker rims on the squared markers. But my TC dial has got still far too small rounded rims when I'm looking at your pic.
Old SSD has got very decent rims and lume fill but glows week and gets vanilla creame patina over the years.


Cheers

Andi

 

[mattt74]

I agree with you Ben, the biggest problem isn't rims but greenish.
That's why I'm tempted to have the stock BP relumed.

 

[Smpfan]

For all people which are interested I created a new thread of my already mentioned SSD build over at RWG.

click


Cheers

Andi