E Series Movement Gold Color

[omgiv]

Hi Guys,

I am still tinkering with things while waiting for the 127 to come back into stock and I have decided to tackle the lettering color. I bought a few gold leaf paint kits/ pens in different colors but I don't think they are right. Obviously the bridges are for the wrong movement but you get the idea. Here is the best that I have come up with so far. It looks a little too gold and rough compared to the genuine pictures I have seen. I was wondering if anyone had any better options or ideas to try. I also have to find a way to seal it so it won't come off in the cleaner. Here are the pics and thanks for looking.

 

[ALE7575]

Hi omgiv

marlin2284 is making good mods yellow to golden in PAM 127 bridges
Try to consult him

Your gold seems quite good
The rough finish is due to rep rough engraving not to you

ALE

 

[omgiv]

Thanks Ale,

I agree with you. He does very good mods but I don't want to take his trade secrets

 

[Rwolf]

Ttalk to a jeweler. You could rhodium plating bridges and gold filling the lettering.
The gold color is different. It's not matt

 

[omgiv]

Thanks for the tip. I will look into that.

 

[omgiv]

Okay...This is take 5 or 6. I have been trying different options as far as getting the gold color just right. This is the most accurate I have come up with. The best thing to do would be to get the engravings gold plated and then have the bridges rhodium plated while masking off the gold. That is above my skill level and I don't know anyone that will do it near me. Anyway, do you think this is closer? Thanks!!!!

 

[ALE7575]

It seems really good
But you well know that it is impossible, without a comparison pic, to judge appropriately.
Congrats anyway
ALE

 

[omgiv]

Thanks Ale,

I don't have a lot of high quality pictures of the genuine movement. Here is the best cropped example I can find at the moment. I know that the engraving and angle are different. Does this help?

 

[ALE7575]

This is the same pics that I have
But actually I was talking about side by side pics in order to make the comparison in the same light and reflection conditions

In above pics it looks really good. Congrats

ALE

See another gen pic:

 

[omgiv]

Here some extra shots I took today. I tried to get the angle and lighting like the genuine shot and also took some under a glass caseback. I still don't think the color is right but it is closer than the other things I have tried. At this point, I am running out of ideas (except to have it plated).

 

[marlin2284]

It's next to impossible to get it perfect, you have done an excellent job! Please bear in mind the 127 bridges do not have the text engraved as deep as the H movements so you will find it is a little trickier and more time consuming when you do it on the E bridges. The R&D part is the most challenging and in my opinion most fun part of our hobby. I am sure it will look beautiful when complete.

 

[omgiv]

Thanks Marlin!!! That means a lot coming from you. You have been an inspiration and driving force to my obsession . I am still letting them cure before I try to ultrasonically clean them. I would like to find a semi permanent solution if possible. Thanks again!!!

 

[marlin2284]

I think you found the solution, I really don't thing you can get much closer. I think Panerai uses some kind of proprietary formulation, if not something as simple as the exposure of the brass below the platinum plating then treated so it doesn't tarnish, hard to tell.

 

[ALE7575]

It really looks fine and nice

ALE