Marina Militare, please help

[tootall]

Hey all,

I am looking at starting the first phases of a vintage project. I don't know why exactly, but I am in love with this watch:

I have looked and looked and the only dial that comes close to that one is a modded EL dial. But I do not want to deal with EL, and I doubt he still has any of those dials. Does anyone have any information on how I can get a dial that looks like this one?

Also, any additional pictures or information about this particular model is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[hooligan]

horologie_unitas has a rep like that. I think Silix has one on their site, but it's listed as "out of stock". Maybe a DSN dial? Lemme look at his photobucket...

Bingo!

Remove the "T Swiss T" after you get it and have him use a plexi crystal instead of sapphire and I think you're golden. Oh, have him use the 232 style (i.e. non-bowtie) hands, too.

Good luck!

 

[tootall]

Yeah I saw the dials in DSN's photobucket. However, if you notice the subdial @ 9 the lume marker closest to the 9 is shorter than the rest. That to me is a major put off. Also the text font is off.

I was planning on doing some mods to remove text and bold up the other text, but it helps to start with as accurate as I can get.

 

[hooligan]

Well, I'm afraid that the subdial location, and the subsequent shorter marker at 9, are a function of the movement used. Being that I'm assuming the gen used a Rolex or Angelus movement, not much you can do about that, I'm afraid.

You can try Silix, but that watch has been listed as out of stock for better than a year...

Good luck.

EDIT -- Just looked and Silix has the short marker, too. I don't think the dial you want exists.

 

[turbogt]

I would recommend you start with a 6152-1 case from DSN with Plexi (best around) and then start the search for the dial. What movement do you plan to have inside?

PM I might help you out.

Cheers!

Turbo

 

[tootall]

Well, I'm afraid that the subdial location, and the subsequent shorter marker at 9, are a function of the movement used. Being that I'm assuming the gen used a Rolex or Angelus movement, not much you can do about that, I'm afraid.

You can try Silix, but that watch has been listed as out of stock for better than a year...

Good luck.

EDIT -- Just looked and Silix has the short marker, too. I don't think the dial you want exists.

Hey,

Yeah I knew that the subdial marker was a product of the 6497 used instead of the Angelus. You could also use a 616 or 618.

You may be right about the dial not existing in that format. Any thoughts on maybe opening up the little marker to "look" more correct? A small jeweler's file may do the trick, but it would have to be very tiny.

Maybe I could just take a DSN dial, and open up that marker a little more, then bold up the text and match the lume color. That should look pretty good.

Then I could get a cheap Molnija movement and put a rolex bridge on it, and presto! a pretty decent rep. What are your thoughts?

 

[tootall]

I would recommend you start with a 6152-1 case from DSN with Plexi (best around) and then start the search for the dial. What movement do you plan to have inside?

PM I might help you out.

Cheers!

Turbo

Thanks for the advice, but I already have the case I want to use. And I am afraid I don't have the funds to get those beautiful movments of yours. I can pick up a Molnija movement for around $15 and a Rolex bridge for about the same.

 

[tootall]

Here is a pic of the old EL dial:

It looks a lot closer to the original than the DSN dial.

 

[hooligan]

Hey,

Yeah I knew that the subdial marker was a product of the 6497 used instead of the Angelus. You could also use a 616 or 618.

You may be right about the dial not existing in that format. Any thoughts on maybe opening up the little marker to "look" more correct? A small jeweler's file may do the trick, but it would have to be very tiny.

Maybe I could just take a DSN dial, and open up that marker a little more, then bold up the text and match the lume color. That should look pretty good.

Then I could get a cheap Molnija movement and put a rolex bridge on it, and presto! a pretty decent rep. What are your thoughts?

I just checked my Molnija powered MM20 rep and the dial is the same on that one, maybe even more so. You could, perhaps, open that marker up a little bit, but be careful not to get too close to the 9 cutout (I'm assuming that's the reason for the short marker to begin with) as that might cause some deformity of the top layer of the dial.

My suggestion would be to go with a closed case back. I don't know what was "correct" for the original watch, but as a military tool, I see little practical use for an exhibition case back. Then you wouldn't even have to muck about with fixing the bridges.

I have no idea what would be involved with making the dial text more bold, but if you think you can, go for it!

I can't wait to see the results. It should be a handsome watch from the sounds of it.

The EL dial would be your best bet, but I doubt you'll be able to find one. Even EL's dial isn't bold enough, but the cut outs are better...

 

[horologie_unitas]

i also love this model, but i did not want all the headaches to find the very best one, nor i wanted to spend to much.....400$ was my limit.
i had exact this movement on my mind, so Silix was a no go. EL's dial is better....good luck finding it. to much headaches.
so, i live with the flaws.
still love it.

 

[Klink]

Now, that is looker..

Perfection? You can have all the perfection you can afford..

gens are not even always all 'perfection'

and there are stories of horror regarding gens.. and horrible prices/service from the company..

beyond belief some of them..



Klink

Life is Good!

 

[Hambone]

Indeed HU, that MM is a beauty. The flaws are not noticable in the least. I want one!

 

[horologie_unitas]

wise words, Klink. i would never be able and willing to spend 30 - 50 grand for the gen....thats old, beat up, corrosive....you name it.
of course, gen is gen.... but like Google.....the value is fictional. in the end its just an old, rough watch that used to cost 400 $.
no complications, nothing.
would you spend 40.000 $ for that ? i sure would buy several other gens for that money !

 

[tootall]

Well other than the dial I could really care less how accurate it is to the picture. The dial is what does it for me. I wouldn't care if it was Asian 6497 with no decorations in the back, as long as that dial looked the same. I think it's the contrast in the numerals and the bold text that is the attraction.

I plan on doing the boldness with fine pens. The kind you write on grains of rice with. Shouldn't be too hard. The hard part is finding a jeweler's file to increase the subdial marker.

 

[hooligan]

Well, good luck! It's a cool project, IMO.

 

[evo5555]

remember e pics when project is completed!!..

 

[fakemaster]

I feel for you. I seem to have a terrible time finding dials for things. Very frustrating.

 

[earlgrey-erfurt]

Cool project

as i poorly know from VDBroucke that the different space comes from using an angelus movement in gen

thats the problem not only finding a working movement secondly one with working subdial second.

and than you have to find a matching dial and of course the matching hands too

ask VDB for better info, think he has something similar to build in his mind (and he has done some expensive steps for his project)

cheers helmut

 

[fakemaster]

I just got a headache.

 

[sexybeast]

what is going on with this project? updates?