This idea came about at the beginning of last year when the gen B&R Phantom and PAM292 Ceramic came out.
I really wanted to have something like both of them but at the time there was nothing and it didn't look like there would be. Of course now you can get both reps and even Tritec make black lume, but in those heady days of 2007 this was the best I could do.
I bought a bog standard Radiomir and sent it off to Joe to have PVD'd. I also sent him parts of the 6497 mechanism to have PVD's as well, but unfortunately I couldn't afford it at the time - I wish i'd gone ahead and done it as thats whats stalled the project.
Once that was back from him. Fleed very kindly sent me a batch of his custom made dark lume - thanks Fleed!!!
I painted the hands and dial with the lume, then sprayed several very fine layers of matt acrylic paint over the top bit of the dial. This took many goes before the PANERAI RADIOMIR was the same colour as the lume or near enough. I am sure this is not the best way of doing this, but it's just too small to paint accurately with a brush and this was all I could come up with - it looks fine IMO, but I am sure there is a more professional way - any ideas?
The lug arms and caseback are also PVD'd and at the moment the mechanism is in pieces - each part which can be having been sprayed matt black ready to be put back together. If this works (and the 6497 looks AMAZING black - inspired by Tourby's soprod one) - i'll splash out and get one PVD'd. I've got my heart set on this watch having a black 6497 too!!
Not sure what strap to match this up to but that comes later. If i did it again, i think i'd have Kent at Everest do the luming work with Tritec black lume which will look a lot darker.
I guess if I had finished it a year ago before the phantom and the 292 reps - it might have been something quite special, but it's kind of lost it's impact now - my fault for putting it off for so long.
I'll post a wrist shot when it's finished, but would be interested to know what you all think so far.
I really wanted to have something like both of them but at the time there was nothing and it didn't look like there would be. Of course now you can get both reps and even Tritec make black lume, but in those heady days of 2007 this was the best I could do.
I bought a bog standard Radiomir and sent it off to Joe to have PVD'd. I also sent him parts of the 6497 mechanism to have PVD's as well, but unfortunately I couldn't afford it at the time - I wish i'd gone ahead and done it as thats whats stalled the project.
Once that was back from him. Fleed very kindly sent me a batch of his custom made dark lume - thanks Fleed!!!
I painted the hands and dial with the lume, then sprayed several very fine layers of matt acrylic paint over the top bit of the dial. This took many goes before the PANERAI RADIOMIR was the same colour as the lume or near enough. I am sure this is not the best way of doing this, but it's just too small to paint accurately with a brush and this was all I could come up with - it looks fine IMO, but I am sure there is a more professional way - any ideas?
The lug arms and caseback are also PVD'd and at the moment the mechanism is in pieces - each part which can be having been sprayed matt black ready to be put back together. If this works (and the 6497 looks AMAZING black - inspired by Tourby's soprod one) - i'll splash out and get one PVD'd. I've got my heart set on this watch having a black 6497 too!!
Not sure what strap to match this up to but that comes later. If i did it again, i think i'd have Kent at Everest do the luming work with Tritec black lume which will look a lot darker.
I guess if I had finished it a year ago before the phantom and the 292 reps - it might have been something quite special, but it's kind of lost it's impact now - my fault for putting it off for so long.
I'll post a wrist shot when it's finished, but would be interested to know what you all think so far.
