Thinking of a little experiment with a full PVD case.....give it a silver bezel &....

[Sethgun]

!!!NEW PICS!!!Modding a 50mm flightdeck with 2 boats=steel bezel (Just like original)

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View attachment 8871Well, I actually finished this little project of mine last week, Ive just been lazy with pics. Turned out fantastic! The Uboat clasp came with brown leather, which didnt match. Ive put a temp old black strap for now...organising a custom strap now that will still retain the uboat plaque and clasp. Heres the pics! (and a couple of my Invicta that I love




Hey guys,

Well It seems every rep store on earth has the pad body with ss bezel flight deck on their websites, but NOBODY has it. Me, I fell in love with Flightdeck Steel Bezel 2 yrs ago at a small Jeweller on the Greek Island of Rhodes. This watch was my introduction to U-Boats; it looked amazing in the window and on my wrist...well, my Misses said "we will take it" BEFORE looking at the price tag lol. There, it was best price of $2800 bc they automatically noticed we could speak Greek Its this one btw:

http://www.uboatwatch.it/model.php?idM=37

Anyway, back in the window it went and me on the hunt for a rep. I think the factories MAY have produced them at least 2 yrs ago, but not since and no plans so far. I have a busted SS flight deck with Steel bezel and Carbon Fiber dial, which Im thinking to use in conjunction with pvd parts.....

Going to buy an all black pvd exactly like Mirages (thanks for all the help btw buddy ) and from then, its a matter of sanding back the bezel, or using a dremel to clear out the dents and scratches. Its a straight line around the bezel, but I'd imagine sanding it back to SS would scratch the living begets out of the bezel, unless i polish (never tried polishing ss accurately)

Still got to look at separating the steel bezel from my case

Cheers guys

 

[Sethgun]

Couldnt fit the invicta pics so heres a couple of my Invicta Quinotaur Skeleton Russian Diver Anniversary Edition ETA 6497 (thats a mouthful)

 

[Sethgun]

Bezel off

Bezel pic of my old U-Boat. Just to the left is the glass and next to that, the little plastic shim that sits around the lens and wedges around the case to hold it tight. Gave the glass a few taps on the inside with a cloth in there so it wasn't too harsh, and popped right off.

 

[Sethgun]

time to Dremel

Went to a couple of Jewellers today who seemed dumb as dog sh$t, then I thought of going to a mates and using his lathe. Few probe with the way it was going to finish off, so called that off.

Dremel? Yeh, by hand with the proper grind stones and polishing attachments will come up nice. The way it is now isn't too bad; the photo just makes it appear dull and crap. If I put it on in the state its in, it will look like a normal every day'er.

Ill wait until the watch comes from Mary@ WatchInt.....they don't have the dial in stock right now but will in 2 days.

 

[Mirage]

Looks like it will be an easy thing to do! Removing the PVD coating will not give you a brushed finish though.

Ha, and thanks for the U-Boat catalog link!

 

[Sethgun]

It's pretty easy to get that brushed look with some cleaner and some mega smooth grit sandpaper, then dremel polish the whole lot. Did it on an old Pam my dad has......how could u not have the whole catalog???? Watch isn't in stock but I'm going through Tony now; just waitin on some QC pics and apparently yeah, most a7750 have the regulators now

 

[Sethgun]

ALL CARBON FIBER U-BOATS OUt OF SToCK??

WEll this certainly aint working out......EVERYONE is out of stock of any model with a carbon fiber dial. Ive checked trusted sellers as well as a few others and they're all telling me the same thing; Black dial but no CF dial, damn. Cant use my dial as its damaged.

 

[Sethgun]

turnaround

Sweet. Managed to pick up a silver uboat with carbon dial (exactly what I used to own) from 'sidevbe' here on the forum, just waiting on it to come now. Great

Also have a pvd casing with the chrono buttons on it and bottom with the show glass. All very good bits from a spot on rep, so all looking good again.
More on it as it comes

 

[Sethgun]

adding ETA bits

Im assuming by the photos from the sale of the watch I bought, the a7750 has no regulator (as mine from 2 years ago didn't either) So ill be adding a regulator and regulator corrector so at least (for myself and others who know) looks more legit when looking through the back. Not sure about any other visible ETA parts, looking into that. found a site that sells every individual ETA part. Convenient.

 

[Mirage]

Good stuff man! Can wait to see the final product!

 

[Sethgun]

Yeah, should come out looking like the flightdeck steel bezel model, watch should b here about mon-tues and parts late week or aryl week after. Ill use my gen uboat clasp with it again or else ill clumsily drop the watch and break the glass on the back, so it screws up the movement (again). Comes with a litre 23mm plaque (see pics just for clasp and plaque).

Getting a custom deigned leather strap made for it, which we think is going to look insanely good

 

[Sethgun]

pvd bits

New PVD case and back with glass from the factory. Good they included the chrono buttons as start/restart should b black

 

[Nigel]

Look forward to seeing the watch when finished. What is the measurements of the case?

 

[Sethgun]

PVD bits came on my way to work

Sweet timing for the courier and VERY quick EMS from progiftstore.biz (one of the only companies aside from Rochest & Mary who will chase down parts).

They also shipped a pvd bezel with sapphire, which we discussed I didn't need. That's automatically going to Crocodile @ Prime Straps for his Uboat job one day, and as a thanks foe the killer strap he will be designing for this job

I'll assemble it all later and post pics..won't have working movement bc I stuffed if up myself. Rochest at WI is a champion though, he is sorting me out with a new a7750, carbon fiber dial and hands.

Slowly getting there......

 

[Sethgun]

Look forward to seeing the watch when finished. What is the measurements of the case?

Sorry mate, forgot to reply. Appreciate it I'm sticking to EXACT original everything I've seen of it on the website, shop window then finally trying it on I'm Greece. Just fell in love with it; looked like nothing else I'd seen hence, the introduction to Uboat it's a 50mm flight deck, so add another 6mm or so. It's also gonna have a s steel plaque (with U boat- Italo Fontano) on the bottom as part of the strap, and butterfly clasp) personally, I think most ppl with a boat that has 23mm bottom lug width have a plaque like this; suits it so much better and makes it look even 'bigger'

 

[Mirage]

Good to hear that Rochest manages to find you the parts! How much is a A7750 (PM me if you dont want to post this info publicly.) I am for my part sourcing screw and lugs for my flight decks. I have lost a screw this week. Rochest can get them, you may want to spare a few yourself.

 

[Sethgun]

hey bud,

I dunno why i don't have some of his emails on my mac now, must be on my phone which Ill have back in a few hrs. If men serves me correct, an a7750 was $130. Dials and handset came in around just under 50 as well (these are US prices I gather).

What Im most likely going to do now is send him my old silver uboat casing so he can assemble movement, dials and hands (easy means of packaging) as he can't assemble just those components and send them safely undamaged.

Sucks that its literally going to be a round trip for the movement, but I have no real idea how to install the dial and hands onto movement.

BTW, the new carbon dials look pretty sweet. Silver markings (what I wanted) and white hands which *look* like they may be lumed a bit. If they aren't, ill prob just send him my silver handset and have those installed. Check out the pic.

 

[Mirage]

I was surfing Puretime's'website when i found this:
http://puretime.co/product/flightdeck-steel-bezel-blackwhite-dial-2/

Is that the watch you are trying to replicate?

 

[Sethgun]

yep, that exact same watch (only it'll have a custom band. Almost all the stores have it but no factories make them or have them in stock. It really, REALLY sucks that most of the stores keep stock in their catalogues for everyone to look at and order, but once they order (or you make an inquiry) THEN they check stock at the factory.

Trust me, I've tried every store listed here and others I know of and most haven't had that style for over 2 yrs. Thats why I'm replicating it; it looks awesome in real life and pretty kickass on the wrist. You can do it on yours easy; just change the bezel, crown cap with attachment and top chrono button. Markings won't be silver but who cares, will look real good. u know who to ask if u need the bits

 

[Nigel]

I tried to buy a similar watch but like you no luck. According to Tony from asian7750 the factory's don't want to make many U-Boat's as there does not seem to be any demand for them.

So I went with a PVD one with 7750 movement. I will be interested in how yours turns out. I also tried to get a 55mm one with 7750 movement and the same story no demand so they are not making them.