Treeman's MBW 16610 project (ala BK) - stage 1 complete!

[treeman]

I picked up an MBW 16610 from TTK several months ago (I beleive sometime this past June) with the intentions of eventually modding it using a recipe that BK came up with. Esentially the following recipe:

1) Replacing the dial, hands, and date wheel with the equivalent parts from a NOOB

2) Replacing the bezel insert with a Jewelryoutlet insert, fitted with watchmaterial pearl

3) Adjusting the CG's

This pictorial will cover stage 1. I will follow up later with stage 2 and maybe 3 (I LOVE this watch and don't yet have the cajones to touch the cg's)!

I took the easy way out with stage 1. I have several NOOBs that I have bought over time so I went ahead and decided to simply swap the entire movement with hands/dial/datewheel intact. I had planned on installing the entire movt/hands/dial from the MBW back into the NOOB so that I'd still be able to use the NOOB but for some reason I was unable to get the dial to fit the NOOB properly.

Anyway, here we go:

Couple shots of the 2 watches before the swap. The NOOB is on the left MBW on right. Look closely and you can see that the date on the MBW is slightly off center and too bold. This was my main reason for doing the swap.

Quick shot of the caseback removal tool:

The two watches without case backs:

Hilarious MBW caseback inside:
(you can swap the casebacks but I like the SHITINERAND logo so I chose not to swap)

NOOB caseback inside:

Everybody taken apart. Note that you will use the movement ring that came with the MBW still (not the NOOB movt holder)

Side by side, check out the off center & too bold date on MBW again:

First look at the NOOB guts in the MBW case:

That's about it!!! Pretty easy/quick mod. Now for some pics:

 

[onj]

treeman,

nice, bk is modding mine can`t wait...you did a great job !!


onj

 

[rd1s35]

Congratulation! treeman.
Great job & really nice watch!

 

[d4m.test]

good job. Keep it up. You'll feel very rewarded when it's all done.

-bk

 

[treeman]

Thanks guys.

onj, I know bk is a very busy man (and I am very impatient) otherwise I would have just sent it to him. He does amazing work.

There is quite a bit that can go wrong on a project like this so I would not recommend this as a first time project or anything like that.

BK, thanks for the compliment. I told you I would eventually get around to doing this. I am very happy!!

 

[JoJo35]

Nice job! Thanks for the pics and step by step 8)

 

[RaleyJay]

gorgeous watch, thanks for sharing.

 

[watchfreak2005]

...nice work and it looks that it is very easy to do! I have a MBW from TTK, too.

First i want to start this watch to mod but now i have odered a gen one for december.
Now i give my MBW for trade or to my little brother he loves this watch! When the gen one
is in my hand i took many pics and post all here for you guys! :wink:

Cheers,
watchfreak2005

 

[GA400]

Thanks for the write-up Treeman!

A couple of questions, if you don't mind.
So, when removing the crown and its assoicated shaft, do you just unscrew until it comes out? Then when moving the noob movement to the MBW case, do you keep that crown with the movement or are they interchangeable?

Thanks

GA400

 

[treeman]

Good questions GA400...the crown and it's shaft (stem) from the MBW are still used on the mbw. In order to remove the crown/stem, you need to open the case back and you will find a small hole with a "button" inside near the crown on the back of the movement. You need to pull the crown/stem out to the "time setting" position then use a 1mm flat screw driver to VERY lightly press that button and pull the crown/stem out again VERY gently. I am planning on doing a video that shows how to remove the crown/stem within the next few days. It can be a little tricky. On the first watch I tried it on I completely locked up the keyless works so I definetly suggest trying on a watch that you don't mind potentially screwing up first

 

[GA400]

Good questions GA400...the crown and it's shaft (stem) from the MBW are still used on the mbw. In order to remove the crown/stem, you need to open the case back and you will find a small hole with a "button" inside near the crown on the back of the movement. You need to pull the crown/stem out to the "time setting" position then use a 1mm flat screw driver to VERY lightly press that button and pull the crown/stem out again VERY gently. I am planning on doing a video that shows how to remove the crown/stem within the next few days. It can be a little tricky. On the first watch I tried it on I completely locked up the keyless works so I definetly suggest trying on a watch that you don't mind potentially screwing up first

Treeman, thanks for the detailed explanation and I can't wait to see the video! I have an expendable "project watch" that I will definitely be trying this on. I laid out a few of my sub watches the other day and started planning a frankenwatch project using parts from at least three of them. If nothing else, I am sure this will be very educational. At best, I may wind up with exactly what I am envisioning

Cheers!

 

[TripleHD]

Awesome watch Treeman ! MBW mods with noob parts makes me regret on selling mine. Damn I miss it. May have to go and get me a MBW and have it modded with noob parts once again. Wear it well !!!!!

 

[alligoat]

One quick note to Treeman's tutorial on pulling the stem/crown on the eta movement- use the 1.2mm screwdriver in the slot, so that you don't depress the little release button too much and screw up the keyless works. Been there/done that!

 

[MEYER8888]

thanks good topics and good job 8)