Post by seikoholic on Jul 30, 2013 6:56:51 GMT -8
Over the course of time, you can sometimes get enough of one thing in like condition to make something, as long as you're forward-thinking enough to not sell off or use the stuff that's come in. Even then, it can be a challenge to have all the right stuff of the right model to make a watch that's not only working, and of one model, but of the correct condition and era.
As some of you may remember, awhile ago I got a watch lot that had the core of two NOS 6309-7xxx divers. Two complete movements, movement rings, dial rings, and handsets. Wow. Nice. Then I got a 6309-704x dial in very good original condition, one of the early Suwa ones. So, that leaves me having to find the following: case, minute track, bezel, rotating ring, insert, caseback, stem. Found a case (but not caseback) on eBay with a bonus 6117 world time unit in it - bonus - but it was missing a bunch of stuff like a caseback and a stem.
I happened to talk to a buddy of mine to see if he had a caseback, and he said he didn't. However, he had a complete case. Not only was it complete with original crystal, it was in pretty decent shape. Unrestored, with a near-perfect insert. And best of all it was the correct era to match the early dial. It was a June '79 case. Additionally, it had the "ring" type rotating ring grip, which I prefer. It's the early style I believe though I could be wrong.
So, I had some time late last night after customer work and was able to do a rebuild on one of the NOS movements. Just because it's NOS doesn't mean it doesn't need to be cleaned and lubed. Amazingly, it still had some lubricant in the cap jewels however. Never expected to see that.
After a rebuild the movement was banging out some extremely respectable numbers, cruising in the 250-260 range, with winding spikes into the 300+ range! Amazing!
I don't have a flat vent strap for it currently so I threw a ratty old NATO on it. Don't flinch. A Seiko, back from the dead. The best part is that if I hadn't told what had gone into making this out of a bunch of unrelated parts, this watch would appear to be a complete and original survivor. The best kind of built-up parts watch is the one that doesn't look like it. I think this one came out OK.
The only thing about these shots is that they make the watch look rougher than it actually does. In person it's quite nice.
As some of you may remember, awhile ago I got a watch lot that had the core of two NOS 6309-7xxx divers. Two complete movements, movement rings, dial rings, and handsets. Wow. Nice. Then I got a 6309-704x dial in very good original condition, one of the early Suwa ones. So, that leaves me having to find the following: case, minute track, bezel, rotating ring, insert, caseback, stem. Found a case (but not caseback) on eBay with a bonus 6117 world time unit in it - bonus - but it was missing a bunch of stuff like a caseback and a stem.
I happened to talk to a buddy of mine to see if he had a caseback, and he said he didn't. However, he had a complete case. Not only was it complete with original crystal, it was in pretty decent shape. Unrestored, with a near-perfect insert. And best of all it was the correct era to match the early dial. It was a June '79 case. Additionally, it had the "ring" type rotating ring grip, which I prefer. It's the early style I believe though I could be wrong.
So, I had some time late last night after customer work and was able to do a rebuild on one of the NOS movements. Just because it's NOS doesn't mean it doesn't need to be cleaned and lubed. Amazingly, it still had some lubricant in the cap jewels however. Never expected to see that.
After a rebuild the movement was banging out some extremely respectable numbers, cruising in the 250-260 range, with winding spikes into the 300+ range! Amazing!
I don't have a flat vent strap for it currently so I threw a ratty old NATO on it. Don't flinch. A Seiko, back from the dead. The best part is that if I hadn't told what had gone into making this out of a bunch of unrelated parts, this watch would appear to be a complete and original survivor. The best kind of built-up parts watch is the one that doesn't look like it. I think this one came out OK.
The only thing about these shots is that they make the watch look rougher than it actually does. In person it's quite nice.
