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Modding a 60th Anniversary Speedmaster

  1. arcadelt Jul 17, 2017

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    Does anyone know or care to guess if the following would fit on a 60th Anniversary Speedmaster:

    * A black DON or DNN bezel?
    * A dial for a 3594.50?
    * The hands for a 105.003?

    I presume that since the dial and hands already fit on a cal 861/1861 they should be OK, but if anyone thinks something else might get in the way, that information would be appreciated. The bezel is a different a story and we may need to wait until the watch is in a watchmaker's hands to find out for sure.
     
  2. w.finkenstaedt Jul 17, 2017

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    Bezel will be tricky as I don't think there's a bezel that will accept a hesalite crystal; otherwise, the dial should fit no problem.

    Hands should fit but will look funny with tritium vs SLN on the dial. Normal batons will look really close but will not have the teardrop counterweight that Ed Whites have.
     
  3. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Jul 17, 2017

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    Can you please explain this - not sure what you are referring to as the bezel has nothing to do with the crystal...
     
  4. abrod520 Jul 17, 2017

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    Do it to an FOIS instead, it'll be a lot cheaper

    https://www.reddit.com/r/Watches/comments/4fk28n/omega_speedmaster_fois_sort_of_first_step_of/
     
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  5. arcadelt Jul 17, 2017

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  6. arcadelt Jul 17, 2017

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    Unless the dial lume is changed to tritium.
     
  7. w.finkenstaedt Jul 17, 2017

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    Sorry, I thought the case would make a difference (as for the Pro there's a different case for the sapphire vs hesalite) and assumed that bezels would be individual as well, though maybe it doesn't make a difference?
     
  8. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Jul 17, 2017

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    The case certainly makes a difference, but if you look at the regular Speedy Pro models, the bezel itself is the same for both plexi and sapphire versions. That doesn't mean I'm saying a regular bezel will fit this case, just that it's not really related to the crystal type.

    Cheers, Al
     
  9. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Jul 17, 2017

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    ::popcorn::
     
  10. arcadelt Jul 17, 2017

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  11. abrod520 Jul 17, 2017

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    Chances are with the money and effort you'd put into all this, you could find the real deal somewhere - for the $6500 that the 60th LE costs, plus the $3-5000 for the DON bezel, you could probably even get one with a flat-link bracelet of some sort (probably 1035, and many have 1039s that were shaved back in the day).

    Frankly I wouldn't have expected this route from you, given your (rather harsh) opinion of modded watches!
     
  12. alam Jul 17, 2017

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    ..but, but why????? ::confused2:: looks like the 60th is not your perfect watch, perhaps you should buy another watch??
     
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  13. arcadelt Jul 17, 2017

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    A mint one (collector grade) would be upwards of $20K, and this mod would create a new looking 105.003 replica, especially if you did without the DON - after all, there would be no stepped dial, so the illusion is already somewhat broken.

    Oh, that was months ago. LOL.

    These are just questions for something that would probably never happen. It's a bit like the "which $100K watch would you buy" or "would you bid on the Paul Newman 'Paul Newman' Daytona" questions. That said, the context in that other post was somewhat different, although I am not above admitting hypocrisy, or at best a softening viewpoint, on my part for entertaining the concept. However, as a weak defence, in that other post I was raising concerns about the implications of taking one modern watch and making it look like another modern watch that is indistinguishable from an original, so could very easily be used to defraud someone. That concern still stands. I don't think anyone would confuse this mod for a real 105.003. On the social media aspect of likes for mods, given my viewpoint I doubt I would ever display what I had done if I ever did it, but who knows what the future holds, so never say never - I'm certainly not perfect, and don't claim to be (well, at least until my next post anyway).
     
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  14. arcadelt Jul 17, 2017

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    It's just a question, although there is some motivation behind it that is a mix of wanting a birth year watch, but wanting it to look new and not cost $20K and not have a flimsy bracelet, but wanting it to be an accurate recreation like the 60th Anniversary Speedmaster, blah, blah, blah...

    In the end, it's just a question.
     
  15. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Jul 17, 2017

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    I like mods, but I went the other way...

    20170624_161834-2268x3024.jpg

    :D
     
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  16. abrod520 Jul 17, 2017

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    Why not a wearable one then? There are perfectly attractive examples out there that while not collector-grade, are still very charming.

    I understand about the new watch desire - I haven't seen an FOIS in person in awhile, but I can't recall the sapphire crystal being that bad. Considering it'd be a simple hands swap (that could easily be reversed) on a non-limited edition watch, I might start there and see how you feel about it. This could be done for less than $4k with a minimal potential loss if you decide you don't like it, reverse it, and re-sell it.
     
  17. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Jul 17, 2017

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    I'd actually like to see this mod.

    With no factual basis, I'd be somewhat surprised if an older bezel would fit, but if it did, we'll then that would mean the Base 1000 DON from the 60th would fit an older case.

    If you do the mod, I'll swap you a bezel.. :D
     
  18. leetse2 Jul 17, 2017

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    I modded the FOIS with the 3594.50 dial, 1125 bracelet, standard Speedy hands, and 105.003 spear chrono hand. I only wish I could install a hesalite crystal... almost forgot, I didn't like how shiny the tops of the lugs were so I had them brushed.

    FullSizeRender.jpg IMG_5829.JPG
     
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  19. yinzerniner Jul 17, 2017

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    That looks pretty GD awesome, especially with the brushed lugs.
    I think your route would probably be the best option, and there might be a way to custom fabricate a hesalite crystal to work with the case. I'm not 100% sure it would pass WR tests, but who's going swimming with their Speedy anyways?
     
  20. Maganator Jul 17, 2017

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    This looks great. Where did you source the dial?