vintage dodane type 21 french military tropical

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Solexelos

·Aug 3, 2019

here is my last purchase. these watches belonged to a former student pilot of the French army. He had not finished his training for health problems. These watches have markings on the back indicating the end of warranty (in French FG), they passed regularly review.
he kept these measuring instruments for 40 years.
they keep perfectly the time and have a power reserve of 48h.
I must change the split glass on the tropical and unlock the bezel on the other.
how can I unlock it?

 

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cristos71

·Aug 3, 2019

The perfect pair!

 

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S.H.

·Aug 3, 2019

Nice pair! (I saw your post on FAM 😉)

The best way to unlock it... is to bring them to somebody who knows what he's doing, i.e. a good watchmaker. I do not know precisely how they are mounted on these models, but probably with a polygonal spring wire. You may try to pop it off with a blade if you do not have a specialized tool, but beware! It can be very messy and difficult to put them back. I hope it is not glued on. In a word : be careful.

Grime can lock the bezel but also, a wrong diameter wire...

 

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Darlinboy

·Aug 3, 2019·Pratts! Will I B******S!!!

Gorgeous brown dial - nicest one I've seen. Would be very interested to know the serial number when you get it open. As with other references, seems to be a range in which this effect most often appears.

As for replacing the crystal and unlocking the bezel, find a qualified watchmaker. Crystal should be easy to source. If something is needed on the bezel, harder to find but still possible. Probably just needs to be popped off and cleaned though. Have seen many of these with scary gunk under the bezel. 😲

Dibs - if you ever think to sell the brown, I'm your buyer. ☕

 

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Tempus

·Aug 4, 2019

I'm sure your's will be fine but I did have the unfortunate experience many years ago of buying a vintage tudor where glue was substituted for correct parts under bezel😡

 

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Solexelos

·Aug 4, 2019

thank you for your messages
I will drop them at my watchmaker at the beginning of September. I will keep you informed
it's not just me that he loves

 

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Fritz

·Aug 4, 2019

Solexelos

thank you for your messages
I will drop them at my watchmaker at the beginning of September. I will keep you informed
it's not just me that he loves

Nice shot! I can never get to camera when these moments occur.

 

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Mark020

·Aug 4, 2019·not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer

Very nice one! XX's are COOL!!

 

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pIoNeErOfThEnILe

·Aug 4, 2019

that brown dial is a sharp piece

 

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chronoboy64

·Aug 4, 2019

great pair and the brown dial is just awesome 🥰

 

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JC75

·Nov 2, 2021

IMHO the Dodane type 21 is an understated watch especially when it has a military provenance. Here is mine:

 

S

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Sculler22

·Nov 16, 2021

There's one available with supporting docs at classicwatch.com
That site seems to specialize in this type of watches.

 

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JC75

·Nov 17, 2021

Nice to see even if this document is "only" service paper. First time I see one.
Thanks for sharing 👍