freddy333 Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Ladles & Gentlemen, all ships at sea, allow me to present.......... The (nearly complete) Rolex GMT-Master Model 6542 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brokerzach Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Wow. Looks great man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjfesq Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Where did you source the bezel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Where did you source the bezel? Silix. Why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Fleischer Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 very cool looking watch. that crystal is something too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 very cool looking watch. that crystal is something too! Thanks, the crystal is a gen T116 & I am awaiting a new (proper 6542) dial & a larger set of broaches so I can fit the final handset (with small GMT hand). Here are a couple more close-up shots Oh & my sincere thanks to Tribal, Nanuq, JoJo, deltatahoe, kent2, Ziggy, carlsbadrolex (again, sorry to see you go), Alligoat, Docblackroc & everyone else who provided input and/or moral support. This project would not have made it this far (this fast) without your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geo1nah2a Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 ...You mean this is not a GEN? Great work! Really love that bezel insert and the band. Any more info on these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 ...You mean this is not a GEN? Great work! Really love that bezel insert and the band. Any more info on these? Thanks. The insert is from Michael Young. I found a few other aftermarket inserts floating around, but MY's is the only 1 that looks like some of the gens in my archives. The bracelet is a cheap, generic aftermarket (no Rolex markings on the clasp) that I have seen on many gens. Apparently, alot of the original 6542 owners either could not afford or could not rationalize the cost of Rolex replacement parts, so many of these watches were fitted with generic aftermarket jubilee bracelets when the originals got changed, which suited me just fine. It sort of fits, psychologically, because someone who owns the real deal is less likely to feel compelled to search out (& pay considerably more for) gen parts to fit on a watch he knows is gen, which left me alot of latitude when choosing a bracelet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolex001 Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Is it just me or do the map background pics ring James Dowling memories? Great 6542 - nice to see what you did - are you going to mathc the dial and hands patina? Aren't there any better inserts avaialbe to date? (Not gen of course, I know what these go for - ouch). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Is it just me or do the map background pics ring James Dowling memories? Great 6542 - nice to see what you did - are you going to mathc the dial and hands patina? Aren't there any better inserts avaialbe to date? (Not gen of course, I know what these go for - ouch). The map context was not an intentional nod to Dowling. I used it because I wanted something to set the PanAm/travel mood, but I do not have any PanAm paraphernalia on hand. So I went with a map instead. I am still considering options for the dial/hand patina. Alot will depend on how the dial looks when it arrives. The hands in the pictures are probably not what will end up on the watch. But specifications, as they say, are always subject to change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolex001 Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Well, I am looking forward to see the final result - the 6542 was always one of my favs - sadly it's a class too expensive. Keep up the good work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 So, what did you end up affixing the insert with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 So, what did you end up affixing the insert with? It was between double-sided tape & silicone sealant, but I went with the silicone because I want to be able to r&r the bezel & the tape removes the paint on the underside of the insert. Also, the space available between the insert's 2 points of contact -- the edge of the bezel & the inner edge of the case -- was very narrow. Silicone was easier to apply & seemed to remove much less paint during my testing, so I went with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribal Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Fantastic Result in the End. Looks really great. You got my whole Respect for this project. Looks awesome. RESPECT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Nice!! I like that bracelet. I remember back in the day wanting to upgrade the old folded link bracelets with solid links as the new bracelets better denoted quality...now people pay top dollar for things like folded oysters and the like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Fantastic Result in the End. Looks really great. You got my whole Respect for this project. Looks awesome. RESPECT I guess it is turning out better than I thought. Thank you, but I still need to install the final dial & handset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 Nice!! I like that bracelet. I remember back in the day wanting to upgrade the old folded link bracelets with solid links as the new bracelets better denoted quality...now people pay top dollar for things like folded oysters and the like. Hmm, I thought people would hate the bracelet. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mastergod Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJo35 Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Wow, that looks awesome freddy! Makes you wish for the good old days, when the Captain who flew this ship probably wore a '42: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Wow, that looks awesome freddy! Makes you wish for the good old days, when the Captain who flew this ship probably wore a '42: Exactly & thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordRasta Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 I have a lump in my throat. Freddy has the coolest watches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StormTooper4 Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Awesome glad to see you fitted the insert, it looks fantastic. sorry if i missed a previous post, but what movement did you end up using? was it east to fix into that case. Also when you do get the smaller GMT how will it fit? Sorrt too many Q's good work though it looks great so far ST4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 I have a lump in my throat. Freddy has the coolest watches. Actually, Rolex has the coolest watches........at least, they used to. But I know what you mean & appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Awesome glad to see you fitted the insert, it looks fantastic. sorry if i missed a previous post, but what movement did you end up using? was it east to fix into that case. Also when you do get the smaller GMT how will it fit? Thanks. I used the stock ETA 2836-2 & dial that came in Josh's GMT (the ETA will remain unless I break down & buy a gen movement, which was never part of my plan for this project). Both were simple transplants from 1 case to the other. Both installed & lined up perfectly (the same cannot be said for the insert, which required a bit of Dremelic nudging of the case to get it to fit). Unfortunately, the other handset (with the smaller GMT hand) is made to fit a Rolex 106x calibre, which has smaller pinions & I do not have the correct size broaches on hand. But I ordered a larger broach set, which should be here early next week & then I can get the other hands installed & do a better comparison to see which I will end up using. I did find a number of gen 6542s (2 of which belong to Dowling) that have the larger GMT hand, so, worst case, the handset I have on the watch now would be acceptable (though I may redo the lume again). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hank7502 Posted September 14, 2008 Report Share Posted September 14, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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