Same classic Big Red look, built for three different budgets:
• Cartel bezel — entry level
• Milk bezel — step it up
• Viet bezel — go all in
Different price points, same goal
With all the hype Mr. Mountain is creating around the Daytona giveaway, I figured now was the perfect time to throw this into the community 😂
I have some custom dials being made that I think you guys will really enjoy
I haven’t seen most of these offered anywhere, so I’m excited to share them with you
I’ll only have 2 of each dial to start, and some are already spoken for
Gauging interest now so I can have parts ready to go when the dials land and keep wait times to a minimum
Let me know which ones catch your eye - if there’s one you’re seriously interested in, shoot me a DM!
Rolex Chronograph 6238 "Pre-Daytona"
Price: $1,750 USD shipped w/ protective case
• 13.5mm JFK case
• Modified ST19 movement
• Slightly aged throughout
• Viet dial
• Clark crystal
• JFK bezel
• Oyster bracelet
Rolex Daytona 6263 "Big Red"
Price: $1,750 USD shipped w/ protective
• 13.5mm JFK case
• Modified ST19 movement
• Slightly aged throughout
• Viet dial
• Clark crystal
• Milk bezel
• Oyster Bracelet
Bezel and case back finally dialed in after two sacrificial cases.
Viet bezel fits like a glove, caseback shaved to a perfect 13.5mm.
Wolverine’s off the payroll.
Still chasing that mirror finish on the caseback before I call it done.
Builds only get better from here!
Two cases in, and they look like they lost a fight with claws. Turns out my lathe technique still has some… aggressive tendencies. RIP to this donor case - sacrificed for science and my ego. Back to the drawing board before I touch another one 😅
Two cases in, and they look like they lost a fight with claws. Turns out my lathe technique still has some… aggressive tendencies. RIP to this donor case - sacrificed for science and my ego. Back to the drawing board before I touch another one 😅
Two cases in, and they look like they lost a fight with claws. Turns out my lathe technique still has some… aggressive tendencies. RIP to this donor case - sacrificed for science and my ego. Back to the drawing board before I touch another one 😅
A few pieces currently available
1. Rolex Chronograph Ref. 6238 “Pre-Daytona” (Silver)
Price: $2,250 USD shipped NDA w/ protective case
The reference famously worn by George Lazenby as James Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969). Silver dial with the signature red chronograph seconds hand, finished with subtle vintage aging for an authentic, well-worn look
• 13.5mm JFK case
• Modified ST19 movement
• Slightly aged throughout
• Viet dial
• Clark crystal
• JFK bezel
• Oyster bracelet
2. Rolex Chronograph Ref. 6238 “Pre-Daytona” (Black)
Price: $2,250 USD shipped NDA w/ protective case
A clean, understated take on the pre-Daytona with a black dial, smooth bezel, and subtle vintage aging that lets the classic design speak for itself
• 13.5mm JFK case
• Modified ST19 movement
• Slightly aged throughout
• Viet dial
• Clark crystal
• JFK bezel
• Oyster bracelet
3. Rolex Daytona Ref. 6263 “Big Red”
Price: $2,250 USD shipped NDA w/ protective case
The iconic Big Red configuration with contrasting white subdials, a Milk bezel, and tasteful vintage aging for the character of a well-preserved original
• 13.5mm JFK case
• Modified ST19 movement
• Slightly aged throughout
• Viet dial
• Clark crystal
• Milk bezel
• Veblenist leather strap
4. Rolex Daytona Ref. 6263 Tropical
Price: $2,250 USD shipped NDA w/ protective case
Silver dial with warm raspberry tropical subdials, lightly aged throughout to complement the naturally vintage aesthetic
• 13.5mm JFK case
• Modified ST19 movement
• Slightly aged throughout
• Viet dial
• Clark crystal
• Milk bezel
• Veblenist leather strap
5. Tudor Submariner Ref. 7928 (Gilt Dial)
Price: $1,950 USD shipped NDA w/ protective case
A vintage-inspired 7928 built with a full Viet case and gilt dial. The dial has been carefully de-glossed to achieve a rich matte finish, while the bezel and pip have been hand-aged for the character of a well-preserved original
• Full Viet case
• Genuine ETA 2824-2 movement
• Gilt Viet dial, de-glossed to a matte finish
• Hand-aged bezel and pip
• Slightly aged throughout
• New grey NATO strap with deployment clasp
Also available with a black or green NATO strap upon
Please DM for additional photos, videos, or any questions
A tropical 6263 done the way vintage should feel - warm patina, faded raspberry registers, and decades of character
Cartel case (reworked to 13.5mm) • Modified ST19 • Viet dial • Milk bezel • Clark crystal • Fully hand-aged • Custom-mixed hand lume by me
Question for the community - For all the builders out there and even potential buyers
I recently had a package of 2 watches disappear.
My communication with the customer was flawless. I sent pictures and videos of the watches, the label, pictures of the box with the label on it in the post office.
I have no control over the post office - once it’s out of my hands, I’m done.
Now my first mistake was not insuring the package so now I’m totally screwed on that end, but my question is….do you offer diff tiers of shipping cost with and without insurance?
Do you always or never insure the packages ?
Ive already agreed to refund the customer because I don’t want to ruin my reputation and he said if they miraculously show up, he’ll send me back the money, but most likely I just took a massive L.
What would you do in this situation and what do you think is fair and you think I handled this properly ?
Question for the community - For all the builders out there and even potential buyers
I recently had a package of 2 watches disappear.
My communication with the customer was flawless. I sent pictures and videos of the watches, the label, pictures of the box with the label on it in the post office.
I have no control over the post office - once it’s out of my hands, I’m done.
Now my first mistake was not insuring the package so now I’m totally screwed on that end, but my question is….do you offer diff tiers of shipping cost with and without insurance?
Do you always or never insure the packages ?
Ive already agreed to refund the customer because I don’t want to ruin my reputation and he said if they miraculously show up, he’ll send me back the money, but most likely I just took a massive L.
What would you do in this situation and what do you think is fair and you think I handled this properly ?
One icon. Three interpretations
A 6238 and two 6263s - each with its own
approach to age and character
No two vintage watches age the same, and they shouldn’t
There’s just something about a Bakelite bezel and an exotic dial
This 6241 comes in at just 13.5mm thick, built around a modified ST19 movement with a Milk case and bezel, Viet dial, and Clark crystal
The slim profile completely changes how these builds wear on the wrist, and the combination of the warm dial, domed crystal, and black Bakelite bezel gives it exactly the vintage presence I was after
Lightly aged throughout and finished on a rivet bracelet
Easily one of my favorite builds to date
This one needs no introduction
One of the most iconic dials ever made, aged just enough to give it the vintage character it deserves
Modified ST19 movement, Viet dial, Milk case and bezel, finished with a light aging throughout
The creamy lume, worn hands, and subtle imperfections really bring this one together
Classic Paul Newman. Hard to beat
Aged to perfection 🍫
Valjoux 72 powered full Viet build featuring an ACTUAL “gen-spec” custom case (thank you Agent K), measuring just 13.5mm thick. Viet tropical dial and bezel, Valjoux hands, Clark crystal, finished on a stretch rivet bracelet
The weight on this bad boy feels so good on the wrist. The ST19 builds just don’t have that same heft and presence. And that feeling when you wind the V72… smooth like butter
And look at those pushers… the pump pushers on the JFK cases aren’t even remotely close to the Milk cases, and then the Viet case comes along and blows the Milk case out of the water. You can really see where the difference in these builds is
Those tropical brown subdials absolutely come alive in the sunlight
Another one off the bench
6239 featuring the iconic underline dial.
Modified ST19, Viet dial, Milk case and bezel, Clark crystal, 13.5MM and aged throughout to give it that properly worn-in vintage character.
Finished on a folded-link bracelet, with your choice of folded link, stretch rivet, or standard rivet
Really happy with how this one came together. The silver dial and black registers are hard to beat
What do you guys think?
One of those builds that quietly speaks for itself.
Silver sunburst Viet dial paired with warm
tropical-style registers, finished by hand to capture the character of a well-loved vintage Daytona.
Specs:
Modified ST-19 movement
Viet dial
Viet bezel
Milk case
13.5MM thickness
Clark crystal
Choice of stretch rivet or standard rivet bracelet
Built to be worn, enjoyed, and appreciated by those who love vintage chronographs.
Another 6263 in the books
JFK base with an ST-19, Viet dial, Milk Bezel, 13.5MM thickness
Aged throughout to give it the character it deserved
Funny enough, I actually screwed up the dial during the process and decided to lean into it rather than start over. I spent some time recovering it, and in the end I think it added to the story
Let me know what you think
Just finished this Tudor 7928 gilt.
Full Viet case and dial, ETA 2824-2, on a grey NATO.
The goal was to make it feel less “fresh.”
I knocked back the gloss on the dial, aged the case and bezel, removed the pip, and gave the whole watch a more honest vintage character.
I still think the insert could take a little more bleaching, but I’m enjoying it as it sits.
Curious what you all think.
Trying out a new style of sharing my work with y’all. My shitty pics/videos weren’t cutting it so enjoy the experiment.
Viet case
Viet dial
Valjoux 72 movement
Carefully aged throughout for an authentic vintage appearance
Includes your choice of a stretch rivet bracelet or regular rivet bracelet
Feel free to reach out with any questions or if you’d like additional photos or videos.