Hi all,

i hope my continued posts with this on going project isn't a bore or become too tiresome (just say the word if so !).

I finally have the movement / dial back in the case after the wabi work (thanks to a very kind fellow watchnut ... LOL) and figured i take a few pix of the final result. I realize many think i'm crazy / silly / stupid for doing this to a new watchcase, but as i've stated before = i bought this one to play with, modify, and enjoy without the guilt and worry that so many of my vintage pieces give me. Here's my final result (well - unless i have a screwdown crown installed as per the originals; gotta' think that over though) ...









Hope this was of interest and Kind Regards from N.M.

Billy

I don't think you're crazy, silly, nor stupid; neither can I see myself doing that to a new watch.

nt

...I prefer brushed, not polished COOL project!

Great photos Billy!




ps. can you tell me how did you distress the strap?

& convincingly vintage.

BTW, where does the word 'Wabi'
originated from? Sounds japanese

"Wabi-sabi (in Kanji: ˜ÌŽâ) represents a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic. It is difficult to explain wabi-sabi in Western terms, but the aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is imperfect, impermanent, or incomplete. A concept derived from the Buddhist assertion of the first noble truth - Dukkha.

According to Leonard Koren, wabi-sabi is the most conspicuous and characteristic feature of what we think of as traditional Japanese beauty and it "occupies roughly the same position in the Japanese pantheon of aesthetic values as do the Greek ideals of beauty and perfection in the West." Andrew Juniper claims, "if an object or expression can bring about, within us, a sense of serene melancholy and a spiritual longing, then that object could be said to be wabi sabi." Richard R. Powell summarizes by saying "It (wabi-sabi) nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect."

In the case of watches (objects) many collectors use the term for the imperfect "wear and tear" that comes from years of use, but adds beauty. In the case of my project watch - the "wabi" is faux, but adds what i consider necessary to create the vintage feel / look the watch (the RWC homage) is after.

Hope that helps and Kind Regards from N.M.

Billy

P.S. follow the link for a much better explanation (and book) ...

http://www.imperfectmusic.com/l_ess5.htm

Can really dig the deep meaning
of the phrase. I thought it sounded
like 'wasabi'

Real cool to know this new interesting
words. Enjoy your wabi-sabi.

Did you do anything to "age" or break in the leather?

Loved all your pics and I would like to do something similar on a different watch.

Take care,
Kenwood

i didn't do too much to it, but what i did do was the following. I started by taking a nylon "scruby" (same type to wash pots / pans) with a little water rub very hard. This takes that "new shine" and finish off the top layer of leather. Next, i took a simple rough rock i found outside and pressed it into the leather along random spots (just here and there). I also roughed the edges up a bit with the same rock. Finally i wiped the leather down with oil. The buckle is the same process as the watch case:

""Ramdomly attack the case with a small flat file, creating gouges and grinding down corners and random edges. The pinholes were created by hitting the case with the knurled handle of my universal case wrench. The next step was to polish the case on a buffing wheel to smooth everything out and make the newly applied dents and scratches look like they've been there for years. The final step was to cover the entire case with ink from a black "sharpie" marker, then slowly remove the ink with a jewelers polishing cloth, leaving ink only in the deeper dents, crevices and corners."

Kind Regards from N.M.

Billy

Well Billy, there you have it: perfect job !!! Now only that pair of blued hands.....

Cheers,
Mark

Can´t see pictures!?!?