My GMTIIc with mods

[polarised]

After wearing this watch for a while I decided I wanted to change to a non-cyclops magnifier glass, and change to a strap that can handle one of the pins failing when boating or motorcycling. The strap is a black Zulu 3 ring, and the crystal is from a Submariner 114060 (thanks to Viper8 and UNLVino for advice on that).

I also had initially decided I wanted to make an inverted date wheel, with white, or even 18k gold text on a black background. But after changing to a non-cyclops glass, I've found the white date window provides a more symmetrical balance to the 12/6/9 markers.

Apologies for the poor quality photos & fingerprints etc.

Original photo:


With crystal and strap:

[Wingman244]

Very Seadweller-ish. It looks cleaner. Really shows how the cyclops magnifies the date. My 52 yr old eyes need the cyclops. The crystal looks domed?

[polarised]

No, it's the reflections that made it look like that. Here are some side on shots -

[silverbullet818]

Interesting.... looks alright.

I'm guessing it's the same type of crystal sans the cyclops?

Like the strap.

[Wingman244]

Thanks, looks good w/o cyclops.

[polarised]

Originally Posted by silverbullet818

I'm guessing it's the same type of crystal sans the cyclops?

Yeah pretty much. Except the GMT one comes from the factory with a small section of anti-reflective coating on the underside, directly below the cyclops. You can see it in the first picture if you compare the date window reflection to the rest of the crystal. So in this case to get a clean look you must replace the whole crystal. And the original one is stashed away in the roly box so it's easy to return to original condition in the future.

[crowncollection]

Not for me, but if you like it, go for it o say


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[fskywalker]

I'm on the older eyes wagon, so prefer the watch with the cyclop, but it does look nice congrats!

[Dom_Rellik]

nicer than i thought, fella. how about something with either the gmt hand color or the second hand color?
you wanted to do the invert on the date wheel but how about a roulette date wheel, green and red instead of black and red and then get a red second hand from a YM.
red green date, red green second hand/gmt hand.

oh boy green dial gmt replacement and now it's a xmas party!

[chino0823]

Not bad I like it.

[tomilg]

I think it looks great...congrats on several well executed mods.

[bbressler]

I would suggest getting some non-shouldered spring bars. Those cloth straps can catch the shoulder of the spring bar (which is designed to be used with solid end links) and unhinge it. We had a post of that happening to someone not too long ago.

[jrs146]

Looks good. I happen to be a bracelet guy when it comes to Rolex. I seem to always prefer the factory bracelet to any strap. But... still looks good!

[tkerrmd]

well thats different!

[joli160]

Originally Posted by bbressler

I would suggest getting some non-shouldered spring bars. Those cloth straps can catch the shoulder of the spring bar (which is designed to be used with solid end links) and unhinge it. We had a post of that happening to someone not too long ago.

My thoughts exactly, failure of springbars is more likely on a Nato imho.
Nice mod, my eyes need the cyclops

[bdex75]

Originally Posted by bbressler

I would suggest getting some non-shouldered spring bars. Those cloth straps can catch the shoulder of the spring bar (which is designed to be used with solid end links) and unhinge it. We had a post of that happening to someone not too long ago.

I like it.

Do this if you have not. I have them in my speedy that lives on a NATO and have never had issues removing and I swap straps all the time with no issue.


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[hoanghung45]

Certainly not for me. Looks weird

[polarised]

Originally Posted by Dom_Rellik

nicer than i thought, fella. how about something with either the gmt hand color or the second hand color?
you wanted to do the invert on the date wheel but how about a roulette date wheel, green and red instead of black and red and then get a red second hand from a YM.
red green date, red green second hand/gmt hand.

oh boy green dial gmt replacement and now it's a xmas party!

Thanks for the ideas, and keep them coming everybody. There is a green text on white background date wheel, but as far as I can tell for this movement there's no other options or after market wheels out there, so I'd have to make one (which I'm not against).

I actually like the green GMT hand because it results in what is essentially a floating GMT marker, but if I went to a red one it would stand out a lot more. The red second hand might work, have liked it on submariners.

Originally Posted by bbressler

I would suggest getting some non-shouldered spring bars. Those cloth straps can catch the shoulder of the spring bar (which is designed to be used with solid end links) and unhinge it. We had a post of that happening to someone not too long ago.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll try some smooth spring bars. With the stock ones the strap is definitely pinched against the body a fair bit.