007 Live and Let Die Watch

[Sundowner]

I was binge watching some classic Bond when I got the inspiration for this project. I also build watches so this was like two hobbies coming into one.

Now to bring the LALD watch to life I would need a donor watch. I could have bought a fake Rolex but to me that just doesn’t feel right. I chose an Invicta diver. Great quality and I’ve built several watches from Invicta divers. Here are some examples

This watch does not tell time as I didn’t have room or fuss with trying to make it work.

I completely removed all of the branding on the watch. Invicta engraves their logo a lot on the case and bracelet. I then cut the bezel with a rotary tool to give it a buzzsaw look. Soaked the dial and hands that were bright white in turmeric to give it, its current aged look. I then drilled out a spot for a small magnet in the bracelet. Everything got secured to a small washer and post. I then secured a small bearing for the post so it would spin. Sure you have to spin manually but I’m still happy with it!

 

[sp1989]

Wonderful!! You think you could fit a quartz movement into it just to preserve the function?

 

[Sundowner]

Wonderful!! You think you could fit a quartz movement into it just to preserve the function?

I thought that I would have room in the case but there just isn't any room once the bearing is placed. I don't know how the hands would handle being spun around haha. The hands are glued down to the dial to stay in place.

 

[Apollo]

That’s awesome Bro!

A few months ago I was watching for the millionth time Live and let die.

One of my favorite Bond films and it bring back so many good memories

 

[Sundowner]

That’s awesome Bro!

A few months ago I was watching for the millionth time Live and let die.

One of my favorite Bond films and it bring back so many good memories

Thanks man! It’s definitely one of my favs too

 

[Chimera59]

I always wanted to try this mod on a tiger concept

Really nicely done !!

- Francois

 

[Empiricus]

Cool project. The smallest bearings I have are 3mm high 6mm wide and have a 3mm inner bore. I am sure you can get them even smaller.

 

[Sundowner]

I always wanted to try this mod on a tiger concept

Really nicely done !!

- Francois

Thanks! I have a couple bezel inserts from TC and I’m very pleased with them

 

[AJK001]

That is awesome. It was the James Bond books with his Rolex watch that got me into Rolex's and I have had a couple over the years including the Submariner that I still have, though it is not working at present.

 

[Sundowner]

That is awesome. It was the James Bond books with his Rolex watch that got me into Rolex's and I have had a couple over the years including the Submariner that I still have, though it is not working at present.

I have one Omega but would love to have some vintage Rolex watches.

Here is a before and after soaking the dial and hands in turmeric. It aged it very well

 

[AJK001]

I was going to say mine is not exactly vintage as it is from the early 1990's but that is now almost 30 years ago so it may be sort of vintage.

 

[sp1989]

I thought that I would have room in the case but there just isn't any room once the bearing is placed. I don't know how the hands would handle being spun around haha. The hands are glued down to the dial to stay in place.

Ahhhh got it. Now I understand the predicament. Wonderful job. I’m a watch nerd myself and I love that your felt bad about getting a fake Rolex even if you were going to cannibalize it. I like to customize watches myself. Always some sort of Submariner. There is a Chinese brand called Tevise. They make Rolex “hommages” and because they are under $30 you don’t feel too bad about messing with them. They make quartz and automatic watches. All for under $30. And I must admit the quality is extraordinary.....for $30. I mention it because even the Pro divers are kinda expensive to be cannibalizing. The Tevise use Seiko NH36 movements which are the same exact movements in pro divers. Although because they’re Chinese sometimes you get a milyota movement which is basically an nh36 clone.

 

[Mechanized]

Very cool build

Love me some watches.

 

[Sundowner]

Ahhhh got it. Now I understand the predicament. Wonderful job. I’m a watch nerd myself and I love that your felt bad about getting a fake Rolex even if you were going to cannibalize it. I like to customize watches myself. Always some sort of Submariner. There is a Chinese brand called Tevise. They make Rolex “hommages” and because they are under $30 you don’t feel too bad about messing with them. They make quartz and automatic watches. All for under $30. And I must admit the quality is extraordinary.....for $30. I mention it because even the Pro divers are kinda expensive to be cannibalizing. The Tevise use Seiko NH36 movements which are the same exact movements in pro divers. Although because they’re Chinese sometimes you get a milyota movement which is basically an nh36 clone.

Holy cow! I don’t even think you could buy a NH36 movement for that price let alone a whole watch. I’ll definitely be looking in to those.

I purchased the pro diver used so it wasn’t too bad gutting it. I might make a v2 that has the changing markers to red but we’ll see

Very cool build

Love me some watches.

Thanks so much!

 

[sp1989]

Holy cow! I don’t even think you could buy a NH36 movement for that price let alone a whole watch. I’ll definitely be looking in to those.

I purchased the pro diver used so it wasn’t too bad gutting it. I might make a v2 that has the changing markers to red but we’ll see



Thanks so much!

You can get them on any color you want.

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[ed-209]

Great job!!! Here's some videos of replicas made by a couple of my friends: ---Ed

 

[Chimera59]

Great job!!! Here's some videos of replicas made by a couple of my friends: ---Ed

I really like the work in progress video on Jamster YouTube channel.
It is always really interesting to see the engineering behind these mechanical working props and the development process!

- François