Prelude

Our client wanted to tell the story of the passing of time through a unique piece that would pay tribute to the most iconic vintage models. Our artisans had to take up a significant challenge: endowing the counters with a tropical patina, evoking the passing of time, and enhancing each timepiece to make it unique.
This personalization has been requested by a private customer. It is a sample of our know-how and of the personalization services made upon request of our customers. If you would like to customize your timepiece in the same way or following your wishes, please contact us. Please note that due to the limited capacity of our workshops, we are not able to satisfy every demands so please accept our apologies in advance.
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Dial and hands close up the tropical challenge

The
Specifications

Technical Sheet

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Base
Rolex® 116520
Diameter
39.5mm
Dial
Dial modified upon request with aged counters, sunray finish
Hands
Refined hours and minutes hands
Bezel
Handmade Bakelite
Glass
Plexi Glass
Case
machined and hand-finished
Materials
Stainless steel
Water-resistance
Waterproof to 100 meters / 330 feet
Polishing
Satin vintage polishing 12h/6h
Movement
Modified 4130 movement with 22ct rose gold rotor
Back
Transparent sapphire, individually engraved
Dial the tropical challenge
It took us several years of research and development to achieve an exclusive natural oxidation process that would lead to a homogeneous amber patina. The dial was meticulously prepared before being sent to the Bahamas to bask in the tropical climate of the region. We gave our client the opportunity to choose between two maturation times: 5 weeks for a dark patina, or 7 weeks for a lighter tone.

Tropical
Patina

The Time

0000
Close up the tropical challenge
Side view the tropical challenge

Modifications

Focus

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Backelite Bezel the tropical challenge

The Bezel

The ceramic bezel has been replaced by a bakelite one, typical of models from the 1970s. It is entirely handmade in our Swiss workshops on ancient machines.
Tropical dial the tropical challenge

The Dial

The dial is reworked by hand. We give it a special treatment before submitting it to an exclusive natural oxidation process that gives the counters an amber patina, more or less nuanced depending on the chosen maturation time. The piece is then finished by hand.
pushers the tropical challenge

The Pushers

The screw-down pushers have been replaced with “millerighe” steel pushers, further enhancing the vintage aspect of the timepiece.
the tropical challenge steel pushers

The Craftsmen’s
View

The trail of time

0000
Timepieces gain their shape and maturity over time. We have worked to reproduce this passage of time, so the dial of our client’s timepiece acquires its natural patina and becomes completely unique.
Gil. Craftsman
Illustration of Gil crafstman
Pushers close up the tropical challenge
the tropical challenge
Plexi glass crafted in our Swiss workshops, case machined and finished by hand, refined hands, entirely handmade vintage 12h/6h polishing. As many details that we developed to give our client’s watch the authentic look of vintage timepieces.

Figure of
Style

Tribute

0000
Close up the tropical challenge