Had received several pm asking about my skeleton Daytona and it’s history, so decide to open this thread to explain how I did it and what it’s soul.
First of all am the lucky owner of several Daytona, I always thought Daytona’s the best chrono movement and on your wrist representing your social success, but with time and experience was looking for something more exclusive, always a Daytona but one that I would not seen elsewhere than on my wrist, something exclusive. So I build some originals Daytona, was more customizations like hands, dials, bezels, but was not enough, my grail was a step higher.
On holiday, one of my daughters show me a skeleton watch, and said, dad could be cool to build one like this under a Daytona! This is it! Build a radical skeleton Daytona, not a commercial one with all the horologist codes, not a politically correct one, but one than could be like a race car, radical, exclusive, only build for efficacy and pleasure of eyes looking, a watch that could be wear driving your Ferrari on race track but even at the beach or finally as daily beaters.
Problem was, skills and knowledge to do it, know about Daytona 4130 and how servicing it but didn’t know how build a skeleton, so had made some research how do it, bought all the necessary tools and began, at this moment was not confident to play with one of my 4130, however, my goal was more important that my fears.
All is handmade, no machining job, like could do those notorious brands than build them, I spent more than 230 hours to have this one ready for tests wearing,
First batch
Finally not good, one of the placement for the arm balance stop was cut, and too near jewels escape wheel, but decided that way was good and skills and knowledge improved.
Second batch
Better than first but 2 things not good, first symétrie between bridges, second have learned about steel deformed, in fact when you do this kind of work, if you don’t be attentive, metal could easily deformed, and watch should not run good
This one rates between 297 amplitude, and suddenly falls to 230 and growing to 275, so was not good.
Last batch, with all improved skills and knowledge
Goal was closer, movement running to 306 to 317 amplitude, stable and reliable than the stock 4130 it was, but not good enough, especially train wheels bridge, auto wind module and chrono bridge, still too much steel remaining,
On the mean time had made some case tests with bezel/hands
Bakelite bezel, according to me not good enough, not soul was looking for it
Ceramic bezel
Better but not exactly what expected,
Carbon bezel
That’s it, with this minimalist dial to see the complete movement, that’s what I was looking for when started this project.
But still remained parts to rework, in fact 50% of them
This
To this, before the finishing symmetrical job
Train wheels bridge that was slimy too, chrono bridge for symmetrical reasons reworked, balance bridge more open barrel bridge too, and finally to arrive at this
An exclusive race watch according to me with the best chrono movement in the world.
During this build project have exchanged with several professional in this fine industry, all of them told me, I will not succeed because of skills and how difficult it’s, especially handmade, today’s all of those build are done with machines, they follow my work as a curiosity, and finally some of them told me, are you able to build others? Yes of course, some clients, friends around the world asked me the same.
At this moment watch is my daily beaters, working like a champ, not loosing, not gain time, doing all could be done with, on September will be dismantling for some finishing and paint job movement in 2 tons titanium colors, and due to chance will be available on limited quantities.
Really pleased looks at it every moment, it’s the goal I was looking for, a race watch, a unique watch, not a commercial one hide the beauty of the movement, or one that respects all the horologist codes, but one than was build on the soul races, a ultimate machine.
Sure maybe some of you will claim at the scandal, that there’s not the rounded 45 degrees angles or something else, anyway it’s not a watch for everyone, this is my interpretation of the Daytona, sure not politically correct!!
Enjoy this thread and really pleased to share with you
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