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Old 17 August 2019, 08:43 PM   #1
micasol
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How I build my grail watch, Daytona skeleton Cml

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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Old 17 August 2019, 08:50 PM   #2
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Wow...
I had seen some pictures on the board, but the fact that you built this with your own hands.
Love the carbon bezel on this iteration. Feels very fitting to the mechanical feel of the rest of the watch.

Respect.
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Old 17 August 2019, 08:52 PM   #3
micasol
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Old 17 August 2019, 08:56 PM   #4
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Amazing!
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Old 17 August 2019, 08:57 PM   #5
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Wow just wow.. extremely great effort and a keen eye u have. Definitely a very unique piece. Congrats..

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Old 17 August 2019, 08:57 PM   #6
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Very impressive, not my thing but very impressive none the less
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Old 17 August 2019, 09:02 PM   #7
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Wow! That is super impressive work! Wear it proudly!
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Old 17 August 2019, 09:28 PM   #8
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Unsure to call you luny or brilliant but this is genious
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Old 17 August 2019, 09:30 PM   #9
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Btw can you change it eventually back to fully untouched original ???.??
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Old 17 August 2019, 09:31 PM   #10
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Thanks for the post. Very interested and impressive that you were able to complete this project.
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Old 17 August 2019, 09:37 PM   #11
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Incredible work. Well done
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Old 17 August 2019, 09:39 PM   #12
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Ouah du beau boulot !

Thanks for sharing your mod, that's a great story. Now you've definitely made this watch very personal, a one-of-a-kind.
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Old 17 August 2019, 10:13 PM   #13
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Impressive build and I dig your carbon bezel plus the black subdials. I learned to appreciate the reflective subdials or the silver/gold circle moldings around them. Maybe a thought to set them more in scene on your transparent dial as well. You could spray some half-reflective film on sub dials or do the scales in silver (like the case).
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Old 17 August 2019, 10:21 PM   #14
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Massive respect! Great job! Truly a piece unique


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Old 17 August 2019, 10:49 PM   #15
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Amazing! Congratulations.


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Old 17 August 2019, 11:47 PM   #16
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Stunning piece
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Old 17 August 2019, 11:55 PM   #17
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Skills on skills! Chapeau!!


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Old 18 August 2019, 12:06 AM   #18
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As someone who has assembled a few watches this is VERY impressive, well done
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Old 18 August 2019, 12:42 AM   #19
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Very well done
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Old 18 August 2019, 01:13 AM   #20
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I'm glad you're happy and you sure have confidence to take on this project on a perfectly fine Daytona.

But hand made or not, the finishing is poor, open brass is going to oxidize, there is no particular finishing on the bridges either, just scratched brass. You damaged many of the screws that are visible. The finishing on the rotor is god awful, and the bit of rhodium you left will flake off over time, into the movement.

I don't want to 'bash' your work, but it is far from a job well done IMO. But to each their own and all that matters is how much you like it, it certainly is a one of a kind.

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Old 18 August 2019, 01:39 AM   #21
micasol
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Thanks all for your kind words about it, really appreciate, if you wanna see it in video, look in intagram to micasol75


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Old 18 August 2019, 01:45 AM   #22
micasol
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SearChart View Post
I'm glad you're happy and you sure have confidence to take on this project on a perfectly fine Daytona.

But hand made or not, the finishing is poor, open brass is going to oxidize, there is no particular finishing on the bridges either, just scratched brass. You damaged many of the screws that are visible. The finishing on the rotor is god awful, and the bit of rhodium you left will flake off over time, into the movement.

I don't want to 'bash' your work, but it is far from a job well done IMO. But to each their own and all that matters is how much you like it, it certainly is a one of a kind.



Thanks bro for your words, maybe have you jump to fast in the opportunity to claim your a man of this industry and was done by myself was not good enough, just read the beginning of my thread please before, says watch should be dismantling by end of this month after wearing tests ended, for finishing job on all bridges and apply a special titanium paint on all parts cut, by the most reliable specialist here in Paris. On the mean time all screws would be changed by newer ones, for a perfect looking result.

However your right it’s one of a kind,


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Old 18 August 2019, 01:57 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by broken_link View Post
Impressive build and I dig your carbon bezel plus the black subdials. I learned to appreciate the reflective subdials or the silver/gold circle moldings around them. Maybe a thought to set them more in scene on your transparent dial as well. You could spray some half-reflective film on sub dials or do the scales in silver (like the case).


In fact this dial is all in steel, so could give it the color wanted, steel grey, black, yellow, just need to be paint, though that in grey steel color subdials circles will look better, it’s a good idea, will try while movement is dismantled, but have to see first how will look the movement with all finishing job on it, titanium paint and finishing of bridges, However once ended will post the final result,


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Old 18 August 2019, 01:59 AM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crazymcmichael View Post
Btw can you change it eventually back to fully untouched original ???.??


Yes of course, just have to fit in the original dial/bezel/hands and case back, and will look exactly how was before,


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Old 18 August 2019, 02:02 AM   #25
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Impressive


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Old 18 August 2019, 02:06 AM   #26
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Originally Posted by micasol View Post
Thanks bro for your words, maybe have you jump to fast in the opportunity to claim your a man of this industry and was done by myself was not good enough, just read the beginning of my thread please before, says watch should be dismantling by end of this month after wearing tests ended, for finishing job on all bridges and apply a special titanium paint on all parts cut, by the most reliable specialist here in Paris. On the mean time all screws would be changed by newer ones, for a perfect looking result.

However your right it’s one of a kind,


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Well if that is the case then I'm genuinely curious to how it turns out.
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Old 18 August 2019, 02:14 AM   #27
micasol
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Well if that is the case then I'm genuinely curious to how it turns out.


Will post pics end results, and especially the finishing job movement that’s very important for me too, have found and exchange with the best of them here, they have followed the build and especially the cut job I done, and are very confident for the final result, let’s them apply their genius skills and knowledge, but sure should be even more awesomeness.


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Old 18 August 2019, 02:34 AM   #28
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Is it the guys from "Mad Paris" ? I saw they've handled Skeleton Daytona projects, too.
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Old 18 August 2019, 02:54 AM   #29
micasol
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Is it the guys from "Mad Paris" ? I saw they've handled Skeleton Daytona projects, too.


Yep for mad and others notorious customize brand too


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Old 18 August 2019, 03:10 AM   #30
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Will post pics end results, and especially the finishing job movement that’s very important for me too, have found and exchange with the best of them here, they have followed the build and especially the cut job I done, and are very confident for the final result, let’s them apply their genius skills and knowledge, but sure should be even more awesomeness.


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I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures, I'm intrigued now

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