Mitsukoshi mod is back!

[brandxbrand]

My Speedy had been a bit neglected over the past 12 months, probably only seeing a day or 2 of wrist time a month. Nothing wrong with it, I'm just a little heavy on black face watches. Wanting to change things, I set about doing a Mitsukoshi conversion on my 3570.50 purchased in 2014.

Tracked down the parts on eBay and found out TRF member afoz02 was listing a dial and full hands set. Great guy to deal with, very responsive an honest.

I sent the project out to my local maker who initially ran into some fit issue. The dial was way off center and the subdial hands not fitting. Worried I have purchased the wrong parts, I spend 2 days scouring the web and even speaking to a C21 watchsmith for clarification that I had the right parts. Turns out I did and that the issues my watchmaker was running into were fairly common. After some great advice I was able to persuade my chap to re-attempt the conversion. SUCCESS!

Picked it up last week and was blown away. Like many who have done this conversion will day, the dial is absolutely stunning in person. Pictures do not do it any justice.

I currently have it on a Nato, but cant decide if the stainless is better. I have a deployment clasp in the parts box that I might strap up to a black croc strap as they look fairly tasty too.

Anyway, here are some pics!

[sensui]

Looks great, glad you got it figured out.

[brandxbrand]

Thanks Sensui!! You were a great help recommending me to your guy in SD.

[xwalker4]

I love the Mitsukoshi look - great choice!


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[rossi46]

That looks so damn good. I keep checking out ebay for dial and hands kits, too. Just not sure who I would get to do the installation.

I'd go with the bracelet, but that's just me. It looks more appropriate (upscale?) with the panda dial.

[chousirbuy]

Panda dial ! Wow! Looks great!

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[ajas]

Love it. Congratulations!

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[wisguy]

Looks awesome on the bracelet!!

How's legibility with the silver hands?

[Psmith]

Looks great

[brandxbrand]

Originally Posted by rossi46

That looks so damn good. I keep checking out ebay for dial and hands kits, too. Just not sure who I would get to do the installation

The dials are drying up quick. A year or so go you'd find 8-10 different listings, now a days your lucky if you find 3, let along all in the US.
There is a dial and handset on eBay right now from someone in SF. I know for a fact this guy is willing to offer a deal on buying both pieces.

I see you are in NYC. Literally dozens of quality watchsmiths around I have to think. Or go to your AD and ask them who they would reccomend for this project.

Originally Posted by wisguy

Looks awesome on the bracelet!!

How's legibility with the silver hands?

Main hands like hour and minutes to tell fhe basic time are easy. No issues. The subdial hands are difficult I'll admit, but doesn't bother me as I'm not putting the chrono to work other than as a stop watch.

[blcblc]

Nice one!

[Alexwwjd]

Very nice sir! enjoy it!


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[Rennfahrer]

Do you find explaining the installation solutions you discovered?

[sea-dweller]

Looks nice!

[strafer_kid]

Looks terrific on that NATO!

[brandxbrand]

Originally Posted by Rennfahrer

Do you find explaining the installation solutions you discovered?

Absolutely - should have referenced these to begin with.

Biggest issue was the dial alignment. When my watchmaker took the original black dial off and fitted the new dial, he found it was not sitting centered. It was probably 1/2mm off. When the hands were placed on there was friction with the dial holes which would of course cause timekeeping and general performance issues.

The solution - using precision pliars the dial feet were ever so slightly bent to accommodate a central fit. The Omega dial feet are machined in a way that allows for this adjustment.

Second issue with the sub dial hands, particularly the second hand was not fitting properly. They were too tight. We came to find out that the stainless hands used on this mod do not provide the same 'give' as the stock white hands.

The solution - using a broaching tool, the holes on the sub dial hands were ever so slightly enlarged to allow for a better fit. He had to be carefull not to make them too big otherwise they would likely fail when the chrono resets.

All in all, probably no more than 10 minutes extra work. My understanding was these issues are somewhat common, however finding any information on them online was near impossible. Hopefully if someone else has these issues they will find this thread!

[ec51]

Love this mod...panda looks good with all style bracelets.

With black leather and then the beloved 1450...

[dysondiver]

great look , very nice.

[2ar2c1]

have done the mitsu swap a couple of times, and an experienced omega watchmaker is a definite plus. the fitment of the second hand is always a problem, a bit too tight, and omega watchmakers often have a few spares handy just in case.

[Bobby T]

Originally Posted by brandxbrand

My Speedy had been a bit neglected over the past 12 months, probably only seeing a day or 2 of wrist time a month. Nothing wrong with it, I'm just a little heavy on black face watches. Wanting to change things, I set about doing a Mitsukoshi conversion on my 3570.50 purchased in 2014.

Tracked down the parts on eBay and found out TRF member afoz02 was listing a dial and full hands set. Great guy to deal with, very responsive an honest.

I sent the project out to my local maker who initially ran into some fit issue. The dial was way off center and the subdial hands not fitting. Worried I have purchased the wrong parts, I spend 2 days scouring the web and even speaking to a C21 watchsmith for clarification that I had the right parts. Turns out I did and that the issues my watchmaker was running into were fairly common. After some great advice I was able to persuade my chap to re-attempt the conversion. SUCCESS!

Picked it up last week and was blown away. Like many who have done this conversion will day, the dial is absolutely stunning in person. Pictures do not do it any justice.

I currently have it on a Nato, but cant decide if the stainless is better. I have a deployment clasp in the parts box that I might strap up to a black croc strap as they look fairly tasty too.

Anyway, here are some pics!

Looks fantastic.....what's wrong with your wrist???/

[Rebel]

Love it.

[2ar2c1]

Originally Posted by brandxbrand

I currently have it on a Nato

i like the simple pull-thru natos:

[2ar2c1]

.

[ramblin man]

Looks fantastic!

[h20addict]

If that dial combination was still readily available I would have bought one already.

[Jaycnyp]

My best friend did this mod to his. I love it! Your watch looks great.

[2ar2c1]

a diff strap for the weekend:

[judson]

Looks good. Thanks for the information on the fix.