mod project #5 (18/1/11) - SBBN-6309
this so far is my favourite mod (especially since i still have it and have not flipped it yet!)just after christmas 2010 i came across Rob's photo on SCWF of a SBBN007 dial on a 6309-704x cushion diver (iirc, it had the 6105 hands).
i was blown away by the look of the dial in that cushion case. i own a 6309-7049 and i love the size and feel of this diver.
it was definitely a mod that i want to get going - but no way was i going to use my 6309-7049.
so i started stalking ebay for a 6309-7040, and within a week, i managed to get one of those aftermarket ones from Philippines.
everything was good on this watch except the bezel clickball was damaged and stuck in the hole.. there is no way of getting it out.
so the bezel will be 'click-less', like the 62MAS diver :lol:
i liked the look of the tuna dial and hands, it goes well together, so i decided to email Rob.
Lucky for me, he had a new dial, but i soon found that the tuna hands do not fit on the 6309 movt (because quartz handsets have different hole size!)
BUT Rob suggested i use the hands from the Mapmeter (SKZ209) as they were almost the same look! Great news!
I decided to use the second hand was from the SKX divers.
For those who are curious: THE SBBN007 DIAL IS A DIRECT DROP IN FOR THE 6309 MOVEMENT. NO CUTTING OF DIAL FEET IS NECESSARY.
the stainless steel insert and sapphire crystal was from Harold.
all the parts came and it was time to work. here are the photos:
aftermarket 6309 (don't u just love the 'original' green lume! :lol: )

sapphire installed

movement out, hands and dail off.. new dial and hands on






i ran into some problems with the bezel. The stainless steel insert was a little too large for the 6309 bezel.
So i had to think of some way of sanding it down and yet keep it round in shape.
hand sanding was way out of the question - it will take too long and guarantee will not be round.
being late at night, i looked around the house and came up with this: yakult straw, dremel tool bit and masking tape (lots of it!)



after about 20mins of spinning and sanding with wet n' dry (with intermittent check for fit). I managed to get it just right so it snaps into the bezel tight without the use of glue.

with new gaskets, everything was put together.

throw on a thick 22/22 leather strap i had lying around (from K2) and its all done!

customary wrist shot :twisted:

After a few months of wrist time, there was 2 things that annoyed me:
1. i was not really into the stainless steel bezel, so i decided to get a black 6309 insert from Harold.
But, there was no way of getting the s/s insert out, so i had to source for new bezel. and thanks to sellwatch bro, he had a spare! 8-)
2. the caseback spring was missing, and everytime i unscrew the crown to set the time, the whole movt will be moving inside the watch. Also the metal movt spacer had some corrosion. Watchlooker bro helped me out as he had a spare spacer and spring! :D
so this is the final look to date... (i am waiting for some new shoes incoming so will GPGT when it arrives :twisted: )