Mercedes hands on Tudor BB58

[douglasf13]

Did you do the swap, OP?

The first Tudor Sub came out a year after the Rolex Sub, and they both had Mercedes hands, so both brands have a long history with Mercedes hands. I personally wouldn’t make the swap, simply because I’ve always preferred the snowflakes to the Mercedes hands.

[007Sub]

Originally Posted by b4d4bing

So I’ve done a bit of research and it turns out the pinion size for the black bay 58 is the same as for the 3135 Rolex movement. I have the blue 58 and was considering getting a set of Rolex Mercedes hands from a sub and have them swapped over. Easy to change in the future. I think it would look ace. What’s the dial size of a sub versus the BB58. Want the hands to be the correct length.

Thoughts?

Pinion sizes are different. Took quite a bit of broaching and tightening (for min hand) to get this gold sub hand set to work on my bronze bb58. Love how it came out. Here’s a few photos of the process. It’s a fun mod.







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[Carrera911]

Love how it came out.
I don't like the snowflake and can say I wouldn't pick up a Tudor unless they get rid of it. It's a shame since the Black Bay is a cool watch but that snowflake deters me from it.

[hbombkid]

Originally Posted by 007Sub

Pinion sizes are different. Took quite a bit of broaching and tightening (for min hand) to get this gold sub hand set to work on my bronze bb58. Love how it came out. Here’s a few photos of the process. It’s a fun mod.







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That is awesome! Did you do the work or a watch maker. Honestly I love the bronze with the blue dial and the hands have been the only reason I would not buy one. It now seems possible to get best of both worlds.

How’s the lume does everything match?

[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by Hampshirescott

Found it. He even changed the crown. Lume doesn’t match but I assume the blue would be easier as it’s white.


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Hmmm, changing the crown is kind of cool. I might want to do that.


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[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by 007Sub

Pinion sizes are different. Took quite a bit of broaching and tightening (for min hand) to get this gold sub hand set to work on my bronze bb58. Love how it came out. Here’s a few photos of the process. It’s a fun mod.







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Awesome mod! Also wonder if you did the work yourself. Would love to get this mod done on my blue BB58




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[mquarter]

When I first saw the snowflake, I didn't like it because it looked ... uncouth compared to the Mercedes. But it grew on me.

As for modding in Mercedes hands to the BB58, the only concern for me is the mismatch of lume and the proportions of the hands vs the dial. But we own the watches, not the other way round!

Originally Posted by 007Sub

Here’s a few photos of the process. It’s a fun mod. [/IMG]

Amazing skills

[007Sub]

Originally Posted by hbombkid

That is awesome! Did you do the work or a watch maker. Honestly I love the bronze with the blue dial and the hands have been the only reason I would not buy one. It now seems possible to get best of both worlds.

How’s the lume does everything match?

Originally Posted by fskywalker

Awesome mod! Also wonder if you did the work yourself. Would love to get this mod done on my blue BB58




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Thanks guys. Yes I am a watchmaker and a collector so i did the work to my own watch. The lume match came out nicely. I was very happy with the results. For the blue BB58 I would suggest a set of silver (rhodium plated) rolex hands for either calibre 3035 or 3135. Either set can be broached and tightened to mimic what I've done here.

[hbombkid]

Originally Posted by 007Sub

Thanks guys. Yes I am a watchmaker and a collector so i did the work to my own watch. The lume match came out nicely. I was very happy with the results. For the blue BB58 I would suggest a set of silver (rhodium plated) rolex hands for either calibre 3035 or 3135. Either set can be broached and tightened to mimic what I've done here.

Awesome great work, would you mind sharing a Lume pic?

Also what hands did you specifically use? I really want a Bucherer Bronze with blue dial. What do you think would go the best?

Final question if I can source all this I might need to PM you if you are interested in a little work

[007Sub]

Originally Posted by hbombkid

Awesome great work, would you mind sharing a Lume pic?

Also what hands did you specifically use? I really want a Bucherer Bronze with blue dial. What do you think would go the best?

Final question if I can source all this I might need to PM you if you are interested in a little work

Thanks very much! I used solid gold hands from a Rolex sub 116613 because I wanted the maxi minute hand. But any set fitting a 3035 or 3135 caliber can be modified. I’ll post a couple more shots. If the hands are matched well to the dial it can look stock.








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[dannyp]

My problem with the snowflake is that the hot hand looks blank. Doesn’t have to be Mercedes hand, but perhaps the cross from inside the Tudor shield?

[Jerrocop]

Originally Posted by Mendota

I loathe the snowflake hands but would gladly buy it if it came with the more typical Rolex Mercedes hand set. I'd even buy it if it came with the original, vintage Tudor pencil hands. Anything would look better than the snowflake.

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I didn't like the snowflake hands at all . . . until I bought my GMT, now I really like them. Lots of lume!!

[Mendota]

Originally Posted by Jerrocop

I didn't like the snowflake hands at all . . . until I bought my GMT, now I really like them. Lots of lume!!

It's so funny that you say that. I made that original comment back in January, before I actually had a chance to see one in person. I had formed this opinion many years ago, just based on pics I had seen online of the various Tudors.

This summer I was at a neighbor's graduation party for their son and my neighbor was wearing a Black Bay. Not the '58 but the original one with the red bezel. It was his son's graduation so I didn't want to take up much of his time to talk watches, but sometime when the timing is right I'll talk watches with him. Anyway, it actually looked really nice in person. My AD also had the GMT in stock last time I visited, and I had a chance to see that in person.

Honestly, it doesn't bother me seeing it in person the way it did blown up in macro photos online. I also like how the width of the hour hand allows you to clearly see where it is on the dial when the minute hand is covering it up. From a lume legibility perspective in the dark, this actually makes a lot of sense.

So long story short, I am a convert after actually seeing these in person. I wouldn't mind having a Black Bay '58 on leather as part of my collection. I like the red triangle on the bezel insert and it's a cool throwback to the original big crown subs, which are my absolute grail pieces.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Agreed, love the rivet bracelet.

As for Tudor's use of snowflake handsets, the design has historical significance w/ the brand, holds lots of lume, and makes it easily identifiable. A winning combo, IMHO.
dP

[TunaTuna]

better off to mod a seiko