Finally, the Omlex is finished...

[M4tt]

I just can't help myself. I love building frankenwatches:

JLC meets Swatch:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/afrank21-1.jpg

Timefactors meets MKII:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/808yaoprs7-1.jpg

A random pile of Chinese junk:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/P1060936-1.jpg

Now, the more eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed a mildly military sort of theme. To my mind, there are three classic military dial configurations: The Omega 1953 spec. The IWC MK XII spec and the Rolex '369' Explorer spec.

It was only a matter of time ... before this happened:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/P1000145.jpg


For the forgetful and the new, it all started here:

http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=233285&highlight=project+omlex

and this is how it ended up...

Initially, I tried keeping the Datejust's cyclops on to see how it looked. from straight ahead it looked pretty cool:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/P1000073.jpg

However, from the side, it looked awful and, more importantly, it made the watch look like a dodgy bodge. (which of course it is, but that's our secret!)

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/P1000083.jpg

So off it came:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/P1000106.jpg

Leaving a much, much neater style. The transformation was remarkable:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/P1000111.jpg

So now, externally, the watch combines three distinct brands; the achingly beautiful curves of the Rolex case:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/P1000155.jpg

combined with the chunky iconic crown:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/P1000172.jpg

The Omega logo:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/P1000072.jpg

and the increasingly respected MKII logo

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/P1000123.jpg

While we are there, the dial is an attempt to distil the most functional aspects of the most functional designs:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/P1000161.jpg

MKII have done a wonderful job of capturing the clarity of the classic and definitive 1016 Explorer's dial. However, to my mind, the Rollie dial was blighted by the Skellette or 'Mercedes' hour hand. For me the most ergonomic and, by happy coincidence, attractive hands come from aircraft instrument panels. Fortunately, Omega agreed with me in the hands for their ergonomic masterpiece (or bizzare egg watch if you prefer!) the mid sixties Dynamic. The second hand had to be bone white and have its own smidge of lume. The classic Seamaster 300's second hand fitted the bill to a tee.

Of course, the real secret is inside: ticking away at a steady +2 a day is the beautiful Omega 601. There isn't much room to argue that this series contain the finest handwind movements Omega ever made and amongst the best mass market handwind movements ever designed.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/P1070635.jpg
An earlier shot showing how well the stem lines up

So, for a total cost of a little over £200 I have a unique, utterly usable classic which combines my opinion of the very pinnacle of horology.
The best small case with the best handwind movement, hands and an uncluttered interpretation of the best dial. What's not to like?

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/P1000120.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/P1000175.jpg

Actually, there is one weirdness. As you can see, this watch is basically black and white. In the flesh, somehow it is even more black and white. There really isn't any compromise. We are used to this setup in watches that are thirty years old (or trying to be thirty years old) and so are utterly unprepared for how they must have looked new. Today, the crystal will have yellowed a bit, the lume will have faded into brown tones and the black will have bleached a tiny bit. Brand new, as it effecively is, the Omlex looks slightly unreal and incredibly loud. I expected a stealth classic; a ninja watch. If this was a ninja she would be wearing a dayglo vest and have a loudspeaker that intoned in careful tones every ten seconds: 'attention, this ninja is stalking'.

Not what I expected.

*edit*

And then, by way of initiation I took it tombraiding in Egypt!

http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=254055

[jmsrolls]

Hear, hear!

Beautiful custom, Matt!

Congratulations on a job well done.

Fr. John+

[snootydog]

Really nice Matt,clearly easy to read,just the way i like them. Bet you're wishing you had kept that logo you sent me,lol. -Andy

[Joe K.]

Excellent project Matt :-! Nicely done.
Question: Comparing the top to bottom picture, was the movement simply not seated flush in the top picture or is it the angle of photography ?



http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/P1070594.jpg




http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/Maphuk/lolmega4-1.jpg

[M4tt]

I gave the watch to the guy who services my watches to service the 601 and he kindly did the final build for me. As such, I haven't bothered opening it since getting it back as I plan to be swimming with it next week.

So for these photos I'm relying on old images. The first image comes from when I was first playing around with the idea, while the second one comes from the point at which the movement was soundly bolted in and set up.

Simple.

*edit* I have changed the picture for one which shows how the movement is securely fitted and the stem centred as several people told me that this wasn't possible during the build.

[SpringDriven]

I really like it, and would wear it loud and proud!

Congrats Matt! You have a very nice watch, and I enjoy combining what is great to get what I want!

[mrsnak]

Great job- the aesthetics look great. Great choice with that crown!
I'd buy one in a second.

This was the best I could do:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/mrsnak/submaster.jpg

[M4tt]

'Snak, I despair, I spend months on it and you trump me in half an hour of frenzied photoshop.

However, now you must build it!

[AAP]

'Snak, I despair, I spend months on it and you trump me in half an hour of frenzied photoshop.

However, now you must build it!

Matt, what you did was wrong, but this would be downright evil. ;-)

Pitchforks and torches at the ready, lads . . .

[john wilson]

Very nice Matt...how about calling it " Romeg"...or "The crazy Matt" . John Wilson

[GJ]

Supurb result Matt...:-!:-!

That one looks gorgeous, enjoy....but I am sure you will..;-)

Thanks for yet another excellent thread.

[john wilson]

"Hey John is that a crazy Matt your wearing?..."Why yes...yes it is!" John said.

[mrsnak]

'Snak, I despair, I spend months on it and you trump me in half an hour of frenzied photoshop.

However, now you must build it!

What? and ruin a perfectly good SM300? :-d

[nalk7]

Love it matt, keep it up :D

[spogehead]

Mental.....but marvellous :-!

[sulaco]

Great results, much better as the Tudor Ranger ;-) you bought :-d

Now how about trying the other way round, using a Seamaster or Connie case housing a Rolex movement. ;-)

[teeritz]

I'm comin' to get you, M4tt!
But seriously, sir, I'm comin' to get you.















































Nah, just kidding. Well done...I think. ;-)

[NMGE17]

Great result Matt!

Nigel

[randb]

Very nice Matt...how about calling it " Romeg"...or "The crazy Matt" . John Wilson

What about the Megalex