Blancpain US Navy… now within reach

[Fizzzz]

@toofsy
Thank you, I already have both links,
but the only ones available are the Rhombus bezel ...
and I have no idea where to find the hands.

[Fizzzz]

I'm experimenting a new process for white on black dials,
here are the first results

I've carved a recess for the moisture indicator,
and slight recesses to ease luming work.
Still experimenting texture builup...

I was thinking that it would be easy to draw 1:1 according to MIL-W specs,
but in the end I found that the Tornek Rayville do not comply with MIL specs measurements!

@Madasboot
What's your opinion Master M?

[toofsy]

@Fizzzz


The classic insert came back in stock this morning...

[Fizzzz]

@Fizzzz


The classic insert came back in stock this morning...

???
I can only see the (too small) Rhombus insert in stock,
I'd like a military insert, same as RDUANE...

[madasboot]

@Madasboot
What's your opinion Master M?
[/quote]

Hi S.
They look beautiful.
Two or three considerations; first of them conceptual.
These dials (american) were printed and suppliers where plenty, fact that explains slight variations among the three or four batches produced.
Lume was applied over a flat surface (contrarily to the swiss counterparts which were curved dials in their majority) so there is no need to carve the indices because they should have a white printed background.
The carved indices were usually to get more radium in and had the purpose of a lume box with a first layer of zync oxide, reflective to enhance glow.
Originally these dials had a straightforward build, flat, white printed and matte.
The recess for the litmus can make sense so in case of swelling by moisture, not compromising the functionality of the watch (hour hand overhead).
Summing, I find its not necessary to carve the indices and it does not present any advantage, especially for luming.
Last aspect is that the available cases (rep) have different dial tolerances and openings; the one dissected by @Mir36 has admittance for a 28.5mm dial and an opening of 27.5 but vietnamese cases have a different construction and are made for Schild movements.
Anyway, brilliant results!
Best
M.

[toofsy]

@Fizzzz


The classic insert came back in stock this morning...

???
I can only see the (too small) Rhombus insert in stock,
I'd like a military insert, same as RDUANE...

3 available at the time of the screenshot...

Screenshot_2023-01-29-13-55-57-720_com.alibaba.aliexpresshd.jpg

[Fizzzz]

@Madasboot
Hi S.
They look beautiful.
Two or three considerations; first of them conceptual.
These dials (american) were printed and suppliers where plenty, fact that explains slight variations among the three or four batches produced.

Hi M.
Do you think that Tornek dials were printed in USA?
As far as I understood, Blancpain was doing most of the parts.
Tornek was originally just a reseller and they built a workshop just to comply with Buy American Act.
I've read a funny fact on this: according to BAA, contractors had to buy US jewels, but Tornek found that Swiss ones were definitely better. So Tronek was buying US jewels, but didn't use these!

Another point: I've seen Blancpain military watches auctionned, some had Tornek engravings inside caseback...
Anyway, MIL-W-22176A design and measurements are far from actual dials.

Lume was applied over a flat surface (contrarily to the swiss counterparts which were curved dials in their majority) so there is no need to carve the indices because they should have a white printed background.
The carved indices were usually to get more radium in and had the purpose of a lume box with a first layer of zync oxide, reflective to enhance glow.
Originally these dials had a straightforward build, flat, white printed and matte.
The recess for the litmus can make sense so in case of swelling by moisture, not compromising the functionality of the watch (hour hand overhead).
Summing, I find its not necessary to carve the indices and it does not present any advantage, especially for luming.

Sure, gens indices were not carved,
probably not a problem for you, but this slight recess is a great help for my poor luming skills and shouldn't be visible once lumed

Looking closer to ref pics, it seems like all gens had a recess for Moisture indicator.


@Mir36 can you please confirm 27.5mm dial opening on RDUANE watch?

[Fizzzz]

@Fizzzz


The classic insert came back in stock this morning...

???
I can only see the (too small) Rhombus insert in stock,
I'd like a military insert, same as RDUANE...

3 available at the time of the screenshot...
Screenshot_2023-01-29-13-55-57-720_com.alibaba.aliexpresshd.jpg

Thanks for pics, but these are the Rhombus ones ...

[Mir36]

@Mir36 can you please confirm 27.5mm dial opening on RDUANE watch?

@Fizzzz Actual measurements here…

[Fizzzz]

@Mir36
thank you for these exhaustive measurements, so dial openining = 27mm, will be helpfull to improve design