yes plus 580 and 593

 

Thanks! There are aftermarket 501B end links available on eBay for $25, so I just ordered a pair. I figure I don't need original since they're going on an aftermarket bracelet. I'd rather beat up a good quality aftermarket bracelet for daily wear and keep the original pristine in a drawer at home. I'll post photos next week if anyone is interested.

 

That looks like a nice looking combo with the leather, but I also really like the SS bracelet on the TT face. Definitely tones it down a good bit.

 

Yep post a pic, should look nice. Keep an eye on the links of the aftermarket and tightness of the screws, wouldn't want to lose a nice watch with the failure of a cheap bracelet. My daughter wears my old 16800 on a solid end link TC bracelet which is of very nice quality but even so I check the links and as with originals secure all screws with loctite 222.

 

I'd wear the 1016....

 

I admit that the pic of a modern TT bluesy on a steel bracelet is pretty, but I think your watch screams for a brown croc strap. Would go great with the blue and also complement the gold, and on the wrist the bling factor would be negligible.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I do wear the Explorer 36mm, but it's a bit small for my personal tastes. I recently put it on a leather nato to add some visual weight to it. Nato straps are pretty cheap, so I have a few different colors to change it up.

I want to get some wrist time out of the Bluesy too and with drilled lugs it's easy to change straps, so I also ordered some straps for it recently including blue leather, tan croc, and a dark brown. I'll probably post some pictures when the straps roll in later this week. Looks like I am on track with what some of you are thinking too. I was also considering a shark mesh bracelet, but just haven't pulled the trigger on that yet. I'm just not sure it would look right with the Bluesy or Explorer.

I started out my collection (currently at 22 decent watches) with "affordables", but as happens with many, my tastes are moving more "up market". In the last month I purchased a JeanRichard, U-Boat, the Bluesy, and last night a Longines Legend Diver. I am thinking that I can sell off some of the affordables (already sold six earlier this year) and focus my collection on a smaller selection of better watches. But I like variety and will want some strap and buckle options to keep things fresh for me if I cut my collection down. The bad thing is my wife - she keeps telling me to keep ALL of my watches!!! I was trying to sell a 1960's Stowa 34mm (too small for me) and darn if she didn't steal that thing from me because it has a lovely Prusian blue dial. I know - best wife in the world! :-d

 

So here are a few of the options that I got to dress down the Bluesy a bit. All were around $7 each from StrapsCo with a buy two get one free deal they have on Amazon now. So you really can't go wrong at that price. The quality of the leather seems good, but the stitching is a bit rough.

Brown leather that I put on the Explorer 1016 - this combo should totally fly under the radar. Blue strap on the Bluesy looks great to me, nice beefy 4mm thick straps.

Last strap was a "tan" croc pattern which I knew looked orange from the photos. I thought it might look good like the 1960's Stowa blue dial/orange croc strap that I already have. To my eye it's a bit of a loud and gaudy look, but it doesn't scream "ROLEX" like the gold and steel bracelet does. This is the combination that's on my wrist today. I'm still waiting for the 501B end links to show up from eBay, then it will go on an all stainless bracelet.

 

The 501B end links from eBay landed today and I am very pleased with the result. It turned out better than I expected. The all stainless bracelet has really toned down a lot of the bling factor of the Bluesy with a little hint of gold and the wonderful blue dial and bezel to still enjoy.

 

The 501B end links from eBay landed today and I am very pleased with the result. It turned out better than I expected. The all stainless bracelet has really toned down a lot of the bling factor of the Bluesy with a little hint of gold and the wonderful blue dial and bezel to still enjoy

Nice. Could you please share who the eBay seller is? Is it riyi002? Thanks

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

So I changed the bracelet and end links on my two tone Bluesy to tone it down a bit and I was pretty happy with the results. Still I was looking at getting another steel sub as a day to day beater. I went to a dealer that had some in stock (used and well over new retail, now is NOT a buyer's market for steel subs) and I was just underwhelmed comparing the new sub side by side with my Bluesy. I just love that patina'd blue/purple dial and tritium. But I also went to a Tudor dealer and got a look at the Black Bay Black and found it very striking with an all stainless design yet gold hands, indices, and a gilt dial.

So I decided to take this a bit further with the Bluesy and through eBay sourced a sub crown and stem, making the change easy. My bezel insert is a bit beat, so I had been considering changing it any way. I sourced an aftermarket SS bezel and insert together. Overall the costs were very reasonable. So now, like the Black Bay Black, I have an all stainless watch with gold hands, indices, and gilt dial. I'm happy, I'm done, now I'm just going to wear it and enjoy it. I still have all of the original parts and can swap it back without issue - these are relatively minor and easy changes.

Comparison of my Bluesy vs a newer SS black, although the black is nice, I prefer the blue - although you can see that it could use a new bezel to freshen it up.

Black Bay Black - a striking combination

The end result

A little before and after comparison, that bit of gold in the bezel and crown really stand out, after the watch is very toned down.

 

So I changed the bracelet and end links on my two tone Bluesy to tone it down a bit and I was pretty happy with the results. Still I was looking at getting another steel sub as a day to day beater. I went to a dealer that had some in stock (used and well over new retail, now is NOT a buyer's market for steel subs) and I was just underwhelmed comparing the new sub side by side with my Bluesy. I just love that patina'd blue/purple dial and tritium. But I also went to a Tudor dealer and got a look at the Black Bay Black and found it very striking with an all stainless design yet gold hands, indices, and a gilt dial.

So I decided to take this a bit further with the Bluesy and through eBay sourced a sub crown and stem, making the change easy. My bezel insert is a bit beat, so I had been considering changing it any way. I sourced an aftermarket SS bezel and insert together. Overall the costs were very reasonable. So now, like the Black Bay Black, I have an all stainless watch with gold hands, indices, and gilt dial. I'm happy, I'm done, now I'm just going to wear it and enjoy it. I still have all of the original parts and can swap it back without issue - these are relatively minor and easy changes.

Comparison of my Bluesy vs a newer SS black, although the black is nice, I prefer the blue - although you can see that it could use a new bezel to freshen it up.
View attachment 13097647

Black Bay Black - a striking combination
View attachment 13097645

The end result
View attachment 13097649
View attachment 13097651

A little before and after comparison, that bit of gold in the bezel and crown really stand out, after the watch is very toned down.
View attachment 13097653

I think this mod looks amazing. Are the hands and plot surrounds yellow gold or white gold?

 

It certainly works, although now your dial and handset don't match anything else. I think you were doing fine with just the steel bracelet, but I do think it still looks good.

 

love the gilt look.

 

I took the easy route out...

 

I think that it’s very easy to dress down a bluesy in its original configuration because my dad has one for daily wear. In the summer he wears a polo t shirt with shorts and the bluesy. On the oyster bracelet it’s a very sporty watch and would have no problem being dressed down. I do have to say a blue rubber/fabric strap will look very very good on the bluesy. I personally wouldn’t do a non blue strap on the bluesy because I feel like the strap color will throw off the blue and gold of the bluesy.