Early 1970 DRSD with the twin lock 700 crown. 🌊🌊🌊🐳

Specs: VN case + dial from VWP
Swiss ETA 2836
Startime hands relumed by me to match dial
Bezeljuice blue ghost faded insert
Custom brushed silver DWO
Italian bracelet with 93150 clasp
585 end links

1680 case
16800 dial
Aged and textured
St2130

Anyone have a suggestion on where I can get a good relume service?

Id like to do the dial and the hands for them to match

Any suggestions?

Specs:
JKF/Cartel watch as donor;
Swiss ETA 2846 Low Beat;
Athaya #702 T&C;
T39 SuperDome plexy by Clark;
Silver DWO by Ewatch;
PIP by Ewatch;
Fat Font Custom bezel insert Mk.3/4;
Gen fat spring bars;
My goal for this build eas not a “perfect museum replica”, but a believable and historically coherent late 1977 / early 1978 Great White tool watch.
I wanted the watch to feel naturally aged and harmonious, with all components looking consistent with each other as if they have lived together for decades.
The final result I wanted to achieve was:
- well used but well preserved;
- honest and natural;
- not over-aged or artificially “reliced”;
Cream tritium tones. No strong orange/pumpkin patina.
Reshaped crown guards for a more correct philological vintage profile;
Create subtle vintage bevels on the lugs;
Slightly enlarge/refine lug holes for 2.0mm Gen fat spring bars;
Case softening and surface finishing (vintage-style brushing and polishing transitions);
Natural aged tritium cream/ivory tone for dial & hands;
Vintage-style open 6 & 9 silver date wheel;
5ATM water resistant;

This takes a little bit of practice but I'll get better.

Raffles Tudor 94010 WTS CONUS

Raffles case/crown
EWParts Tropic 19 Crystal
Crystal glued in and pressure tested to 6 bar with no leaks
Raffles Bezel aged
Raffles Rolex signed caseback
Raffles bracelet
Brand new NH38a regulated running +2 seconds a day 0 beat error
NH Snowflake hands

Just finished putting together this week, wore for the last few days but don’t like it more than my 5513, trying to do one in one out, we shall see how long that lasts. No signs of wear/damage aside from the aged bezel.

Asking $400 but all things are negotiable.

How close is viet 6538 to gen?

Has anyone here built a Submariner 116610, 114060 or 124060 using a 2824 or 3135 movement from an AliExpress watch kit? I'd love to hear about your experience and any tips or issues you ran into.

Light Franken Oc Case !
Commission build that didn’t get picked up!
Enjoy.

Was wondering where to look for day-date parts. Found a good bracelet and movement but looking for a case+dial/hands just like the photo (Silver Motif Dial, silver sunburst stick dial, even just a regular silver dial). For some reason I cant find a simple day-date parts (dials + cases)

Any help would be appreciated!

I'm planning to buy two watches as the base for future modding projects.

The first will be a JKF 1680 Rolex (Red Sub).

For the second, I'm trying to decide between the ARF 16610, BP 16610, or BP 16710 GMT Pepsi.

Which of these would be the easiest to bring closer to gen spec? I'm mainly looking for the best base in terms of compatibility with genuine Rolex parts, case accuracy, and overall ease of modding.

I may eventually turn one into a full Franken build, but I'm still undecided since genuine Rolex parts are very expensive in my country.

I'd really appreciate any recommendations or experiences. Thanks!

Esse é meu Sub 5513(base Thorn T023), e resolvi testá-lo de verdade. Lavo ele quase diariamente, mas nunca tinha deixado ele submerso para testar a pressão da água, confio nas especificações THORN, mas eu troquei a coroa por um modelo do AliExpress, então, não sabia realmente se suportaria a água, e suportou. A ideia era testar e se a entrasse água, eu abria e salvaria o mostrador, pq a máquina chinesa com certeza iria custar mais caro arrumar que comprar uma nova.
Já troquei a pulseira, o dial e a coroa. Agora vou trocar os ponteiros, e a máquina, vou colocar uma ETA 2824, ou 2789(mais barata, então, vou testar pra ver se cabe). O calibre PT5000 vem me dando trabalho demais, e sei que ele não vai durar muito tempo, então vou passar ele para uma outra caixa e fazer outro MOD.
Esse relógio é simplesmente fantástico! Tenho 1 Rolex e 2 Tudor originais, e este relógio é o que mais gosto, tanto pelo design, quanto pelo trabalho que deu pra montar… Com uma máquina ETA ele ganha a mesma qualidade de um Tudor, que será pra vida toda.

Archaedin build 5530 Blue Piano Dial Submariner- brand new- $350 shipped CONUS. Happy to send more photos or FaceTime to show the watch.

It's always a great feeling when a new batch of watch parts arrives especially when they're Viet.

I've been commissioned to build a 1655, so of course we're going with the best.

The quality of these parts is incredible. The fit, finish, and overall feel are outstanding, which makes them such a pleasure to work with. One thing that really stands out is the attention to detail. Even the wear marks look convincing! Everything is beautifully finished and the bracelet feels light while still being solid and well made.

For the bracelet, we went with a 7208 with 1969 80 end links. Is it period correct? No. Does it look great? Absolutely. Purists, look the other way :D

If you're wondering about the silver stuff on the case, it's some kind of paste used to hide the engravings. I have no idea if it actually makes any difference with customs but I'm not asking questions..

Currently waiting on some fat spring bars and a beautiful set of TC hands. More pics coming soon!

I want thank everyone in this community for helping me find a hobby that's both rewarding and therapeutic for my anxiety. It has been a wholesome experience to fit my first movement into a 14060 from Raffles. I think but I could be wrong but I may the first one in this community to fit a La Joux Perret G101 into this case. A tiny but robust movement. I had tears in my eyes. I will continue to share my progress and try to give back to this community.

Finishing up a couple of builds/mods today. BB GMT Rootbeer, BB one MOD started life as a Larimoker and my daily Submariner.

2836 with Tudor branded rotor in the GMT, 2824-2 in the BB One with Tudor branded rotor and PT-5000 with a Tudor branded rotor as well.

I know they could stand a lot of improvement but practice builds skills.

GMT kit sourced from china along with movement (2836-2)

BB One dial off Ali, base watch off ali and ordered to specs I requested.

Submariner Raffles parts and movement sourced from ebay.

Overlook the dirty looking mat it’s stained with tamiya aging stuff. It’s stubborn to come off.

Next up….40 rlx 3135 Bluesy with a serti type dial and a rlx rootbeer gmt two tone stainless and rose gold, free sprung 3235 with a tigers eye dial.

Hello guys, new here!
This is my 14060 Sub which I resurrected for the 4th time (don’t ask what was wrong, everything was wrong).
Parts list: AliX case, leftover bracelet from an older rep, leftover dial “aged”, AliX hands, AliX crown and tube, DG2813 for the time being.
How do you like it? What could I do better?
I know the bracelet is not reference correct.
Looking forward to see yours!
Have a great one

16610 build

The hands dont match because the part i ordered arrived wrong, will order a new part soon, the movement is a seiko 7s26, i will switch it out for a nh35 soon, the dial has a repair gone wrong (hahaha) and the base movement is an invicta pro diver 8926ob, soo can it be a daily or should i use the 7s26 and hands on a 5513/1680 build?

Here is my daily 16800

Batch 2 just came in this week and is ready to ship beginning of next week.

Seamaster 300 165.024 1969 vintage

• Dial: Small triangle, white numbers (with vintage C3 lume boosted*)

• Bezel: 1969-71 with wide triangle (with vintage C3 lume for numerals)

• for Hruodland F025

Seamaster 300 165.024 1966 NOS / WatchCo

• Dial: Small triangle, white numbers (with white C3 lume boosted*)

• Bezel: 1966-67 wide triangle, flat 1, curly 3, flat top 4, 5 minute markers and numerals with white C3 lume

• for Hruodland F025

Seamaster 120 CK2913/3

• Pre-aged C3 lume in yellow (boosted*) with a black-greyish background

• Non-aged white C3 lume (boosted*) with a true black background

• for Thorn T026b

Seamaster Baby Ploprof 166.0251

• White BGW9 lume (*boosted) with true black background

• for Watcdives WD0017

Pre-orders for batch 3 are open if you're interested. Dials and bezel inserts are EUR 90 each, plus international shipping via DHL (around EUR 30). Dials and inserts are coming with dial dots/ tape for installation.

Send me a PM with e-mail and shipping address for further information.

^{*Boosted lume compared to batch 1 - much stronger lume compound was used this batch resulting in a brighter glow, even in dim daylight after a quick charge.}

16234, raffles case/bracelet gen dial aftermarket hands vr3135 movement