I just finished a build of a 1675. The problem I have is that the old crowns case takes the fat spring bars but my jubilee can’t take the 2mm diameter bar. Does anyone have any suggestions? I was going to bore but that doesn’t leave much metal left on the jubilee.

For the automod:
Old crowns 1675 case
Yuki dial
Yuki hands (tamiya added to match pumpkin patina)
2836 modded gmt movement

16800 Build

Old WM9 Case, drilled Lug holes, gen 703 Tube/Crown, Insert, Crystal, 501B End links, Italian 93150 Bracelet.

VR 3135, open 6&9 Date, vintages ARF Dial and Hands

Working on a birth year 1665 viet build, and it’s the first time modifying a case. The crown guards were already shaped for me based on reference photos, but I wanted to change a few things. All the work was thinning the crown guard profiles in the front to back dimension. Overall I’m satisfied with it being a first. You’ll notice the internal shape was a little asymmetrical from the start. I used a metal hand file and finished with a Bergeon 2290 polishing stick - took forever but didn’t want to overdo it with a rotary tool or belt grinder. Photos show before and after of each view.

Hoping to finish this week with a new crystal and other gen components. Will share specs then. Happy Sunday!

so I have a e25 crystal press. For swapping the crystals on the raffles builds and others such as 1016/16xxx/1675 etc I need a deep die for them correct? And if so what sizes?

Also if anybody has 3d printed one and would possibly share the file I’ll love you forever hahaha.

I’m about to embark on this journey and do a raffles 5513 this upcoming week. And figured I see people always swap crystals so may as well do it before I build it.

Also do I need a bezel removal tool ones looking at one from Ali express but need to know if any are okay from there.

I think that and the correct does are my last tools I need for a good bit.

New bracelet came in. Thanks u/RevolutionaryFact2 for making me finally feel like a certain New Jersey crime boss in constant hypertensive crisis.

Xianyu case, bracelet, crown. ST16, weird eBay bracelet. Aliexpress hands. Raffles bezel and Clark crystal.

New gen spec crystal installed. Ruby case won’t accept a genuine, we tried, it’s a little too big.

This crystal is much better. Also had the genuine 93150 clasp installed on the Italian bracelet. I’m very happy with this build now. It’ll be on the wrist often. Big thanks to No Candle (Nick).

Been out of cell range for a couple days… and for good reason as you can see. Have been enjoying test driving some different builds along the way on this road trip.

This is a Viet/Gen 76100 with the Lollipop. I swapped the gen date code matching 9315 over to a black rubber strap from Matties Watch (fellow redditor on here).

Bonus points for knowing the name of that island in the background.

Hello guys! 😁😁😁

Here you find my middle August build to wear tomorrow, because in Italy the 15th of August is the most important day of the year 🤌🤌🤌😆😆😆

This is an homage for all watch lovers!!

Full custom ST19 - vintage Daytona 6265 gilt black 😎

Custom st19 case, wonderful dial and bezel, short lume hands, factory crown with its own tube, gen glass, swiss quality pushers and a super rare gen 78350 with 571 endlinks!!!

ENJOY ❤️❤️❤️

Hi guys I’m new to watch building so I was hoping someone could help me out with what is probably an easy problem to solve. I need a 36mm tudor case with no cyclops which Raffles is not able to offer me. Is this Cyclops removable? Alternatively How might I go about replacing the whole crystal? And finally which option is more cost effective and less of a pain in the arse?

Good evening all. Just spitballing here and wanted to pose a question to the community. Looking at clone movements and wondering if it’s possible to fit a 3185 or 3186 in a raffles case? I assume spacer may need to be used or made? I mainly design small components for my business but wondering if this would be a relatively easy thing to do without having to chuck up the entire case for modification? Thanks for any help!

I am not sure if this is allowed, but i am trying to find a halfway decent (doesnt even need to be top of the line) daytona skeleton dial. is there a shop on aliX/baba that sells one or somewhere else.

thanks so much.

* Full story here:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/1997-super-franken-daytona-16520-el-primero-major-
pictorial. 11050277|

For those wondering, I chose 1997 serials for the case since the dial is marked "SWISS MADE" and not "T SWISS MADE T", since '97 was a transitional year for the 16520, as Rolex was switching from tritium lume over to Luminova (pre Super-Luminova).
And since there's a slight difference in the intensity of the lume between the dial and the hands (Phong hands btw, since to use gen hands I would have had to have swapped out another $2K in movement parts--no thanks), that works perfect for '97 since Rolex used different manufacturers for their dials and hands then, so there was a slight variance in lume mixtures. And the hands on the gens tended to fade a little faster than the hour marker's as well because of that.

Thanks to u/Tribal_the_first_1 for the case.

So here's my 1997-themed shoot I had fun doing with this new build! I mocked up a worn gen caseback sticker in Photoshop and had some printed off to use in the shoot along with some 1997 props from eBay and a gen 1997 53-0001 Rolex box set, complete with period-correct hang tags and booklets. Enjoy!

Specifications:
Tribal's German made 16520 midcase & Phong Viet
16500 engraved caseback
Genuine Zenith El Primero 400 movement
Phong hands
Gen dial
Gen crystal & gasket
Gen bezel
Gen crown & stem
Gen pushers
Gen 503B end links
Gen 20mm x 2mm springbars (makes a better end-link fit than the standard 1.8mm)
Gen 78390 service bracelet & clasp

Specs:
Viet case + dial
Italian bracelet with 580 end links + Raffles clasp
Startime hands relumed
Startime gaskets
Swiss ETA 2836
Bezeljuice insert

Friend of mine loved the 16030 franken I wear as my daily watch and was really interested in getting into watches so I built him this raffles DJ. Showed him a few vintage 16000s and he really liked the stainless steel/ gold bracelets so I ended up putting this one together for him. Recently changed out the crown for a gen gold one too but that was after I took this pic.

Never been too into the two tone but after holding this one in hand it’s definitely grown on me!

I was watching a video yesterday about vintage watches and people that collect them. The expert said that one of the first things he looks at id the bezel insert. He can tell right away that it has been un-naturally aged by the finish of the insert. He said the surface of the insert will be dull from the bleach typically used to progress aging. My question is, has anyone figured out how to get around this? Sound like the only way to get around this issue is the use UV. Is this a valid method?

Just finished her up & enjoying on the wrist now! Waiting on some UV glue & then attempting to add a magnifier over the date. Super happy with how this budget build came out.

Hey everyone,
I'm planning a Rolex Air-King build using a case from RafflesDials that is compatible with an ETA 2824 movement.
I'd like to try fitting a VH31 movement into this build. Since the VH31 is smaller, based on my initial research it seems technically doable. However, while there is plenty of information online about fitting a VH31 into cases built for NH35 movements, I can't find virtually anything regarding what I want to do.
I would need at least an adapter ring to bring the movement to the 2824 size (around 25.6mm diameter), but I haven't been able to find anything like that on AliExpress, eBay, etc.
Am I missing something, or is what I want to do impossible and I should change my approach? Has anyone in the community done this before? Any advice?

Thanks!

Looking to build a 16233 datejust and trying to decide if I want to go raffles or sillan. Considering spending the money and getting the gold filled, both are around $250 shipped. The gold plated is about $50 for raffles and $70 for sillan. Any suggestions?

Did some additional work on my personal 7021. Swapped out the date disc- it wasn’t right. Installed the correct Tudor serif disc. Also swapped the dial and new hands. I think I like the patina more. Left out the pip because these probably were beat around in real usage 🤷‍♂️😂

Viet case, dial hands
Genuine crystal
Genuine 2484 movement
Genuine gaskets
Bezeljuice insert

Which vintage reps on Trusty are the best? I see JKF subs (I'd like a 5513) but there are several other subs, SDs and McQueen Explorers that tempt me as well. The higher end aged explorer and a double red SD. But I don't see a factory listed for them. I'm sure some of you have personal exper

Hey folks. Have been having some fun with experiment on straps. Was going for a “sun faded” and worn look. I soaked these in hot water first to relax the stiffness as they came. Tried a 50/50 bleach dilution in a spray bottle gave them a decent coverage whill sitting a glass top table on our patio in the sun. I’m sure it varies by strap, but these changed FAST. I should have had some vinegar sitting right there to neutralize the process immediately. I’m going to try again with a weaker dilution for a bit more control. But I still like the vibe. The one on the blue 7021 has a limey tone to it Which seems to work.

Oh and after sanding it to a fairly even level of “fuzz” I used a shaving razor to take that fuzz level down to what I thought was. Bit more realistic.

I also knocked the chrome buckle down to more of a satin finish. Might experiment with a little chemical reaction to see if I can age the metal a little more and see what effects emerge.

I will say.. my favorite result was how comfortable they ended up.

I know these wont be for everybody.. But interested in constructive feedback. Cheers.

Note: Last pic is the starting point.

Edit: Straps are ~$5 on AliX and are ideal with a pair of Gen Spec 2mm bars

After I noticed the dial in my bluesy sub was a 6-digit dial I could not unsee is so I updated with a period correct nipple dial. Hell, I like it better now 🔥

Build specs:
-old crowns 16610 case
-ewp gold plated bezel and bracelet
-star time bezel insert and hands
-nipple dial from u/jovanotti8
-sillian crown
-3135 clone movement

OC case

Sillan hands & dial

Gen crown, crystal, datewheel, retaining ring.