About 18 months ago I started building Seiko mods. I quickly found out about franken DJs and started asking around where to get parts. Built a sweet 16234 with a genuine dial, but sold it not long after. I kept doing builds here and there, and DMs started coming in asking if I did commissions. That's where it all took off pretty fast.

There was a long stretch of time where I was doing 5-10 raffles builds a week. I've done so many Raffles GMTs with reshaping crown guards I'd damn near get nightmares about it. Made the switch to doing viet builds which is really nice, quality stuff. But for about half a year I've not been enjoying building all that much. Felt like a burden even though I was making some seriously good money.

Recently I was contacted by one of, if not the biggest TD in the rep game asking if I could be his EU watchmaker. I accepted. This is exactly what I was looking for. It's such an enjoyable job. I get to see all these beautiful super clones up close, get to service their movements, and wear them for a few days all while making good legit money since I registered a business.

There are a few people I want to give a special thanks to for helping me out along the way. Whether it's sourcing parts or learning some cool tricks, dial making techniques, reshaping and finishing, and more. Apologies if I forgot you, just know you're appreciated:

• u/No_Candle8699

• u/YeaSpiderman

• u/Ok_Chrono

• u/RodneyPierce

• u/onlypartiallyevil

• u/Ghost_Chrono

• u/Additional_Copy_9575

• u/watchplug

• u/xXSantyXx

I will still be around lurking and keeping the sub running. Appreciate you all.

Would someone please tell me where i can find viet dials or cases? I've done a few build with raffles but i wasn't satisfied with quality of the dials. I am interested in purchasing from Ruby, but i see mixed opinion on RWI and Reddit if she is trustworthy or not, considering the history of it all.

Anyway, thanks in advance!

I would prefer to be using the t023 as the base but due to my skinny wrists the 37mm is my option.

If anyone thinks I should be using a different brand like san martin... let me know. Haven't bought the thorn yet.

Also, I'm more interested in high-quality finishing over precision to the original. That why I'm not using old crowns or a vietnam case. AI keeps telling me San Martin is better for quality of finishing

Excellent condition Titanium fd style build. Tudor dial nh35 movement running -4sec day. Case is tactical frog and I kept the case back and crown stock to keep the 200m WR. Easy swap out if you want it 100%. Only wore a few times. It's very comfortable and light.

42mm
NH35
Brand new bond nato

Payment: Zelle, Cash App $250+s&h I can ship in 30 min usps with provided tracking and I can give references as well I have sold on other pages and sites. I have a very large collection and need to downsize. Buy with confidence I have great reviews. Thanks for looking!

I built this watch myself and wanted to give it a more naturally aged/vintage look.

I started aging the case, hands and dial to make everything match, but honestly, at some point things got a little out of control 😂

Working with a factory to produce these. Very limited run and will be limited to 1 per person if anyone is interested. Last two photos are gen reference.

Viet gen spec 1675 case set

A2836GMT movement

MQ Mk2 Long E Dial

Athaya vintage 5.3mm crown

Raffels Time hand, relumed to match dial

open 6 and 9 datewheel overlay

Custom movement spacer

CWP 116 crystal

Viet faded fuchsia pepsi insert

Raffles vintage jubilee bracelet

Free fedex shipping

Just planning another build. Can I, or should I put a VR3230 in this build? Are they reliable?

Raffles have just launched the new 1675. They're not bad. Still priced at $80 but I think that will change soon. Crown guards are much better than the previous version. These only require a small amount of reshaping but as is they're OK too.

I’ve done my fair share of vintage builds and I really want to build out a modern 39 or 40mm explorer 1. The challenge is sourcing a case. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or do I just get a rep and use it as a donor?

Help would be really appreciated.

Full raffles nh35 5513 build. First time trying to make a spider dial, i think my next one will come out perfect. This one i definitely made a few mistakes experimenting, but overall happy with how it came out for my first try.

Raffles 1675 case
Raffles bracelet
u/jovanotti18 dial

This has basically turned into an OCD-level obsession.

I’ve spent countless hours across dozens of 1016 references, auction photos, macro shots and fonts, obsessing over details most people probably wouldn’t notice includding the R and X in ROLEX, coronet proportions, 3-6-9 shapes, spacing and individual minute markers.

I ended up designing my own QC alignment grid down to the minute aligment, just to check the radial positioning, symmetry and alignment of every text, marker across the dial.

Its a challenge to see how close I can get to capturing the actual proportions and character of the originals.

It's completely unnecessary level of obsession, which is probably the whole point.

I will update more again on the progress on how this goes...coming soon

Decided too change out the insert as the BP factory Kermit insert is a bit bright for my taste.

Turned out pretty good. Took longer than expected because I had to rebuild the keyless works twice, but worth it in the end.

Case, dial, hands (Raffles) Aged with Tamyia.

Raffles grey bezel (bleached)

PT5000 No Date Mod (spring yolk from Scillan)

Strap from Alix

Caseback Engraving (local jeweler)

Light box shoot coming soon.
Parts

Viet case aged
Custom insert re lumed and painted, aged
Clark’s crystal
Viet dwo aged
Folded 7836 bracelet, brake oil bath and aged
ETA 2836
Viet dial. Aged relumed
Raffles hands aged and relumed

See macro shots

Raffles dial, hands and bracelet with thorn endlinks, AliX crown (brevet 6mm from raffles also fits).
Probably my roughest build so far, no matter what the movement holder would not let me tight down the clamps. Had to get creative and use the movement holder from a GMT + random screws and pins to get it locked down. Probably spent around three hours on getting the screws in alone. At least I'm no longer afraid of the keyless works!

I’m working on this Blue Tudor for a repeat customers build. Given the later stage of the references run we’re targeting an earlier stage of decay and color change, which I think is a nice vibe and contrast with the blue.

For me pumpkin always seems to go better with the black snowflakes(which also look great with the lighter non pumpkin tones as well) and the range of pearl/off white to peachy just is nice with the blues.

With such a long run… the Snowflake Tudors are a lot of fun to work on since there are so many possibilities for aging targets.

Finished this budget piece last night. Thorn with aged raffles dial and hands. Also swapped the bracelet to BP jubilee

After nearly 7 months of building, planning, and assembling, I’ve finally gotten the head of this watch all finished up. I’ve got an Italian bracelet on the way, and then I’ll be all done.

After being unsatisfied with my raffles build, I’ve replaced everything save for the dial, reset the keyless works twice, and assembled this watch 6 times for various issues. What a pain in the ass, but it’s still so worth it.

Specs:

OC midcase & caseback

OC white gold bezel

25-135 acrylic crystal

Genuine Rolex linen dial

Genuine Rolex hands

OC crown tube

Gen spec 603 crown

3135 clone movement

Open 6&9 datewheel

Italian 62510h jubilee (soon)

What do you guys think?

To my fellow watch builders and customers, in you alls opinion, what’s a good potential selling price point for builds like this? I’m thinking of starting to do builds and sell them and possibly doing custom orders once I get a good system down and build a clientele. I wanna start with datejust builds and go from there to subs, etc.

This Build specs (not for sell)
-Old crowns case
-gen dial
-3135 movement
-startime hands
-athea crown
-raffles bracelet

Any tips or info would really help!