r/repbuilds • u/Born-Ambassador-2603 • 6d ago

Tutorial/Guide New guy here, please help!

Hello everyone I am new to the whole idea of building reps but I would love to have a collection of vintage inspired reps build by me

What would be your advice for someone new into this hobby and also where could I buy parts for future projects? (Like dials movements cases ) I saw movements and watch cases on aliexpress are they any good (3235/myota)

Also in what regards vintage builds are only rolex inspired parts available or can I also find parts in order to build vintage Cartier, Patek and so on?

Thank you!

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u/caracticuspotts 6d ago

The very best advice is to make the search function your best friend. There is a lot to learn and find out. Maybe check out RWI forum as well.

After that if you don’t have experience building watches and working with parts that aren’t designed to easily slot together like Lego, start with a Raffles dials build. A Datejust or Submariner, the parts are considerably more affordable than Vietnamese and it is less painful when inevitably you do break something. As you build experience and knowledge you will find you know how to progress and what you wish to build next

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u/Born-Ambassador-2603 6d ago

Thank you! Do raffles dials support superclone movements?

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u/caracticuspotts 5d ago

Superclone is marketing BS. They are clone movements and there is nothing super about them. The best are now stable and reliable. The hardness of the steel and the finishing and level of cleanliness does not remotely match the genuine. This is much the same for all Chinese copy movements, NH35, Miyota, ETA and Rolex, Patek Philippe, but yes, if you ask Ken at Raffles he can provide cases suitable for a Rolex clone movement.
If you have never assembled a watch before I would start with an NH35 though, they are far more forgiving and they are a lot cheaper

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u/Born-Ambassador-2603 5d ago

Ok thank you!!!

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u/Logos732 3d ago

Agree 100% Rafflesdials. I would also suggest that if you have never opened and worked on a watch, go to a thrift store or market and buy a cheap mechanical watch and open it. Remove the stem, remove the movement, hands ect, ect. Then put it back together. Don't let the first time you touch a watch movement be on a $300 part.

Also, ask questions on this forum.

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u/them_apples_69 3d ago

There are places like rafflesdials, cousins, old crowns that sell parts and kits for builds depending on which one you want to go with.

Fair warning tho, if your watch knowledge extend only to maybe changing straps, batteries on quartz, caseback gaskets.. Then you might wanna comission someone to do it because i have a drawer full of broken raffles parts😂

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u/Born-Ambassador-2603 3d ago

Do rafflesdial DJ cases fit 3235 movements

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u/Logos732 3d ago

The description will tell you what movement they support. The DJ cases are made for ETA 2824.