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TC 93250 V5 bracelet on Caddell 25-295-C Rouge Gen 93250 (LT3) bracelet on Gen 16610 V-series sans insert. I visited TC 93250 V3 bracelet maker several times from last December until early this month for the development of TC 93250 V5 bracelet and clasp. Members have reported TC 93250 V4 maker were able to make the improvement on the coronet stamp on the clasp but did not possess the quality and skill for the bracelet portion as the TC 93250 V3 maker from China. I was able to persuade the V3 bracelet maker to make proper improvement on the coronet, marrying the merits of V3's SEL and bracelet workmanship with V4's coronet. However, the bracelet maker still wouldn't make the engravings in the SEL trench. Sterile SEL doesn't bother me too much. On a gen it wasn't meant to be seen anyway. The SEL fitment with the Sub mid case, build quality of the bracelet, and cost are my major concerns. Before the review, I want members to acknowledge that TC 93250 V5 (PJ4) has 3 places different from the gen V-series 93250 (LT3) I used as datum. Those differences are not flaws. 1. The stamp on the V5 clasp PJ4 is not as vivid or profound as Gen LT3. When comparing to V4 PJ4 clasp, the stamp is not as vivid or profound either. Apparently the Thai wins at cosmetic and the Chinese wins at overall build quality and cost. The V5 PJ4 clasp stamp still beats V2 DE6 and V3 PJ4 clasp nonetheless. 2. akron on RG reported TC 93250 V4 bracelet first link does not fold all the way like it is supposed to be. Apparently it never is a problem to the Chinese maker. TC 93250 V5 bracelet first link folds all the way as to gen. Now, noticed the mid link on the SEL of V5 is a tad thicker than gen LT3? The gen sample the Chinese maker used has this very feature. What I'm trying to say here? I want members to acknowledge even gen Rolex makes different variations from each production batch. Left: TC 93250 V5. Right: Gen LT3 93250. 3. Some members complained that TC 93250 bracelets do not have the same smoothness when folding as the gen 93250 does. I want members to know gen 93250 bracelet costs USD $1,000 at Rolex service center. TC 93250 V5 costs CNY $350. That's roughly USD $57. Both are made of 316L stainless steel. Both shared the same design, same engineering construction. It's the after process that makes gen 93250 bracelet folds and feels butter smooth. Some modders on the forums have their own in-house lubricating formula. If you are looking for that gen's smooth hand feel, I would recommend members to seek a trusted modder's help for lubricating the bracelet to gen like silk smoothness. The Solid End Link (SEL) on TC 93250 V5 has continued the lineage of the V3 and craftsmanship. The edge of the SEL is a sharp 90° angel cut as how gen is. The thickness of the SEL is also Gen like. This means TC 93250 V5 can fit TC V-series Sub mid case, Factory Direct M-series Sub mid case (AKA WM9 Sub mid case), BK's TW mid case, and most importantly a gen Sub case (with some minor sanding needed 0.02 mm-0.04 mm)。 Gen to the left. TC 93250 V5 to the right. This is TC 93250 V5 on a Factory Direct M-series mid case AKA WM9 V2 mid case. Check out the hairline brush and finish. Can you tell which one is gen? Diver's extension. SEL Fitment: Some members reported there may be gap between SEL and watch lugs. This is one of the issues I want to solve during the development of TC 93250 V5. First let me clarify one thing, that is even Gen has a tiny gap. That gap is 0.02 mm. An average male's hair is 0.08 mm. The bracelet maker can not guarantee 0.02 mm (+/- 0.01) variance on SEL width. His best effort was 0.05 mm (+/- 0.02). This is how 0.05 mm gap looks like. Since the time I received KH 16610 dials, I felt the drive to push the bar for quality a step forward. I started to use a caliper to measure mid case lugs distance. Then I found out TC Sub mid cases lugs distances have variances, and the variances may be dramatically big. So I placed an order of 2 different SEL specs from the bracelet maker this time to solve the problem once for all. The specs are 20.10 (+/- 0.02) mm and 20.15 (+/- 0.02) mm. Before each assembly, I measure the lugs both the 6 and 12'clock sides. Then I can simply decide which spec bracelets to use to make that perfect gen like fitment. Caddell 25-295-C Rouge to the left. Gen V-series to the right. Thanks for reading. TC 3/6/14

What do you guys think Full service by VAC, WP, AR and the Gen strap.

Hmmm, looks just like the ones I made that nobody wanted 'cause they would have to put some labor into finishing them! Maybe I ought to make some more and list them for half-price?

JLC NSD

c'mon.. I think some red and blue Testor's would be ideal for a $9.5K piece of circular plastic.

Hobbies in general don't make economic sense. Factoring in your own labour, restoring vintage cars or building genensteins will rarely fetch the time/money put into a project. Just comes down to the pursuit of perfection which is directly correlated to your level of OCD; which tends to increase over time.

Sent from my droptop using telepathy.

Lv today.. Spider came along while I was taking my macros

here is BK,s page. he has just gone on holiday by the look of it.

"Jewels in Time" in Boca Raton, FL services Rolexes starting at $159. They've been advertising that price for years here in Palm Beach County and are quite legitimate. You can check their web site for information.

The process of modifying the watch is very gratifying in itself. For most, a "Franken" is not about getting it to be more like gen and saving a little money in the process, it's about the journey. To create a franken you must gen parts that are often difficult to come by, sometimes you need to modify parts of the rep case to make the gen crown fit or that gen bracelet. You've got to figure out how to attach the gen dial to the A2836 movement because the dial feet are in the wrong spot. Like you mentioned, you need a steady hand, a little know-how, and a lot of determination. At the end of the day you have a watch that means more to you than any rep or even any gen, this new watch is now a part of you! I hope this helps.

For some, it's the thrill of chasing down parts which can last months, in some cases, years. For others, it's the thrill of having an almost 100% gen watch for a fraction of the cost. In the end, it's all personal choices. Hang around a bit and maybe in 6 months, you will realize that the little tell on your dial and insert is starting to eat at you and you will get a gen one. Next, you will realize that a gen bracelet looks a little better than a rep. Once you have a gen dial in a franken, cutting the feet is pure insanity so you will go big and buy a gen movement... and so on and so forth.

Worst thing you can ever buy.... Rep sun glasses. You are jeopardising your health mate. And for what? 70 euros? Do a search!