marcl

On these reps -old with non correct bezel assy and new with the correct assy- cases back are oversized. Personally I have molded a tool using epoxy mixed with stainless steel powder.

To remove the plexi/bezel retaining ring, use a cutter blade and a hammer. Place the cutter blade between the case and the ring base and knock with the hammer. Do this gently at 12, 3, 6 and 9. When it starts to show a little space, lift gently with a harder blade or a little screwdriver. It will come off.

The crown length can be reduced, but if reduced, the tube must be seated a little more deep in its hole. This has to be made to avoid a space between the case and the crown when she is full screwed

Thats my Comex 1665 built last year, its the old type with the vrong bezel assy

Hi Rolexaddict,

When shortening the crown, could you not shave the tube a little rather than seating it a little deeper in it's hole?

Marc.

heyy guys.. i officially in need a of a vintage piece in my collection.. i cant do a small watch.. so i ditched my monte carlo.. i recently recieved the new 5512 from trusty... but the cg bother me!! theyre too short.. and the bezel moves freely.. dont know if thats normal.. anyways my questio what are some alternative cases to use besides mbw that will accept gen parts? i see that pt has some white 1680 subs with a 2846 movement.. can i used that and swap out the dial? all suggestions welcomed.. or if you have a 5512 you want to part with in conus that would also make life sweeter!

I think you may be giving up to soon. The 5512 from josh (same as trusty by the sounds of it) is a very nice watch. I agree the crown guards are a little short, but with a smaller crown and some work to the outside of the CG's, I have seen some miracles performed.

I have a 1680 and 5512 on the way from Josh and that's the first thing I will be doing. Also the crown is huge, making it look twice as bad.

You've got the watch now, may as well mod it, see how it goes.

Kind regards, Marc.

Hi check out my post (5513 project almost finished) i have trimmed up the crown without shortening it by grinding it at an angle at both ends to make it appear slimmer it was put in a watchmakers lathe

Hi aeromatic,

Just been reading your post, very nice indeed.

Is it not possible to shave the crown and shorten it, as JBM has done above? Would this not work better for you? As you are almost there. I don't think I would put a new crown on then.

Great post by the way, Well done with the watch it does look superb! Marc.

That's what I did to this one except I did it in the lathe. You might be able to chuck the crown in an electric drill then put a file to it while it's spinning...

Well what I was thinking is holding it in some pliers, the crown may even fit in the teeth of them. Bit of masking tape to protect them, and the grind it on a fine grinding wheel. and finishing by hand with a polishing stone. But the chuck idea is a good one.

So it worked for you? and you didn't have to shorten the stem?

The reason I ask is I have never modded a watch ever! But I'm not daft I know I can do it, if it is possible.

Thanks for your replies they are much appreciated, Marc.

I didn't need to but that's no guarantee...

I've just ordered the 5512 and 1680 from josh. I'm going to mod them as cheap as possible. So I was looking at a way to make the crown smaller without changing it.

I thought if I shave the inside of the crown and then re-shape it (round it off back to the way it should look) Then take a little off the tube. Would this work, or am I being stupid?

Kind regards, Marc.

After looking at the several reviews of this watch I decided it was probably worth that much in parts! My ultimate plans will probably put a 2846 and Snowflake dial in this case but in the meantime I'll just "age" it for a while. For the most part I don't buy reps anymore. If I want something I scrounge the parts and build it and this is in fact the first rep I've bought in about a year and my first purchase from Josh.

Normally "budget" watches have plastic movement spacers and other corners that have been cut, not so in here! I was pleasantly surprised to find the DG movement centered with a brass movement ring and secured with case clamps/tabs and screws. The case clamp screws had extremely shallow slots, so much so that it was hard to unscrew them, so I replaced them with better screws upon reassembly. Case back has very smooth threads and unscrews/screws in smoothly and the groove for the case back O-ring is machined into the case back instead of the case. The band is reasonable, with hollow mid-links and the usual sharp edges and loose screws. Every screw was at least 1/2 turn away from being tight!

My biggest gripe with the case is the short CGs, not much can be done about them other than putting a spot of weld on the tips and re-working. I suppose the CGs could get like this on an old well used watch that has seen a lot of buffer action. Even putting the crown on a diet doesn't help much. One other thing I thought odd is that the case is marke as a 5513 and I ordered a 5512 but I suppose it wouldn't be unheard of for the factories to use the same case for both.

The crystal retaining ring, it's great! The crystal retention ring is machined like the gens and MBWs I've copied with an angle cut on the bottom edge instead of a "step" like the PT watch. The tension washer looks to be stainless steel instead of brass which might account for the somewhat less smooth rotation I am experiencing on this.

The movement displays the DG logo/mark and appears quite clean. I put it on the timer and it was at about +3 sec/day face up and a beat-rate error I can live with.

I had intended to just wear this for a while but you guys are such bad influences I could only take about an hour of the tiny lug holes so it hadda come apart! I de-cased the movement, drilled the lugs to proper size, blended, and re-polished the case sides. I then drilled out the band and the end-links. When reassembling I replaced the standard spring bars with the more correct ofrei units.

I then planned on replacing the crown but found I was out of "good" 7mm Trip-Locks so I chucked the fat crown in the lathe and took off about .010" or so then milled off the top of the tube a corresponding amount. The result is a much better looking crown but the unfortunately, as mentioned before, it did little for the CGs.

OK, 'nuf jackin' my jaws so here's a couple pics after the two minor mods:

Here it is right out of the box, notice the itty-bitty lug holes.

Here's what it looks like under the hood.

A good close-up of the crystal ring.

Put back together.

At least the clasp has everything spelled correctly!

Hi JMB

Could you tell me, if I file down the crown to make it smaller and file the tube to match, do i need to shorten the stem?

Kind regards, Marc.

Is it possible to take out the crown and stem, and using a Dremmel reduce the size of the crown? Does the internal thread go all the way inside the crown? If you could do this then would the stem need to be shortened?

Kind regards, Marc.

Has anyone tried the Green LV insert from Cousins UK? It seems to be the correct colour and the pearl looks ok. I have been meaning to change mine in my noob LV for some time as it is a bit dark kind of olive in colour. The problem is the pictures on Cousins aren't very big.

Kindest regards, Marc.

It has sub bezel

I think it's meant to be a 16710, but it has a plexi. I was wondering if i could polish the edges of the bezel a little, would it look better? not sure myself.

When ever i look for a vintage GMT they always have a wokky rehaut or some serious flaw that makes them look to much like a rep. Where as this one looks pretty good.

What do you think? no good?

Thanks, Marc.

I guess I will buy 2 for myself! 5512 and 1665 Comex !!!

Thanks! You just made the day of my banker !

I need then to have them shipped to PBdad for a beat up on the Comex and a gen service/2846 on the 5512.

I knew I shouldn't have come around here this morning!

The 5512 is not offered with a 2846. that is the old version with the not correct bezel construction.

Didn't want you to order the wrong one!

Marc.

Found this and just wanted to ask the vintage experts what they all think?

I can't find much wrong with it myself, The best I have been able to find, I think. But Don't then I might just be setting myself up for a fall here. I would change the insert for a Pepsi and age it a bit. And polish the case and bezel to round it off a bit.

First pic is a gen i found on the web.

Anyway what do you all think?

Thanks in advance, Marc.

P.S. I have not provided a link as I do not know if he is a recomended dealer here, But you don't have to be Columbo to work it out, as I could not mask the name in the photo. So if the Mods are not happy Then I am sorry. Just remove the post. Thanks again.

Is it not possible to add a spot of stainless steel weld to these crown guards, so you can rework them?

Marc.

do u guys have the link from josh's site?? is this compareable to the mbw?

I think this should do it: http://www.1-pc8838.com/rlsv01107-vintage-5512-660ft200m-date-a2813-28800-p-9668.html

Isn't it Star69?

Kind regards, Marc.

okay no believer :

vs his SD - non gen like construction

cheers,

Frank

Hi frank,

That looks pretty damn fine, Have you any opinions on Josh's 1680? It has the same construction and looks very nice but I was wondering if them crown guards looked a bit small.

Love to hear your opinion if you have one.

Kindest regards. Marc.

on mine - the screw thread was bent connecting it to the clasp so I cant just replace the link

if it were 90% of other screws, it would have been ok

just annoying -yours could be fine

Sorry to hear that. Is the overall look and quality good?

Kind regards, Marc.

Its the crown. Its too big. With a micro setting on a camera its HUGE lol

Hi tonyp1,

What do you think of the bracelet?

Kind regards, Marc.

i just received my new one from josh - the braclet is crap - i have to replace it which is annoying

What's wrong with it? they seem ok from the pics I have seen on here.

Always seems one step foward, two back in the rep game. Frustrating! I really want to get a 1680 but when I emailed Josh, maybe 6 months ago, he said don't bother yet, there is a better version coming out soon. Now it's out the crown guards are tiny and the bracelet is crap.

Kindest regards. Marc.

I recently received a (2nd) 1680 from Josh, this time the 21J. No plastic ring and it takes a clark 127 just fine unlike the PT where it needs a plastic ring and the crystal fits too tightly over the case. Also, the tube takes a gen 703 crown.

I just wish Josh's 1680 had better and meatier crown guards.

Yep the crown guards are a little small, but they do seem to vary from pic to pic. I also think the oversized crown makes them look smaller. Might not be so bad with a gen crown.

Do you have any pics of your second 1680 from Josh? And what do you think of it, any other flaws as such?

Kindest regards, Marc.

If I were to get one, it would be this one,

http://www.1-pc8838.com/rlsv01017-vintage-1680-white-subalternative-swiss-2846-p-8533.html

I'd plan on spending $75-100 to service the 2846, put a gen crown on it and trim the cg's and then beat the you know what out of it.

That's the old version. do you think it's more accurate than this? http://www.1-pc8838.com/rlsv01104-vintage-1680-white-asia-2813-28800-best-p-9665.html This is the newer one.

Also the new one is supose to take gen parts (not sure how accurate that claim is though)and no longer has the plastic ring.

Kindest regardss, Marc.

I just wanted to ask all the vintage experts out there what they think of the new version of Josh's 1680?

I have not seen many people talk about it, apart from tonyp1 who has just got his. Looking at josh's discription and from what I understand it has a better 'same as genuine' bezel/crystal construction. No pastic retaining ring! It has an updated dial and apart from the large crown looks to be a very accurate rep.

But thats just my opinion and I'm no expert.

So the question is, if The experts here would be so kind to answer before I get one. Is this as good as it looks? Or am I missing something?

Kindest regards. Marc.

These are pretty nice, the crown is Waaaaay too big. First mod would be a genuine crown. Supposedly the Tube will work with a genuine crown, but even if it didn't a Clark tube will only set you back about 17-20 bucks. These have a 2846 motor , so it's slow beat almost the same as the genuine 1570 that was in your genuine. Pretty nice silver date wheel too. Bezel /crystal attachment is weird, not at all like the genuine. You can get genuine inserts to fit, probably with some sanding and glue. I don't think genuine bezels will work, at least without modifications of the machinist nature.All in all a pretty darn nice rep at a very reasonable price. It's not and old skool MBW that takes genuine parts with no mods, but they are in another price bracket as well, when you can find one.

I think this is the updated version of the one you mention. It has a 2836 or an a2813 and has a different bezel construction 'same as genuine'. As far as I am aware the plastic retaining ring has gone aswell. Also the dial has been updated.

I am going to start a new thread about this watch because I think alot of people have overlooked this watch (and because I want one) , not realising it is an updated version. And quite frankley a very nice and IMO accurate rep.

Kindest regards, Marc.

IMO, a must as well. Josh is down for the New Year until Feb 12th but that is the latest and greatest version. It will take gen parts, an ETA mvt, hands are the same. The only thing that doesn't work is the dial feet. You will need to clip those if you put in a slow beat ETA.

The reconditioned ETA 2846 that Joshua sells will need service when you get it and it's on an older version.

Jim

Yeah but what is wrong with buying the $98 version, not modding it, just putting it on your wrist. It looks pretty goods to me, better than pretty good!

Kindest regards, Marc.

I know I am not an expert, but I really am finding it hard to see many flaws with this watch, at least not without being super picky. Yes I can see that the crown is too big and maybe the hands are a little different in that the borders around the lume are a little thicker, but i'm not sure you could see this without a loupe to be honest. I can't see much wrong with the insert, dial or crystal. Compared to the gen pic I have.

Looks excellent to me, damn fine!

But I do have one question. What about the A2813 version? Low beat just the same, alot of people say they are a decent workhorse and $98! Surely a must, no?

Kindest regards. Marc.

these are the Omega brushes. Just had to orders 2 of these because of the handles!

Merkur HD (best razor in the world IMO) with Astra blades (made by Gillette)

2 super badger vulfix 374 brushes

1 pure bristle vulfix 374 brush

couple of other bristle brushes

and two new Omega pure bristle brushes on the way

proraso cream

proraso soap

palmolive classic cream

williams cream

weleda cream

just keep rotating

Oh and weleda after shave balm.