chiman12

Wow! She is a beaut R! Congrats! Vintage FF are one of my favorites...

docdoc...I'll create a little tut shortly star69...yes...you will need the complete bezel assembly...

Ronin... Cheap...21J and disable the quick set function so that it behaves like gen Expensive...acquire used 2836 GMT movement and swap over GMT parts to 2846

You are correct R...completely blind-sided me on this one, because the tube thread diameter will be completely different...3.0mm versus 2.5mm.

Curse you Addict! It looks good! Your pic is making me excited for my 1675 project...

rm88...this is correct...for a relatively cheap price and a little work and time invested, you'll have a really nice vintage rep!

based on the lugs it's definitely a bubbleback, the dial definitely has been refinished...poorly. The crown might not be original Kinda looks like this one, but with a redial and different hands http://www.bubblebac...gories_cat_id=6

Is it done yet R??? What's taking you so long???

Ronin...the asian movement actually has quick set functions and I'm not sure if the dial is glued on, but it should be no problem to disable the quick set function, on the ETA, it is simply one little gear. alli...it is white...and I agree with you on the etching, but it is better than the sloppy stamping they had on older reps... The reason I'm not not really concerned about the innards and the dial of the 1655 is that I want to try to convert it into a good looking 1675. Since, the 1655 is suppose to be 1:1 construction, it might make a good base for a 1675 project...so stay tuned!!!!

I excitedly rushed to the post office right after work today and picked up my spanking new PC (Josh) 1655! This is the new 1:1 version, but with the Asian movement. I wanted to explore the potential of the PC 1655, so I didn't upgrade to the more elaborate 2836 movement. I know there are already reviews in this forum, but I figured that this review would be coming from a little different point of view. Sssssssoooooo....let the good times roll!!!! I believe that I got the older version, because the markers don't quite touch the rehaut. None the less, the dial printing is crispy, the "II" is just the right size and not overinflated like on some of the NDT, Yuki, or J&W dials. The magnification of the cyclope is a bit weaker as compared to the gen 116 crystal and the faceted edge is finished really well...a good rep of a crystal! The bezel fonts are great, but they are a little thin, maybe slapping more gloss black paint on it would thicken the fonts up. As a few members mentioned already, the sore point of the piece is the hands. The 24 hour hand color is perfect for later 1655, but should be a bit more orange and match the lineage of the "T SWISS T" dial. The crown guards is well finished right out of the box. It may need a little bit of reworking, but otherwise, it could be left alone. As for the twin lock crown, I believe the asians perfected the production of this twinlock crown...most likely from all the various models of Datejusts that are produced!!! Now...on to the spotlight of this piece that everyone is talking about...the bracelet!!! The links are folded over and finished with perfection and speaks highly of the replication process to recreate this classic bracelet. The stamping on the clasp is deep and nice. None of the sloppiness that the old rep clasps had... Finally, the coronet on the clasp is stamped very well with slight distortion at the edges... Engravings between the lugs and in the case back are deep and tidy... Okay...your saying "so what chiman...this is just another f*cking boring review, what's the point? I know I'm going to buy the 1655 already because it is sssooo gggooooddd!!" NOW ON TO THE CHIMAN WATCH SURGERY TABLE...the destruction begins...I proceed to tear everything part... Oh look, no silly plastic retainer ring around the crystal...like on the 1665. The crystal fits tight via the bezel... Nice shot of the mid case and the asian movement... Now onto the goods...when I took the watch apart, I actually did some measurements for the RWG community, because everyone was asking if gen parts would fit "this" or "that". Bezel OD=37.75mm, ID=30.05mm Diameter of crystal seat on case OD=29.08mm Crystal OD=30.07mm Case ID (where the movement sits) = 28.20mm Width of rehaut opening on case=27.00mm Width of PC dial=27.95mm Now... I have a spare NDT 1655 dial handy and it is 27.37mm in diameter. So a gen-like dial will fit, but it would require some accuacy in trying to line up the 0.37mm difference with the rehaut opening. I also have an InGod dial and this measures in at 27.38mm The conclusion? The PC 1655 is a great rep and gen-like parts could fit onto PC 1655, and as a result, a great looking franken could be made cheaply. Now...time to determine the further potential of the 1655 case...

Actually...this is not necessary true, due to aging, the orange can become a dull orange brown...here is a 7032 from Antiquorum...

I'll pay $1.25...

Thanks guys!!! red...I actually bought the dial itself a long time ago in it's beat up condition on E-Bay. It has been sitting in my parts box ever since. Andy...I thought the case looked like a bubble back also! I tried numerous to fit numerous Rolex end links on it, but they all didn't seem to fit, they weren't quite curved enough and the lugs look like they stick straight out... Rolex 5048 LH...that sounds like a good idea! I finally did get a case for my FF...hhmmmm

While waiting for some parts to come in for my projects, I was looking at the extra parts that I still had in my parts bin. I discovered that I actually had a few interesting parts and then proceed to wonder what type of watch a miltary officer would wear. I had a California Tudor dial handy and I've always like the looks of the dial, but the matte finish on the dial was "beat." So I resprayed the dial with Kryon matte finish and the result I got was an antique, pebblish finish, with a slight patina to the markers. I also had an extra Tudor 2483 kicking around. So I proceed to put it all together, using sub hands... I need a case to house the dial and movement and I had a gen Tudor 7996 case available. The case is only 34mm (JMB style baby!!), but I thought this case size would be appropriate for a officer to wear in the 60's. The only problem is that the 7996 original had a date function and the crystal had a cyclope. The crystal was also the new style with the bevelled edge. I really like the edge, but of course the cyclope had to go. So I proceed to file down the cyclope with my hobby file. I filed the cyclope down until it was pretty much flat with the crystal. Then I sand the rough marks down with a 6 micron sandpaper... I hit the crystal with the buffer and the results were perfect! I especially love the finish of the dial...it's a little different. Shown at an angle to so that you can see more of the characteristics of the "pebbling" The complete package with a black NATO strap... Looks like a good officer's watch too me!!! Thanks!

Wow! A bunch of nice 1016's recently! Very nice andy!

...and even the socks that he was wearing when he took the pics!

Me too! Me too!

If you ask DW, I bet he'll pull the auction and sell you the movement and the case...

Beautiful build chief! This makes me want to start out on a 16520 quest of my own!!!

The 2462 you could use on a 7016 or a 7021 project. Take out the date wheel for a 7016 or leave it in for the 7021. In addition, the 24XX is my choice for vintage non-date rollie projects, because it has the proper beat rate. All you really need is an ETA adapter.

Yes...lets not forget...I haven't forgot...I remember I couldn't sleep at all the night before it happened...and I never get insomnia...

bahahahahaha!!! Love it Red!!!

This is getting interesting...seems that watchestoyou360 (aka Halo) tried to pull the same stunt in the past. Tried to pass of a rep Explorer as gen. http://www.rolexforu...d.php?p=1323971 DANG!!!!...this COULD make a good movie!!!! Reminds me of Leo Dicaprio's movie "Catch Me If You Can"!!!

yeah...yeah...yeah...M! I retracted my comments and also recently bought a Josh 1655...

M! Superbly writtten! Your threads just might have to be stickys for future referencing!