alligoat

there are no reps of the 1603- all you can do is buy old parts and build a franken

Looks like the movement on that Explorer 6298 would be the A296- same as some of the early subs had..

You can certainly install a gen crown, but you probably will have to install a new 7030 tube also. This is one of the earlier MBWs so the gen crystal won't work- look at the rehaut- it's not correct for a 16610 case. You got a decent deal- the movement and the dial are worth what you paid for the watch. Best bet would be to get a TC case or a TW case from BK and go from there. Get a gen like gold bezel and hopefully your gen insert will sit in the bezel better. Your insert in the MBW bezel is sitting too high- the insert should sit below the edge of the bezel. You could file the back side of the insert and it might sit correctly in the bezel, but you'll never get rid of the wacky rehaut w/o getting a better case. These 6-10 year old MBW cases were fine back in the day, but now the Euromariners (newer MBW), WM9s, TC and BK TW cases are all better.

Gen DJ dial measured 27.87mm on my chinese calipers. Justin and mystere have two good options.

It could be a problem! The rep DJ cases typically take a little larger dial than the Rolex DJ cases and it seems like a gen DJ dial is still 27.6mm and could be as much as 28mm- just don't remember! The Ranger dial will fit in a 1500 Date case or a 5500 case, but as you say, those are 34mm cases. But I wear my 1500 Dates all of the time and the difference between those and a DJ isn't that much, IMO.

The seller is Jed on VRF so the cases are probably ok as are the inserts etc.The cases have been polished and probably rebeveled.

http://www.marcellocomezzi.com/ Worked for me

The 5513 was made for 30 years- from 1960 to 1990! There are bunches of crystals- just check Ofreis and look at their selection. www.ofrei.com Notice the sizes also vary.. here's one from jandkwatches http://www.ebay.com/itm/Plastic-Plexi-Watch-Crystal-For-Fit-Rolex-Tropic-19-Swiss-Made-/300731202037?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4604f9f9f5 this is the flatter variety- I guess you'd call it later. Which crystal you get depends on which model of watch you're trying to replicate- early, middle or late 5513 You could also buy extra crystals and play around and see which you like best.

Interesting about Marcello Comezzi- so maybe it is an Italian case! It apparently sold once and is now listed again at the $14,598.00 price. With the bad pictures, it's hard to tell if the parts are gen or not. Guess i'll watch it in my ebay!

Sure enough, here's the M092117- later model noob- successor to the F520117 noob, with the asian 2836-2. http://www.ttw888.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_7&products_id=3846

It sure would be nice if the forum would let you post links! http://www.ttw888.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_7&products_id=10894 This looks like the 108B sub you were inquiring about. It looks decent- crown guards are good, The 2824-2 made to look like a Rolex 3135 could be questionable- hope it holds up. I doubt the bezel construction is gen-like, something the TC and BK 16610 reps have, but they run $500 +. http://www.ttw888.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_7&products_id=256 This is the first watch you posted and it's the original noobmariner with the F520117 serial number. Whether you get an actual 2836-2 in the swiss version is highly doubtful. This is a kind of dated watch- it was great in 2007, but now days the BK and TC 16610s are better- but of course more expensive. You can get the noob for $158 with the asian 21j movement (plus s&H) http://www.ttw888.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_7&products_id=257 Or check some of the other dealers or even Trusty and see if you can get the noobmariner with the asian 2836-2. Noobs are great beaters, but the more you get into the hobby the more you'll want a BK or a TC, if the 16610 is your thing.

The end links that fit the 18238 case won't fit the 118238 case. 1803, 18038 and 18238 cases had the flat spot between the lugs, but the 118238 went back to the more rounded case between the lugs. But you can probably fit a rep bracelet on there with the 455B end pieces- like on this 116208 that I built Otherwise I've never seen gold end pieces for a case like yours. Another possibility would be go to someone like Josh or trusty and see if you could buy a rep strap with the gold endpieces- since all rep gold cases (or most) have the rounded case between the lugs

Did you read Trusty's description? It says "Front Glass: Sapphire."

Ingod dials come like that- I'm very pleased with mine- hands are a slightly different color but look better than the photo

The links working for me but I'm on my laptop, not a small something or other. I think Phong and his son get away with what they're doing because everything is vintage and Rolex's patents have run out.

I don't think a T-21 or a T-22 will work for you- I just measured a T-21 with an ID of the crystal of 28.12mm. Seems like T-22 was similar- maybe thicker on the OD. Last time I was trying to find a replacement for a rep crystal, I found the SternKruz section of the CousinsUK online catalog to be helpful.

Oops! I forgot to include Phong (jewelryandwatch.com) in the list of Vietnamese sellers. Probably the most expensive of the three. And his son is also out there in the Phoenix area- changed his name recently to Vintage Watchmaker LLC from World Time Inc.

http://vintagewatchesmq.com/minhquy/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=96&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1 As far as I can figure, vietnamese cases are fairly limited. http://ndtradingcorp.com/zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=456 Looking at the pics, I'd figure Minh Quy

Beautiful! And using the 1655 case worked out well- congrats!

The MinhQ dial is all wrong- the serifs on 'Sea Dweller' are all wrong and a dead giveaway- stay away from that dial if you do swap out dials. The MinhQ dial is all wrong- the serifs on 'Sea Dweller' are all wrong and a dead giveaway- stay away from that dial if you do swap out dials.

You're going to be better off buying the rep from trustytime. Gathering parts will certainly cost you more- especially if you go for an expensive MBW 16610 case. JMB has the maxi dial, but as he said it's not really correct. dial, bracelet crown and tube hands, movement Case, By the time you get all of the parts, it'll probably be more than the $298 + $20 s&h for trusty's watch. And trusty's watch doesn't look all that bad- drill the lugholes and trim the cgs and you'll have a nice rep- esp. if it's WR!

The guys over at RG have bought a few and I think the response has been favorable. http://www.repgeek.com/showthread.php?t=232899 watchguyusa1 also posted over there- he put his watch on a strap, still looked good. You just have to keep reminding yourself that it's a rep of a $100,000+ watch- don't take it too seriously- it's still a rep!

+1 I used a GS PA 462-67A.

I don't think the insert is an F series! It's early Y series or pre Y series. Mid Y series had triangular 4 in 40, no lugholes and the new 16610 T case. This is the late Y serial This is the early Y serial with lugholes WRONG INSERT!

I doubt it. The V72 was 13 ligne typically which is around 29mm. Can the seller measure the case on the outside for you? A lot of the V72 watches did have small cases- 34-36 mm.