alligoat

Thanks guys. Here's a quick pic with the R serial on the right and my Euromariner 16610 on the left- look at how much taller the lugs on the Euro are. I don't know if the 16610T case is tall like the Euro or more like the lugholed R serial The R serial 16610 looks almost the same as the 16800s that I own- only tell is the rehaut which is taller on the 16610.

Don't forget that there are two styles of 703 crowns- you've got the old style tall crown pictured- it looks the same as the 702 crown. The new style short crown is just like the 704 crown. The new style short 703 crown came out around 2000 give or take.

standard eta stem for a 2824-2/2836-2 with the .9mm thread

Building a 6265 isn't cheap, and certainly not for the feint of heart, but you can possibly do it for half of what Phong charges. Of course, Phong makes some mods that most people don't bother with, like the mods to the V72 movement- who is going to see those anyway? You could also use a DW case and save a bundle. Other people also carry parts like Yuki that are less expensive. And building it yourself takes longer- sometimes a year or two- but it should be cheaper. All of Phong's parts are aftermarket, but they are of good quality. But others have parts that are also decent quality- you just have to keep looking around and be patient. Also, you'll have to find a watchmaker to put the watch together for you, depending on how easily all of the parts fit together, that could be $500 or more. But there are alternatives to Phong, you just have to check them out and then decide which way you want to go.

A couple of weeks ago I ran across a very nice 16610- the earliest model- an R serial. These came out in 1988 around the time the 16800 was ending- the last of the 16800s had an earlier R serial. Also, the 168000 was in production during that time with the new 904L case. But whereas the 168000 had the 3035 movement, same as the 16800, the 16610 had the new 3135 movement and the 904L steel case. This watch was priced fairly and in very nice condition. So I picked it up and have been very happy with it. This watch does have an aftermarket bezel insert- note the smaller pearl, but sooner or later I'll get around to putting a gen in there. I've even got a nice boxy 4 gen insert in my 16800 matte dial franken that I could use, but I'd rather try to find the earlier more triangular 4 insert that came on those subs from that period- Rolex used the same parts for the 16800/168000 and 16610 during the 1987-88 period- insert, bezel, dial, hands, crown and tube. So many parts on those three models of subs are interchangeable, it's amazing. This watch has the original dial, hands, crystal, the tall crown and original tube. The one thing that surprised me was how the lugs are not tall- they're very similar to the 16800s that I own. Not at all like the Euromariner 16610 that I have. The bracelet is the 93150 with 501 B end pieces and is marked S 6 on the clasp. I don't know if it's a service replacement, but it is in mint condition. But the whole watch is in mint condition with the exception of the aftermarket insert. One nice thing is the original date wheel with the open 6s and 9s- these were on the early 16610s for a few years and then they switched to the current type of DW with the closed 6s and 9s. Here's a wrist shot w/ todays date The tritium is getting a nice patina on the dial and the hands are a shade lighter. There is a feint glow at 4 am when I go to the bathroom! By the way, SN is R698,xxx which is the earliest I've seen on a 16610. Hope you enjoy the pics.

Nice build! You do realize that all three watches were built during the 1988 period- the 16800, 168000 and the 16610 and that they all used the exact same dial. If your dial came directly out of a 168000, then I guess you can call this franken a 168000, but it's really more like a 16610 with the ST3135 case and the 2824-2 movement. It's too bad the ST3035 case with the shallower rehaut is no longer available.

The watch looks ok for a 16610, the bezel insert isn't exactly correct, but pearl looks ok, cgs are fine. If you went for the $128 asian 2813 version, how can you go wrong? It would be interesting to see what the bezel construction is- maybe like a noob?

Who is TSWatch? For $248 with the Asian 2836 (made to look like a 3135) it wouldn't be too bad a deal. The SL looks interesting. Too bad they can't just give you an Asian 2836 w/o the foo foo to make it a quasi 3135.

These are 1665s, but like Freddy says, they vary in shape this is a GWSD- similar to a 5513 of that era- 1977 or so and another gen 1665 So I say find the crystal you like and go for it!

If you got DW to send you a case for the valjoux movement, the movement should fit in the case. But there are no guarantees. that's just the nature of the DW cases and this hobby. Also, as LHOOQ pointed out, there are some V72 movements that are bigger than the standard 13 lignes which is around 29mm. This Heuer had bigger plates and couldn't be made to fit in a DW V72 case, but another Wittnauer V72 did. Heuer V72 on the left, Rep 6238 on the right Undertaking a V72 build is not for the feint of heart, and don't forget to bring your checkbook along for the ride- it's going to take some serious money.

Rehaut on this Explorer II looks to be the same as the gen 16610 This 16710 might be a tad less, but not much So I'm not sure I buy your argument

Congrats on the build- definitely a labor of love- looks great!

This is a DW case on ebay and this is his new ebay name http://www.ebay.com/itm/231079288866?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_217wt_1123 qkyvaljouxshop DW has had his ups and downs, he's somewhat of a gamble these days. You can ask for the valjoux cases. Hopefully it all works out ok. For the price, his cases have always been the best deal. This is his 6239 7750 case with a cartel 6238 dial and 7750 movement

What is a DSN case? I'm familiar w/ a DW case, but not a DSN.

They're all good for starters, so it really comes down to what you like best. Real DRSDs are very expensive today, so I don't have a rep of that watch. Red subs are a little more reasonable, but no one will probably notice. GMTs are maybe the safest bet- the gens were reasonably priced until lately- and probably no one will notice. But it's really what you like best

I do find it interesting how Rolex kept producing the 5513 w/ the 1520 movement and the Explorer I with the 1570 up until around 1989-90.

Seems a bit overpriced to me. Looking at the back of the dial, I guess it's a late model dial- late 80s.

I was reading yesterday over at one of the other forums that the crown and tube are 8 mm. And I haven't seen any replacement ones around. Rafflestime has the 8 mm set up but it's for the old 6538 (and 5510) so it's not the same thing. Maybe the dealer could send you a replacement crown and tube and you (or a watchmaker) could put them in. beats sending the watch back to China.

Yes, Freddy's caseback is correct for the DRSD, which he has. Here's the correct caseback for the GWSD

When you buy a watch with the Asian 21j movement, it helps to have a backup plan for when it breaks down! You should be able to buy another 2813 and swap it in for less than $40. Maybe $60 or $70 if you have to pay a watchmaker to do it. Certainly cheaper than buying another watch for $178.

Another guy, bonesey, primarily over at RWI, is doing stuff with dial feet. As I recall, it's similar to your method where he uses a template, sets the feet and then glues them to the dial which he sets on the template.

Nice build and the dial feet trick is pretty cool. Good tutorial!

Here's the cartel 6238 dial w/ the A7750. I put it in the DW 6239 case. Martin and I call it the redundant dial since it has two tachymeter scales, one on the dial and one on the bezel. But with a plain bezel, you'd have a 6238

No, the 7750 won't fit the Venus dial holes. If you had a cartel dial w/ the 7750 it might fit in the case.

Try Josh- he has the vintage 5513, 5512 and 1680 with decent cases, only drawback is the stubby crown guards, but they will take gen crystals.