Ronin

Got any Blue Rolex dials you want to get rid of?

This is the 3804 aka 21j-GMT. Note the top plate that keeps everything "tight" from slipping... (If you see a 2683-mod, the "bolt on is obvious/sloppy") The 3804 has an actual date wheel carrier. This translates to NO overlay on top of original ETA datewheel on Mod-2836. Also, the "stock 3804B" date wheel aligns with most Gen/Rolex 15xx date windows out of the box!

Every ETA 2836 w/GMT mod has failed prematurely for me, or 'drifted'. IF you plan on using the GMT hand setting a lot, or not using a winder and letting doing a lot of date changes (the mechanism is interlinked) BEWARE. On the other hand, the DG3804 (aka 21j GMT) seems to be a little more resiliant. No slippage of the GMT hand. The tradeoff is simple: 28,800 Beat rate on the Mod-2836 but less reliable (IMHO) vs 21,600 Beat rate, more reliable, and costs $30 to R&R every ~8 or so years instead of servicing. Edit to add: It is my understanding there is NO SUCH THING AS A SWISS 2836-GMT. And chances of someone (rep maker) taking a Swiss base 2836 and adding the Chinese Module is slim, and still worthless.

Very Nice. What are the details of the build?

In order: 1.) Remove tell's / flaws 2.) Learning / Tikering & wasting DAYS on eBay and forums is fun ;-) 3.) Improve reliability. (Not so much true with some recent HQ reps)

An equally awful rep. :-(

There is no rep. There was an attempt by Parnis, but it is 21mm, not distressed yet, and you need to file off Parnis http://www.ebay.com/itm/221383142315. This seems to be the goto at the moment- http://www.strappedfortime.com/shop/item.aspx/bomber-jacket-leather-watch-band-strap/248/

Pre-5512/13 = 6536/6538~5508/10 ??? On the budget side there were Silix cases. Or you can check out helenrou or rafflestime, but their dial size requirement is larger.

Awful pictures at TT's site. Color can't be right in those photos. He needs to do the Video and better photos.

My wife calls my 1016 "The Don Draper" after the fact it was his ~Season 4 watch.

Some of the best dials around

Amazing. Are those cracks in the Acrylic?

Good point on the hands. Where does one procure TC hands these days?

WoW! That looks amazing. Surprised how well the WSO endlinks worked.

How I view things: Homage - Looks like a well know brand/watch, but without infringing logos. (i.e. Sterile, Invicata Submariner, etc.) 0% genuine parts of actual brand Replica - Looks like a well known brand/watch, WITH brand logos. Will fool the uninformed, but probably not a WIS/us. 0% genuine parts of actual brand. SuperReplica - Looks like a well known brand/watch, WITH brand logos. (e.g. 1:1) Will fool most people, but probably not 1 in 500,000 or actual watch maker/AD. 0% genuine parts of actual brand. Modified SuperReplica - See above, but with easily swapped genuine parts added to supplement. (Crystal, Bezel, Strap/Band) - 25%+ genuine parts Frankenstein - at lest 60% genuine parts, making it indistinguishable (externally) from a gen. Able to fool a watch maker/AD on cursory inspection (not opening it, operating it). > = 60% Gen Swap-Job/Conversion - Converting say a 1601 into a 1016, gen movement, with perhaps a non-essential aftermarket part or 2 (tube, crystal, hands, bezel) - 85%-100% Genuine Parts. Johnny Cash - "One Piece at a Time" (song reference) - 100% Genuine, scavenging parts as you find them, and building an actual genuine watch. NOT "Numbers matching" (Technically, the ultimate Frankenstein)

gilt is good

I have a Seiko SPRING DRIVE GMT SNR015 and absolutely LOVE IT! (Basically a GS, targeted for US Market before they officially brought the GS to the USA in 2012.) My vintage Seiko's are on-par, as a tool watch, with my Rolex's (Gen). Great brand. My 20yr old Seiko Diver is my daily beater. Serviced once in 20yrs by Zigmeister. Images of what I have (harvested from the net): Gotta love the 72 hour power reserve & SMOOTH sweep.

Here is my 1016 from a 1601 from a few years ago: http://www.rwgforum.net/topic/151625-1016-wip-almost-fin/ http://www.rwgforum.net/topic/151625-1016-wip-almost-fin/ - for more build photos.

Find an indepenent shop. It should be about 1/2 that price. Omega parts are not like Rolex parts, and the non-AD watchmaker should be able to accomodate you and your special request to keep the vintage hands.

"Office" Setup (small room 10'x12') Marantz PM6005 (previously Marantz 2270) B&W 686 Speakers NuForce u192s DAC (192/24 from Macbook via Optical to Marantz DAC 192-to-192 capable. (HDTracks)) Technics 1210M5G Turntable (Highly Customized 'audiophiled' 'KAB' with Ortofon BLACK and sometimes Denon-DL110 cartridge.) Beyerdynamics DT770 PRO 250ohm Headphones