phillycheez

Agreed. I don't see the benefit either. The great thing about Subs is they keep their value. It's not likely you will lose money if you bought it at a fair price. A gen is a gen. Why devalue it? Taking those parts and making a cheaper franken... Well, for anyone who has gone down the franken route know... When it comes to time to sell, it's a guarantee big loss. Just ain't worth it.

Ah. My bad, you are right. A new 93250 is about $1,200. Used will range between $800-1k

I've bought and sold a few 93150 bracelets. Only ones I've ever seen sell for $1k are BNIB from a reputable dealer on TRF who imo were selling at rip off prices. Garbage stretched bracelets sell for as low as $400... Really depends on the condition as they vary. Getting a bracelet from RSC is possibly the cheapest option. I think it's only $500 from them. I can't remember but it's a steal of a deal if you know someone with a Rolex that can get it from them.

You're pretty off on those numbers... More like $800 for the bracelet (and that's with no stretch). $250 for the bezel is about right. $125 for the insert. $300 for the dial. $125 for the crystal. The case I dunno but probably at least $1,200 (I would assume more considering a phong is $1k). Serviced movement is probably $1,400.. Maybe more. Really depends on the condition of everything. In the end... Usually the sum of the parts adds up to what it's really worth.

Haha... Yeah they definitely won't upgrade your watch but they definitely don't mind downgrading your red 1680 into a service white 1680. Or replace your 702 crown with 703. Not to mention replacing your old plexi that has reliability issues with a new service plexi. But imo considering there's only two RSC's (SF and Dallas) I can think of that will touch a vintage rolex, switching out parts for service/better parts through your watchmaker is okay and normal now. There will be a day no RSC will take a vintage. Laser welding is a whole notha ball game. That will always be wrong.

It would be hypocritical for them to be against part swapping when RSC does it all the time.

I've dealt with jacek and his partner multiple times and trust them fully. Even been to their store front in SF.

Well I understand the part swapping... That's a live and well and I thought it was a commonly known practice. The Rolex Vintage market is a scary place if you believe people that say it's "all original". If I ever buy a gen vintage again the only thing that I only care about is that it at least has period correct parts for that specific model. Easier to sell and keeps it's value better. But currently I have no plans on buying vintage again. I realized I am waaay too picky and only a personalized franken build would satisfy my specific tastes in patina. I sold my last gen 5513 cause the dial markers mismatched the hand lume by just a smidgen!

Interesting indeed. I've heard of suspicions on him a long time ago. He sells stunning pieces for a 20% premium over market. If he's really restoring them... Who is his modder! He's the best I've ever seen and is the Michelangelo of lume jobs. And why hasn't anyone who has sold him a watch come out and say he's modified it? If he's been doing it, someone by now would have caught him with old photos of the same watch to compare.

Amazing. Could you post the specs?

You guys are too much. Patina varies widely and nobody really knows why they end up that way. Matching hands and faded inserts were a rarity up until the last 10 years. It's a vintage phenomena... Or rather part swapped and priced accordingly... :/ My tastes I like vintage egg white on 1665s. Vintage cream and orange patina on 5512, 5513, and 1655s. Always matching hands for me, and fat font inserts with a creamy pearls. I like fat lugs, thick crown guards and sharp edges. Pretty much a clean unpolished baby. Primo example gens is what I like and after owning and selling a couple sweet 5513s I've realized a Franken project will only satisfy my needs for perfection. OP get what ever color you think looks best!

Thanks! MBW 5513 modified case w/ drilled lugs Gen crown and tube Gen t19 crystal Gen service insert Gen hands and dial Slow beat ETA I didn't modify it personally. Bought it off a member who purchased from ubi. Work of art really.

Genius idea with the hour hand! Never heard of anyone doing that. The Mercedes hand is correct too but the lollipop is definitely preferred. Nice job. I'm a fan too!

Where did you get the hands? Nice job so far. It's okay if you go overboard on CGs ad its plausible over the years its been polished monthly for decades.

Yes! Finally vintage love. Thank you so much for your efforts!

Considering I've been there... And done it and now back to Frankens.. Do it! It's the only way to rid of that craving for a gen. It will eat away at you from the inside until you do. Good luck! And please try not to buy it off eBay..

Am I really the only one here who wants the Tudor snowflake!?! In for a flake, 5513, 1680..

Damn... That's a great idea.

High end mail service does exist so you don't have to do that.... but it is a reason to go to Switzerland!

Oh my... God. Would like to know more about that case!

Considering they are $500-$1000 right now I'm pretty surprised. In the market for one now and seriously considering it... Sadly.

Fair price for #1. Prefer to never have the case restored though. Number 2 isn't worth $6500... Even with b&p. I've seen way too many nice 1680 examples for under $6k to ever choose something that. If I was still looking... Perfect dial with matching hands, silver date, excellent case, and fat font insert with tritium pearl. For $5.5-6k that is easily possible. Personally I would pass on both... This is vintage Rolex, be as picky as possible if you are going for a premo example. If ya dig fat font inserts a nice one with tritium pearl go for $700-800... I'm in the market for one now and kinda wish I just bought one that came with one.

Actually the build quality of Ginault is up there with the best of them. I love it... It's actually survived my constant watch flipping for a year now. I already have plans for it, replace crystal with big crowns (AR Cyclops) and get my family crest printed on the dial. It's actually turning out to be the one ill be passing down to the kids (that don't exist). I own a gen 5513 too but oddly the Ginault means more to me in the end. :/ I got it in the very beginning, cost me around $500 when they had a promo deal going. I was able to grab one of the handful of swiss ETAs too. Case back has engraved made in the USA by the way.

I'm probably gonna be doing this eventually. Who is the best? I feel zig is as he has proven to do lume jobs no one else would touch. There's also a guy named Kent Parks on the gen forums.

Non hacks stopped around 1970-1972. My 1973 is hacking.