ShawnBeever

The watch was sold a while ago. All of the standard 5513 dials are badly flawed, which is why I got hacked off and went for the 5512 which are much more accurate. I would prefer a 5513 but I am not happy $400 for a rep dial. Do a search on ND Trading.

This is the standard MBW 5513. The dial is matt and the writing is yellow but not gilt. They don't look to bad as standard the main thing that lets them don is the crown guards. This one has had the guards done, gen crown installed and the lugs drilled.

You mean something like this Sorry don't know anyone with one for sale

It's the standard MBW 5513 case as supplied by Paso. I think it's currentley the most belivable MBW rep.

Here are some nice Y serial Sea Dweller Reference shots. http://www.sandersonandson.com/51254.shtml

Have just finished this 5512 Nothing cutting edge but its my best watch so far. Reshaped CG’s. I think have now perfected the shaping of these using a dremel and can do the whole forming and polishing job in about an hour, my first rep took me a week of filing and smoothing by hand and still looked crap. Offrie pearl Sanded bezel insert Gen. Crown and Cousins tube Drilled lugs Modified end pieces to accommodate larger spring bars. Still looking for hollow link bracelet and awaiting the completion of the new Clark tropic 19. Feedback would be appreciated?

http://www.mkiiwatches.com/WSWrapper.jsp?m...m#photo_gallery

I have only been into reps for a couple of years, but it struck me today what significant improvements there has been on the MBW range of watches. Although these improvements seam to have gone largely un -commented. In 2006 it soon became apparent to me that the only way to get a passable Rolex rep was to mod. a vintage MBW. So I got hold of (in chronological order) 1665 DR, 1680 red, 5513, 1665, 1016 and my latest 1665 GW a few months ago. My modding has improved along with the quality of the watches. In the last couple of years it seams that the HEV’s are now actually a real plug rather than a stamping on the side of the case that you can’t polish off, don’t ask me how I know. The date wheel font is now bolder and accurate and nearly acceptable although I still have to wear my 5513 when the date has a Three in it. The 1665 GW case back is now correct The 5512 dial has just been improved (see Eurotimez). I now hold out hope that I will one day be able to by a non ‘Polex’ MBW with the correct lug holes and CG’s. I wonder if this has partly been brought about by competition from the Noobmariner which must have hit MBW sales, as it now possible to buy a decent Sub for $100 which makes a $400 MBW seam very expensive. A few Gratuitous shots of past MBW’s. The one on the right is a gen.

I have ordered one of these from Jewelleryandwatch for my new 5514 project , at $265 they are much cheaper than the NDT version. I will post pics of the actual dial when it arrives. Shame about the MBW 5513 version .

I would like to build another 5513 and I am thinking of using the jewelleryandwatch case. Are they more accurate than the MBW equivalent and does anybody know what ETA movement options would fit. Thanks

Please let me know what turns up, if it's white I will buy another.

Unfortunately the standard MBW dials are no good. The 5513 dial comes with unconvincing writing and coronet. The 5512 dial has white writing but the markers appear undersize and will need reluming to look good. Although the base watch is easily improved and looks good when done you will need to source a decent dial. I ended up selling mine and going for the 1665 because I did not like the dial options.

How about this one. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rolex-Oyster-Perpetu...1QQcmdZViewItem

Great watch. Where on the bay did you find the date wheel overlay?

Very nice. Gen. on the bottom.

I brought Ofrei pearls, he will ship to EU for less than $28 he does a reduced rate of $11.60 for low cost items. I then fitted it one the standard MBW insert. You have to spend a bit of time sanding the MBW insert thinner to get it to sit below the bezel lip as on the gen. Once moded I don’t think there is much wrong with the standard MBW insert. Pic. of the modified insert viewed alongside a gen.

Thanks Any idea what's the best source of a non gen hollow link band. My MBW came with a sold link type.

Was a late 70’s Rolex 1665 GW fitted with a hollow link or solid centre link bracelet? Thanks SB

I was hoping there would be an easier answer to the date wheel alignment issue, but it seam nobody had a decent answer to the problem. I gave it a bit of thought and came up with this gauge, which is a few concentric circles printed on to acetate sheet. The outer one coincides with the outside diameter of a 2836. The inner ones approximate to the size of the date wheel. The cross allows you to line up the date number with the stem. . Here you can see it over a 2836 with watchmaster date wheel. If you look at 1,11 and 22 you can see that the date is not concentric with the circles using some slow setting glue you can move the date wheel around and get the alignment correct. Once the date wheel is running true you can move the dial around to centre the date in the window of the dial. I can now wear my 1665 all month rather than missing out these 5 depressing badly aligned days. I printed out a sheet of the gauges, If any supporters want one PM me and follow up with a SAE.

I would like to re-align the date wheel overlay on my MBW 1665 as the date position moves from right to left as the month goes on. If I remove and refit the overlay does any one have any tips to make sure the overlay is correctly centred on the date wheel, its got the standard eta 2836-2. Thanks.

Here’s a gratuitous shot of my 1665 wearing a Clark Superdome.

I look at this way. If I had a gen. 1665 that I wanted to wear every day I would fit it with a Clark superdome rather than risk wrecking a gen. $600 crystal. Nobody you will ever meet will be able to tell the difference. There are perhaps 50 guys in the whole world who could tell a Clark crystal from a gen. 25 of them probably subscribe to this forum so you need not worry about them and there is not much chance of meeting the other 25.

The HEV is slightly darker but its difficult to see in the photo. I think they start out with a matt finish and just polish up over time. This watch is 10 years old.

A few quick shots of my MBW1665 alongside my gen. 16600. Lug holes mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Usual mods. CG’s, gen crown, drilled lugs, Clark superdome, Clark hands. Could do with some Gen. spring bars I think.