freddy333

I have a pic of Dowling's steel DD somewhere in my archives, so a few do exist.

(703/704 appear the same externally, but 703 is wrapped/704 is solid)

It sounds like you have not read the rules, specifically item 25 - This thread locked.

Since both red & white 1680s use the same (1575) movement, there should not be any difference in case dimensions.

Nice finds & Harbor Freight should be on everyone's bookmark list as they have many tools for sale at below market prices (but you do take a quality hit sometimes, so I reserve Harbor Fright for non-mission critical tasks).

Never seen a 702 rep. You might want to start saving/searching ebay/tz/vrf, etc for a gen.

Except for the too narrow 6 & 9 index marks on the Sub, well done.

Hard to tell with the usual shady pic, but, from what I can make out, it looks like typical a aftermarket to me.

I agree. Seems like just yesterday when you were likely to get barred (speaking empirically) or, at least, issued a formal warning from a moderator for simply bridging the subject of frankens, let alone asking for help in constructing 1.

Plastic spring? Can you post a pic?

Other than MBWs, most rep cases are not manufactured to the same dimensions as gen cases & rep crystals tend to be made of lighter gauge (thinner walled) material. The inside dimension of gen xtals, because of their thicker sidewalls, is usually too small to fit over the flange opening on rep cases. Your options are to either use 1 of the better aftermarket xtals (search ebay for Clarks), grind down the outer perimeter of the flange opening or grind down the inner circumference of the crystal. Keep in mind, too, that the crystal needs to fit snugly over the flange to help (along with a crystal ring) maintain a watertight seal.

I believe the dimensional differences you are seeing on gen Subs are due to visual/camera angle aberrations. Except in cases of manufacturing variations (those that Rolex QC have missed), the rectangular markers should be the same size. I used to have a video in my archives showing how the markers are applied to modern Sub dials (the rectangular markers all come from the same receptical on the line regardless of where on the dial they go), but I cannot seem to locate it just now. You can probably find it on youtube though. It puts alot of these types of Rolex myths to bed.

I am not a fan of watches that are large enough to be seen from space satellites, but that is the nicest looking Pan I have ever seen. Not sure I have ever seen a gen with a similar patina, but it looks great on that watch.

If your watch has the running seconds at the 6 o'clock subdial (like the gen 1165xx), then this is a known issue, which affect most (but not all) of these reps. The problem is due to the lack of jeweling for the additional gearing required to relocate the running seconds from its original location to the 6 o'clock subdial. You can search out Ziggy's reviews of the secs @ 6 Daytona for additional details & the 'powdered graphite' remedy, which can be applied by a watchmaker following a full overhaul of the movement.

What was it doing at the spa?

If you want a replacement, reassembly/reshipment back to Asia is really your only option, as this is standard policy of most sellers in my experience. Also, as you should know, rep movements generally arrive in poor/unserviced condition & broken/missing jewels are very typical of what I have seen over the years. That is why it is always recommended that you have the watch professionally overhauled upon receipt if you want to keep & be able to rely on it.

Except during holidays, generally, a maximum of 1 week. If you do not hear from him after that, drop him an email.

Dial location is fine (triangle at 12 aligns half way between the vertical lines of the mid portion of the end link above it), but the insert is slightly off-center (to the left). A common problem.

If you want to pay me the same flat fee that BH charges to accept a watch for service, I will be happy to accept your money (& case). But you are going to get the same answer I (& someone responding to your post on VRF) already gave you (gratis), dude.

My, that is a 1st. Are you an A-list movie star or something? I was not aware that any US RSC's performed authentications or accepted loose parts for any reason.