Nixmazda

:wub: now thats a keper!!!

Well she's up for sale over on RepGeek!!!

Keep your eyes peeled guys...here's a small preview of what else is going to come with the package. And it will be listed later today for sale exclusively on RepGeek!

Well....I had a few minutes so I decided to toss it in now! And hot damn does she run like a top! Can't really complain about that kind of accuracy!

Reverse wheel arrived today! So that should be installed tomorrow at some point and she will be all back up and running 100%

Please keep up the photo-documented updates. I'm really enjoying them and I'm sure whoever buys it from you if you elect to sell will really value it too.

Will do! And it will be going up for sale within the next few weeks once I finish it to my expectations.

A few more hours put into the shaping of the case and crown shoulder section to get that perfect gen look and feel. I think I've got the height correct of the bezel now! I then finished shaping the case shoulder that sits under the crown. It came out PERFECT!

One other issue with this piece that I noticed today was that when the caseback was screwed down tightly, it would not sit flush to the same height as the back of the lugs and case sides, which is typical of many reps out there. Well the gen sits nice and flush, so I wanted mine to as well! As I took down the thickness of the case back I began to notice that the sides of it did not follow the same exact contour as the case and the gap between the 2 was not consistent. Yep, you guessed it...I took care of this as well!

Here's a few pics of today's progress...

I spent some time today refinishing the case itself. Overall it was pretty decent for a rep, but there were some areas that needed to be addressed.

The main thing was the bottom side of the lugs where the strap/bracelet quick release system attaches to the case. Secondly was cleaning up the polish portions and rebrushing the bezel to a more factory finish. Also the portion of the case where the crown sits when it is fully pushed in, wasn't nice and clean and even. So I felt it was necessary to take care of it!

And finally, the bezel (brushed section) on the rep dosnt sit high enough off the case (polished section) like it does in the gen. Now there's no way to raise the bezel, so the only other option was for me to take on the daunting task to polish down the case to an even level all the way around. Then once that was done I needed to ensure I had a nice sharp clean edge separating the 2 sections. After an enormously time consuming session with the polishing wheel, it resulted very very well!

I've got some more cleaning up to do here and there, but here's how it sits now

I spent a few more hours today reassembling the movement. Now for those of us who have taken on a project like this, we know it's not a walk in the park. It usually takes 3-4hrs and includes lots of tedious delicate work ensuring not to damage any of the delicate parts along the way.

So I get it all assembled nicely and placed back into the case. I get her a wind. Everything runs like a top. So I check the automatic module and notice that the rotor was sticking and the power was not being transferred smoothly through the gears into the mainspring.

Well...time to figure out what the hell the issue is! And thankfully I figured it out quickly. The reverse wheels on the auto module are not running smoothly. Grrrrrr wonderful! I then ordered up the necessary parts so I can get this running to my strict expectations and eventually within COSC standards.

As we all do, I had the urge to build a Franken. Most of us go the Rolex or Pam route, but I wanted to go an entirely different direction. So I decided to do a build of a piece that I have always loved and nobody has done. I chose the classic and sexy Cartier Roadster S. This is a piece I've been slowly accumulating parts for over the last 2 years and finally started the tedious assembly process this week.

The piece started life as a 1:1 (or so they claimed) with a A2824 on a rubber strap from a TD. I wore it around here and there for a few months and really enjoy the comfort, look and feel. Not 6 months after owning it, it started to run terrible and lose time like it was its job. So at this point I could have serviced it and put it back in the rotation or do something great. Being as I have a heavy gen collection...I chose the latter. And here we are now...

Since it's death in 2011 I have been searching down all the perfect pieces to build it into the best Roadster Franken to date. This is what I have accumulated so far.

- ETA 2824-2

- Gen crown

- Gen crystal

- Gen gasket set

- Gen brown croc strap

- Gen sail cloth strap

- Gen deploy buckle

- Gen inner/outer box set for exact model w/matching model #s

- Gen papers set w/DVD and service manuals for match model #

On top of these gen pieces I have gone through 4 rep bracelets until I found one deserving enough to be part of this build. I have refinished the entire inner and outer case and bracelet to be 99.9% per gen.

So as of this week I have started the fun process of fully servicing it's new ETA 2824-2 before it gets transplanted. I am 100% disassembling it, cleaning every piece with the ultrasonic, replacing the main spring, assembling and lubing to factory specs along the way.

Here's a few fun pics to get it started. I will keep this updated over the next week or 2 as it comes together. And sadly enough, once it's complete I will probably putting her up for sale!

That looks scary.

But hey, it's cool though.

And disgusting.

Haha thanks!

Were any zombies harmed in the process?

Many were and strangely enough....they enjoyed it!

Whoa! Hey I have that same LV wallet (gen). More details on that strap?

Yeah my wallet and bracelet in the photo are both gen as well. The material I used to make the strap is a super high quality rep. It started life as this...

Then I rough/final shaped it and lined it with oxblood horween and hand stitched with oxblood thread then finished it off with black edge kote...

Not my style but I like the creativity. Maybe some holiday themed straps? Ho-ho-ho.. Ha. Anyways, good work man!

Haha! Yeah I wanted to have some fun with the scary season we are in! Not all of my straps are crazy. Here's the classy side of my creativity...

What can you do with all the leftover zombie parts laying around? Well, what else besides make a bad a$$ zombie skin NATO strap!

Enjoy my evil creation...

Those are spectacular shots. Brave man for taking the watch apart.

Thanks my man! Here's a few of my gen Datejust 2 just for fun!

A few more fore you guys....

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What? My Gen GMT2C has green lume and it is random serial..

How did you get one with blue lume?

Rolex is changing their entire professional line to the new Chromalight blue lume. This includes the GMTc. The Daytonas have also started to change starting with the new 50th anniversary platinum/chestnut. Milgauss will remain dual lumed on their dials, each of which have a different lume pattern. The yachts, explorers, subs and deepsea are/will be the new Chromalight lume across the board.

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What lume color does the 116713 have? I was under the impression it was green?

The further 2 to the right in the photos are new 116713 pieces. These currently have green c3

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Very nice watch, and your candid reply is honest and probably parallels the views of quite a few folks who frequent the rep forums. They aren't necessarily "in to" reps per se, but use them as a tool to facilitate decision making, which in my mind, can't be faulted.

I certainly can appreciate what you are saying about "trying before you buy" There have been quite a few times in my watch collecting/buying career that I have really wanted a particular watch, plunked down several thousand dollars, got the watch on my wrist, and try as I might, it just didn't "Sing" to me. In a lot of cases, selling a watch that's essentially brand new, but in reality is a used watch, results in a pretty good loss. Seems like if it were possible, buying a rep at say 250.00 USD wearing it for a while and if you really like it, buy the gen, if you don't sell the rep for 175-200,USD and move on to the next one!!

That's exactly it. As long as they are portrayed for what they are...I see no fault in owning one. I also find them to be similar to building a model car. It's fun to source certain parts and build them up. It's a cheap, fun and entertaining way to enjoy a different side of the watch world. Many of us on here have an extensive gen collection, but really have fun with the reps too!

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do you wear reps?

I enjoy them for what they are. They are a fun way to try a watch out before buying the gen. It's a great way to ensure you like one so you don't drop thousands on a piece and end up hating it.

Here's a few shots of mine next to 5 other Gens. Mine is the furthest left, there is another brand new one next to it with the new blue lume and the other 4 are brand new as well but have green lume! This absolutely confirms that the new GEN 116710LN has blue lume.

your not allowed to take a rep to an ad and post about it.mods wont have it,i got told off about this earlier today

My 116710LN is GEN guys...not a rep.

I just receive my new 116710LN and have been more than happy with it. Well yesterday I walked in from outside, looked down and saw a very familiar color lume to my 116610! I was assuming it was going to be green, as it has been since its introduction. Well surprise surprise...

I know the new GMTc with the black/blue bezel has the new blue lume...but here is confirmation that the all black bezels do as well!

The one on the right is a brand new one at an AD that I took pictures with it next to this morning. The piece on the left is mine. BOTH are random serials!

And some solo shots of mine...

I thought lume on these is GREEN is yours BLUE?

It sure is! The newest ones have the new blue lume on them

Here's a few more for ya!

And here it is chillin in a sink full of Miller Lite and ice