DC109

Herman, I just got one from AWP, the site KBH linked to. Their customer service was good and the movement is actually decorated to look (almost) like a 1575. Order with confidence, or if you want mine and can wait a few weeks, I'll sell it to you for less. I ended up going another route (pics forthcoming). What parts do you have in mind for the rest of the build?

Thanks for the replies, all! He responded asking me to "send measurements" for the hand size I need… even without calipers, finding the 1570 hand sizes is easy enough, but I responded pointing out that the 1570 uses the same hands every time, so I really shouldn't have to do this for a set advertised as fitting a 1570. As for the bezel, his response was "our insert should fit just fine," totally missing the point about compatibility with gen. Didn't even address the missing tension ring. "Mr Slimeball" may apply, but it seems like attention to detail/basic intelligence level might be just as much the issue. My Yuki dial and hands were a missed-delivery today, so should pick it up tomorrow. I'll post some updated pics (with better color--I realize those pepsis look like cokes) if and when it comes together.

I am beginning my first franken build--or really just saving on a gen with with some fake parts: a 1675 with gen case and pre-hacking 1575. I got a hand set and complete bezel assembly from Wholesale Outlet, AKA ewatchparts. Last night I tried fitting the hands to the movement, and they're not even close to the right size. I even took the GMT wheel off the movement and tried fitting the GMT hand with a plastic press, giving it about 20-40lbs of pressure, and it just sat on top. Looks to me like the inner and outer diameter of the wheel and the hand are exactly the same on each, and there's no way it's going on. As for their bezel assembly, which is "guaranteed" to fit gen parts: the insert (which looks pretty good, I have to admit) is about 1.5mm smaller in diameter and is a tight fit, meaning my gen Pepsi is going on without sanding, which I won't do to a gen insert. Granted, this is my first build using gen parts. Am I doing something wrong, or does WSO/ewatchparts just have terrible quality control? Finally, the "complete" bezel assembly, which shows all four parts in the listing, didn't have a tension ring, which adds to my sense that it's not just me...

Apparently you can build the best vintage Rollie reps up there; got to be worth something. Nice shots, Nanuq!

Weird rehaut, too much room between the CGs and the crown, and a CG profile that's generally a little off. I think this is a high end rep, but would love the experts' take before I report it: 1979 ROLEX GMT MASTER I 1675, Matte Dial, Pepsi Bezel - Stainless Steel

Mendota good point about the chamfers. I haven't handled them to know if they consistently do, but if that's the case then who knows what this case is. The seller wrote back again and said he was willing to seek an RSC appraisal. We'll see...

I reported it and messaged the guy. I got a similar weird, ranting, kind of polite but indignant response. I wrote back and said if he wasn't willing to get something of this value checked at an RSC, he's as much as admitting it's a fake. Here's hoping a few more reports will get this thing taken down. My two cents on the source by the way is a higher end seller, MQ, NDT or IG44.

More than $5,000...

Nanuq, did you get the 6538 or the 5510 for the Big Gonzo? From MQ's pics I always thought it was the opposite of Yuki--5510 looks wokky, and 6538 looks right.

Or MQ. I think his prices are closer to NDT than to Phong, but Nanuq should know for sure--I believe the case that sweet dial used to live in is MQ, right Nanuq?

Just to offer another take before you buy: cool case for a sterile build, but it looks little like a 5513 or 5517. The rehaut is way too deep and at the wrong angle, the crown guards are the wrong shape and look off from the front and sides, and the lugs are far too pointed. Nice that it will take a 2824 or even a 1570, but if you want to build a branded 5517, almost any other case would be a better start--good luck!

OP, the small hand would suggest it's earlier, though the CG shape looks 70s to me. Then again, could be that there are more examples of 70s ones with less polishing. On that note, if you do buy it or guide your friend in his restoration PLEASE DO NOT POLISH THIS CASE! Too many 1675s lose their shape, especially their CGs, and unlike subs and SDs, they never look right after that.

+1. If it's all original, that price is probably about half of what it could get, which would have me equally suspicious and eager.

With a bracelet that sounds like a bargain to me. Without, still a decent price. If you pass, let me know who's selling it!

YM's -- unfortunately (or fortunately for the buyer) it did.

Sam1977, that looks great! Gen case?

Sorry to revive an old thread without any new pics, but I've been talking to Phong about getting one of his 1675 cases… He assures the rehaut is gen spec, but it looks to me like it's more slanted. The gen has a 90 degree angle where the rehaut meets the surface that directly contacts the underside of the crystal, whereas the Phong case looks like the rehaut meets the flat surface, which is thinner/less visible, on an angle. What do you all think? Or does someone want to sell me a gen case and spare me the analysis : ) ?

+1 on the 2824. Stem height on the 2836 is appropriate to replace older movements, like the 3035 and supposedly the 15XX series, but not the 3135. That's why 2836 reps always have the wrong crown height.

I had a Sean for a long time. Maybe there were different runs, but the engraving on mine (quality and serial choice) wasn't any better than TCs at the time.

They have used different dial suppliers, but I think the case is considered a functional part of the watch, and so has been made in house since at least the first "Oyster" design.

16610 CGs were all made the same, but more of the examples you'll see in the wild have been polished (including over-polished, like tjlocker said). In 20 years I'm sure just as many ceramic subs will have over-polished CGs. One unpolished 16610 will have the same CGs as another unpolished example.

Civic, if you're only interested in the GWSD then forgive what might seem like a silly suggestion, but maybe you could put in a DRSD dial, then source a complete GWSD separately?

Good find! I'd like to hear from the experts, but to me it looks like it has the same issues as their 6538: the mid case itself is too thick, with an oversized case back that makes the problem worse, and the rehaut is too deep. Here's hoping it's just bad pics.

Lions, you're right on this one--definite franken case, so I'd bet the movement is a gen 1570 transplant. F.Castro, your rehaut is totally different. All reheats look wokkier photographed close up, but step back a little further and shoot yours straight on, and your rehaut will NOT look ilke this one. This is a Yuki case. No one else has a GMT case with sub-like swooping CGs with correct crown placement, and Yuki's cases are known for their wackiness. This guy could be an honest victim of someone else's fraud, but this watch is still a high end rep, and so has no place on the open market. It calls needless and negative attention to this otherwise honest hobby. I suggest we all report it!

I just saw that sweet 203... I'll definitely shoot him a PM. So from what you guys are saying, am I right to understand this is not a stem-wound version? I thought there were some that could use a key but also already had the keyless works, and since this one had that correctly-placed case hole, I was hoping this was one.