mech500

Very nice work as always. I still have the 1665 build you did for me and it gets compliments whenever I wear it

Finished product turned out very well: All gen except Rolo case: Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow! Those recessed screws!! [emoji7][emoji7][emoji7] Here’s an old pic of my Divers: Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Looks beautiful. I personally find the white dial diver better than the black. Black dial actually looks dull IMO whereas the white just “pops” A x2AR crystal (profs) is mandatory on the black diver but on the white dial, the stock crystal is good enough. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow. Stunning work as usual. Hope this is my case [emoji5][emoji5]. Wait until you see the gen dial/hands/bezel/insert/1570/93150 etc that I have lined up for this baby Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just ask the dealer for the LATEST noob SD4k, SA3135. The latest version has some refinements over the initial batch of "V2s". I dont think they have officially released a v3 etc. But the latest version has all the refinements of say a noob sub v7 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Most people agree that the latest a3135 model is a super-rep. (Ref. Not worth buying in gen thread on RWI) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here are my comments for what they are worth: As far as I know, securing gen spec dial to ETA spec movements is basically always done using "gum" (dial dots). You can't call seller out for this point IMO. A reconditioned Asian ETA franken movement is hard to tell apart from Swiss ETA by novice watch builder like the seller. The price difference between a reconditioned Asian franken ETA vs Swiss is low ($75ish). Not a big deal. Scratched/aged case is deliberate ageing - as per sellers pics. I don't understand your complaint here? Movement should NOT be held in by glue. A machined spacer should be used as required. If you want gen spec crown position, you have to re-drill the tube higher up. I don't know how else you can close the existing tube hole (other than "liquid-metal"). I have seen method many times....not really an issue for me. Seller should have declared bezel "stuck" Hope you can work out a fair resolution with the seller mate Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sorry to hear....just bear in mind that it is normal to use adhesive (dial dots) to secure gen spec dial to ETA spec movement. Also, I have seen a few modders use "liquid - Metal" (i.e. Glue) to raise the crown position to gen spec. Any watch-maker not familiar with the rep scene will be shocked [emoji15]. Can you send pictures of the watch-case that you say looks horrible? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Did he mention rough price to scan and manufacture a Rolex mid-case?

Exactly. Rolex cases are very simple and uncomplicated. No excuses for not getting them spot on. If the Chinese can nail the complex modern AP causes then there's no reason why anyone can't nail a simple vintage Rolex case.

Oh I see. Thanks man. Looks awesome

There should be no need for a v1, v2, v3 requirement when laser scanning and CNC'ing a Rolex mid-case. I can't think of a simpler object that I have had made in my line of work. Bezel ring and caseback is a tiny bit more complex to absolutely nail ......but there's no excuse for not getting the mid-case and CGs right with a CNC set-up. There's an initial tooling cost/investment ....but for $1500 a pop, there is no excuse for anything less than true 1:1. I think Phong's 16610 is true 1:1 but his vintage stuff is probably a rep of a rep of a rep that he "hand-finishes" using pictures (not actual side by side gen)

I know what you mean man. I've also tried MQ and yuki. Their cases also require rework (like phong) but yuki costs half the price of phong. MQ is typically $200-300 cheaper than phong (but his communication is all over the place). So one could potentially buy a cheaper yuki or MQ case and have the CGs/lugs reworked? Best bet is actually trying to convince phong that his CGs need thinning before shipment.

Shoot!! That's bad! Phong is seriously overrated. Don't know why everyone says that his cases are 1:1 gen spec?! No they ain't!! Have you seen the thick CGs and lugs on pretty much ALL his cases?!! I could post at least x5 pics of different phong 5512/5513/1665 cases where the CGs are chunky as f""k and yet everyone is saying that his [censored] is gen spec. It's practically impossible to get him to rework the cases before shipping as you get the standard "no, nothing wrong with it....it gen spec" Feels pretty painful to offload $1500 for a supposedly 1:1 case only to find out that you have to pay a modder another $200 to make the CGs look remotely genuine. Arghhhh.

You're right the 15400 is way to big for what it is. Only problem with the JF15450 is that the 3 o'clock marker is MISSING! Although I believe JF have very recently correctly this flaw but haven't seen the correct dial on TD websites yet.

NDT dials are around $400. Think they use gen plates (not that matters). I believe they are still in business. Had email contact last August. Ingod44 sold the same stuff (at cheaper prices) but are out of the game

OP, have you considered a dial from nd trading? Available with matching patina hands at: http://ndtradingcorp.com/cata-11-dials--rolex//5 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Very nice build. The 1665 has got to be the best Rolex ever. Here's my build (similar spec: phong case with gen dial/hands/bezel/insert/movement etc). The phong CGs are waaaay too FAT and need reworking IMO.....which is a little disappointing considering the price. I actually stuck with the phong tube as it is very high quality. Thanks for sharing pics. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You can try Swiss made aftermarket parts (eg. Clark). They are cheaper than gen and better quality than yuki. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think a gen crystal makes a huge difference. Takes the watch to a completely different planet IMO. Sure no one else will notice BUT who cares what others think. I'm sure most members here would appreciate a gen crystal over a rep one. Although Rolex do not use AR across the whole crystal (just cyclops) - Gen crystals have much better clarity and sparkle IMO. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Some people will buy a cheap ass gen date just plate and print on a picture of a super rare comex dial or whatever and think it's better than any other fake dial. Lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gen Rolex crystals are NOT AR coated - only the cyclops has AR To be honest all rep Rolex crystals are [censored]. The clarity is poor. The eBay ones will almost certainly be milky. Gen crystal is the way to go mate Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hookers Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm not too worried about the incorrect fast beat movement - no one's gonna call you out because your supposedly 20k watch "ticks" too smoothly. What bothers me the most is that the hands are often a few shades whiter than the dial indices. Can make the watch look unbalanced. I've sent mine to Kenny for a dial/hands re-lume to match. A double AR crystal also makes a huuuuge difference. Takes the watch to another planet IMO. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk