perry563

MBW 1680 and 1665 are BEAUTIFULLY constructed timepieces. Out of the box they are just a joy to wear with great fit and finish. Of course that .000001 percent of the population who are Rolex geeks would know the difference but even they dont know that watches the quality of MBW exisit. I suggest to buy a GWSD along with a Clarke crystal (close enough to gen and far cheaper). Have a watchmaker install the new crystal and waterproof in the process. Then buy a insert from Otto Frei for 40 bucks...again close enough. Trim the CG and have someone drill the lug holes and your done. Forget the aging....you will be putting your share of scratches on the watch so why make a piece of wrist art look like a piece of shopworn crap. The result will be a watch of great beauty that no one would ever call out in a million years at minimal expence. MBW 1680 and 1665 are BEAUTIFULLY constructed timepieces. Out of the box they are just a joy to wear with great fit and finish. Of course that .000001 percent of the population who are Rolex geeks would know the difference but even they dont know that watches the quality of MBW exisit. I suggest to buy a GWSD along with a Clarke crystal (close enough to gen and far cheaper). Have a watchmaker install the new crystal and waterproof in the process. Then buy a insert from Otto Frei for 40 bucks...again close enough. Trim the CG and have someone drill the lug holes and your done. Forget the aging....you will be putting your share of scratches on the watch so why make a piece of wrist art look like a piece of shopworn crap. The result will be a watch of great beauty that no one would ever call out in a million years at minimal expence.

Looks like my watch except the insert pearl is different. Appears larger on yours. What I see under the insert is the space where the insert edge clips under the bezel lip is very narrow. You would think that since now the bezel mechanism is like a gen that the watch would accept a gen insert (or a after market insert made the same size as a gen). Not even close.

Of course its not amazing that the watch does not accept a gen insert. What I find amazing that the insert is that thin and STILL it wont fit under the bezel lip. This insert was glued in as typical without any effort to snap it in ..in any way. A complete floater. I have had other inserts pop off and they were all thin but sturdy enough to handle. This insert was so paper thin that just with normal handling it bent in two! Now thats thin!

The insert that came with the z series from TTK was PAPER thin. Just holding it between my fingers lightly I bent it badly! The WM insert will need to be shaved down ALOT to fit. Whats amazing is that even though it was that thin it still floated above the bezel!

I pulled off the insert that was on my new z series sub. It is paper thin...I am talking THIN. whats amazing is that even though it was that thin it still was a floater! It was the worst floating insert sub rep that I had. How much thinner would I need to grind down the WM insert??? This seems like an impossible task.

The WM insert fits into a SSD without any modding at all. I am hoping that at the very least my new z series will be the same. I guess I will need to buy two wholesaleoutlet inserts, exchange the pearls etc for this all to work. I want to avoid all the modding I will need to do with the WM inserts.

I have been reading on this forum concerning rep watches for quite a while and own nearly 20 of them..mostly Rolex reps. However now that I am starting to mod some of these watches I am a lil confused. MBW are supposed to be able to take actual Rolex parts. However I am hearing conflicting info concerning inserts. I have four MBW as follows: 1665 1680 16610 (z series version for 2008) 16610 (bought a year ago) I also have a TW best 16610 sub. I just bought three watchmaterial inserts for my three 16610 subs listed above. I was under the impression that the WM inserts would just snap in since they are made to fit gen Rolex subs and the subs I have are supposed to take real rolex parts. Just recently I read some posts that say just the opposite and that I will need to mod the insert alot to make it fit. Can someone who knows tell me what is in reality true??????? Will I need to mod all three inserts to fit my three subs?

A fully modded BK mariner is a sweet watch that would never be called out unless your unlucky to bump into a rolex nerd. even then on the wrist and fully modded it would be a tough call.

Buy a fully modded ETA BKmariner. You will have no need for additional mods and you will have a watch that really does look for all intents and purposes like a gen Rolex sub. The movement is great and should last decades. Look no further.

The problem with the NOOB braclet on a NOOB watch is that many times the fit and finish where the end links meet the case are not very good...sometimes very bad in fact! (gaps etc) The new MBW bracelet is very good in this respect...it fits nice and tight against the case lugs and against the case proper. The NOOB watch is excellent and I highly recommend the BK mariner as top of the line in terms of a fully modded Rolex sub rep. However when you hold a fully modded MBW vs a fully modded Noob you can tell the difference in overall fit and finish. The rehaut depth side by side really shows up as does the bracelet fit and finish. However I would say if anyone is looking for the best out of the box sub rep and is not interested in doing anything additional to the watch the BK mariner is the way to go. To fit a new dial you would need the tool to screw off the back then remove the movement, take off the hands and then interchange the dials. hands go back on, movement back into the case etc. No way I would ever try that myself. You can use sandpaper cut in small pieces to lightly sand the inner edges of the CG. Then buff with a wet/dry sandpaper to smooth out the rough spots and then polish to a nice shine. The crown would need to be removed and lots of care not to scratch the tube or other areas of the watch while you are sanding. I think BK is trying to get good crowns that will fit his MK mariner.

I have the watch from TTK. I asked a member to mod it for me and then post pics before and after but really never got a positive response that he wanted to do this. SO..I have no pics to show. Build quality is very good but as always not perfect.. Bad pearl Bad CG Typical MBW dial...not the very best larger than typical crown (possibly to accomedate the larger tube?) Floating insert ROLEX around the rehaut is a little too big vs gen but no way anyone will ever notice Good points Great case Very good fit and finish Bezel constructed like gen HOLLOW mid link bracelet! YEAH! date mag/font greatly improved and mag well centered Thick pins to attach bracelet to case So if you get this watch and install and recess a watchmaterial pearl, trim the CG your right THERE. Everything else is so minor only a complete ROLEX geek would ever be able to tell. I also took off the band and did a complete overhaul ......washed with soap and water, brushed with a scotch brite pad for 15 min to give a real NICE warm brushed appearance and then a very light polishing. I also took an emery board to the edges around the end link so it would seat a lil better next to the case. I now have a WM insert on its way. All I need now is someone to trim my CG and possibly install a NOOB dial and I am all set.

I am looking for an insert for a modern 16610 MBW sub. I am looking on the watchmaterial web site but I dont see one for that model. Am I cracking up?

Ok guys....I am not trying to do some of my own modding. I am starting with inserts. I have a MBW 1665 and 1680. I have looked but without sucess for an answer to the following questions.... Where can I buy a good aftermarket insert for these watches? Is watchmaterial 5513 insert a decent choice? HELP!

Where can I get that watch on that rubber strap? OR is there anyone selling the strap by itself?

Actually I was able to pry it off with very little effort with my fingernail! Now the question is...how easy will it be to file out the hole to fit the new pearl WITHOUT removing the insert? Possible?

Guys....I just bought a matchmaterial insert. I have a sub with a nice recessed bezel but crappy pearl. The question is this: Can I pop out the crappy pearl, carefully widen the existing hole and then glue in the pearl WITHOUT removing the existing insert?

This is not the NOOB..this is a true MBW type. Neil was in BK and bought one to take back. I ended up buying it from him. I cant upload pictures but I do want to mod this watch so maybe the modder can do a before and after pictorial? Just need to find a modder!

Well I finally recieved the new sub and as usual Neil was 100% correct. The pictures distort this watches look. Its a fantastic watch but not without the typical issues.... CG need trimming Bad pearl but I have to say its better than what I have on my 2 year old MBW. The pearl has a glazed appearance somewhat like the gen. You can almost see a round pearl under the glaze again like a gen. Still needs a new pearl though Insert is floating Crown is slightly oversize Noob dial is better Bracelet end lugs are flush with the case lugs...should be recessed slightly below the case lugs. I like the watch. The engraving is no where near as noticable as the pictures Neil posted. I have 6 rep subs and overall I like this one the best. Date mag is centered perfectly and the date just about fills the window. Overlay is much improved over older MBW. Bracelet is hollow center link type with an excellent divers extension which does not pop open all the time like all the others. All I need now is someone to mod this for me. Any very good modder out there like to mod this watch and do a before and after pictorial for the forum? I think everyone would be interested in seeing the results.

Who sells a good replacement FLAT T39? I dont see them sold by CLARKE.

I have a Clarke superdome on my GW 1665 is that a total impossibility in terms of how any GEN looked from the factory? If I put a T39 flat on a double red SD is that an impossibility based upon how any gen DRSD looked from the factory?

I have read conflicting opinions on this question. I have a MBW 1680 and a MBW great white 1665. I am also looking to buy a double red SD (MBW). I have a Clarke superdome on my great white. I have a CLARKE acrylic crystal (forget the type) on my 1680. Can someone tell me and if they can posts pictures of exactly what crystal came with the original gen versions of these watches? I was told by one person that the superdome is completely wrong wlile someone else told me that for a very short time the great white came from the factory with a superdome. What do the experts think?

Why not just buy a nice and new SSD? Its less than 300 bucks and you dont need to worry about any major issue. Even if its half price why look for a headache? For less than $300 the SSD is worth every penny and more.

I have a HBB with a rose gold bezel. I was told by Joshua before I bought it that it would be fine for general wearing but not for "sport" use. In general I would not buy a gold plated rep that you expect to heavily wear. I have had mine for well over a year and the gold looks fine. I do admit this watch gets little wrist time. Just too big for me.

The question I have is....assuming these are all reps..... do they work? I want a Daytona but cant pull the trigger on a watch that is a ticking time bomb. Rather spend the $ on reps that are built to last.

Anyone who would buy from WM9 should have his head examined. So many other options from suppliers that we all know will stand behind what they sell and they sell at the current market rate...not double the price like WM9.