Sogeha

Nice positive post, nice watch. I've given you your first reputation point. It's good to see a fellow Brit becoming an active member of the forum.

Welcome, this is a good place for vintage Rolex builds.

This is a great idea. Trouble is I like so many watches it's hard to name one. I'm going to go with Noob V6s, my reasons are that Rolex is by a long, long way the most popular watch on the forums according to the number of posts. Those of us into vintage tend to have OCD on detail and therefore are only happy with franken watches, so I figure a modern Rolex that is great out of the box is going to please the maximum number of members, sell in huge numbers, attract new members to the hobby and give Noob the profits to reinvest. A win for everyone.

Very best of luck with this fascinating build. I shall be following with interest.

Beautiful, it's interesting to imagine the history of this watch. It looks like it's seen some life.

Have a great time, but remember pictures or it didn't happen.

I haven't personally bought from intime yet, they have a good reputation so you should be okay. Maybe search the Tag forum for threads on the model. I'm not a big Tag fan, but I do like the old Heuer watches and like the look of this. I can't say how accurate it is to the gen. Best thing is blow up the pictures of the rep and gen on your computer, study the details see if you can live with it. In the end it only really matters what you think. Small details at X300 magnification aren't so noticeable in normal wear and most people don't know as much about watches as we do anyway. I see you have already bought reps, so you have some idea. If it's a while since you last bought you will notice the improvement in quality. I did when I got back into reps a couple of years ago. The A7750 is reasonable and can be repaired. It is a Chinese clone of the ETA 7750 movement. Worst case scenario or upgrade if you wish, it could be replaced by the Swiss movement. Mechanically there is no reason this watch won't be with you for life.

The picture is not too clear, so it's hard to be helpful. Taking good pictures of watches is a whole subject on its own and one I'm still getting to grips with. Could you try and get a clear, detail shot of the bit that has broken please? I'm thinking it might only be a pin. Anyway how ever dead the strap is it can be replaced. Maybe a nice crocodile or ostrich strap. If you like the watch why not? There are plenty of strap makers on the forums and there is a guy in Vietman on eBay who seems to have happy customers on the rep forums. I don't have his details, but if you search watch straps and select Vietnam only, you will find him. His prices are very acceptable.

Welcome to the forum. Generally this forum doesn't get involved with QC pictures, it's between you and the seller. Puretime is a Trusted Dealer, I have used them and found them good. Look at the pictures carefully, expand them on your computer. Do the numbers line up? Are the batons straight (this watch doesn't have applied batons so no issue there)? Search the net for images of genuine watches. If you are happy confirm the QC, wait for delivery and enjoy your watch.

I'm not sure the OP was saying Rolex made cases in Mexico. I read it as meaning replacement cases are made in Mexico to scam the uninformed. We all know this did happen and to some extend one could still get it done. Since the price of gold went up and in many cases steel Rolex are more saleable than gold, in fact some are down right worth more, so this is not a common thing now. Some reps will take a genuine movement without much difficulty, but I think experts would not be fooled on careful examination. Cavet emptor! As the oft quoted saying "buy the seller before the watch" and if it looks to good a deal to be true it probably is.

Enjoy your time in New York. Best wishes for a safe and pleasant journey.

Welcome. I'm on a good few forums, but this is the one I call home.

Welcome.

If you are ever stuck for something you can source in Europe, I would happily at as forwarding agent for you.

I just saw this post, I realise it's been up a while and maybe you have found answers, but in case you haven't here is what I have found. I'm not a watch smith, just a fellow noobie trying to learn. sticky balls from eBay work pretty well for opening screw down backs and are really cheap. A good loupe is worth paying for as are good quality screwdrivers. I am buying Bergeron screwdrivers one at a time, the cheap ones work out expensive in the long run. A cocktail stick can be useful. A Bergeron dial protector is cheap, and rodico is really useful especially for sticking hands to to refit them. The refill tube from a cheap disposable pen is a cheapskate way to push hands onto the pinion without damage and will save initial outlay on a hand setting tool. Decades ago when I was a kid messing with cars a mechanic told me to buy tools only as I need them and buy good quality rather than try to assemble a complete tool kit. It was good advice and I think the same is probably true of working on watches.

Beautiful,

I really don't know but I bought a Soki last night. It has only two virtues, it's vaguely sub like if you squint and it only cost USD10 including shipping. My plan is to have a go at all these great case shaping and aging techniques others are using and see how badly I can screw up.

Not only is any rep of this very likely to be far from a super rep on the very slim chance that there is one, but as the original is such a very expensive watch one would need a hell of a lifestyle to pull it off

I have started a notebook on movements, which is a work in progress and very embryonic at the moment. However I believe the 2878 has a stem height of 2.5mm and the 2836 is 2.25mm. Both 11.5 linge. Sorry I can't be more help. Perhaps a sticky with movement specification is something we could think of working on as a group?

JMB is a member here and is also a talented machinist. Among the services he offers is a replica Rolex case totally reworked to be the best available 1016 case. It is well worth looking him up on the member search function and reading through his posts.

This is an old thread, what I can tell you from memory is that the dial and hands are genuine, the case was specially made and the movement is the Lemania movement which Patek Philippe used as a base for their original movement. I hope that is remembered correctly.

Thank you. It doesn't seem to be available anymore. Enjoy it, it's beautiful.

An interesting read. I'm sure I didn't buy that many watches. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/04/18/counterfeit-goods-worth-a-quarter-of-a-trillion-pounds-a-year-sa/?WT.mc_id=e_DM111039&WT.tsrc=email&etype=Edi_FAM_New_AEM_Recipient&utm_source=email&utm_medium=Edi_FAM_New_AEM_Recipient_2016_04_19&utm_campaign=DM111039

Good evening and welcome to the forum. There are a really super bunch of guys here, I've learnt a ton reading threads and made some friends along the way. The amount of knowledge on this forum is staggering and comes without the attitude that can be a problem elsewhere. That said please post details of your build as and when, I know I'm not the only one who likes a nice Snowflake.