watchguy07

OK, so I have a gen 14270 explorer with the lug hole case and I would like to fit an SEL bracelet on it. 

Nothing from the Rolex catalogue seems like it will fit because of the lug hole spacing(chime in if this is wrong), however I know the rep makers come up with some crazy stuff sometimes(I have a non-sel modern glidelock bracelet) and I am wondering if anyone has produced a SEL bracelet that fits the older lug-hole cases properly

I'm looking to pick up a JMB 1016 if anyone is selling theirs. I also have some bklm trades I could offer

So what's the total outlay on this? 

Would it have been easier to buy a gen air-king case, JMB bezel, T22, dial, hands, and movement?

Also, when you get tired of this, PM me and I'll buy it from you

Thanks a lot, it's hard to find this information and my book isn't here yet

Does anyone make a 14270 dial with T Swiss < 25 on it?

Also, looking at gens, I noticed an A-serial Explorer that had just "Swiss" at the bottom. Was this just a transition dial between the Tritium dials and the "Swiss Made" 114270 watches?

Any good resources for this kind of thing?

CG's are nubby and I would remove the pearl. Other than that, it looks great. Maybe polish the case a little, it looks overly scuffed in relation to the rest of the watch, and anyone who puts a brand new crystal on their watch would probably repolish the case some.

You're like the double rainbow guy, aren't you?

Watchguy, what 'I Do' mean??

Are you a watch modder?

I'm interested, can you please, get extra info and pictures about your Explorer I ?

Movement is Eta Gen or Asia? Or other movement?

Bracelet?

Crystal?

Yes, I mod all my own watches. The movement is Asian, I really don't believe in paying the extra for a so called "Swiss movement" when the Asian ones will run really nice and reliable with a servicing. I think they assemble the watches in a dirty work environment and that leads to most of the problems.

The bracelet is the one that came with it and modded. It has Solid End-Links, and I have an extra link for it as well. The crystal is one I had from a previous build. It has a great coronet etching that's not too apparent(which is something to watch out for with most Exp I reps).

You must assume customs risks if I'm shipping it to EU.

UahhhhUUUUU!

Nice!!

Rosnik, if you want it, I'll do $160 shipped to EU. If not, it's available to anyone else for $150 shipped CONUS.

Very nice, Watchguy. Which version is it originaly? Did you change the crown or what are the mods?

Yes, I tracked down the proper crown for it. I also cleaned and aligned the crystal, dial and hands of dust/fingerprints, I regulated the movement and sealed the case so it's fully waterproof. The bracelet I oiled, lightly stretched, deburred, and modified the clasp for the proper click. It's an awesome rep, practically 1:1 and you can wear it with anything.

I've got a really nice modded one I will consider parting with. It has the proper sized crown as well which is rare. It's currently on a black Maratac NATO. I've never worn the bracelet but I fully modded it and it's awesome, feels just like gen.

Here's some pics:

Just brush the bracelet, many gen owners do...

I'm in search of the most accurate BR03-92. Could experienced forum members please advise who I should purchase from.

TIA

Do any BR03's come in the correct case thickness yet?

I ran across this somewhere while reading on Explorer II's. I've never felt the "love" for the maxi-dial set-up...but this is sorta different.

Does anyone know if this is even going to be an actual Rolex Design??

No, it is not

I can't say about the newer MBW cases, but the older MBW cases both the "original Polex Design" 5513 case which was the standard case for the old 1680's as well as the old MBW 1665 cases would accept a genuine movement. It might require some milling, but obviously it isn't an insurmountable problem. Quite a few are around among forum members. I have one in the build process right now using an old MBW 1665 case and a genuine 1570 movement.Maestro The Zigmeister is building mine.

It would be a whole lot cheaper to find and old MBW case over any of the above mentioned aftermarket cases. I know that Phong cases are really nice, and you can get serial numbers that you want engraved, but as you said 1k for a 1680 case, WOW.

At todays prices for movement, dial, hands crown/tube bezel and insert w/ a nice tritium pearl,93150 bracelet and 580 end links, you would be way better off finding a nice 1680 white on the VRF market. I'm seeing them in the 4-5k range over there almost on a daily basis. Occasionally you can find a beater for less than that. If you get tired of it or want to upgrade, it's pretty easy to get your money back. Try that with a franken. Ask a few of the folks here that have tried selling "almost genuine" watches on the sales forum. probably would have to part it out to get anywhere close to what you had invested in the watch.Sales avenues are very limited, and the market here for a 3.5k watch is infinitesimally small. In looking over sales postings, and my recent experience selling a WM9/BK v3 16610 submariner, once the price gets up around 1k and over, the number of potential buyers shrinks tremendously. Not trying to discourage your idea, just some food for thought.

This.

Which is why I originally purchased my old-case MBW 1680, but ran out of money on the project. I planned on listing it for sale soon, but I'd rather sell it to someone who's going to do a bad-ass build with it; so you can have first crack at it. It's a complete watch with some gen parts though, and I'm not going to part out just the case. 1:1 with the 5513, and "Polex" between lugs. PM me for more info if you want it.

Not trying to rant here. Just wondering how long before my vendor comes to the rationalization that the package is LOST.

No updates for 40 days... I know he is not wanting to send a another watch and have two watches show up but damn.

Your item left GUANGZHOU EMS, CHINA PEOPLES REP on December 09, 2010. No further information is available for this item.

Detailed Results:

Bullet Foreign International Dispatch, December 09, 2010, 1:23 am, GUANGZHOU EMS, CHINA PEOPLES REP

Bullet Origin Post is Preparing Shipment

Bullet Foreign Acceptance, December 08, 2010, 6:25 pm

What'd you order, because I found a package?

The crystal makes the watch on the vintage rolexes. It's the way it catches the light.

Hats off!

Here's mine:

It depends what level of accuracy you want, and how much you want to spend. If you just want to add a gen crown and mod the case a little to make it look older then go with the PT sub and you'll be into it for about $400 parts and labour, unless you can mod it yourself then you are a little lower on price. If you want to go a little hardcore then you can easily spend a $1000+ on an MBW build. If you are going with a gen Rolex movement, then go with a Yuki case for $500 or better. Phong cases are about $1500 but they are regarded as the best case out there and you are getting into the VERY accurate super franken territory of $2500+

Costs are only aprox figures but you can see how the price quickly jumps up as you use better and better parts.

My MBW1680 for example

MBW watch $400

Gen 1680 Tritium NOS white letter dial $900

Serviced ETA2846 with clarke hands $250

Gen T-127 crystal $250

Gen 93150 Bracelet with 580 ends $600

Gen crown and tube $100

expensive aftermarket insert $90

Thats $2500 in parts right there before labour for someone to build it, BUT its very very accurate.

My PT1680

Watch $200 from Puretime

Service movement say $100

NEEDS gen crown say $50 used

Need better dial say a Yuki $150

Need better clasp say $50 for a rep bracelet with better clasp to swap in.

Crystal is junk so need one of those and oh yeah it doesnt fit so I have to send it to JMB to get a ring made and case milled so the crystal fits.... and a lot of CG work..

So to get the PT to good modded condition is about $500 before paying someone like JMB to do his metal magic, BUT this is only a few $ more than a stock MBW so...

For a Phone case setup take my MBW estimate and add $1000 more for the case plus another $1000 for a gen movement (prob closer to $1500 after servicing) So now we are at $4500. You may as well buy a gen for the same price and not have an aftermarket case. I admit I have spent way too much on my 1680 but its been a slow progression over a number of years. It my daily beater but I keep adding gen parts.

This.

The cheapest way to get into a nice vintage sub is to buy one already done. It's the same story with anything(houses, cars, etc)... That being said, if you just want to cut through the B.S. I might part with my modded MBW 1680 with the discontinued case that accepts gen parts. I think I might get a 5513/5512 and go from there.

The vintages have much more character than the newer models do.

Here's my baby, a modded MBW 1680 with the discontinued 1:1 case that takes gen parts. I would only consider trading it for a nice 5513 or 6263, but either way, I'm sticking with vintage Rollie!

What nato strap is that?

Also, make sure the silver date wheel has flat tops on the 3's.

I have a rep rubber PO strap for 42mm (20mm lug) if anyones interested. I'm looking to sell outright, or trade for a SSD bracelet. Please PM me.

Does this watch have solid mid-links?

Cool guys, thanks for chiming in...

Does this watch have solid mid-links?

I'm also looking at picking up one of these... What's the most desirable version? Were there any strage or different models produced? I love the look, and wear my rep almost daily...

Anyone want to sell theirs? Send me a PM!