PongsarutWiboonwattanakul

"Where can I buy this case?"
 
I have some 'obsolete' 55xx cases from a few different suppliers and here are the suppliers and approximate dates purchased...DW (2011), MBK (2012), Yuki (2009 and 2012), IG44 (2012), and JKF (2017).
The best for the $$ in descending order when I bought them imho are Yuki, IG44, MBK, DW, JKF and all except JKF are no longer selling watches or cases.  Never had a Vietnam case that I know of.  Yuki??  Maybe yes, maybe no.  They had to be ordered with a 4 to 6 week delay and I never heard where they came from.  All these cases have a few flaws and the Yuki cases (5512, 5513) are probably the best of all the cases I have.  Members have reported problems with earlier Yuki cases but mine are fine.  
 
DW cases are pretty good and all are 1680 spec inside and this means they need a 26.5mm dial and either a rlx 1525, 1565, 1575 date movement or ETA 2836/46 type movement.  The case sides are slightly rounded and not flat like OEM but this is good if you want the watch to look  polished/aged.  The engraving/stamping ranges from very good engraving to ratty engraving to laser etching to none at all.  Case backs also come with two thread diameters (one OEM spec, one smaller) but this is Ok unless you want to exchange case backs.  The case necks are a hair too small on all my DW cases so this must be an across the board defect/problem.  You just have to dig through aftmkt crystals until you find one that fits.  They also have 'spring wire' rotating bezels so you will need a bezel kit (crystal clamp ring, tension shim, rotating bezel, bezel insert), I used Clark kits.
 
MBK cases were the 'cheapo choice' for higher grade projects but they have almost disappeared from the scene, probably because no one wants to sell theirs as replacing them with something of equivalent quality is expensive now.  There is a LOT of info about them on the forum.  OEM crystals and case tubes fit fine, at least all of mine did.  All my MBK cases are made for a rlx 1525, 1565, 1575 date movement or ETA 2836/46 type movement and all are made for 26.0mm dials.  You can make a good 5512/13 but the stem has to be centered in the case tube.  There is enough metal to enlarge the dial opening to accept a 26.5mm dial for a 1680 project.  You can find the ins and outs about all this on the rlx forum.
 
Yuki cases were the top of the line starting out because they were just about all there was at the time besides 'Phong' (Jewelry & Watch) and his cases were much higher $$.  Yuki 55xx cases had case tube thread problems starting out and this really did a lot of harm to their brand but they made improvements and sold them for a few years with very few complaints.  I traded into an early '1680' Yuki case and it was fine but some buyers had problems.
 
IG44 had fine dials and very good cases but their offerings were limited because IG44 could be hard to get in touch with.  I have a '1680' case and it is very good but I have not seen one for sale in years although you might see a dial now and then.
 
JKF cases are fine for ETA/Miyota clone projects imho but it seems some sellers are not selling 'genuine' JKF watches.  Who knows?  My JKF case is Ok but the lug holes are a bit too high on the lugs and this is not good when the holes are enlarged to accept OEM spec spring bars.  It is on spec for crystals and case tubes.  If you get an actual JKF case, they are a bargain in today's market.
 
Things to look for imho:
1...OEM spec case neck and case tube threads.  Hard to tell until you get the case though.
2...Holes in lugs with room above and below so the holes will not be too close to an edge if they need to be enlarged.  This is hit or miss because the watch or case you get may not match the one in pictures.
3...A groove machined inside the case for case screws and/or case clamps.
4...Crown location not too high or low.  This does not bother me very much but it shows.  'Repexperts' will spot it every time.  'Genuine Rolexperts' probably not.  If any of this bothers you...wear a long sleeve shirt.  Ha!
 
Happy Hunting!
  
 
 
 
 

Where can I buy this case?
Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is original dial ?
or is the one you have.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well I succumbed to the need to take a closer look at the updated Cartel 5513 and ordered one from Josh. http://www.pf-818.com/-p-9481.html
At long last we can say goodbye to to the stubby crown guards, a good excuse for me start another build. Here we go
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/61e3726dfd3ef12ff7dc25118e34da68.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/fc801823a4d8bfc8b585294e4598bb5a.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/288405952ddca5097ba64f73843799fe.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/139cb2aaa2cd559d2f5e205c0c87d010.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/698f39ee1ca616ef10907cced0dc5d20.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/9bf036e16530eb0ef0b4ac7681253ae9.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/f30920ecfcffe05dfeddcb9fc74b21da.jpg
The annoying "Stailesssteel" and 1665 model designation between the lugs. I will sand these out to leave a brushed finish.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/ebe2cad07b3f70929356b075ba8c508f.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/c7e90953e5ba93233c70ae45668618eb.jpg
Comparison of case height with the previous stubby 5513 and 1665 Cartel models (both modded). First the 5513.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/52f6d8ffbc907c8e0e84229dd9263ed2.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/9ecc084e354ba280d2a72d53ed02c128.jpg
1665 with a phong bezel assembly
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/2bf362a3eed8d67456ea657fe26725eb.jpg
Side by side with the modded 5513
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/0e30ee8864c2bac61edac8c329cd7887.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/9db21e811ee62bf3e7a98be6202183c1.jpg
Asian 2836 movement
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/1da4d2e48f7f7319bc1171b8807c2f46.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/b00caf384625a6076d81f27884113837.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/05afb0d6092908113fbffb04672646b5.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/3ff5fb18819e3dc54067c86196701f60.jpg
Replacement of dial and handset.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/ea276b77752cc51cfe9107920b34b704.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/e36e3c1b56936872d0d46f4afbae6c83.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/38cd4d5d3a5a140374c5805f72d49104.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/650b252892cee824f71fb6724d67764d.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/685250efb0a9048d1f6277dcaca02cd1.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/969285cd739c73be4f5246e40b27ee95.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/9f063ea08331f0784873da5e4dcb36b9.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/e2bda4a0030782bae287b05a712db455.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/71a9c1ecdc746ed22064696776711d73.jpg
Dismantling the bezel assembly and crystal removal in preparation for case work.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/ff4aa451c79d4e3a31909d416bd63984.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/3cac916955c756ef3f160d63332f599d.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/e35bcf158eba522c6feeb6912b309582.jpg
So far so good. More to follow