collector Posted September 12, 2009 Report Posted September 12, 2009 I love the Rolex Explorer 1655 Steve Mqueen model, does any rep make this model? if so is the rep good?
redwatch Posted September 12, 2009 Report Posted September 12, 2009 I had one for sale here: FS: Rolex 1655 Steve McQueen
flex Posted September 14, 2009 Report Posted September 14, 2009 I would love to build a 1655. I had even a Ndtrading case set and subsequently sold to a friend for $300. the hardest bit was the dial, esp getting the Rolex Coronet correct. Here is a pic the Coronet on the dial
lanikai Posted September 14, 2009 Report Posted September 14, 2009 I hear a dealer is using his genuine to replicate this now.. so you may not have to go the expensive route of sourcing all the separate parts. L
Toadtorrent Posted September 14, 2009 Report Posted September 14, 2009 High quality 1655 based on gen? Proper thickness? Right bezel font?? Wow...bring it on!!! If only they can make one with a gen 2893-2, or an Asian copy of it.
guibs Posted September 15, 2009 Report Posted September 15, 2009 Have also heard the same as lanikai. I've recently gotten interested in this watch and thanks to toomuchgear, toadtorrent and lanikai have gotten to learn more about the available versions from the dealers. Have decided to wait for the new model to come out, then can get a better comparison.
Virgil Hilts Posted September 15, 2009 Report Posted September 15, 2009 This is the one I've always wanted. If there's any more details on what's being developed, I'd love to hear about it. I'd rather have a dead-on version of this than my DW VJ72 6263.
marcoxxx1984 Posted September 15, 2009 Report Posted September 15, 2009 Wow!!! That's what I was waiting for!!! who is the dealer????!!!!!!
docblackrock Posted September 15, 2009 Report Posted September 15, 2009 I hear a dealer is using his genuine to replicate this now.. so you may not have to go the expensive route of sourcing all the separate parts. L Lani, if you're talking about DW, then that's not strictly true. I understood it as he was making a copy of the Viet rep cases.
docblackrock Posted September 15, 2009 Report Posted September 15, 2009 Of course, as is always the problem for a super-accurate 1655 (and 1675), you really have to pony up for a gen.c.1575 as there isn't an alternative slow-beat GMT movement available. Any modded ETA 2836 or even the true GMT 2893 just beats too highly, and thus seconds too smoothly, to pass as gen on inspection. An accurate and realistically priced case set would be still be very welcome though, as it would provide a decent base for the average hobbyist.
flex Posted September 19, 2009 Report Posted September 19, 2009 Lani, if you're talking about DW, then that's not strictly true. I understood it as he was making a copy of the Viet rep cases. X 2 I know who sold him the viet cases.. 1665, 1680, 1655 to be exact!
automatico Posted September 19, 2009 Report Posted September 19, 2009 "Of course, as is always the problem for a super-accurate 1655 (and 1675), you really have to pony up for a gen.c.1575 as there isn't an alternative slow-beat GMT movement available. Any modded ETA 2836 or even the true GMT 2893 just beats too highly, and thus seconds too smoothly, to pass as gen on inspection." I made a '1655' that came with an eta 2836-2 into a slower beat movement (21600) by swapping some parts around. The 1575 GMT is 19800 bph and the 2846 is 21600 bph and I doubt anyone can tell the difference by just looking at the second hand.
docblackrock Posted September 19, 2009 Report Posted September 19, 2009 I made a '1655' that came with an eta 2836-2 into a slower beat movement (21600) by swapping some parts around. The 1575 GMT is 19800 bph and the 2846 is 21600 bph and I doubt anyone can tell the difference by just looking at the second hand. Sure it's possible to modify a slow-beat movt to run a GMT function, but it requires watchmaker's skill ("swapping some parts around" makes it sound much easier than it is) and even then it's not exactly ultra-reliable. RepAustria did it on a 1655 I remember. But for the majority of 1655 reps using a 2836, the 28.8k bph is noticeably much faster/smoother than the gen. calibre.
vlaletom Posted September 20, 2009 Report Posted September 20, 2009 Sure it's possible to modify a slow-beat movt to run a GMT function, but it requires watchmaker's skill ("swapping some parts around" makes it sound much easier than it is) and even then it's not exactly ultra-reliable. RepAustria did it on a 1655 I remember. But for the majority of 1655 reps using a 2836, the 28.8k bph is noticeably much faster/smoother than the gen. calibre. honestly this is an easy swap. I have a 1655 that i did this way : here I even think i did a post about the swap long time ago (maybe on rwg1). You need the gmt module from a basic rep (like josh or trusty) And then get a slow beat 2846 used watch on the bay (expect around 40€). I can re post pictures of the gear transplant if intersted. but that wont solve all the problem. most basic rep will have a 7mm crow. so when swaped to a 6mm the gap will look obvious. and the crown wont align as it should be... the basic rep case will let a gen tropic 116 sit to high, and therefore the date mag will be too strong ... and so on ... so a resonably budgeted 1655 project can't be as good as some other vintage model, like a 1680 for example. that why there are so few perfect 1655 floating around ...
marc jacobs Posted September 20, 2009 Report Posted September 20, 2009 I love the Rolex Explorer 1655 Steve Mqueen model, does any rep make this model? if so is the rep good? Here is my project, you can go to take look:
Omega Posted September 20, 2009 Report Posted September 20, 2009 And the GMT Module which you can use on a 2846 you can buy here... CLICK
lanikai Posted September 20, 2009 Report Posted September 20, 2009 Lani, if you're talking about DW, then that's not strictly true. I understood it as he was making a copy of the Viet rep cases. Negative.. not DW .... hopefully they realize how popular this one can be if replicated correctly..
flex Posted September 20, 2009 Report Posted September 20, 2009 One suggestion would be to use the gen GMT 1675 as a base. swap the bezel, gen dial + gen hands set...... at the end of the day, you will have a very nice 1675 GMT that you can sell in the future.
Stephane Posted September 20, 2009 Report Posted September 20, 2009 One suggestion would be to use the gen GMT 1675 as a base. swap the bezel, gen dial + gen hands set...... at the end of the day, you will have a very nice 1675 GMT that you can sell in the future. According to my genuine dealer in the Netherlands, when the 1655 was released, as it did not sell, the largest Amsterdam AD offered a "transformer kit" so you could go from a Explorer to a GMT look !!! Ok, it's not helping the discussion on the best route, but it's a funny story? All this for 2 or 3K Pitty we weren't older and in Amsterdam in those years A photo of mine ? All the best, Stephane
Chronus Posted September 20, 2009 Report Posted September 20, 2009 I would love to build a 1655. I had even a Ndtrading case set and subsequently sold to a friend for $300. the hardest bit was the dial, esp getting the Rolex Coronet correct. Do you have any more of these cases at that price? I have gen parts to put on once I have it... dial, hands, movement, bezel, crystal, crown etc
flex Posted September 21, 2009 Report Posted September 21, 2009 Sorry I don't. I only have a 1665 DRSD case set left. I know of a friend who might have one set that his friend bought from VN. I wll email him this afternoon. If he has one caseset, I will let you know. Flex
marcoxxx1984 Posted December 1, 2009 Report Posted December 1, 2009 Are there any news about the dealer of the new 1655 1:1??? I can't wait!!! If someone got a good one modded contact me!!
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