Rolex 5517 Military Submariner project

[rolexmaniac88]

Hi everyone,

I've been reading this forum for quite some time now and i'm ready to finally launch my first projet. I'd like it to be a 5517 (or maybe 5513) Military Sub. I'd like to start off with an inexpensive watch ($400 top would prefer $250).

Then, i would probably switch with a tropic 19, lume the dial, add a gen tube and crown, maybe find a more accurate bezel insert.

In order to deliver a fine replica without spending $1000, what do you think i should start with and what mods should i do?

For example, i saw this new replica on josh's website: http://www.jpc8118.com/0000000000rlsv01002-vintage-military-submariner-asia-2836-p-7699.html

What do you think: I like the dimensions 40x13, close to the gen (40x14) but what bugs me is the caseback!!!

Thanks in advance for all your help!

Oh and one more thing, i'm in Europe and therefore looking for someone who knows how to lume a dial in this area or even better tips on how to lume it yourself!

[geyper man]

Don't use this watch as starting point, it's based on a 1665 case, completely innacurate for a 5513/5517 project.

Milsub needs several mods, so it's not a low budget project. A 5513/1680 MBW case it's better than the one you pointed at.

Tritium on vintage Rolex watches is dead, so they're no lume at all, otherwise the aged tritium look is one of the most important things on these watches.

Edited November 5, 2009 by geyper man

[rolexmaniac88]

Don't use this watch as starting point, it's based on a 1665 case, completely innacurate for a 5513/5517 project.

Milsub needs several mods, so it's not a low budget project. A 5513/1680 MBW case it's better than the one you pointed at.

Tritium on vintage Rolex watches is dead, so they're no lume at all, otherwise the aged tritium look is one of the most important things on these watches.

Thanks, yeah that's what i meant by lume. Sorry. But i want to age the dial.

But isn't there any swiss ETA copy with fixed lugs and correct dial with correct engravings that would do the trick ? And then i can work mainly on the outside of the watch. I don't think i would be able, for now, to order every part and then assemble the watch by myself.

[tmg]

Geyperman is right, you'd be much better off starting with a MBW 5513 -a better base to work from. See if Eurotimez can swap the dial out with a 5517 dial, he sells a 5517 dial for the MBW's separately.

You would need to drill out the lug holes to 2mm and insert a steel rod for fixed bars and solder them in place to have fixed strap bars. For a quick and dirty method, could just solder springbars in place. Swap with a CWP 60 min insert, use MkII Watches MOD hands and call it a day. BTW, I have a set of vintage lume MkII hands for sale . Note that some 5517's were still marked 5513 on the cases so its not such a big deal with the stampings.

Good luck on your project.

[rolexmaniac88]

Geyperman is right, you'd be much better off starting with a MBW 5513 -a better base to work from. See if Eurotimez can swap the dial out with a 5517 dial, he sells a 5517 dial for the MBW's separately.

You would need to drill out the lug holes to 2mm and insert a steel rod for fixed bars and solder them in place to have fixed strap bars. For a quick and dirty method, could just solder springbars in place. Swap with a CWP 60 min insert, use MkII Watches MOD hands and call it a day. BTW, I have a set of vintage lume MkII hands for sale . Note that some 5517's were still marked 5513 on the cases so its not such a big deal with the stampings.

Good luck on your project.

Thanks for the advice. I saw your project 5517 and i must say it is a real beauty !

I'm sending a mail to eurotimez to see if he can do it. Where can i find a CWP insert ? Shouldn't i change to a tropic 19 aswell or whats on the mbw is fine ?

Can you also PM the price of your set of hands. Thanks again.

[tmg]

Thanks for the advice. I saw your project 5517 and i must say it is a real beauty !

I'm sending a mail to eurotimez to see if he can do it. Where can i find a CWP insert ? Shouldn't i change to a tropic 19 aswell or whats on the mbw is fine ?

Can you also PM the price of your set of hands. Thanks again.

Thanks for the nice words on my Milsub.

CWP is Classic Watch Parts. A Clarks Tropic 19 is a good budget option, it might be a tad closer in shape to the genuine. What I like about the Clarks T19 is it has the look of an over polished superdome.

[rolexmaniac88]

Thanks for the nice words on my Milsub.

CWP is Classic Watch Parts. A Clarks Tropic 19 is a good budget option, it might be a tad closer in shape to the genuine. What I like about the Clarks T19 is it has the look of an over polished superdome.

So I received a mail from Eurotimez. They don't have a 5517 MBW replica. What they're offering me are the case of a 5513 (without fixed lugs) with the dial and hands of a 5517. Also, the caseback will not be engraved. How can i fix this? What do you reckon?

Are the lugs of the 5513 will be right for a 5517 (2mm)? Will i only have to fix them afterwards? Is fixing really that easy?

So far, if i want to do it right, i think i would have to purchase or do the followings:

- an MBW 5513 case

- an MBW dial

- toomuchgear's hands

- a clarks tropic 19

- a CWP 60min bezel insert

- fixing the lugs

- aging the dial

- a slowbeat 2846 mvmt

What else?

I think i have to find a watchmaker able to do all of this before starting to getting all the pieces. Isn't there any simpler way of doing it?

[Pascal Voisin]

Hi,

I just saw your post and I would like to know if it was possible to have the links to build a 5517.

 

ASAP

[whoopy12]

 

Hi,

I just saw your post and I would like to know if it was possible to have the links to build a 5517.

 

ASAP

 

5517 parts are for sale here: 

 

http://www.rwgforum.net/topic/171982-fs-gen-aftermarket-vintage-rolex-parts/

[Rudy4010]

A MBW case will be hard pressed to find! Rare!

You could go also Yuki?

Sent from my Rolex thinking brain!