creation88 Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 (edited) My Puretime 1665 DRSD (dial 2) arrived today -- just over a week after I ordered it. First impressions are mixed. Firstly the bracelet is unusable, a screw sheared off in the last link by the clasp making it unwearable, so I'm wearing it on my spare bracelet which is put together from a load of spare parts. Good news though -- it does in fact contain the slow beat ETA 2846 movement and it seems to be beating well (for at least the past two hours anyway) and "ticking" like a true vintage Rolex. The spring bars are 2mm and the lug holes are drilled accordingly although I'm not sure about their position. The bezel assembly is, to all intents and purposes, the same as my MBW and I think the MBW bezel would fit on the Puretime case although i'm not going to force it. The Bezel insert is nice -- no real need to replace that. The crown is terrible -- way too fat and the crown guards need work, but there isn't that extra bit of metal the shows between the bezel and the crown that you get on MBW cases. The He Valve seems better than the MBW in that it appears to be real rather than a cosmetic dimple -- what effect that has on Water resistance I don't know and don't plan to find out. On to the dial. Not sure what to say here -- from some angles it looks good, the lume is quite a convincing colour in the flesh (and the hands match unlike on my MBW GW) but it is too shiny to be convincing and the lume dots seem very big (compared to the GWSD anyway). The crystal is in my opinion better than the MBW stock one, but unfortunately it isn't seated properly The date window isn't the right shape, but the date wheel is silver and has flat-top threes. I've attached some photos, but I don't have any lights and it's a dull day in london, so I can't get very good dial shots. My conclusion is that for the money, it's a pretty good rep (apart from the bracelet which I hope Angus will sort out). If I could get hold of a decent crown and sort out the crown guards, I'd consider frankening it with my MBW GW -- MBW dial and caseback, Puretime everything else although I'd end up with . Edited February 1, 2010 by creation88 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asciwhite Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 Good thing I plan to use rivet bracelet on mine Hope you fix the pictures in the post very soon as I am anxious to see them..... I am in Norway and the mail is slooooooooooow so I will not be surprised if I have to wait another 14 days for mine EDIT : Ahhh there is the pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 Looks very promising. I don't know why these factories can't get something right like a simple crown! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolfire Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 any shots of the crown - headon, please? maybe you should contact Puretime for a replacement one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 The crown reminds me of the old noobmariner crowns- too big! Trim the crown guards- I guess china will never get those right! I ordered the GW version, so I already plan on ordering an MBW GW dial. Still looks like a decent deal for $223- a good starting point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 finally a review!! so I assume gen parts fits? looks great regardless... question is dollar for dollar puretimes or an MBK? if they were the same price which would you rather have, and what changes do you plan on making? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prdubis Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 So finally the good way would be: -PT case -2846 movement -Gen crown and tube -PT or gen insert/bezel -MBW dial, caseback, strap -PT clasp Right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creation88 Posted February 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 So finally the good way would be: -PT case -2846 movement -Gen crown and tube -PT or gen insert/bezel -MBW dial, caseback, strap -PT clasp Right? I'd probably go for the ends of the Puretime bracelet because they fit gen springbars and MBW (or other clasp) although the Puretime has the right (plain) fliplock. Maybe a hatchet job between the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asciwhite Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 Just bought this one can I use this? and what tube do I need? There where only one minute left of the auction, so I do not know if I can use it or if I got screwed EDIT: I am still a n00b and do not know what to look for... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 Just bought this one can I use this? and what tube do I need? There where only one minute left of the auction, so I do not know if I can use it or if I got screwed EDIT: I am still a n00b and do not know what to look for... I think it's a 24-703-0 crown- 702 crowns have a longer narrower crown emblem. Tube is the 24-7030-0-part #, nostalgia-2000 or wholesaleoutlet990 sell them on the bay for $20 or so. I've been using the WO990 ones lately w/ good results, but you need the tap (3.0mm x .35) and the tool for installing the case tube- $35 at ofrei.com or julesborel.com- for 6mm/7mm tubes, also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 will PTs tube work without a swap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geyper man Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 Great news, for the prize, looks a good starting point for a budget project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 (edited) I suggest you double check the crystal on the lower SD, it looks lopsided, which might compromise its resistance to water. (provided you plan to seal it or at least service its gaskets of course). Besides that the reps look all in all cool imo. P.S. Unless you plan to dive in saturation you won't need the HEV function, so my suggestion is to seal it with epoxy or other means to prevent water damage. Edited February 2, 2010 by Crab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShawnBeever Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Thanks for the review. Have just ordered one, seems great value even if you just use it for parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Ha, I 'borrowed' this pic of a gen 1665- nice side shot of the lugholes Puretimes holes don't look too bad, IMO. I sure wish my watch would show up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milesd Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Mine showed up today. Same issue with the crystal not seated correctly, but I'm not going to worry about it. It's not as bad as yours, but it's slightly off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiker01 Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Just don't get it wet!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Wow... very nice. Talk to me about the dial's hour indices. Do they look big to you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slickdick Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Wow... very nice. Talk to me about the dial's hour indices. Do they look big to you? They're humongous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asciwhite Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Can you fix the crystal with a press? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 i'm going with dial option 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asciwhite Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 . Hows about putting a Yuki DRSD dial in or a MBK DRSD....? Is anyone of them accurate enough to "deserve" the pleasure of residing in this watch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geo1nah2a Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 I am sold Mine showed up today. Same issue with the crystal not seated correctly, but I'm not going to worry about it. It's not as bad as yours, but it's slightly off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 I do not mean to hurt anyone's feelings, but I think the additional $100 entrance fee for an MBW would be money well spent. At least, out of the box, the MBW's flaws strike me as less conspicuous. And to Nanuq's insightful comment - I agree - the round hour indexes look too big (while the rectangular indexes look too thin). The colors are a bit garish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 I love your math, freddy! $400 for an MBW plus shipping- $20. w/ a Swiss eta- is it a 2846? Drill the lugholes! does it come w/ a hollow mid link bracelet? +$90 decent 580 end links- no notches? +$20 2mm springbars- +$10 Does the current adulterated MBW 1665 take anything? crystal? How's the bezel? Add a decent insert- $65 + s&h from PMWF and a pearl, another $20- over $90 Remember Cat's 1680? Crown and tube is a push- both need them, maybe the Puretime will take a gen crown w/o a new tube??? Trim the cg's same deal, both need it. I've figured a Puretime GWSD- $223 w/ shipping, and an MBW GWSD dial- $65+ $20 s&h. So an MBW could easily total over $600, I'm at $308 on the PT w/ an MBW GWSD. Oh, does the MBW come w/ a 2846? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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