catboy Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 i posted 12 - 18months ago wanting to build a franken for my dad for his 65th birthday and retirement, and asking for advice. i was steered down the datejust route, and this evening, 3 days before my dads 65th birthday party i finished building it! its been a slow project as i've been hunting for parts, learning as i go, but i've really enjoyed it and love the finished article; i just hope my dad likes it! thanks to everyone who's ever posted pictures, tutorials or information relating to datejusts, you've all helped (trust me; if you posted about a datejust, i read it over the last 12months! ). particular thanks to taxico and stilty for most of the parts and technical help, i couldnt have done it without you.. pics below, sorry they're not great i only have a crappy point and shoot camera.. ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catboy Posted September 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 specs for those of you into that sort of thing.. gen 16013 ss case, case back, tube, crown, replacement seal kit gen white gold fluted bezel, plexi crystal gen black / gold dial gen tudor hands nos 2824-2 movement, serviced and modified with h4 hw/cp/4th-w stilty movement spacer ring gen 2836-2 datewheel stilty champagne "open 6's and 9's" datewheel overlay yukiwatch solid mid-link oyster bracelet with 455b end links gen spring bars ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 Wow Ben! Looks excellent! Your dad will absolutely love it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 Nice job, Ben. Welcome to the franken club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJo35 Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 Very tastefully done, congrats I especially like the gilt dial and dome plexi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronin Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 Nice job. Just a thought/suggestion, maybe look into better fitting end-links or go leather. For whatever reason my eyes are drawn immediately to the endlinks instead of the awesome watch head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 Fantastic work, your dad's going to love it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 Unless he already has a gaggle of Rolexes, your dad will love it (probably more than words can say). Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkay Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 Hooray! good job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sly Posted September 15, 2010 Report Share Posted September 15, 2010 I also have a 1601 and i'm sure your dad will love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted September 16, 2010 Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 Beautiful build. It looks right from every angle! But is your Dad going to believe you when you say, "I made this for you"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted September 16, 2010 Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 Fantastic build and a great gift for Dad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catboy Posted September 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 Thanks for the positive comments guys.. The one thing I'm a bit disappointed with is the bracelet but I had so many house bills this last couple months I've had to go with an aftermarket bracelet.. I might try and source him a gen one (or gen clasp and end-links at least) later this year to properly finish the job off.. To be honest they fit much better "on the wrist", lAying it down seems to exaggerate the issue! Wasn't necessarilly my cup of tea during the build but had toconcentrate on the fact it was for someone else, but now it's done I really like it.. Has a nice aged look to it, and after much deliberation oyster was definitely the right choice! Pres/jubilee would have looked too fussy I think and he doesn't like leather straps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted September 16, 2010 Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 You might be able to improve the look of the end links by squeezing them together a little. That way if you have the little bottom tabs, they will rest on the bottom lugs and keep the top part in place better. Or using another set might help- I have rep 455B's on my 16014 franken and they fit nicely. End links are definitely a hit or miss proposition. You just have to keep trying til you get something that fits well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted September 16, 2010 Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 I agree, pinch the end links and search for a gen clasp on ebay. That will make a big difference. Other than that, its looks awesome My first gen Rolex was a black dial 1603 with engine turned stainless bezel. I love these old plexy datejusts. dzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted September 16, 2010 Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 Looks great! I am sure that your Dad is going to love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member X Posted September 16, 2010 Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 A great first build Mine will be a lot less scary - I think I'll start with a PAM homage! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catboy Posted September 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 Had a fiddle with the end links tonight, not a perfect fit but 95% there so very happy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stilty Posted September 17, 2010 Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 Very nice! I'm glad it all came together and worked out! Congrats! side note: date disc is a genuine rolex. icing on the cake! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted September 17, 2010 Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 side note: date disc is a genuine rolex. icing on the cake! That's really cool. I have the Datejust that you built for Wheaton26 with a gen rolex date disc. My only question is, I thought the date wheel turned in a different direction than the ETA movement discs - making the numbering order reversed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catboy Posted September 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 Awesome! I thought the date progression was backwards too but perhaps it's the crown direction to progress the date which is reversed with a cal.3035? A friend in the know said on Wednesday "the truth will out tomorrow" (ie when there was going to be a 6 on the dial) and then yesterday took one look at the date and said "hmm.." and walked off with a smile on his face! Really does add another correct, visible detail to the job.. I think a gen bracelet is the last missing piece really, other than that the only thing non-gen is the movement.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member X Posted September 17, 2010 Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 Awesome! I thought the date progression was backwards too but perhaps it's the crown direction to progress the date which is reversed with a cal.3035? I'm sure I read that it's the crown direction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stilty Posted September 17, 2010 Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 the 3135 disc is the same as ETA. 3035 and 1575 are opposite ETA. I have a few very rare 3135 discs with open and larger fonts. Same font as a 3035, but advance the same as the ETA! A double bonus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted September 18, 2010 Report Share Posted September 18, 2010 the 3135 disc is the same as ETA. I have a few very rare 3135 discs with open and larger fonts. Same font as a 3035, but advance the same as the ETA! A double bonus. Do you mean the gen 3135 date disk is a drop-in replacement (same size/diameter/thickness & works with ETA date change components) for the ETA date disk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted September 18, 2010 Report Share Posted September 18, 2010 the 3135 disc is the same as ETA. 3035 and 1575 are opposite ETA. I have a few very rare 3135 discs with open and larger fonts. Same font as a 3035, but advance the same as the ETA! A double bonus. Wow that's a beauty! Is that an open 6 on 26 that I see? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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