2836 To 2893, Is It Worth It?

[TK471]

So following The Zigmeister's thread below regarding the 2836 movement in the Rolex GMT, a "bastardized" movement, as he calls it, I'm wondering whether it's worth it to buy a genuine 2893 movement for my PAM 63. I've got a Palp crown on the way, and I can get a 2893 for about $200. That's some money invested in this watch. Then you have to take on the cost of getting it installed. But here are a couple questions:

1. If I do buy the new movement, can it be installed into the 63 without significant modifications? I can't do it because I have ZERO watchmaking skills, but can it be done by someone with know-how?

2. The GMT hand on the 63 powered by the 2836 is sticking and lagging behind -- it just won't keep good time. Is this something that can be fixed, or am I forced to buy the 2893 if I ever want to have a truly functional GMT watch.

3. Cost concerns -- there will be a good deal of money invested in this watch. I'm just simply asking -- is it worth it?

4. Anyone done this modification?

Thanks in advance.

Z.

[Watchmeister]

I think I would sell the 2836 and buy a new 2893 - 63 or do nothing at all. They seem to have come down in price. One of the benefits of buying a 2893 already made is the rep makers seem to have made some effort to duplicate the movement decoration with the only real flaw being a missing "i" in Officine. The 2836 with GMT hand adds a separate hand which moves in concert with the hour hand. But you have to set the gmt right in the first place. The 2893 actually sets in 1 hour increments exactly in sync with the hour hand as a dedicated GMT movement should. I have heard a couple of folks complain that you can't reset the GMT hand on the 2893's in 1/2 hour increments. Someone here said that makes one timezone impossible to replicate. If that is true there are quite a few gen GMT's watches which won't do that either (including the gen 63). Beyond the decorated original movement most 2893 63's come individually numbered and with a good quality metal movement spacer. IMHO, if you do not want to replace what you have, I would stick with it as is and not bother with the transplant. By the time you factor in the movement and the installation you are adding another $300 or so. If you can sell what you have for $200 (??) you can buy a 2893 for $400-500

[TK471]

I think I would sell the 2836 and buy a new 2893 - 63 or do nothing at all. They seem to have come down in price. One of the benefits of buying a 2893 already made is the rep makers seem to have made some effort to duplicate the movement decoration with the only real flaw being a missing "i" in Officine. The 2836 with GMT hand adds a separate hand which moves in concert with the hour hand. But you have to set the gmt right in the first place. The 2893 actually sets in 1 hour increments exactly in sync with the hour hand as a dedicated GMT movement should. I have heard a couple of folks complain that you can't reset the GMT hand on the 2893's in 1/2 hour increments. Someone here said that makes one timezone impossible to replicate. If that is true there are quite a few gen GMT's watches which won't do that either (including the gen 63). Beyond the decorated original movement most 2893 63's come individually numbered and with a good quality metal movement spacer. IMHO, if you do not want to replace what you have, I would stick with it as is and not bother with the transplant. By the time you factor in the movement and the installation you are adding another $300 or so. If you can sell what you have for $200 (??) you can buy a 2893 for $400-500

Thanks for that advice. Makes a lot of sense -- and you're probably right! The only problem is that I've seen a lot few of the 29s with the genuine 2893, but no 63s. If you know someone that has one, let me know and I'll contact them.

Thanks.

Z.

[Watchmeister]

I believe King has them for one. I do see that Andrew and Josh do not have them any longer. Perhaps they are getting rare.

[panerai153]

I went on a quest for a Rolex GMT Master II with the 2893-2 movement several months back. I turned up absolutely zero!! I emailed and PM'ed every dealer on our forums to no avail. Almost everyone told me the same thing, the 2893-2 movements were no longer available to the rep manufacturers. No explanations were offered, but possibly ETA sources dried up for that movement. For some reason, the 2836 has become the "Darling" of the Replica manufacturers. It is even replacing the old reliable workhorse 2824-2 movement, which is a really solid, reliable Movement.

I finally bought a GMT Master II with the 2836-2 movement, but as has been discussed, from the time it first started appearing in PAM GMT models over a year ago, it certainly has some drawbacks. Mine has been working fine since I bought it, but who knows for how long. It unfortunately has become a "Winder queen" since I bought a genuine Rolex GMT Master 16750. Had I been able to find a 2893-2 movement GMT, I probably would not have gotten the genuine.

[Guest avitt]

Concerning replacing the 2836-2 with a 2893-2, I'm not sure that all of the hands would fit correctly. I say this bacause a while back, I purchased a set of genuine hands for my Omega Seamaster GMT rep. (The genuine movement is based on the 2893-2, and I believe that all of the hand sizes are the same). The gen GMT hand would not fit on the 2836-2 movement.

[Watchmeister]

If you go the movement swap route and the hands don't fit you can always pick up a set of gen hands (tritium or lume). But then you have to budget another $220 to the project. Buy the 2893 version.

[TK471]

If you go the movement swap route and the hands don't fit you can always pick up a set of gen hands (tritium or lume). But then you have to budget another $220 to the project. Buy the 2893 version.

On the advice of other members, I have decided to buy a 63 with a 2893 movement.

Concerning my 63 with the 2836, I recently had the movement serviced and regulated. The main time is unbelievably accurate. More accurate than any watch that I own or have ever owned, including Rolex, TAG and Omega. The watchmaker who regulated had it on a monitor and told me that the deviations were so small that they barely registered at all. That's impressive.

What I take from this is that the 2836 is a great movement. It can be made to be extraordinarily accurate. It's the GMT hand that's a bit of a problem. Most days it keeps great time, perfect time. But some nights it stops, and I have to reset it again in the morning.

All told, I'm going to sell it for $150 as soon as I can take some pictures of it.

[t]

Concerning replacing the 2836-2 with a 2893-2, I'm not sure that all of the hands would fit correctly. I say this bacause a while back, I purchased a set of genuine hands for my Omega Seamaster GMT rep. (The genuine movement is based on the 2893-2, and I believe that all of the hand sizes are the same). The gen GMT hand would not fit on the 2836-2 movement.

YESSSSSSSSS

GMT hand size on 2836-2 and 2893-2 is different, because on different position (under and over hour hand)

2836-2 GMT movement is absolut [censored]

it is a big difference between both movement... not only the style and the function... when you have both movement on hand... and when you winding the stem on both movement..,. you will feel the difference...

2893-2 is a GREAAAAAAAAT movement. The winding is soooo easy and light. UNBELIVEABLE. Movement is so smooooth... you can´t heard the rotor... and 2836-2???... NO COMMENT

BTW... what is the problem? ..you can pruchase rolex GMT hands for 2893-2 on ebay for round 20-25$???? NO PROBLEM

[TK471]

Well, I bought a watch with the 2893 movement installed.

So the 63 with a 2893 is on the way. I have given some thought to selling my current watch and getting like $150 out of it.

Here's my question, do you think I would be better served to utilize the case, crown, CG and crystal and purchase a movement and dial, starting a frankenwatch project? Will a Davidsen dial work with my watch?

I could sell it, like I said, and get about $150, I guess, but if I sell it, but a new case and start again, I'm sure I'd be more than $150 down.

Thanks in advance.

[t]

Well, I bought a watch with the 2893 movement installed.

So the 63 with a 2893 is on the way. I have given some thought to selling my current watch and getting like $150 out of it.

Here's my question, do you think I would be better served to utilize the case, crown, CG and crystal and purchase a movement and dial, starting a frankenwatch project? Will a Davidsen dial work with my watch?

I could sell it, like I said, and get about $150, I guess, but if I sell it, but a new case and start again, I'm sure I'd be more than $150 down.

Thanks in advance.

don´t sell it... start a frankenwatch. Saphir case is not available for 150$. It worth it. You could also sell the case, movement, dial, hands, buckle...

regards

[t]

Hmmm Tourbi, can you guide me to a GMT hand auction fitting 2893-2? THat's what I need...

look here

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WATCH-HANDS-FOR-MENS...1QQcmdZViewItem

he has silver color also available

cheers