watcher Posted April 1, 2012 Report Posted April 1, 2012 Thought I would snap a few pics of my FrankenTC/Watcher 16610! Started with a V serial case set and V2 bracelet and began by removing the rehaut engraving which is a doddle as it is not deep at all! Then added a gen 703 Crown and Tube combo followed by a gen bezel assembly including mint conition bezel with brand new insert and crystal retaining ring. I fitted a Cousins click spring and bezel retaining washer. As you may see in the pictures that this has a Londongeorge supplied Gen 295 crystal with factory AR which is amazing! I used a Cousins 29.5 x 2.7mm gasket for perfect magnification. The movement is a brand new 2824-2 fitted with a date wheel overlay used in the latest 1:1 SD16600. It has good fonts and a lovely crisp white background(unlike TC's overlay which is a greyish off white that does not sparkle at you!) A gen dial has been fitted and at the moment I'm waiting for another hand set from TC as the hour got damaged when I was clumsy! so it has the 1:1 superlumed SD hand which always has a slight green cast to it all the time which bothers me! Bracelet is the TC V2 with softened edges and is pretty good to be honest. I will wait to see if he does a better V3 shaped end link before sourcing a gen 93250 bracelet. So there you have it, a pretty sweet loooking Sub if I say so myself!! Enjoy the pics which were taken on my Iphone so I hope they are ok. Cheers W.
redwatch Posted April 1, 2012 Report Posted April 1, 2012 Looking good! I love that serif font on the date wheel!!!!
its_urabus Posted April 1, 2012 Report Posted April 1, 2012 Looks amazing! that is the crystal that I am hoping to source for my sean case build. I also hope that the V3 bracelet is better than V2. If you dont mind me asking, was there a premium for the newer ar crystal over the older one?
watcher Posted April 1, 2012 Author Report Posted April 1, 2012 I wondered if someone would notice the serif fonts. The date wheel they are using on the new reps is very good. The crystal was in the same ballpark as a standard gen crystal but the difference in light and day on the cyclops.
cougar1 Posted April 1, 2012 Report Posted April 1, 2012 Looks fantastic, If you ever think of parting with it, let me know
modelizer Posted April 1, 2012 Report Posted April 1, 2012 Man that is one sweet looking sub! Very well done!
duke1973 Posted April 1, 2012 Report Posted April 1, 2012 Watcher your builds are awesome my friend! Does the SD superlumed hand your using match up good with gen dial in brightness and duration of the lume?
watcher Posted April 1, 2012 Author Report Posted April 1, 2012 The hand is actually better than the TC hand and matches the dial for lume with Tc's slightly less but only slightly. Only problem is that the green tint never goes in full daylight so it does not match the crisp white uncharged lume of the dial and TC hand. Thanks fo rthe compliments guys, I really enjoy my frankens but never keep them for long!!!!!
danza1812 Posted April 1, 2012 Report Posted April 1, 2012 Real nice. Can't wait to get mine back, will be similar but on a lesser scale. D serial gen dial, gen crystal (no ar) and a used gen insert. Really worth keeping a Franken 16610 IMHO.
highoeyazmuhudee Posted April 2, 2012 Report Posted April 2, 2012 very nice! whered you get the 16600 dwo?
correctime Posted April 2, 2012 Report Posted April 2, 2012 B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L !!! They just don't get much better than that, Brother.
fidhle007 Posted April 2, 2012 Report Posted April 2, 2012 Beautiful work, man! If you get a chance, PM about that crystal! I'd be interested in sourcing one at some point... Does it have the LEC as well as the AR?
watcher Posted April 2, 2012 Author Report Posted April 2, 2012 All Rolex sport model crystals have the laser etched crown that I know of particularly the last 20 years anyway.
fidhle007 Posted April 2, 2012 Report Posted April 2, 2012 That's what I thought. Is yours original or is it a service crystal with the "S" in the crown?
alligoat Posted April 2, 2012 Report Posted April 2, 2012 Nice build watcher! With that 2824-2, you've got that nice high crown position of a gen. Good job.
correctime Posted April 2, 2012 Report Posted April 2, 2012 (edited) That's what I thought. Is yours original or is it a service crystal with the "S" in the crown? +1...that's a good question. Though I would think they're originals. Edited April 2, 2012 by correctime
watcher Posted April 2, 2012 Author Report Posted April 2, 2012 This is an original crystal with no s. I'm happy with a 2824 inside and It is running well within cosc standards. Crown height is perfect inside tc's movement holder.
fidhle007 Posted April 2, 2012 Report Posted April 2, 2012 This is an original crystal with no s. I'm happy with a 2824 inside and It is running well within cosc standards. Crown height is perfect inside tc's movement holder. Funny, I thought the crown was a little high (I'm talking fractions of a millimeter) on the TC sub I built. Still perfectly operational but I thought it might leave some room for a 2892 as well... I have a good source for gen crystals but this one with the AR is awesome, care to share your source via PM or can I buy one through you? Thanks! Brendan
watcher Posted April 3, 2012 Author Report Posted April 3, 2012 The source of the crystal has been discussed here: http://www.rwg.cc/topic/144410-gen-rolex-crystal-question/ He supplied me with one last week.
DeeKa Posted April 3, 2012 Report Posted April 3, 2012 All Rolex sport model crystals have the laser etched crown that I know of particularly the last 20 years anyway. Nope. The laser etched crown was introduced in 2000, starting in updated models like the 114270 and 14060M, others got them later like the 16600 and 16610 in 2003. Dee
HauteHippie Posted April 3, 2012 Report Posted April 3, 2012 I'd say this is one heck of a build. How much do you have in to it, if you don't mind?
watcher Posted April 3, 2012 Author Report Posted April 3, 2012 Parts were bought quite well so around $1800 give or take a little.
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