omgiv Posted April 30, 2012 Report Share Posted April 30, 2012 Okay guys. I have decided to go ahead and use a glossy 5513 dial on a 2846 movement. I have no problems cutting the feet off of a glossy dial. My problem is what to do with the hands. All of the rep hands don't look accurate and wanted to use genuine hands. Has anyone had any luck trimming an ETA movement to fit Rolex hands? ETA hands are 90/150/25 and Rolex hands are 80/120/20. The hour wheel, canon pinion, and fourth wheel would all need to be trimmed. I have a lathe and think I can do it but was wondering if anyone has done it before. Thanks!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialvat Posted April 30, 2012 Report Share Posted April 30, 2012 Cant you broach the hands ? I ve done it in the past, not with Gen hands but asian to eta hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omgiv Posted April 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2012 That is definitely a possibility. I would rather modify the ETA parts if it is possible since they are cheaper and readily available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialvat Posted April 30, 2012 Report Share Posted April 30, 2012 Watch bitz has the tools should you need them http://www.rwg.cc/fo...237-watch-bitz/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted April 30, 2012 Report Share Posted April 30, 2012 I agree that you may be better off modding the ETA parts to fit gen hands, i know it has been done before but i cant remember who did it, let us all know how you get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted April 30, 2012 Report Share Posted April 30, 2012 What about using gen Tudor Hands? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omgiv Posted April 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2012 That may be a possibility as well. I can't say that I have seen any recently though. Do you know of a source? Thanks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
automatico Posted April 30, 2012 Report Share Posted April 30, 2012 eta 2824/36/46 hand sizes H 150 M 90 S 25 rolex 1530/70 hand sizes H 130 M 80 S 20 Looks like the minute hand going from .8mm to .9mm would be easy but taking an hour hand from 1.30 to 1.50 might remove too much metal. You would just have to try it on a used hand and see how it goes. I have tried to remove too much metal from hour hands and wound up with only the top of the hand left and the hub gone. Without the hub (tube part of the hand) the hand will not stay straight on the hour wheel and can get knocked down onto the dial etc. Squeezing a ss hand tube from .26 to .2 might not be too hard but I never tried it. Might crimp it in a couple places but you need to smack it around a little to be sure it will stay put and not drop down onto the minute hand. "I agree that you may be better off modding the ETA parts to fit gen hands, i know it has been done before but i cant remember who did it..." You might be able to cut the eta hour wheel tube down to work but the hour wheel is pretty thin...the eta center wheel/cp tube od is about .95/.96mm and the hour wheel od is 1.5mm so there is not much metal in the hour wheel tube wall. You only need to remove .1mm of metal though. .1mm cut = .2 reduction in od. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted April 30, 2012 Report Share Posted April 30, 2012 That may be a possibility as well. I can't say that I have seen any recently though. Do you know of a source? Thanks!!! I don't. I've been trying to find some for my 168000 project. If you come across a good source, can you let me know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted April 30, 2012 Report Share Posted April 30, 2012 Did you check Clarks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted April 30, 2012 Report Share Posted April 30, 2012 Did you check Clarks? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hands-ETA-2824-2-White-Rolex-Tudor-Submariner-/230773244217?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35bb284139 I don't think these are 'Tudor' hands, rather they are like Tudor hands that fit ETA. It would be great if we could pick up Tudor hands for $14.95, but I don't think it's going to happen. Besides, Tudor isn't sold in the USA, afaik. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omgiv Posted April 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2012 Thanks for the help guys. I have a few sets of Clarks hands but they are easily spotted. I was really hoping to keep on budget and use an ETA movement. I will keep this thread updated if I find anything out. Thanks again!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highoeyazmuhudee Posted April 30, 2012 Report Share Posted April 30, 2012 its hard to do, the pinions arent just a symmetrical cylinder either, if you look closely enough theyre kind of vase shaped (inverted) and the second hand you will absolutely have to broach, im hoping maybe one day some one will offer replacement parts with these specs, like how they offer different heighted pinions, but not likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milesd Posted April 30, 2012 Report Share Posted April 30, 2012 This is a great thread that I'll keep my eye on. I want to do a gilt build and have a set of nice aftermarket hands but don't want to use a gen movement if I don't have to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
japanic Posted May 1, 2012 Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 Have a look at these: http://www.helenarou.com/6538-gold-bond39s--benz-watch-hand-super-luminova-for65383928242836.html The only thing that could be and issue is that these are for the 6538 vintage sub, and the minute hand is thinner, but on the other hand they are gilt and superlumed. I've bought from helenarou half a dozen times without a problem. If you are skeptical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyB Posted May 1, 2012 Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 Gary Clark is working on new hands that have the curvature as gen Rolex does. Last I heard he should be close to having them. The Tudor Sub hands do fit all the ETA 28XX movements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronin Posted May 1, 2012 Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 If it is any consolation, many independent watchsmiths are using aftermarket hands on gen Rolex's they service. It is sort of a fsck you Rolex reponse based on their restrictive parts policy. The day is approaching when aftermarket hands, crystals, and inserts will NOT be a tell. Rather, it will just be a sign of independent service on an otherwise genuine daily wearer by frugal non WIS owners. I understand the purist attitude though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted May 1, 2012 Report Share Posted May 1, 2012 All aftermarket Mercedes-style hands I have seen have the same 3 problems - 1. the center lume section of the hour hand is not long enough 2. the seconds hand is not tapered at the end 3. the edges of all the hands are rounded (the gens have square sides) If/when these 3 issues are corrected, then aftermarket hands become a viable option for many gens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mymanmatt Posted May 2, 2012 Report Share Posted May 2, 2012 I hate to admit that I did this, but here is what I did. I took the eta sweep second and put it on a junk movement and cut both ends off at the tub. Then I filed what was left just a little to smooth it out. Then I removed the post off the bottom of the sweep second on the gen, and then epoxyed it to the eta post. Let it harden and removed it from the old movement. Believe it or not it worked great, and from the top you could not tell. If you have a lathe you should be able to cut the hour and minute tower to fit. Good luck, and please don't tell anyone what I did. LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronin Posted May 2, 2012 Report Share Posted May 2, 2012 I hate to admit that I did this, but here is what I did. I took the eta sweep second and put it on a junk movement and cut both ends off at the tub. Then I filed what was left just a little to smooth it out. Then I removed the post off the bottom of the sweep second on the gen, and then epoxyed it to the eta post. Let it harden and removed it from the old movement. Believe it or not it worked great, and from the top you could not tell. If you have a lathe you should be able to cut the hour and minute tower to fit. Good luck, and please don't tell anyone what I did. LOL Nothing wrong with that. Next time, photo/document it, and post it here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_189 Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 Guys how good are the TC hands compared to Gen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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