chiman12 Posted July 16, 2012 Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 Yes...I was the guy that bought docblackrock's CHS GMT IIc.... Ever since I sold the same CHS GMT IIc with the gen bezel insert to a forum member, there was an empty hole to fill in my GMT collection. Building of a 1675 PCG did not satisfy the emptiness. A 6542 build...well...to acquire all the parts for the perfect build...that is an excercise in patience itself.... Recently, there was an auction for a complete IIc crystal and bezel assembly for sale. No bids and there were only a few hours left in the auction, so I enabled the 'snipe' mode and it wound up that I only would have sniped myself as I was the only one that bid for this auction. The kicker is that I won the item for a very reasonable price! Needless to say, by winning the auction, it only fueled my appetite to purchase another IIc and it needed to be a CHS to satisfy the thirst to make the rep as geniune as possible. Onto current day...docblackrocks GMT IIc with gen bezel assembly and crystal installed... One area that the rep insert cannot compete in is the paint that fills the numerals in the insert. It is hard to explain, but the paint is more white as compared to the rep. The platinum particles suspended within the paint just puts the rep insert to shame By inspecting the two inserts side by side on a more macro level, numerous differences start to appear between the rep and gen insert... -The rep insert have sharply cut numbers and indexes, resulting in a unfinished appearance. The numerals and indexes on the gen are smooth, perfectly transitioning with the smooth ceramic used to construct the insert. The rep insert engravings feel and look deeper than the gen -for the gen, the "1's" have a gentle curvy tail, while the rep's are dead straight. The "8's" are different in that the gen tries to copy the older GMT inserts, with the oval being smaller in diameter on the top. The rep "8" ovals strive to be the same width. Also, notice that the "0" on the gen has a gentle bulge, with the rep is square as Spongebob Square Pants. The obvious 'tell' of course is the paint. The rep colour is notorious grey and semi-glossy.... The rep bezel itself is also insufficient once a side by side comparison of the gen is conducted… The gen bezel grooves are significantly deeper, thicker and fills the bezel a bit more than the rep. I initially had a problem getting the bezel to stay on, but upon studying the assembly further, the only fix that was required was to use a longer bezel retaining spring. Now that sucker stays on good! As for the final piece…the gen crystal with A/R on the cyclops. Not having to deal with reflections to view the date window is a beautiful thing! No modifications required to use the gen crystal. Only had to use the rep crystal gasket as there would be no way that the gen gasket would work. Well…the empty hole has been filled thanks docblackrock…some parting pics hhhmmm...maybe a gen dial will completely finish this baby off... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kodiak Posted July 16, 2012 Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 Nicely done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panerai153 Posted July 16, 2012 Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 that's a great build,congratulations. I believe that the genuiune bezel /insert are a definite step in the right direction, but to me, the genuine crystal is the best. amazing how much better it is than the best of the rep crystals. I tried for almost a year to find one, and finally gave up and sold the watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted July 16, 2012 Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 Awesome build Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtguk Posted July 16, 2012 Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 Looks Amazing Chiman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted July 16, 2012 Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 Fantastic work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninja Posted July 16, 2012 Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 we should be alright now with Big Chief's AR crystals they'll be a good mod on the ceramic line. How did you get the bezel insert to fit and how much did it cost to buy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiman12 Posted July 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 How did you get the bezel insert to fit and how much did it cost to buy? N...the insert came with the bezel assembly. The crystal, completely bezel assembly was bought all together, so I wouldn't know how much a gen insert would cost by itself...does anyone have any ideas? Thanks for the kind comments everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninja Posted July 16, 2012 Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 oh ok, well how much did the whole set cost you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cib0rgman Posted July 16, 2012 Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 what is next now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiman12 Posted July 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 oh ok, well how much did the whole set cost you? Let's just say that everything cost somewhere close to $500... what is next now? why a 6542 of course...if I can get over the movement hurdle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcagara08 Posted July 16, 2012 Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 wow great project! Next you will be up to the gen case perhaps? Where have you purchased this gen bezel assembly and how much? is there any available for the sub-c too? (complete ceramic bezel assembly) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woof* Posted July 16, 2012 Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 Looks great chi! Love the bezel, I didn't realize you could do that in these reps. For that ultimate detail..how bout a green datewheel? https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=243563 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eVojlib Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 (edited) Man this turned out nice, I once had the same parts as you but decided to scrap the build for my 1675 build which still isn't done yet Enjoy the watch bud, it's a beaut..... Edited July 17, 2012 by eVojlib Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watchaddict Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 Sell it to me...please Enjoy it man its a beauty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyB Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanya Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 Gorgeous work I owned the steel gen and now own the steel and gold gen as well as the gen green ceramic sub The bezel indices are filled with gold not platinum. White gold on your gen insert and in my gen sub and yellow gold on my tt. You are quite correct though there is no comparison between the gen gold filled bezel and crappy white plastic paint and once again for you jello heads who insist on painting your insert cutouts white is another example of how tragically wrong you are If the rep factories ever do a gold filled ceramic insert I will be thrilled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krpster Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 Nice build Chi. Looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiman12 Posted July 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 Thanks once again everyone!!! The bezel indices are filled with gold not platinum. White gold on your gen insert and in my gen sub and yellow gold on my tt. Thanks for the clarification T! Looks great chi! For that ultimate detail..how bout a green datewheel? https://www.rolexfor...ad.php?t=243563 FUNKY! Kind of funny, because my $60 rep "wanna be" GMT IIc actually has a green date wheel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docblackrock Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 Chi, hey why not drop me a link to this thread? Luckily I found it by chance I'm really happy for you that you've upgraded it to such an extent - it deserved nothing less and likewise thanks for a nice simple transaction. I'd be interested to see your 1675 build that "didn't satisfy the hunger" Cheers DBR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImWatchingYOU Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 Great, would be great if you had some build photos whilst changing the bezel assembly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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