building a franken 16520

[ubiquitous]

Sounds about right in terms of cost. Mine is right in that range ($4k)...

[username here]

Sounds about right in terms of cost. Mine is right in that range ($4k)...

 

what case did you use?

[ghost]

Looks like i spoke too soon. I won myself a 16520 mid-case. Now the adventure begins!

[flex]

great...they are very good watches especially the white dial. have you decided to go with a black dial or a white dial?

[ghost]

White! That's a nice Paul Newman!

[Watchmeister]

Another one of those frankens that gets ever more expensive to build. You used to be able to do it for $3500 or so and now it is significantly more. Of course the price of the gen has increased as well. I always wonder which price increase came first? The parts or the gen?

[HauteHippie]

With all this 16520 talk, I had to wear mine today. I've been thinking about converting it to a black dial lately. What so you guys think?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[preacher62]

Wouldn't touch it...

With all this 16520 talk, I had to wear mine today. I've been thinking about converting it to a black dial lately. What so you guys think?<br /><br />ImageUploadedByTapatalk1365013809.241729.jpg<br /><br /><br />Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[freddy333]

Ditto. The black dials seem cool, but are difficult to see.

[asf]

I wish I never read this thread. <br /><br />So much beauty in here

I wish I never read this thread. <br /><br />So much beauty in here

[asf]

I wish I never read this thread. <br /><br />So much beauty in here

[jpz5142]

Ya chief, your right that white dial is really bad. Save yourself the effort and send it to me, I'll wear it so you don't have to. :-)

[flex]

chief, stick to the white dial.....i hardly wore my black dial. although in gen world, the black dialed Daytona is slightly more expensive. i sold my gen 116520 last week - if it did have a black dial, the buyer would pay 1.5k more. flex

[HauteHippie]

For a while there I was on a kick of building or buying watches with non-black dials...  White 16520 franken, Silver AP ROO franken, Silver/black panda 6265 franken, etc.  Then I sold a couple older pieces, e.g. 3717 franken, etc and soon realized I didn't have any black dial watches except some old school modded PAMs, which are now rarely worn...  So I built a lite-franken 16610, with only gen dial, crown, insert just to have something else black in the box but you know how boring a 16610 gets after a bit...  so that is why I've been thinking about turning the 16520 black as another way to get another black watch (but also admit that a gen SuperOcean Heritage has been catching my eye lately too)...  And you're right, flex, the black dial Daytonas usually carry a slight premium in the gen world.  I'd still keep the white dial though.  Maybe I'd swap dials at each service interval or something just to change things up every couple years...  Hmm.

Edited April 5, 2013 by chieftang

[Watchmeister]

I too have been contemplating picking up a white dial so I can change it up from time to time.

[Olivax]

is he selling? $3k seems cheap

I dunno if it's the language barrier or something else, but that guy weirds me out. He offers terrible advice as though he's some kind of authority, and he has repeatedly said he considers it his "duty" to do so. He's also wrong a fair bit. I don't think I'd buy a watch he built.

+1

[CptTripps]

So I got Pic Envy and am digging into a 16520 build. First step: Finding a movement.

[ghost]

I think in this instance, the first step is to find a case...

 

One of the members may be trying to unload his gen case

[LeSentier]

I think in this instance, the first step is to find a case...

One of the members may be trying to unload his gen case

Omg - who is the guy that sells a gen case?

[ghost]

maybe just put up a WTB. Not sure if the member wants me to go around touting HIS case. But i think more than a handful of us are holding on to gen cases here

[CptTripps]

I posted a WTB earlier, and hope to hear from someone. That'd be a great way to get started!

[HauteHippie]

Let the fun begin to all those embarking on this build. It's a truly rewarding one! I still wear mine at least a couple times a week.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CptTripps]

Thanks! Looking forward to building it in a few weeks.

I've got a modified Zenith on the way...talking to Phong about cooking up a case...and now I'm on a hunt for gen pushers and a dial!

I didn't realize when i started, that I was so limited on dial selection. I guess I have to go older for the "Newman" dials. (Next build!)

[cc33]

Some people buy dials meant for the white gold daytonas and put them in their ss case. They come up for sale on vrf some times. I'm partial to this one.

Or you could go all out and find a Patrizzi dial!

[CptTripps]

This is the one on eBay that I WANT to use...but I'm told its incorrect and won't work. ;-(