BradBMW Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 Hello all, I've worn a genuine Rolex GMT II for 18 years now, and I love it dearly. But since there's no way I'll spend $30,000 on a watch, I've considered getting a replica of the 6542 for times I don't want to wear my "real" watch. I've seen several companies that offer replicas, but it seems like most have issues that don't seem very authentic. In your experience, what's the best option for a watch that seems "right"? I'm no watchmaker, so modding cases and bezels is far out of my range of expertise. At some point, I'd probably add a genuine Rolex movement. Any recommendations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cc33 Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 Don't buy one from a trusted dealer, they aren't correct, just too many issues. If I were you I would frequent the sales section of this forum and wait for a vintage watch to come up for sale that someone else built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 Phong's are probably the most accurate pre-assembled, gen-powered 6542s. NDT makes something similar, as do other franken sellers. I would recommend that you spend alot of time searching our archives for others' reviews before buying, as these watches tend to look alot better on the outside than they actually are on the inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panerai153 Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 I agree, the TD models are crap. You can get one reassembled as Freddy said, or have one built from parts. I had one built a year or so back, and while it had lots of problems along the way, it ended up pretty nice. Although mine doesn't hold a candle to Freddy's 6542 The parts list for mine were: Ming Quy case JoeyB insert Clark crystal Gen crown Ingod44 dial ( I used the white 1675 dial rather than his 6542 dial) Hands Classic watch parts Movement ETA 2846 Genuine Rolex Jubilee bracelet and end links Mine Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptopman Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 Brad good advice from two that really know. I did not follow that advice and I tired one of the TD 6542's and it was very bad. Sold it a couple days after receiving it. No expert but that is my grail watch and have read much over the last few months on the forums. Now I am acquiring parts for a phong case build as suggested above. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradBMW Posted May 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 Thanks for the replies. I think I'll pass on the Phong version. It looks sweet, but they're asking $5500, and I think the only thing genuine is the movement. For that money, I could buy a nice 1675 and add Joey's insert and a small, vintage GMT hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradBMW Posted May 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 Sweet watch! Love the Pan Am dial. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1399344170.280064.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1399344189.713476.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panerai153 Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 Brad, take a look at this site, several folks here say that this is phong's son who has this website. He has a complete 6542 as well as a kit, or separate parts, case, dial, insert,,etc. he doesn't offer the white dial, but his black/ gilt dial looks OK. I like joeyB's insert, for about half the price. Also I would suspect that you would need to factor in a service on the 1030 movement, unless he guarantees that it has been serviced. Www.vintagewatchmaker.com Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradBMW Posted May 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2014 Thanks. It looks pretty nice, but I'm not sure the case back looks correct?Brad, take a look at this site, several folks here say that this is phong's son who has this website. He has a complete 6542 as well as a kit, or separate parts, case, dial, insert,,etc. he doesn't offer the white dial, but his black/ gilt dial looks OK. I like joeyB's insert, for about half the price. Also I would suspect that you would need to factor in a service on the 1030 movement, unless he guarantees that it has been serviced. Www.vintagewatchmaker.com Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradBMW Posted May 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 Gents, This isn't going to be easy. Phong's son's 6542 has the dial all wrong. It says Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified. I believe real 6542 say Officially Certified Chronometer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cc33 Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 With phong the trick is to buy what he does well, which would be the case sets, the dials/hands are not really his strong suit. It's not advisable to buy a complete watch from phong or his son imo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradBMW Posted May 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 Thanks for the replies so far. So for a 6542, can you all offer advice as to where to source the best Case? Phong? Bezel Insert? Joey B? Dial? Ingod44? Bracelet? Hands? I think I'll try and source a genuine movement. Many thanks, Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cc33 Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 I'll start you off and others can add! Case set including bezel: phong Insert: joeyb Dial: ndt or Minh (imo) Hands: Michael Young Roulette date wheel? No clue Gen movement is ideal for a phong case and dial from ndt or Minh with gen feet placement I would use a gen crown and tropic crystal but you can use an aftermarket crystal if you prefer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradBMW Posted May 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 Thanks, CC. BTW, is that Minh Quy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cc33 Posted May 9, 2014 Report Share Posted May 9, 2014 No problemo, yes Minh Q Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradBMW Posted May 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2014 (edited) Well gents, I've done some number crunching. Here's what I've come up with so far: 6542 Build Movement - $??? Case set /bezel: Phong $1450 Insert: JoeyB $175 Dial: Ingod44 $135 Hands: EBay $195 Roulette date wheel: eBay $50 Genuine Crown: eBay $100 Crystal: Tropic 25-116 $18 Bracelet: Yuki - $197 The subtotal without a movement comes to $2320!!! I figure a suitable Rolex movement will cost at least $1500. Throw in a cleaning and service (since I'm no watchmaker)' and that's another $500. That brings me to $4320 for a watch with basically no resale value. But alas! All is not lost. I think the best course of action for me is to find an authentic 1675 in decent running order. All I'll do to that is get a gilt or PanAm dial from ingod44 (can't decide which I like more), a small GMT hand, and a Joey B insert, and I'll have an authentic watch that looks 90% the part, but can be easily converted back to stock if I ever need to sell. Edited May 10, 2014 by Brad737 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted May 10, 2014 Report Share Posted May 10, 2014 $1,500 for a 6542 movement? If you can find 1, & that is a big IF, it will cost you (at least) 3 times that & will likely need parts/work on top of that. If you go the 1675 route, I would stick with the 1675 as is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valty Posted May 10, 2014 Report Share Posted May 10, 2014 Brad737, As freddy said, finding a 1030 caliber with date and GMT function in good working conditions is near to impossible I'll suggest you to stick to a 1675 if you want a gen movement, Or maybe an ETA movement can do the trick Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptopman Posted May 10, 2014 Report Share Posted May 10, 2014 Hi Brad I am sourcing parts for the similar build. Similar parts list but I am going to use an Eta and white dial. Also doing a 1675 at the same time. I have parts coming in almost every day....wife is asking lots of questions/(. I agree resale may not be good but you never see Franken 6542's for sale and if you see gens they are 25k+. I just love pan153's pictured above. Shooting for something like that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panerai153 Posted May 14, 2014 Report Share Posted May 14, 2014 I can assure you, even with all the "teething" problems mine had along the way, I sure as heck don't have anywhere near what you are quoting. 'Course I got a pretty good deal on the Ming Quy case set, and I used an ETA 2846 movement. Freddy is right though, if you decide to use a 1030 movement, be prepared to spend big bucks. Remember too, most of the 1030 movements you see are not the GMT movement. About a year or so back, someone had a 1030 GMT movement, and if memory is correct, he was asking 2500 USD for it. Add a service in and you are looking at close to 3k for the movement alone. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captmick Posted September 6, 2019 Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 https://www.thevintagepower.cn/ref6542-pan-am-type-p0092.html they make 2 models, one recently reviewed on another forum. The also have vintage Explorers, submariners, and a Tudor Diver. Cheers mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiglda Posted September 7, 2019 Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 Nice looking watch. Pricey but don’t know theComponents. Need a closer view. Is he a TD? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capice Posted September 7, 2019 Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 Looks really nice..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted September 7, 2019 Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 So it looks like they are part of TS Watch- I've ordered from them and they're basically legit. I had to use a credit card and they slightly overcharged me- might have been in the currency exchange rate so I got over it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themannier Posted September 7, 2019 Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 19 minutes ago, alligoat said: So it looks like they are part of TS Watch- I've ordered from them and they're basically legit. I had to use a credit card and they slightly overcharged me- might have been in the currency exchange rate so I got over it. So you have ordered from VP and everything went fine ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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