tomhorn Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 (edited) This one took a bit longer to complete than I wanted it to, but it's always like Christmas when a build gets finished and it finally shows up on your doorstep .... The journey to a 1016 started out as an accident ... I know, don't they all? For those of you that have been around a bit, you already know my first franken build was a DateJust, specifically a 16014 (that build thread is here: http://www.rwgforum.net/topic/152469-franken-datejust-journey-finally-complete/). The difficult part of that build for me was finding the genuine white gold gold bezel. The first case set I purchased didn't have one, and gold prices were sky high at the time so you couldn't get a real gold bezel without spending a lot of money. I managed to find a gold bezel at a great price ... and as luck would have it, it was still attached to a 16014 case! Happy accident, but what to do with the extra case? My first thought was to build another DateJust, since I also had an engine turned bezel and a linen dial. Figured I could just sell it off when I was done, as I surely didn't need two (I know KBH would disagree). And then I came across LHOOQ's threads on the 1016. For those of you considering a 1016 build, start with those (http://www.rwgforum.net/blog/9/entry-27-the-repository-of-threads/). A world of information can be found there, and he's very helpful via PM as well. I also spent a lot of additional time researching, and found threads like 1680's (http://www.rwgforum.net/topic/167880-the-built-of-my-franken-rolex-explorer-i-ref-1016/), and Ubi's (http://www.rwgforum.net/topic/128495-understated-and-basic-project-1016-wrap-up/). I'm sure I've forgotten all of the helpful posts I read, but there is some amazing information out there for these builds. Needless to say, I was hooked, so away I went. For me, the toughest part of the parts collection process was picking a good dial without spending a fortune. I wanted a matte dial (not gilt). Finding a good one without spending an arm and a leg was difficult. I loved the ingod44 SpaceDweller dial (http://www.ingod44.com/rolex-explorer-i-1016-space-dweller/), but didn't want a SpaceDweller. Loved the ND Trading Patina dial (http://ndtradingcorp.com/zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=402) but it was pricey and set up for a gen movement. Even tried the guy on eBay that has them from time to time (mahonig1?). Long and short of it was I just couldn't find a dial that hit the sweet spot of quality vs price. Then along came Whoopy with his vintage dial project (http://www.rwgforum.net/topic/162375-whoops-custom-vintage-rolex-dials/), and I thought I had found a good alternative without breaking the bank. There is really no other choice for the bezel but getting one JMB's masterpieces. I found an amazingly good deal on a gen service T-22 (after buying a Clark's). Short-term, I decided on Mary's surprisingly good 7836, with WSO 580 endlinks (these fit better than the 455b's I also bought) and the Fasci (aka "Aussie") 23-9293 springbars (http://stores.ebay.com/FASCI-STAINLESS-STEEL-WATCH-GEAR?_trksid=p2047675.l2563). TC's Submariner hand set (http://blog.tc-sub.com/2012/05/tc-parts-list.html), and an ETA 2846 from a donor watch round out the parts list. BTW, if anyone is looking for a 2846, it seems they are all over in the Philippeans. I picked up two donor watches on eBay, and nearly every one I saw while bidding came from there. So to recap, here's the build list: Gen 16014 case, caseback, crown, tube Gen Tropic 22 crystal Whoopy 1016 Dial JMB Custom Bezel Mary's 7836 bracelet WSO 580 End Links Fasci 23-9293 springbars ETA 2846 TC Submariner Hands Raffles-time #2 movement ring And off to PBdad it went. I had PBdad do the following: Relume the dial and hands with an aged patina mix Pull the movment from the donor and service it Drill the lugs for the 2mm springbars Assemble the watch One thing to mention with regards to PBdad's work. Be patient if you are having a movement serviced. PBdad doesn't do the service himself so you are at the mercy of his watchsmith. It took a long time for my 2846 service work to get done. PBdad apologized profusely for it, and the rest of the work he did got finished quickly and of course his quality is excellent. A QC picture came within days of him getting the movement back: And the watch arrived a couple of days later. I couldn't be happier with the result. Some quick camera phone shots ... And, of course, the obligatory wristy ... Better pics to come later, time permitting. I think I will continue to search for a gen bracelet, and of course if an affordable gen dial happens to come along, that's always an option. I'm happy where it stands so far, so it's off to finishing the 5514 ... and then the 6265. Thanks to LHOOQ, JMB, Whoopy, PBdad and everyone else that shared experiences for all the help! Edited June 27, 2014 by tomhorn 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dovo1695 Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 Fantastic buiild and a wonderful write-up. It's posts like this that keep me coming back to RWG! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denimhead Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 Lovely Tom, I have one on the go as well using one of Justins case sets, an ets 2824 and a gen dial Cheers DH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 Wonderful to see this all together and on your wrist! Fantastic color on the dial, too. Reminds me of the lume job on stilty's landmark Explorer franken. You're welcome, and it's always a pleasure to share the enthusiasm. Anyone who loves a 1016 is a friend of mine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronin Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 WoW! That looks amazing. Surprised how well the WSO endlinks worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww12345 Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 Beautiful! Isn't Whoopy's dial amazing? It just oozes gen, more than any other aftermarket dial... I've got to get mine lumed properly like yours... Also, why did you go with TC hands? Just curious - I went with Clarks but I know there are certain tells with each handset, and wondered what the pros/cons of the TC hands are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhorn Posted June 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 I originally bought the Clark's as well. Just saw too many posts saying the TC hands were better, so I bought a set for this build and my in progress 5514 (which is also using a Whoppy dial, BTW). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 Oh, yeah!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 Just saw too many posts saying the TC hands were better, so I bought a set for this build and my in progress 5514 (which is also using a Whoppy dial, BTW). The main plus for TC hands is their convexity. Clark hands (at least the sets I ordered years ago) are flat. The shapes -most noticeably, the tip of the hour hand- are also much better replicated on the TC set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 M, it's 'bout time for you to build another explorer, ain't it? The hands I get are rather "convex" as well and are about the perfect length for a 28mm dial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww12345 Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 Ah, interesting. I may have to pick up a set (or two) of the TC hands then... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronin Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 Good point on the hands. Where does one procure TC hands these days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhooq Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 M, it's 'bout time for you to build another explorer, ain't it? The hands I get are rather "convex" as well and are about the perfect length for a 28mm dial. Well, there is that waffle-dial 6350 that I've always wanted to put together... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 Do it, do it, do it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue. Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 Fantastic 1016, Tom! Wear it as often as you can It pretty much looks finished. I suggest you keep your plan to replace bracelet and dial for a second build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhorn Posted June 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 Oh, yeah!! Thanks for the bezel! I bought it so long ago you probably forgot you made it for me ... Good point on the hands. Where does one procure TC hands these days? I got mine direct from TC, but it was several months ago. Which reminds me, I never relayed 'the rest of the story' as to why this build took so long. Originally I was supposed to use a 2846 that had just been serviced .... which I bought from MD2020. He was going to do the build for me and I (like an idiot) told him to hold on to it until I found a dial. We all know how this story ended ... with me out the money and the movement .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptopman Posted June 28, 2014 Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 Beautiful build Tom. I see one of these builds in my future. Sent from my droptop using telepathy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhorn Posted June 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 A few more pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danielv2000 Posted June 28, 2014 Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 Very nice., every time I see one of these builds, I wonder why I have not gotten around to it. It seems like the 1016 is forever on my todo list but never gets started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronin Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 My wife calls my 1016 "The Don Draper" after the fact it was his ~Season 4 watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 Thanks for the bezel! I bought it so long ago you probably forgot you made it for me ... Yeah, almost 2 years! It used to be easy to remember where my bezels went but now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quaresma7 Posted June 29, 2014 Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 What a beauty!! Mine says hello Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhorn Posted June 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2014 ^ Nice! Is that dial gen? Sure looks the part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quaresma7 Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 (edited) Dial is from whoopy like yours, Akira did perfect work with the lume Edited June 30, 2014 by quaresma7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hcaht Posted July 17, 2014 Report Share Posted July 17, 2014 Beautiful build! This watch is one of the main reasons I joined the forums. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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