Advise on 5508

[Always Learning]

Hi seniors,

I've not been into watches for too long.

Some years back, I bought this from a webauction. 

Naturally being new and silly, i bought it hoping that the case is genuine.

I was told the case is obviously not and I decided to mod it (pull out the 1520 cal, swapped it with another aftermarket dial and bezel insert).

 

My purpose for this thread is to learn how to differentiate it from a gen case. 

I was told the lugs are not sharp, like they are supposed to, etc.

Hope to seek some advise.

 

Thanks again guys.

 

Edited August 8, 2017 by Always Learning

[alligoat]

The case doesn't look too bad, but it's obviously not a 60 year old case- there's no wear and tear and no one's going to sell you a pristine 5508 case- they just don't exist.

The lugs not being sharp doesn't make sense to me- the bevels on the lugs look nice, but once again you won't find a pristine case in the wild. As for being able to differentiate- you're going to have to study 5508 cases and then compare. Also, if you want to find a decent vintage case, you're going to have to deal with reputable sellers. A web auction won't do in all likelihood. It would probably be easier to buy a complete 5508, but prices will run $10K usd for a questionable example and up and a good example could easily be $20-30K. Keep studying!

[Always Learning]

Hi alligoat, 

Thank you for your advise.

Yes. It's quite a good rep, if it is. 

I could not find any areas to differentiate apart from the age look of the case. 

 

I did hear about the lugs, which I could not find any good reference photos to learn about the lugs. 

 

In any case, I have given up on this project. 

I think I should let it go. 

Thanks again for your advise.

[alligoat]

If you didn't spend too much on the case, you could still build a decent 5508 and put an eta movement in there.

Movement- $100-200- either a 2824-2 or a 2846-2- don't know which one will work

dial- say from Yuki- looks like they don't have a 5508 dial right now- might be able to use a 6536 dial and knock off the dial feet- $113

http://www.yukiwatch.com/catalog/item/8677972/9954496.htm

Set of gold submariner hands from Clarks- $15 or so.

Movement ring- #2 rafflestime or Helenarou- $15

a sympathetic watchmaker could put it all together for $50-100- it's worth at least $40!

You'd need a bracelet or a strap- another $20-40, more if you go with a Yuki rivet.

 

I built a 5508 in 2008 with an NDT case and dial ($1080 or slightly more)

a 1520 movement- $880 plus $200 to service- a 1530 would be correct, but I bought a gold Air King and didn't want to steal the 1530 out of it.

6mm crown- $30-40

Clark gold hands for Rolex 1500 movt.

rivet bracelet that I had

WSO bezel insert- $35 with a decent acrylic pearl

T-16 crystal- $75- can't touch em for that these days!

Watchmaker put it together- under $100, maybe $75

So I have close to $2,500 in it

Sorry for the crappy pic, but you get the idea. I don't really call this a franken because the only Rolex parts are the movement, crown and crystal. 

 

 

[Nanuq]

That's not a bad looking case at all, and alligoat is right, it shouldn't be that pristine. That's easy to fix.

The key is long thin lugs and a THIN case profile. Everything else is "close enough is good enough".

[DVNE]

*A 2824 has the correct stem height for this case. I had a phong that I regretted selling.

 

 

 

[Always Learning]

Hi Alligoat. 

Thank you for your advise. 

I was originally intending to get a 1530 to complete a Frank Build, but I'm quite disheartened to hear about the case, as I paid quite a fair bit (hoping for a gen case and movement, but rep dial and hands). 

 

 

 

Hi Nanuq, 

Thank you for your advise. 

The side profile does look thin.

I just got back from a biz trip and took some photos. 

 

1) I made a comparison, and the profile is quite close. 

 

2) Might I ask, if your photo is of a gen spec mid case?

Thank you again. 

 

 

Hi DVNE. 

Thank you also, for your advise.

Unfortunely I already have a rep dial and hands for 15xx movement, and I had intentions to get a 1530cal. 

I am swaying towards giving up this project, at the moment if the case is too far off.