Explorer 5500 with 1500 case

[lubusssster]

Hi, I have the opportunity to buy a full Rolex 1500 gen box, I think I could use it to make a 5500 Explorer ...
I have read in several places that the problem of this compilation is how difficult it is to adjust the glass "plexi" to the case...

they think it's a good option?

thanks and best regards.

Edited November 2, 2018 by lubusssster

[Vibes]

You are just going to need to sand the magnifier off the plexi. I have bought my 6-7 non-magnifier plexis and none fit. 

[pompompurin]

if i recall correctly from my research and handling unpolished gens, the 1500 has different lug shape to the 5500 and 1002.

Unpolished 5500


Unpolished 1500

Edited November 3, 2018 by pompompurin

[lubusssster]

Thank you for your advices.

They ask me for $ 220 but I doubt whether to buy the 1500 or wait for a 5500 good price and buy it

[pompompurin]

19 hours ago, lubusssster said:

Thank you for your advices.

They ask me for $ 220 but I doubt whether to buy the 1500 or wait for a 5500 good price and buy it

 

5500 is a simpler build because you don't need to install a dwo. But a lot of franken 5500 are not accurate because they don't use the gen hands (which have a distinctive pointy front for the hour and minute hand). Instead, many people use aftermarket eta datejust hands for 5500 builds (which looks ok, but not good enough for me). Alternatively, you can build a 5500 air king explorer (using an aftermarket / refinished dial) with eta sub hands.

 

1500 is a nice build too, but the dwo installation process can be tricky for some people. If you do a 1500 build, I recommend using raffles tall post hands with a stock eta 2824-2 (h2) movement so that the hands have enough height to clear the tall dial indices.

[Vibes]

you are going to need a 2836 for a 1500 build and a 2824 for a 5500 build. 

[pompompurin]

From my experience, the 2824-2 works better for 1500 build because the stem height of the movement is lower which gives the dwo more clearance to move.

 

However, i have also seen people use 2836-2 and 2846-2 (I.e. the lowbeat equivalent of the 2836-2) in 1500 case builds, but that's trickier to assemble, in my opinion.

 

Here is my 1500 case super franken build with a sellita 2824-2, raffles tall post hands, and helenarou (2824-2 to 1570) movement ring

 

https://image.ibb.co/j6UsHf/20180518-121251.jpg
https://image.ibb.co/i1p3OL/20180518-125341-1.jpg
https://image.ibb.co/jgwTq0/20180518-121037-1.jpg

3 minutes ago, pompompurin said:

From my experience, the 2824-2 works better for 1500 build because the stem height of the movement is lower which gives the dwo more clearance to move.

 

However, i have also seen people use 2836-2 and 2846-2 (I.e. the lowbeat equivalent of the 2836-2) in 1500 case builds, but that's trickier to assemble, in my opinion.

 

Here is my 1500 case super franken build with a sellita 2824-2, raffles tall post hands, and helenarou (2824-2 to 1570) movement ring

 

https://image.ibb.co/j6UsHf/20180518-121251.jpg
https://image.ibb.co/i1p3OL/20180518-125341-1.jpg
https://image.ibb.co/jgwTq0/20180518-121037-1.jpg

typo* (can't seem to edit the post anymore): i was meant to say that the 2824-2's stem height is taller than the 2836-2 which gives more clearance for the DWO to move. This is because the 2824-2's taller stem height makes the overall movement sit lower from the top, giving more clearance for the DWO to move.