How to LOWER your SELs!!!!

[vvvlllooo]

 
So many of you have gotten the Noob V9.  It is an awesome watch to begin with and with some mods, it can become the ultimate Franken.  When it was first released, there was a batch that had the holy grail of watches.  Correct case, sharp laser etching on rehaut, correct crown placement, 904L, lugs…etc..not going to sum up the V9 thread, as you have to read it yourself, the whole 200 plus pages.  Then, after that batch came the FLUSH SEL’s.  The horror!!!!!
 
If you haven’t read the V9 with ARF bracelet thread, here is the summary of it.  It’s a hit or miss when it comes to ordering an ARF bracelet. I’ve ordered the band by alone from a trusted dealer, keep in mind my original band already was recessed like gen, costing I believe $170 plus shipping don’t quote me on it.  It fit but there was a gap from the lug, less than <1mm.  Then two weeks ago I ordered the 2824 ARF Sub, received it, out of curiosity, and installed the bracelet on my V9, and boom….perfect fit…recessed SEL???  As I kept getting messages on the ARF on V9 bracelet thread..I took some time to do some actual physical measuring and this is what I had concluded.  You have to physically remove excess metal from the top.  I measured the ARF bracelet against my V9, and surprisingly, they are so close.  My V9 had a little of beef on the TOP side of the measurement, but was still recessed to my watch.   So I had decided to figure out how to do this mod with the thought of the easiest, cost efficient, and low skill needed.  Two guys I would like to personally thank is Kj2020 and Qualityazn as I found ideas from these guys while reading RWI.  Hopefully, this will help the many of you.  Skill level to do this mod to your watch is 4/10.  Take your time, sand with caution (best tip is just manually do it with your hands), and be patient.  Total time it took me was less than an hour and total cost to get a tool (Tekton External Bent tip Ring Pliers) $7, sand paper $8 (used 320 /400/800/1200 grit combo you can buy at autostore), and a paint mixer (free).  

 

BTW I used a bracelet I had from a cheap Regimer for example.

 

Noted:  You can use glue to hold together for piece of mind and when you do press your bracelet together just make sure you have two pieces of wood with same height.  This will help you press them with equal force as the bracelet is becomes wider as it gets to the end link.  Do not press the end link.

 
Without further ado..here are the picts…
 


HERE IS THE CULPRIT





YOU CAN USE SPEAKER WIRES, REMOVE WIRES, AND PUT ON METAL PLIERS IF YOU FEAR METAL ON METAL. SURPRISINGLY I DIDN’T EVEN HAVE TO USE IT, NO DAMAGE AS I WAS GENTLE, YOU DON’T NEED TO FORCE.


PUT INSIDE BAG IN CASE IT GOES FLYING EVERYWHERE










PLACE END LINK IN BETWEEN WOOD TO HOLD IT, WON’T HURT OR SCRATCH IT


EASY TO INSTALL AND ADJUST ALONG THE WAY TO SEE PROGRESS


WHEN DONE AND SATISFIED WITH ALL USE SCTOCH BRITE TO PUT “GEN” BRUSHING ON


 
BENT ONE OF THE SCREWS THAT HOLD IT TOGETHER, NO WORRIES JUST USE PLIERS AND RESHAPE BACK

[Nanuq]

Hot damn, look at that result!  Great write-up, these kind of articles are exactly why this place exists.

 

Well done! 

 

[vvvlllooo]

Thanks man!

Now you can use your thick spring bars with movement or play.  Also, flush underside and no hideous gap or end link protruding out.  Also, no damage to links whatsoever!

 

[marqtz]

Great tutorial, very useful!

[vvvlllooo]

appreciate it

[themannier]

Well done !

[By-Tor]

Nice work. But once again it's pathetic that the factories screw up things like this (if it was already done well in the previous versions).