Rep Datejust To Gen 16030 Datejust Conversion

[slickdick]

This post tells the story how to make a franken datejust in just a couple of unnumbered steps. This shows the fast way without changing the dial. This can be however easily be taken into the procedure.

The reason i want to do this is because i really like plastic crystals, and the profiles of that time. Also because the datejust reps are not ver accurate.

The ingredients of this project are:

-A fully functional replica datejust. The rep i used originated from river.

-A complete datejust case + crown i bought off the bay.

Tools needed:

-Watchmakers screwdriver set.

-grip tool to remove and set stem to crown. various tools can be used.

Stage one, spot the fake:

The donor and the gen 16030 case:

Note the differences in the dial, there are plenty!

this 16030 case was born mid 80' and originally houses the 3035 rolex caliber.

Lets compare a bit, this pic shows the profile of the rep case:

The gen profile:

Side by side

The crowns:

Note the spot on the gen case where the crown sits to the case, it is very different from the rep.

The casebacks

Note the rep caseback is much thicker and heavier then the gen.

Top shows the rep caseback, the fingerprints arent mine, so FBI, do not bother to match them up. the fingerprints are also not removable.

The crowns and stems side by side. The long one is the gen crown + stem

On this pic you see the ETA stem fitten to the rolex crown. Next to it the rolex stem and rep crown.

Here all parts except the casebacks. Top is the gen case, the gen crown fitted to the ETA stem, and bottom is the rep case housing the donor movement and spacer.

On this pic the empty donor shell is above, the movement is dropped into the gen case, and the plastic spacer is slided on top of it. Now a steel spacer would be better however i haven't got one so this will have to do for now.

The crown is fitted, the case closed, this is the result:

It still needs a few things, a steel spacer would add to the weight, and gives it a more geniune feel to it since a gen is heavier due to the movement. Also the dial needs replaced obviously. The rep dial is full of flaws. But i choose to take the shortcut route for this little tutorial since i havent got enought trust yet in my handsetting skill to undertake the procedure.

Hope this helps in your own projects

Regards,

Job

[stac]

Very slick...[censored]

Nice job!

[bkatbamna]

very nicely done.

[dec]

Very nice...

[manuel]

Hi Job, very informative and illustrative post yours, may i ask where do you buy that spacer rings and if you have to perform any operation to them?

I am asking you this because i´d like to do this things by myself one day you know.

Thanks

[slickdick]

@all

thanks!

@manuel

Well, i was lucky i could use the spacer ring from the donor rep. but as you could see, i have 2 other cases to fill, and i am out of donors, iam searching for solutions myself.

I have some ideas, but i will have to test them.