Some shots of the SSD construction and modded with Gen Parts

[Tribal]

Hello Gang

Here are some shots of the case from the new SD

Working HE Valve from the Inside..

Rehaut and Glas sealing

Safir Glass 3,6mm thick

Bezel with Gen Insert

Modded CG's and drilled and countersink casehole

Installed Gen Tube

This is how it looks

End Result

[Jetsons]

Your SSD looks damn good, Tribal! Very nice work as usual.

The crystal laser etched crown doesn't look too obvious on your photos. How is it on the wrist?

Functioning HE valve is surprising on a clone & a very nice touch!

Thanks for the report!

Cheers,

J

[UB7]

Awesome job tribal, I am looking to do the same mods to my SSD...So you needed to drill a tap in order to fit the gen tube? It didn't thread into the case? Also, is that a gen crown you have fitted? Good stuff man, wear it in good health!

[Tribal]

Thanks...

Lasercrown is not much visible but it is visible when you look at it

You need to drill and retapp the casehole...

All is threaded..

After thats countersink the hole to fit the gen Tube...

Also Gen Crown is installed

Edited December 1, 2007 by Tribal

[mrandazzo]

Stunning! Good work, man!

I wish I could have your skills

So, you didn't change the steam...

When I unscrew the crown I feel like I'm winding (unwinding?) the watch.

It was the same with yours before modding it?

If yes, now it's all right?

Do you think it could take gen crystal?

Thanks!

Edited December 1, 2007 by mrandazzo

[cskent69]

Tribal - great looking mods. Thanks for the confirmation on the viability of the tube and crown. Does the sapphire look like it could be replaced? Or- did the etching on it look like something that could be fixed?

[its_urabus]

awesome work. wanna do mine next? please?

[freddy333]

Outstanding work, Tribal!

[Tribal]

Tribal - great looking mods. Thanks for the confirmation on the viability of the tube and crown. Does the sapphire look like it could be replaced? Or- did the etching on it look like something that could be fixed?

I don't know if it can replaced but i don't think so...

There is no fix for the Lasercrown...

[gioarmani]

Quite nice.

I wonder if it's possible to very lightly sand just the indented part of the crystal--the only part that touches the gasket, in order to give the rehaut the a more gen-esque appearance. The main difference is the fact that the division line seen more noticeably on the gen is due to the refraction coming through the crystal:

Gen

Rep

The rep's rehaut/crystal division is obviously visible, but it needs a little something to make it just a bit more obvious.

[Omega]

Very good job, my friend! Wear it well...

[Hydronaut]

Did you just have to clean up the tube threads with the tap or did you actually have to drill the hole bigger?

[coolfire]

Wear it well Tribal....

You always amaze me with your mods!!

[Stephane]

Splendid work Tribal.

So, now you are not the Submariner man only ...you are the Sea Dweller guru too

[elprimerozen]

For now we have the best SSD on the forum!! Its realu realy nice my dear friend!!!!

[Tribal]

Thank you all for your kind words

[Tribal]

Quite nice.

I wonder if it's possible to very lightly sand just the indented part of the crystal--the only part that touches the gasket, in order to give the rehaut the a more gen-esque appearance. The main difference is the fact that the division line seen more noticeably on the gen is due to the refraction coming through the crystal:

I think you can't sand a Safir glass.

The crystal has a gap on the bottom like the Noob Crysrtal that's the reason why you can't see the rehaut brightness like on a Gen or MBW...

Maybe a Glass with no gap and right bottom dimension will do this, but them you must shape the inner rehaut with a lathe to the dimensions of the glass.

That would make the rehaut gap more visible,but then we need a new crystal gasket too.....

Damm hard job I think...

A full piece construction of the Crystal like on MBW where the best solution from factory.....

[rosnik]

Thank you Tribal for the info and the picture you get!

I love my SSD too;

but like all know , the bracelet is very poor!

Do you guys have idea, were or from how, to find one correct GOOD SEL Bracelet for SSD?

[its_urabus]

ive been working on my bracelet for hours and hours now. i had a few semi major issues with mybracelet, some blemishes, some stuck screws, along with some other issues,BUT the hard work is paying off.

making the bracelet wearable is a multistep process which uses things including but not limited to automotive brake cleaner, super concentrated dish soap, plexiglass polishing liquid clay, mineral oil, carnuba auto wax (heated to a liquid state for coating of all inner surfaces) toothbrushes, emory boards, diamond files, pipe cleaners, vodka, pizza, lions and tigers and bears... OH MY!!

im tired, and there needs to be a final coat of wax before i wear it, but its shiney, smooth, no cheap jingle, clasp closes securely and effortlessly, and the divers extension stays closed.

i still want a better bracelet. the midlinks on the ssd bracelet are thinner than the ones on my noob from ttk. i think that over time there will be serious stretch over time with it.

anyway, sorry for getting of subject, tribal thanks for the post, your sdd looks amazing, im jealous of the gen insert, and your mod skills. someday ill grow a set big enough to mod my cgs etc.

[Jetsons]

rosnik, try to get a replacement bracelet from your dealer. There are some that are of better quality.

I received my SSD yesterday and the bracelet was fine. It did not have the stripped screws issue which I was fully expecting. The SELs fit perfectly against the case. I did have problems with the diver's extension not closing but bending the metal plate just slightly improved it. It's not perfect but much better than it was.

It also helps to clean the sh*t out of it plus it soaked in Silicone for 12 hours. Cleaned thoroughly again (soap and brush) and applied Carnuba wax with a soft brush on all sides. It now feels very good and has a silky feel to it.

BTW, the laser crown on the crystal is not much of an issue on the wrist, thankfully.

[Guest carlsbadrolex]

Ok, I have a question... I just received my SSD yesterday and immediately took it to my watchmaker for adjustment and sealing. Upon opening the watch, we both noticed the inside of the HEV. It was my understanding that these were working HEV's. Looking at the inside of this HEV and comparing it to a GEN, they are quite different. It is the opinion of my watchmaker that this is NOT a working HEV and nothing more than a different colorer piece of metal screwed in to the case.

The pictures you have taken here are incredible... The HEV you show is identical to mine. Do we really think this would work?

[Xyphis]

I believe the He valve was tested under real diving circumstances in another forum. I'll try and find it and post the link here.

Great pics and a model of improvement for an already good watch.

[Guest carlsbadrolex]

Yes, I have seen the review... I guess I should clarify my question. Is the watch pictured here (that matches mine) the same watch that was reviewed?

[its_urabus]

jetson, did you notice alot of dirt in the silicone? i was amazed how dirty the brake cleaner was. im wondering if its the extra polishing that the bracelet gets, along with the fact that why would they clean it?

[poopypants]

you didn't happen to measure the diameter of the rep crystal compared to the gen crystal?!?!

i know that the gen crystal is smaller than a sub crystal... wondering if the factories use sub crystals and had to notch them to fit the SD case...

cuz, as they said, this model was made from the specs of the genuine case!

even the dial on the SD is 1mm smaller than the sub...

just wondering...

PP