Stephane Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 Rolex Submariner 1680: The MM Couple. Dear All, Here is the result of a very long and frustrating project. When I started to look for members to modify my watches, I sent PMs to Tribal, to MM (see here under) and a third member who I won't name. Please do NOT Pm me for MM, I can't and wouldn't say more anyway. He doesn't look for more work and surely not for fame. Thanks! This 1680 couple has travelled a lot and ended for a complete restore work at my dear friend MM's place. I just got them back lately. So let's go! Preambule I know, I'm proposing another pictorial of Submariners. I have only one intention here: share my passion for what is my favourite line of watch I can't help, please forgive me, will you? Of course, some of my comments in this review might sound very negative, but I strongly believe that I am a different collector today than the enthusiast fresh member and total newbie I was when I purchased these two watches. So, in a certain way, I feel responsible for saying things like I experienced them, but, please, without looking for controversy. I mean it. Warning All the photos in this thread are from the final watches. I will not post the initial ones before they arrived in MM's hands. No photos from the 93150 or 580s either, only with the cheap riveted and rep bracelets, sorry. I was too lazy to fit them. You know how they look isn't it? Original Purchases The Red one was purchased from a member of the forum in may 2007 and the White one came from the group buy with TTK, in February 2007. I felt like the king of the world owning these watches and posted very enthusiast threads back then. But, I quickly discovered that my knowledge was poor and that both watches needed serious modifications to look closer to their genuine mothers. The couple I always need some extra complication to make a project worth. Getting one "great" 1680 would have been very cool. But have a "great" couple is a completely different story. The Red The state of the Red was far from perfect when it landed here! When I got it, I immediately noticed something was wrong with the watch but as I had no experience at all, I didn't really bother. But suddenly the crystal became completely foggy after I simply cleaned the watch with some drops of water from the tap. After careful inspection by a true experienced member, MM, here is a summary of what was not really "great": - Fake crystal instead of genuine (fitting?). - Crown tube drilled and threaded too fast probably as the case showed denaturated steel on the bottom indicating the metal got too hot. - Bezel insert glued sloppy, standing up on one side. - Caseback O-Ring very dirty. Caseback opened very easily. - Dial scratched heavily - brass was visible - dented in the Rolex writing too (visible in the photos here but I didn't even notice back then). - Bezel inoperable. So, we had to go for some work again. - CGs refinished, case refurbished. - Dial and hands have been completely redone (remove of the material and new stuff wonderfully applied in my humble opinion) - Bezel insert aged (completely different from my three 1665 so I end with a "creative collection of vintage Subs") - Genuine 580 end links fitted to accept my one and only genuine 93150 - The Tropic has been changed for a true genuine AND vintage one (check the difference between Red on left and White) - The watch has become truly waterproof now and is perfectly clean inside and great looking outside. The White It's very frustrating and makes me sad when I think about this one as the state of the White was even worse than the Red. Whatever was done (and this took a year almost) has been Redone completely anyway. Please note that the unmodded watch arrived in perfect state from TTK. Here is my friend's analyse on how this watch was prior he started to work on it. - Crystal (gen tropic) was scratched, not bad on a vintage anyway, but as MM said "I wouldn’t scratch your crystals when you don’t request it. And I am talking about deep scratches". - Springbars holes drilled poorly with a lot of burrs. - Bezel insert almost not glued, fell off almost instantly. - Hands not aligned properly. The hour hand shows 12 when minute hand is at 15 minutes. - Caseback so loose it could be removed by hand (again). - Lume on dial and hands applied very badly. - Dial scratched with surface swirls. - Case clamp broken because of inverted installation, broken piece didn't enter the movement though. So, I'm very lucky that it all ends like this for the White one. Take my word, it looks great in the flesh now. All the above has been fixed and Genuine 580 end links fitted too. Conclusion I could have written a huge thread on this experience. These babies were my first "high end reps ever" and I wasn't lucky at all. Instead of complaining and making it an issue I will simply say that patience is the first virtue of this hobby. Without such a great community I would never have been able to finish this 1680 Couple project. I would have been stuck with a bad Red and an unmodded White! The end I sincerely hope you enjoyed this thread as much as I enjoyed finalise this project. Thanks for looking and reading. Cheers Stephane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 A beautiful couple Stephane. Like all modding projects...It takes time and an experienced modder and you had both What is the crystal on the White? Is it a Vintage T-127? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted July 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 What is the crystal on the White? Is it a Vintage T-127? Great eyes and fantastic knowledge Dluddy. It is, indeed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vlydog Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 Beautifully done as always Stephane You never cease to amaze Now, how many of these exquisite timepieces will travel to NYC? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted July 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 @ Vlydog: I would love to take them all...but is it really safe ? Honestly, I prefer to come with the primary idea to meet you (and other virtual friends) than to show off some watches... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By-Tor Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 I don't know how many Subs you have my friend... I've lost count a long time ago. But they always look just as amazing. Great pictorial! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted July 18, 2008 Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 Stephane - I am glad everything turned out well in the end. The Couple look beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StormTooper4 Posted July 18, 2008 Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 Wonderful and inspiring stuff thanks ST4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvio Posted July 18, 2008 Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 Stephane, sorry to hear about your problem and I'm glad it worked in the end. That is always the problem when outsourcing works, no drama intended here but I learn from firsthand experience :-(... so I can relate to that. Those are great looking 1680s anyway.Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star69 Posted July 18, 2008 Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 nice twins congrats ! thanks for sharing. i really hope you start now with the no dates - there so many variations - will keep you busy for the next years seeing the pics and reading the description of the problems i know now who the MM is but anyway : what happened to the white ? i came perfect from TTK - did you sent it to an other modder ? cheers, Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted July 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 I don't know how many Subs you have my friend... I've lost count a long time ago. But they always look just as amazing. Great pictorial! Thanks By-Tor. I don't have that many anymore I'll take a group shot once my 16600 is back! Stephane - I am glad everything turned out well in the end. The Couple look beautiful. Thank you Freddy. They are nice indeed now. Wonderful and inspiring stuff thanks ST4 Well, thanks ST, why not start the same project Stephane, sorry to hear about your problem and I'm glad it worked in the end. That is always the problem when outsourcing works, no drama intended here but I learn from firsthand experience :-(... so I can relate to that. Those are great looking 1680s anyway.Congrats! Yes, we learn a lot in quite a few months. As I often say, this place is not different from the real world: great persons and some black sheeps. nice twins congrats ! thanks for sharing. i really hope you start now with the no dates - there so many variations - will keep you busy for the next years seeing the pics and reading the description of the problems i know now who the MM is but anyway : what happened to the white ? i came perfect from TTK - did you sent it to an other modder ? cheers, Frank Thanks Frank. But pls, if you know, keep it secret I already have a 5513 and intend to build all the other ones indeed. But that is going to be a serious hunt. You're right, it will keep me busy for years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribal Posted July 18, 2008 Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 Damn nice Couple my friend Allways a pleasure to read your posts.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrandazzo Posted July 18, 2008 Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cats Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Again a great review Stephane that MM realy knows how to do the job. Carpe Diem Cats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJo35 Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 A beautiful pair Stephane! I love what has been done to the white 1680. Keep an eye out later on, I hope to post up some pics of my completed white 1680 Cheers JoJo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted July 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Can't wait Jojo...I'll be there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golfman Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Wonderfull Stephane As you know, i am a Rolex beginner, just own a SSD (sorry about that my friend ), and my 1680 GW project is aborted (for the moment). Thanks a lot to share with us those beauties, and to give us the motivation to go again on this kind of project Best Regards Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Great ending to a not so great start. Thanks for the write up, the watches look wonderful. RG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted July 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 @Eric: we all were beginners once, in many various domains I'm sure that if the Sub start to grow on you, you will become a great Sub collector @Ziggy: thanks for the nice words. You sure know what I'm talking about "frustration - patience" ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjfesq Posted August 9, 2008 Report Share Posted August 9, 2008 You have a pair of Aces in the red and white Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsons Posted August 10, 2008 Report Share Posted August 10, 2008 Congrats, Stephane! Fantastic watches. Glad to see that all worked out well for you in the end. And you're right. Without this community, it would be impossible to properly build any of these vintage beauties. I've read that gen T127 and T-19 crystals have shot up in price. Too bad if true as they make a world of difference on these rollies. So which one will you bring to NYC? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted August 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2008 Thanks again guys. I sincerely think I won't bring any in NYC. I've seen that the customs are even worse now. They even search your mails if you come with a laptop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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