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Can you convert a 1030 calibre to 1035 GMT?


freddy333

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Can you convert a Rolex 1030 calibre into a 1035 GMT (by simply installing the missing date & GMT parts)?

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If you can, what are the specific parts & steps required to do so?

I need a 1035 GMT movement to complete my 6542 project watch (which is currently powered by a modded 2846)

PanAm2012a1.jpg

PanAm0061.jpg

However, after a seller's screw-up caused me to lose a once-in-a-lifetime deal on a complete (although partially unassembled) 6542 movement, I am finding that locating another complete 1035 GMT movement will be both difficult & costly (possibly, prohibitively so). Therefore, I would like to know how feasible it is to buy a more common (& reasonably priced) 1030 & add the date & GMT functions to convert it into a 1035 GMT?

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The base movement is the 1030.

The date movement is the 1035.

The GMT movement is the 1036 GMT.

The 1036 GMT uses different calendar disc etc than the 1035.

The 1035 has a star wheel mounted in the center of the date disc like the old manual wind 1215/1225 and the 1036 GMT has a calendar disc like a 1575 etc.

(date disc for a 1215/1225 has a different p/n from a 1035 disc)

(date disc for a 1575 has a different p/n from a 1036 GMT disc)

notes:

The 1065 (date) and 1066 GMT are similar to the 1035 and 1036 GMT except the 1065 and 1066 GMT have a different escapement...Breguet hairspring etc.

1030 introduced 1950

1065 introduced 1955

1080 (milgauss) introduced 1955

1035 introduced 1957

1036 GMT introduced 1957

1066 GMT introduced 1957

Original rolex factory part numbers.

(some may have changed and many are probably n/a)

1035 (date) parts different from a 1030 (no date):

center wheel with canon pinion p/n 7061

canon pinion only p/n 7062

double tooth hour wheel p/n 7063

driving wheel for date star p/n 7064 (screw for above p/n 7065)

date jumper p/n 7066 (screw for above p/n 7067)

calendar ring p/n 7068

date star p/n 7069 (must be rivited to date disc)

date disc complete with riveted star p/n 7070

1036 (GMT) parts different from a 1035 (date):

(center wheel and canon pinion are the same)

calendar yoke p/n 7086

calendar yoke spring p/n 7087

date disc p/n 7090

double tooth hour wheel p/n 7100

24 hour wheel p/n 7101

calendar wheel p/n 7102

date jumper p/n 7103

calendar ring p/n 7104

jewel for calendar ring p/n 7089-1

screws for conversion:

date jumper screw p/n 7085

calendar yoke spring screw p/n 7088

calendar wheel screw p/n 7105

support screw for set lever spring p/n 7106

(set of screws for one movement p/n 7101)

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The GMT movement is the 1036 GMT.

The 1036 GMT uses different calendar disc etc than the 1035.

The 1036 GMT has a calendar disc like a 1575 etc.

(date disc for a 1575 has a different p/n from a 1036 GMT disc)

Original rolex factory part numbers.

(some may have changed and many are probably n/a)

Thanks for the detailed lists (for simplicity, I have removed all of the extraneous background info that is not directly relevant to the conversion).

Have you actually done this before? I ask because I do not know you or your qualifications.

1035 (date) parts different from a 1030 (no date):

center wheel with canon pinion p/n 7061

canon pinion only p/n 7062

double tooth hour wheel p/n 7063

driving wheel for date star p/n 7064 (screw for above p/n 7065)

date jumper p/n 7066 (screw for above p/n 7067)

calendar ring p/n 7068

date star p/n 7069 (must be rivited to date disc)

date disc complete with riveted star p/n 7070

1036 (GMT) parts different from a 1035 (date):

(center wheel and canon pinion are the same)

calendar yoke p/n 7086

calendar yoke spring p/n 7087

date disc p/n 7090

double tooth hour wheel p/n 7100

24 hour wheel p/n 7101

calendar wheel p/n 7102

date jumper p/n 7103

calendar ring p/n 7104

jewel for calendar ring p/n 7089-1

screws for conversion:

date jumper screw p/n 7085

calendar yoke spring screw p/n 7088

calendar wheel screw p/n 7105

support screw for set lever spring p/n 7106

(set of screws for one movement p/n 7101)

So, if I gather the 17 parts (& screws) listed in the quoted 2nd section (right above this), they can be installed onto a standard 1030 movement & the resulting movement will be functioning 1036 GMT with the same dimensions?

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what happened to your bucket of parts buy ? can you talk about it yet ? sounds like a bit of drama we can all do without.

Bob Frei received a water-damaged & case-less GMT dial, handset & movement. I phoned the office on a day that Bob happened to be out of town, but was told it was still available & was quoted a fixed price. I agreed to the price & paid for it with my credit card (which, because I am a regular customer, they have on file). Then, just to be sure, I phoned them back 20 minutes later & gave them an additional credit card (to eliminate any chance of a hold-up due to bank foul-ups). I was told 'Don't worry, it's yours & your credit card already went through & we processed the paperwork. The order will be shipped to you as soon as Bob returns in 1 week.'

So, 1 week later, I phoned Bob just to make sure the order got shipped & was told that there had been a mix-up & that Bob, being unaware that I had already purchased the movement, sold (& immediately shipped out) the movement to someone else 2 days after I paid for it. Bob was (understandably) apologetic, even going as far as phoning the other party & asking if they would be willing to return it since they had screwed up & the movement should have gone to me. Of course, not a chance. So that was that.

and one question, have you ever come across a long mercedes hand ?

Good question. What is a long Mercedes hand & how does it differ from a Mercedes hand?

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quote =

I think you have to be realy skilled to pull this off!

/quote

It is easy to change the movement configuration, the problem is finding the parts.

This movement has been out of production over 40 years.

Obtaining parts for vintage rolex movements is a problem and getting worse. Some claim a skilled watchmaker can "make anything" but this is not likely. They may be able to make flat parts...set levers, wheels, etc and round parts such as bezels, casebacks, wheel arbors etc but I seriously doubt independent watchmakers will be making hairsprings, pallet forks, balance assemblies, movement plates etc.

Maybe China will get busy and crank out rolex 1035 and 1575 clones for $125.

..and rolex 3135 clones for $150. :thumbsupsmileyanim:

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It is easy to change the movement configuration, the problem is finding the parts.

This movement has been out of production over 40 years.

Yes, exactly.

The question, which goes back to the main point of this post, is what the chances are of finding everything needed to result in a complete & functional 1036 GMT?

Before I plunk down a grand (or thereabouts) on a 1030, I want to be at least reasonably sure that

1. All of the parts can be found.

2. The total cost of the 1030 plus all of the individual parts needed to convert to 1036 will not exceed the cost of buying a 1036 GMT outright.

Do you or anyone else know?

Obtaining parts for vintage rolex movements is a problem and getting worse. Some claim a skilled watchmaker can "make anything" but this is not likely.

So far, I have always been able to find what I needed. However, I have never worked on a 1030 (or its variants), so I am hoping someone can fill in the blanks.

They may be able to make flat parts...set levers, wheels, etc and round parts such as bezels, casebacks, wheel arbors etc but I seriously doubt independent watchmakers will be making hairsprings, pallet forks, balance assemblies, movement plates etc.

Certainly, this is a rare skill in today's world & 1 that many current (& new) watchmakers are sadly lacking. However, making all the parts to assemble a complete & functioning watch used to be a prerequisite to becoming a professional watchmaker. The thing is that even the inflated prices being charged for gen Rolex parts these days come in at a veritable bargain relative to the cost of making parts from scratch.

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@Freddy, I copied and pasted the movement parts list from the Borel website for the 1036 GMT below for your reference. It looks like they may have some of the parts your looking for.

WATCH MATERIAL PARTS LIST

ROL 1036 GMT

AUTOMATIC SWEEP SECOND

12 1/2L 80/130/20

BM 1036

DESCRIPTION ALTERNATE # PRICE (1) PRICE (3) Add to Order

24 HOUR WHEEL 10.40 8.70 Add to Order

AUTO BRIDGE, JEWELED A/2728 Unavailable

AUTO BRIDGE, W/BUSHING A/2729 Discontinued

AUTO SOLE JEWELED 7005/ROL 1030 25.00 19.60 Add to Order

AUTO SOLE W/BUSHING 7006/ROL 1030 25.00 19.60 Add to Order

BALANCE COMPLETE 721/1020 Discontinued

BARREL 182/465 Discontinued

BARREL ARBOR 195/590 Discontinued

BUSHING, UPPER INTER WHEEL #2 7029/ROL 1030 10.40 8.70 Add to Order

CALENDAR RING 7089/ROL 1036 37.20 31.30 Add to Order

CALENDAR RING 37.20 31.30 Add to Order

CALENDAR WHEEL 7102/ROL 1036GM 20.50 16.70 Add to Order

CALENDAR YOKE 7086/ROL 1065 9.20 7.60 Add to Order

CALENDAR YOKE SPRING A/3454 Discontinued

CANNON PINION, SS HT 3.05 7062/ROL 1035 13.00 11.00 Add to Order

CENTER WHEEL, SS 7061/ROL 1035 30.40 24.50 Add to Order

CLICK 425/415 Discontinued

CLUTCH LEVER 6963/ROL 1030 9.20 7.60 Add to Order

CLUTCH LEVER SPRING 440/500 Unavailable

CLUTCH WHEEL, 407/569 Unavailable

CROWN WHEEL 420/536 Discontinued

CROWN WHEEL RING 6951/ROL 1030 3.60 2.20 Add to Order

CROWN WHEEL SEAT M/743 Unavailable

DATE DISC A/3457 Discontinued

DATE JUMPER 16.00 13.60 Add to Order

DRIVER A/2741 Unavailable

ESCAPE WHEEL, C/C 6917/ROL 1030 22.80 18.00 Add to Order

ESCAPE WHEEL, C/S 704/182 Discontinued

FOURTH WHEEL, REGULAR 220/371 Discontinued

HOUR WHEEL, DOUBLE TOOTH *7100 12.10 10.30 Add to Order

INTERMEDIATE WHEEL #1 A/2745 Unavailable

INTERMEDIATE WHEEL #2 A/2748 Discontinued

JEWEL, LOWER BALANCE CAP 330/173 Discontinued - Use 6944/ROL 1030

JEWEL, UPPER INT WHEEL #1 7022/ROL 1030 11.60 9.70 Add to Order

JEWEL, UPPER INTER WHEEL #2 7027/ROL 1030 11.60 9.70 Add to Order

JEWEL, UPPER REVERSER WHEEL 7019/ROL 1030 11.60 9.70 Add to Order

MAINSPRING 1.20-.105-320 10 GR 2936-X 11.95 10.95 Add to Order

MINUTE WHEEL 6966/ROL 1030 13.00 11.00 Add to Order

OSCILLATING WEIGHT BEARING A/2733 Discontinued

PALLET 710/626 Discontinued

PALLET ARBOR 72S/72P Discontinued

PALLET ARBOR USE 72S/72P 6923/ROL 1030 8.10 6.40 Add to Order

RATCHET WHEEL 415/552 Unavailable

REGULATOR, BREGUET 6943/ROL 1030 16.00 13.60 Add to Order

REVERSER WHEEL (MTD) A/2742 Unavailable

ROLLER 12.50 10.50 Add to Order

ROTOR AXLE A/2736 Unavailable

ROTOR BEAR W/JEWEL A/2751 Unavailable

ROTOR BOLT A/2738 Unavailable

ROTOR BOLT (GIB) A/1406 Discontinued

ROTOR BOLT AXLE A/2740 Discontinued

ROTOR WEIGHT A/2735 Unavailable

SCREW, AUTO BRIDGE LONG HEAD 7002/ROL 1030 5.70 4.20 Add to Order

SCREW, AUTO BRIDGE SHORT HEAD 7003/ROL 1030 5.70 4.20 Add to Order

SCREW, AUTO SOLE 7007/ROL 1030 5.70 4.20 Add to Order

SCREW, BALANCE BRIDGE 6930/ROL 1030 5.70 4.20 Add to Order

SCREW, BARREL BRIDGE 6970/ROL 1030 5.70 4.20 Add to Order

SCREW, CALENDAR WHEEL 5.60 4.10 Add to Order

SCREW, CALENDAR WHEEL A/4230 Discontinued

SCREW, CALENDAR YOKE SPRING 7088/ROL 1065 5.70 4.20 Add to Order

SCREW, CASE CLAMP A/3459 Discontinued

SCREW, CASE SPECIAL 6973/ROL 1030 5.70 4.20 Add to Order

SCREW, CLICK 5425/352 Unavailable

SCREW, CROWN WHEEL 6953/ROL 1030 5.70 4.20 Add to Order

SCREW, DATE JUMPER 7085/ROL 1065 5.70 4.20 Add to Order

SCREW, DIAL SIDE 6972/ROL 1030 5.70 4.20 Add to Order

SCREW, OSCILLATING WGT BEARING 7009/ROL 1030 5.70 4.20 Add to Order

SCREW, PALLET BRIDGE 7845/ROL 1570 5.70 4.20 Add to Order

SCREW, RATCHET WHEEL 2871/ROL 1030 5.70 4.20 Add to Order

SCREW, ROTOR BOLT 7014/ROL 1030 5.70 4.20 Add to Order

SCREW, SET BRIDGE 6962/ROL 1030 5.70 4.20 Add to Order

SCREW, SET LEVER 5443/700 Discontinued

SCREW, STUD 5.10 3.60 Add to Order

SCREW, SWEEP SECOND SPRING 6916/ROL 1030 5.70 4.20 Add to Order

SET BRIDGE 6961/ROL 1030 11.60 9.70 Add to Order

SET LEVER 443/691 Discontinued

SET WHEEL 6965/ROL 1030 3.60 2.20 Add to Order

SPRING, CLICK 6958/ROL 1030 6.70 5.10 Add to Order

STAFF, KIF 5.75 4.50 Add to Order

STAFF, USE 100/1568 6940/ROL 1030 7.20 5.60 Add to Order

STEM, TAP 10 401/270 Discontinued - Use 401/464

STEM, TAP 10 J-7869/ROL 1530 3.95 2.75 Add to Order

STEM, TAP 10 J-7869 3.95 2.75 Add to Order

STEM, TAP 8 7869/1-ROL 3.95 2.75 Add to Order

SWEEP SECOND FRICTION SPRING 471/135 Discontinued

SWEEP SECOND PINION 275/259 Unavailable

SWEEP SECOND WHEEL 283/153 Discontinued

THIRD WHEEL, LONG PIVOT 214/153 Discontinued

WIND UP WHEEL A/2737 Discontinued

WINDING PINION 410/670 Unavailable

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Thanks Heywood. Much obliged.

I already checked with them & while they do have a number of the parts listed, their web listings often do not reflect their (actual) parts inventory. My guess is that many or most of the parts I would need are either on (indefinite) back order or awaiting status (which works out to about the same thing). Alot of the parts will eventually surface (for top-dollar) on ebay or (at slightly more reasonable prices) from a number of used parts suppliers that I occasionally get lucky with. But, either way, I would like to find someone who can gauge the likely cost of a complete 1036 GMT vs a 1030 plus parts before I unleash the hounds for the next hunt. If, as I suspect, a complete movement - whether purchased whole or cobbled together - is likely to end up costing in the neighborhood of $2k+, I may have to put the next phase of this project on the back burner until another cheap (& complete) 'parts' movement crosses my path.

As much as I would like to be able to swap the 1675 dial for the proper gloss 6542, the watch, as it is now, functions like the gen -- slow beat (not quite 18k bph, but close), non-hacking, non-quick-set & with a 2-position stem that sounds & feels like it is winding a 1950s Rolex

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gmtgrass20061.jpg

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"The question, which goes back to the main point of this post, is what the chances are of finding everything needed to result in a complete & functional 1036 GMT?"

Before I plunk down a grand (or thereabouts) on a 1030, I want to be at least reasonably sure that 1. All of the parts can be found."

Can all the parts be found?

They are out there of course but parts hoarders are holding on to them.

Parts for the 1030/1035/1036GMT from rolex USA was a dead end years ago and probably worse now. I do not know about the rest of the world.

For example...We needed a rotor bearing for a 1030 eight years ago so we put it on all our orders and every time, they wrote NA on the invoice...no rotor bearing.

Finally a friend of a friend (repair guy in big rolex AD) said he would try to get one. It came on his first order...they save hard to find parts for established dealers with watch repair shops in their stores, not parts account holders.

"2. Will the total cost of the 1030 plus all of the individual parts needed to convert to 1036 exceed the cost of buying a 1036 GMT outright."

Parts cost depends on where you find them. Buying them from a rolexnut collector will be waaay too expensive. If you find them in an old timer repair shop or supply house, the price may be reasonable.

"So far, I have always been able to find what I needed. However, I have never worked on a 1030 (or its variants), so I am hoping someone can fill in the blanks."

The 1030 is easy to work on...it is a lot like the 1530/1570 etc.

"Certainly, this is a rare skill in today's world & 1 that many current (& new) watchmakers are sadly lacking. However, making all the parts to assemble a complete & functioning watch used to be a prerequisite to becoming a professional watchmaker. The thing is that even the inflated prices being charged for gen Rolex parts these days come in at a veritable bargain relative to the cost of making parts from scratch."

From my experience, many of today's "watchmakers" are basically greenhorns who work with limited experience and less than high skills. Many of the top of the line younger guys today are people like The Zigmeister who do it as a hobby. There are some first rate repair guys in the business of course, but they have too much regular work to take on projects.

Some others have the skills but are too expensive to work on our kind of stuff.

If I was starting out learning how to work on this stuff for a hobby, I would specialize in what I like and leave the rest of the junk to guys who do it for a living.

In our case...Eta and rolex.

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Thanks Auto. I spent some time perusing my Rolex parts books last night &, feeling a bit more confident this morning, took a leap of faith & purchased another 1030. The conversion procedure looks like it may be nothing more than a straight-forward bolt-on assembly of components to the front of the pillar. No further disassembly of the movement should be required. Easy-peasy, relatively speaking.

So, now the hunt begins for the conversion parts. Biggest hurdle, of course, will be locating a datewheel (especially, a roulette). As this will likely become something of a long-term project, I am glad I opted to complete the initial phase with the 2846 so I can keep my eyes on the prize while the game's afoot

PanAm2012a1.jpg

PanAm0061.jpg

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