• Tired of adverts on RWI? - Subscribe by clicking HERE and PMing Trailboss for instructions and they will magically go away!

How to build a low beat Diver, or how to make a almost perfect rep a bit more perfect

chris3007

Mythical Poster
24/8/13
9,407
106
0
How to build a low beat Diver, or how to make a almost perfect rep a bit more...

Hi guys, since JF and noob make almost perfect reps of the AP Diver is there not to much to do for a good AP rep.
But as we know the AP 3120 is a low beat movement with 21.600 beats per hour. The most diver reps come with an A2824 movement with 28.800 bph.
So is the low beat mod one of the last mods you need for a perfect rep.
I have done a low beat mod and I will share that with you guys.

First step is finding a low beat movement.
I have some old swatch automatic with ETA 2840 movements.
The 2840 is a low beat and perfect for that mode because it's the same base as the 2824 high beat.

When I was younger I was a swatch collector and I had many of that watches.
But now they must die.

642fbe1eb02f7ba7f4389d6f5e976012.jpg


Sorry guys but I need your heart, but you can continue to live in a much much nicer steel body....hehe
Here is what we want...

f454916818dc8a302a6b227b0b1adbdf.jpg



So let's pull the 2840 out and take it apart


d908403a3fc0f95784a5e93159e515f0.jpg

cf4704b2e2c5912d9896c0fd91f17dfb.jpg


Remove all the bridges, wheels and springs and at the end we have a Swiss movement in parts.

df5955a7c293290297884fee25a13c74.jpg


Next step is clean all the parts in a ultrasonic bath

3db297bea709a04a11bd57a78cddbff4.jpg


If that is done we need a new body for the Swiss movement and here comes the Diver into the game

I have here a Diver from a friend at the forum, build from the best parts available.

ad075c2f05d41a653511846e131ccf08.jpg


we start here with the same procedures as before, take the whole think apart

Case back

8781c72d32d81532bcca4b97088a3e82.jpg


Anti magnetic plate

fb394ed189d5b036cb1d1ea305acf674.jpg


85f38710f654b0a30f72e160b65e7b62.jpg


Next step is pull the movement out of the case

38d9d356588d56cbdbb7b9075d79d53e.jpg


Remove the hands

90b3854999fdeaefcbe44dae3bb388ad.jpg


And the dial

c765629d37a1ceb7e23613a6649acc67.jpg


And as before, take the whole Asian movement apart

At the end these are the only Chinese parts we use for the new build

a64528abe6425786b3bb730457927fe8.jpg


And here are our Swiss friends joining the party, freshly cleaned and ready to install

fb65f87c6f6f7c565dd951f146b86d72.jpg


first we start with the keyless

4bf7a8533b2e3a17c2cb68916643ddcc.jpg


Next step is the date wheel

ea5c6e0c0f9c944e80edad479046f9e3.jpg


Ok, let's turn this baby around and see what is at the other side

Nothing beats a fresh cleaned movement.....

4c7cf79427f8ccb78cfd543d518c6b0f.jpg


Next step is the Swiss gear train

bc90e02aafaa5ad3bd33d3994a18457d.jpg


And the Swiss bridge.

357c06a396958803995ed059b533cfcb.jpg


Now I install the pallet fork and bridge. Sorry for the bad pic but I need much light for that step

669994dcda0eebc3287a948a885b4f80.jpg


I install the next bridge, the barrel bridge and wind up the movement a bit.

Well and now comes the best part for me... the heart.

I really love the moment when the movement starts to live.

https://vimeo.com/135785961

Nice and slow....hehe

Ok, now we install the last bridge

3e21f1d41b539684dbc1d3856f39a8e3.jpg


And than the dial and the hands

c6829d1238e9aff171124272cbb33eb5.jpg


a1f481cea338f497e8db652c2db0c37e.jpg


And than back into the case

dbbc37a9c7a76e87a911b6688f8af740.jpg


Greasing all the gaskets and push the stem back to the movement

2e21f4e9fd3d2215544531c3667cded8.jpg



Ok now it's time for the first check if all work fine

a44736222bdad1e989d255902d95c7b1.jpg


And yes, it looks pretty good.


Now we put back the rotor, I use here the AP rep rotor even if you can't see it but it's nice to know he is there

1a5319378e811f76a448fe91f1b02961.jpg


Cleaning the case from the old grease, screw the anti magnetic plate back to the movement and close the case back.

386217d7cb54195f4db6bf8a105f20ad.jpg


That's it, now we have a nice AP Diver rep with an nice ticking Swiss low beat movement.
One step closer to the gen Diver and now nearly a perfect rep.
I know some of you think now "why? You can't notice the beat rate anyway" but that is wrong.
You see the second hand move totally differently with 21.600 bpm.
And you can notice that for sure if you see the watch.
And you can also hear it.


I hope you enjoy this little inside and if you have any questions feel free to ask.

And one more think, after that mod your diver is not just closer to the gen, your movement is also...

bb311bf32dc2a5adaaffb1bbc69e5067.jpg


Water resistant....I just love that Swiss guys...hehe











Sent from my iPad Air 2
 

slaughterer62

Mythical Poster
DO NOT TRADE WITH ME
27/1/13
9,280
1,890
113
Great thread Chris. When I saw the title I knew I was in for a good read. Really well done. One advantage of low beat is a longer PR.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sn95

The Dude

Renowned Member
18/2/09
959
4
0
Nice work, thanks for taking the time to post this.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920F using Tapatalk
 

aflop

Put Some Respect On My Name
22/5/13
4,125
203
63
Amazing pictorial! Great work as always!
 

Sinz

Horology Curious
18/3/15
19
0
0
amazing work, its very nice to have watchsmithing skill
 

tinitonsi

Put Some Respect On My Name
Patron
Certified
21/3/14
5,775
622
113
Amazing Chris, rep points for you ;)
 

sharrkey

Legendary Member
Advisor
14/6/08
13,129
41
48
Fantastic thread Chris, thanks for taking the time to share


S???R?I?????
 

ap@12

I'm Pretty Popular
Supporter
Certified
26/12/12
2,875
311
83
very nice chris,great to read
 

ciceroyeah

Renowned Member
8/8/13
573
10
18
Cool thread, awesome disassembly pics. I still think a powermatic is a better choice for a variety of reasons, but you do the 2840 justice!
 

chris3007

Mythical Poster
24/8/13
9,407
106
0
Thanks guys for the nice comments.
The powermatic is the better choice, because of the 80h power reserve, but it's much harder to find and much more expensive than the 2840


Sent from my iPhone 6
 

GrapeJam

I'm Pretty Popular
8/12/14
1,352
4
0
Thanks for this Chris, I would really like to start developing modding/watchmaking skills over the next year or so to become a little more self-sufficient. Posts like these are extremely helpful, you're a real asset to the RWI community!

Rep points given, and well deserved!
 

Keylog74

Put Some Respect On My Name
14/6/13
3,849
1,679
113
Wow ! the way you describe and write this guide make it look so easy ... even though i think skills are needed . well done sir well done !
 

chris3007

Mythical Poster
24/8/13
9,407
106
0
I just want share that pic from the mod. My FC diver next to the SS diver. Two true beauties

0acb31c68d32e4722152eed8a863421e.jpg



Sent from my iPad Air 2
 

jaycey

You're Saying I Can Sell?
2/4/13
74
0
0
How is the dial & movement secured?
From what I have read this movement has not holes for dial feet and no holes for case clamp screws.

Is this true?
 

chris3007

Mythical Poster
24/8/13
9,407
106
0
How to build a low beat Diver, or how to make a almost perfect rep a bit more...

I use the main plate from the Chinese movement for my mod. So no problem to fix the dial and the movement to the case.


Sent from my iPad Air 2