Feedback on Safari plz!

[Dondada]

Hi,

After a long wait and hard work finally my grail watch is here with me.
I don't claim to know the ins and outs of AP or other brands for that matter but from the first time I saw the Safari I knew I had to have it

So finally here I get to see the watch close up for the first time, and it is absolutely gorges. I never knew the depth of this watch was going to be so impactful as well as the shiny screws that ad so much to the watch I don't think pictures really communicate this.

However seeing my build now finally up close I have also started to maybe question a few things. Ideally I wanted a watch that was as "passable" as a Gen as possible. I understand that there will always be differences unless you buy a Gen itself. Allot of ppl point out the hands to be a big "flaw" in a Franken build if they are not Gen hands. I opted for Mikey hands and like I said I am far from any sort of specialist but I can honestly not see a huge difference (maybe I would change my mind If I saw them side by side in real life idk).

The main thing that is jumping out at me is the cyclops/date wheel.
Im getting a strong pink/purple reflection almost like a "sparkle" when under any light.
Also I can't help to feel that the date magnification is making the numbers look very big?

I would love to hear peoples honest opinions on this build.

-------------------------
Gen Tachy
Gen Dial
Mikey Date Wheel
Prof Cyclops
Mikey Hands
JF Doner
Custom thinning and case work done.
Custom Hornback Strap
-------------------------

 

[Woundup]

Looks nice. Enjoy it.

 

[Dondada]

Looks nice. Enjoy it.

Thank you very much!

Does the Cyclops/Date wheel stand out to you at all?

 

[Garuda]

gen early year dates looked smaller probably down to weak magnification or smaller font size. towards end production cycle the date sizes got bigger. google gen pictures and you see large variation. i don't thinks there's a right or wrong answer
the pink/purple reflection is not noticeable in the pictures.

 

[legend]

I do not know about others but if you’re asking for an honest opinion, I can immediately call this out as a franken with aftermarket hands and datewheel. I also am able to tell that it’s not using a gen movement (because of the datewheel and rectangular date window cut out).

Don’t let the cyclop bother you. The clarity and magnification are both acceptable. If you want a slightly lower magnification the cyclop position can be adjusted to be closer to the datewheel.

I’ve said a lot about aftermarket hands but in short they are nothing like the gen hands, shape and stack wise. Please consider it a blessing if you cannot discern these differences but in real life they are nothing alike.
You have put in time and effort to build an AP franken and this is a nice franken. It does not pass for a gen visually if you ask for my opinion but I am pretty sure that in real life it will do so 99% of the time. I owned the gen classic safari (before trading it in for a modern safari) and it was one of the most beautiful models when it comes to classic AP ROOs. Here is a pic of my watch. If you know where to look you’ll see all the tells of a franken.

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[Dondada]

I do not know about others but if you’re asking for an honest opinion, I can immediately call this out as a franken with aftermarket hands and datewheel. I also am able to tell that it’s not using a gen movement (because of the datewheel and rectangular date window cut out).

Don’t let the cyclop bother you. The clarity and magnification are both acceptable. If you want a slightly lower magnification the cyclop position can be adjusted to be closer to the datewheel.

I’ve said a lot about aftermarket hands but in short they are nothing like the gen hands, shape and stack wise. Please consider it a blessing if you cannot discern these differences but in real life they are nothing alike.
You have put in time and effort to build an AP franken and this is a nice franken. It does not pass for a gen visually if you ask for my opinion but I am pretty sure that in real life it will do so 99% of the time. I owned the gen classic safari (before trading it in for a modern safari) and it was one of the most beautiful models when it comes to classic AP ROOs. Here is a pic of my watch. If you know where to look you’ll see all the tells of a franken.

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Thank you very informative post!
And yes I think I am blessed with my own ignorance
But It was great to hear your take on the watch.
Your Gen looked very nice!
Its a fantastic watch no doubt.. I can kind of see what you are talking about regarding the franken having some what of a more square cut out.
But one thing that really stands out to me is the size of your Gen crown!
It seams huge compared to the Rep?
My crown has much more empty space between the "crown protectors" on the case.

Regarding the purple hue or reflection... its hard to see it in the photos as it does not communicate it but if the watch is in slight motion under a light you see it very noticeable as a "twinkle"
In my last photo you can see it.. however in the photo it is not as vibrant as in real life.

 

[Dondada]

BTW maybe silly question.
I have a "LWO 283 NOS watch movement. ETA2892 + Dubois Depraz module. Audemars Piguet ROO" movement in the watch.
Does this work in the same manner as a Gen AP?
Or are there things I need to take into consideration when handling the watch, setting time and date etc?
Also I hear some ppl say you should not use the chronos (I have not even tried to use them so far) I dont know if they are even functional or not.

 

[Dondada]

BTW again.. I just have to say I was amazed at how thin Spongebob managed to thin the case.. I measure it 13.6mm feels very nice on the wrist.

 

[legend]

BTW maybe silly question.
I have a "LWO 283 NOS watch movement. ETA2892 + Dubois Depraz module. Audemars Piguet ROO" movement in the watch.
Does this work in the same manner as a Gen AP?
Or are there things I need to take into consideration when handling the watch, setting time and date etc?
Also I hear some ppl say you should not use the chronos (I have not even tried to use them so far) I dont know if they are even functional or not.

There is no such thing as a “LWO 283 NOS watch movement. ETA2892 + Dubois Depraz module. Audemars Piguet ROO" movement.
The gen caliber 3126/3840 movement used in the AP movement is different and much better finished (though reliability is about the same)
The date window cut out is square in the gen movement and rectangular in the LWO. Datewheels are not interchangeable and the gen has an instant date flip like Rolex whereas the franken 2892 has a roll and flip type of date change.
The chrono in the gen is not exactly the most reliable too.
Try to avoid the chrono and also always set the hands to 6:30 before quicksetting the date. Yes you handle the franken the same way you handle the gen. The gen movement is nothing fantastic in terms of mechanical specifications, it is just very well finished and a good movement to admire visually that’s all. The stacked chrono module is not as refined as the integrated chrono module of the Rolex Daytona for example, and even the Hublot Unico movement is superior IMHO.




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[SuperLory]

BTW again.. I just have to say I was amazed at how thin Spongebob managed to thin the case.. I measure it 13.6mm feels very nice on the wrist.

13.6 is a bold statement man, mine is 14.1 and it has to be the thinnest I have

Also on the datewheel magnification imho you have 2 other possible options: 1 keep prof cyclops and change the dw to Mikey modern font or 2. get a gen cyclops from domi and use Omega dw.

Tertium maybe datur but I'm not in the position to talk much right now

 

[Dondada]

13.6 is a bold statement man, mine is 14.1 and it has to be the thinnest I have

Also on the datewheel magnification imho you have 2 other possible options: 1 keep prof cyclops and change the dw to Mikey modern font or 2. get a gen cyclops from domi and use Omega dw.

Tertium maybe datur but I'm not in the position to talk much right now

Possibly my equipment is off or Im doing something wrong.
But I measured again and this is what I got..

 

[legend]

Possibly my equipment is off or Im doing something wrong.
But I measured again and this is what I got..

I believe your measurement. The point is, it’s not a competition to see whose ROO is the thinnest. Guys obsessed over thinning the case because the stock rep was thick as a phonebook. So wearing a thinned ROO is a refreshing novelty for most franken owners.

But to the gen ROO owner, the watch just wears without any concern for the thickness at all. 13.7mm is actually thinner than gen and like 15.5mm, not accurate vs gen but it’ll be a lot less chunky to wear as a watch, accuracy aside.

As long as the proportions look accurate, a few tenths of a millimeter either way will not be noticeable like 1.5mm -2mm thicker than gen spec will be. This is afterall a franken watch built for novelty and not a gen.

I think that your watch is nice and has good presence on the wrist. Even if the thickness is exactly the same as gen, it’ll still have other differences to consider visually. Wear it well!







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[Dondada]

I believe your measurement. The point is, it’s not a competition to see whose ROO is the thinnest. Guys obsessed over thinning the case because the stock rep was thick as a phonebook. So wearing a thinned ROO is a refreshing novelty for most franken owners.

But to the gen ROO owner, the watch just wears without any concern for the thickness at all. 13.7mm is actually thinner than gen and like 15.5mm, not accurate vs gen but it’ll be a lot less chunky to wear as a watch, accuracy aside.

As long as the proportions look accurate, a few tenths of a millimeter either way will not be noticeable like 1.5mm -2mm thicker than gen spec will be. This is afterall a franken watch built for novelty and not a gen.

I think that your watch is nice and has good presence on the wrist. Even if the thickness is exactly the same as gen, it’ll still have other differences to consider visually. Wear it well!







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Yes I am not competing in thickness just amazed what a difference in thickness from wearing the doner to when it came back!
Its amazing what that shave did to the comfort and feel on the wrist!
Yes I know its actually thinner then Gen specs but I think like you said a couple mm over or under is not going to make a difference.

Regarding the hands
If there are no Gen hands readily available on the market and even the after market hands produced do not meat the same measurements as gen.
What options are there out there to get hold of more "gen like hands"?

Maybe silly question but if Mikey hands are not inline with Gen why are ppl opting to chose those over the Rep hands?

 

[legend]

Yes I am not competing in thickness just amazed what a difference in thickness from wearing the doner to when it came back!
Its amazing what that shave did to the comfort and feel on the wrist!
Yes I know its actually thinner then Gen specs but I think like you said a couple mm over or under is not going to make a difference.

Regarding the hands
If there are no Gen hands readily available on the market and even the after market hands produced do not meat the same measurements as gen.
What options are there out there to get hold of more "gen like hands"?

Maybe silly question but if Mikey hands are not inline with Gen why are ppl opting to chose those over the Rep hands?

I like the thickness of your watch and my “competition” comment wasn’t directed at you. Sorry for the misunderstanding, my point was that it was not meaningful to compare thicknesses of franken ROOs if it’s already much thinner than stock.

Regarding the hands, the answer to your question is that there are simply limited choices for the aspiring AP franken owners. You either trim the rep hands at the base and polish and shape them or you buy ready made hands which are already thinner at the base sir. The shape, shine and stack of the gen hands are distinctive and it’s something no aftermarket hands replicate well. To Mikey’s credit, the hands he made are improvements over the stock ones no doubt, but fall short of gen spec measurements and finish. Nonetheless I’ve learnt not to be harsh on franken builds. This is afterall a rep watch forum and not a gen watch one. I point this out to help owners recognize where the “tells” are and to keep them going to perfect their builds. If an owner for example, shows off his build with several tells and thinks it’s 1:1, he may overstep his confidence and show it off to the wrong people one day and get called out. What I seek to inculcate is better knowledge of one’s own builds (and builds of others) and the pursuit for perfection.
The primary reason why guys franken their watches is to get them closer to how the gen looks and functions. If there is a “closer” then there is a benchmark of reference. After spending serious money and efforts on sourcing gen parts and putting the watch together, I see it as a few extra steps to get the watch done the best that resources allow.
The main weaknesses of the stock hands is the base size and finish. The main weaknesses of Mikey hands are the “stem” and also finish. Both aren’t perfect when bench marked against the gen and with the hands of the gen ROO being a distinctive eye-draw each time you glance at the dial, it is hard for me to live with hands which have tells.

You have a beautiful watch already Dondada
It’s a watch built with dedication, time and money, each in significant amounts. Sometimes it’s good not to see the flaws too much or one will become dissatisfied with the build. I will rather you be able to enjoy your watch for what it is than you thinking about what it’s not.




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[Dondada]

I like the thickness of your watch and my “competition” comment wasn’t directed at you. Sorry for the misunderstanding, my point was that it was not meaningful to compare thicknesses of franken ROOs if it’s already much thinner than stock.

Regarding the hands, the answer to your question is that there are simply limited choices for the aspiring AP franken owners. You either trim the rep hands at the base and polish and shape them or you buy ready made hands which are already thinner at the base sir. The shape, shine and stack of the gen hands are distinctive and it’s something no aftermarket hands replicate well. To Mikey’s credit, the hands he made are improvements over the stock ones no doubt, but fall short of gen spec measurements and finish. Nonetheless I’ve learnt not to be harsh on franken builds. This is afterall a rep watch forum and not a gen watch one. I point this out to help owners recognize where the “tells” are and to keep them going to perfect their builds. If an owner for example, shows off his build with several tells and thinks it’s 1:1, he may overstep his confidence and show it off to the wrong people one day and get called out. What I seek to inculcate is better knowledge of one’s own builds (and builds of others) and the pursuit for perfection.
The primary reason why guys franken their watches is to get them closer to how the gen looks and functions. If there is a “closer” then there is a benchmark of reference. After spending serious money and efforts on sourcing gen parts and putting the watch together, I see it as a few extra steps to get the watch done the best that resources allow.
The main weaknesses of the stock hands is the base size and finish. The main weaknesses of Mikey hands are the “stem” and also finish. Both aren’t perfect when bench marked against the gen and with the hands of the gen ROO being a distinctive eye-draw each time you glance at the dial, it is hard for me to live with hands which have tells.

You have a beautiful watch already Dondada
It’s a watch built with dedication, time and money, each in significant amounts. Sometimes it’s good not to see the flaws too much or one will become dissatisfied with the build. I will rather you be able to enjoy your watch for what it is than you thinking about what it’s not.




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Thank you for your reply. I really enjoy hearing what you have to say as you clearly have allot of knowledge in the area.
I don't but I really do enjoy the hobby. Its fun to learn it takes time an patience and yes money.
I also agree that the goal is to try and achieve the most "gen" like version you possibly can, having said that I think its important to be realistic and see that it is NOT a gen and will never be so there will never be a 1:1 perfection. But it sure is fun to try!

I do want to enjoy my watch and I appreciate what you have to say about my build.
The more I dive deeper into it I am starting now to finally see the flaws with the hands.. something I would like to address if possible.
But I want to enjoy my watch and I really do.. but I do also enjoy the process and finding out more as I go along Im here for the journey and if improvements can be done I am more then willing to listen to knowledgeable ppl like yourself and take it all in.

Thank you!

 

[legend]

Thank you for your reply. I really enjoy hearing what you have to say as you clearly have allot of knowledge in the area.
I don't but I really do enjoy the hobby. Its fun to learn it takes time an patience and yes money.
I also agree that the goal is to try and achieve the most "gen" like version you possibly can, having said that I think its important to be realistic and see that it is NOT a gen and will never be so there will never be a 1:1 perfection. But it sure is fun to try!

I do want to enjoy my watch and I appreciate what you have to say about my build.
The more I dive deeper into it I am starting now to finally see the flaws with the hands.. something I would like to address if possible.
But I want to enjoy my watch and I really do.. but I do also enjoy the process and finding out more as I go along Im here for the journey and if improvements can be done I am more then willing to listen to knowledgeable ppl like yourself and take it all in.

Thank you!

Thank you @dondada

I think that when you started your franken journey, perfection was never your goal but rather it was to simply build a watch YOU find believable and YOU enjoy.
When you started this thread to get opinions from members you’re going to get compliments, feedback and critisms of varied types and I stand by my statement that your watch is a nice build and I am certain it is admirable on the wrist.
The intricacies we discussed here (hands and such) apply only to forum discussions. Very little of what we spoke about will matter in real life and I think you know that well.
Nobody will come up to you and say “nice watch but the hands are off” to you. If anyone does that, you can be certain that he’s one of the experts here who has a lot more knowledge than he does manners.
Frankens are already a big step above the stock reps and if you look at the big picture you’ll see that you already own a watch many here will admire. My comments are only in response to you wanting an honest opinion and I think that what I said are mostly academic and irrelevant to real life. I doubt that the average guy will be able to tell your watch and a gen safari apart on the streets.
The key point here is what you see and how you feel about your timepiece. Honestly what the rest of us say is not important in comparison.


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[GingerBubba]

I am blessed with the eyesight of a mole. Your Franken looks at least as nice as the Gen to my eyes; it may even be the same watch and you're all just tricking me. Ignorance truly is bliss in the rep world.

It's a seriously nice watch OP, don't overthink it, just wear and enjoy.

Right, I'm off to strap on my 1:1 ROO Panda (the 1:1 OOTB version I have).

 

[legend]

I am blessed with the eyesight of a mole. Your Franken looks at least as nice as the Gen to my eyes; it may even be the same watch and you're all just tricking me. Ignorance truly is bliss in the rep world.

It's a seriously nice watch OP, don't overthink it, just wear and enjoy.

Right, I'm off to strap on my 1:1 ROO Panda (the 1:1 OOTB version I have).

Ok now I understand why sent me a picture of Melissa McCarthy and asked me if she’s 1:1 to Megan Fox. For the 5th time mate, they’re not. Ok?


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[AP2003]

I like this Franken. Unfortunately it has now made me want to build a Safari Franken.
I have a white themes franken, but I don't even want to wear it after seeing how nice this dial is.

 

[Dondada]

Hey thanks for the feed back and for the compliments to be honest I am also somewhat "blind like a mole" so the purpose of the thread was to be "called out" on the "inconsistencies" to a Gen.
I just really want to know!
I wear the watch with pride no doubt it is giving me allot of happiness
I understand how one can get caught up in the "flaws" and before you know it that's all you can see.
Already I think I have a much better grasp to spot gen hands vs rep hands vs after market hands.. and yes I can see it now much more in my watch but Im ok with it.
I would like to improve it if I get the opportunity but until then I am going to enjoy the ish out of this watch just the way it is.
But in my book there is always room for improvement and that's what makes it fun.