So, this is my perfect 5711 build
I’ve been refining my collection over the last year, and I wanted to do something special with the few reps I have left.
I absolutely love the 5711 and I was on the list before they got discontinued. Paying retail for one, no problem, paying around 200.000 for one, not going to happen.
With that in mind, I wanted to do a build that I knew I would enjoy wearing, without any compromises.
I’ve had the PF/PPF hybrid, and it just didn’t do it for me. The dimension of the bezel was wrong (Although the best stock option at the moment) and the overall quality and craftmanship of the watch just didn’t satisfy me.
We did a build based on the current 3KF, mainly because the case/bezel dimensions are the best base to achieve a gen looking result. Secondly, I wanted a clone movement. This was a VERY time consuming and tough build, because we basically had to reshape every single surface of the case/bezel, and the biggest challenge was no doubt to get the bezel dimension 100 % correct.
Here is the build breakdown:
CASE/BEZEL: As stated above, this was the most important for me to get right. The PF bezel is not quite there, and the PPF bezel is to fat. The current 3KF is the only option imo if you want to achieve a gen look. The entire bezel was reshaped, and several rounds of lapping to get the final result that I was happy with. The bevels where corrected/cut on all areas where needed.
CROWN: We corrected the length and shape. (Its nowhere as bad as the PPF, but still needs some work)
BRACELET: The backside was smoothed out for comfort, and the bevels where refinished. The lack of gap between the fist link and case was corrected.
DIAL: We got a hold of every current possible dial there is, to do a comparison. 3KF is the worst, and where never considered, BUFF has a horrible overdone sunburst effect, and looked very cheap. They did put in some work on the markers, but they are to rounded. PPF v4 is imo the best by far, but it needs work on the makers, to even out the square look. I’m well aware there is variations in gen, but only to a certain level. We had 2 different gen unboxed dials to compare with. My recommendation for a rep dial is PPF, with the hour makers reshaped and a white gold treatment. In the end we of course went with the gen dial. FUN FACT, the 3kf movement is not gen spec, so the dial feet had to be cut to accommodate the gen dial.
HANDS: Again, we had all the current hands available, and the choice was easy. BUFF by far was the best, both in quality and by having the correct dimensions. We still did a refinish on the hands, to get rid of the rough edges. And the hands got a white gold treatment/plating to match the hour makers on the gen dial. The hands where then relumed to match the gen dial. (That took us 3 tries). We ended up with a result, where gen hands wouldn’t make sense.
DATEWHEEL: Stock 3KF is a joke and went straight in the trash. We were originally going with BUFF and got 3 of them. 2 of them where so bad quality that they were unusable, and the last one was no price either. The print quality is just horrible, it’s not white it’s a weird gray color, a lot of the numbers are misaligned, and the result would never have been satisfactory. We got a couple of the Keylog date wheels, and the print quality is really good, however the font is slightly too small/thin and the 11 is looking kind of strange. This is nitpicking, I know, but with all the work being put into this build, I couldn’t live with the result, so we ended up buying a gen blistered date wheel.
MOVEMENT: The movement had a service, and just for fun, we beveled the different parts, to make it a bit prettier.
This was a very time consuming and LONG build, but I’m extremely happy with the result, and I think we achieved something truly unique with this build. All I know is, I absolutely love it.
Thanks for reading, and no, its not for sale
Gen left Keylog right
Final result:
I’ve been refining my collection over the last year, and I wanted to do something special with the few reps I have left.
I absolutely love the 5711 and I was on the list before they got discontinued. Paying retail for one, no problem, paying around 200.000 for one, not going to happen.
With that in mind, I wanted to do a build that I knew I would enjoy wearing, without any compromises.
I’ve had the PF/PPF hybrid, and it just didn’t do it for me. The dimension of the bezel was wrong (Although the best stock option at the moment) and the overall quality and craftmanship of the watch just didn’t satisfy me.
We did a build based on the current 3KF, mainly because the case/bezel dimensions are the best base to achieve a gen looking result. Secondly, I wanted a clone movement. This was a VERY time consuming and tough build, because we basically had to reshape every single surface of the case/bezel, and the biggest challenge was no doubt to get the bezel dimension 100 % correct.
Here is the build breakdown:
CASE/BEZEL: As stated above, this was the most important for me to get right. The PF bezel is not quite there, and the PPF bezel is to fat. The current 3KF is the only option imo if you want to achieve a gen look. The entire bezel was reshaped, and several rounds of lapping to get the final result that I was happy with. The bevels where corrected/cut on all areas where needed.
CROWN: We corrected the length and shape. (Its nowhere as bad as the PPF, but still needs some work)
BRACELET: The backside was smoothed out for comfort, and the bevels where refinished. The lack of gap between the fist link and case was corrected.
DIAL: We got a hold of every current possible dial there is, to do a comparison. 3KF is the worst, and where never considered, BUFF has a horrible overdone sunburst effect, and looked very cheap. They did put in some work on the markers, but they are to rounded. PPF v4 is imo the best by far, but it needs work on the makers, to even out the square look. I’m well aware there is variations in gen, but only to a certain level. We had 2 different gen unboxed dials to compare with. My recommendation for a rep dial is PPF, with the hour makers reshaped and a white gold treatment. In the end we of course went with the gen dial. FUN FACT, the 3kf movement is not gen spec, so the dial feet had to be cut to accommodate the gen dial.
HANDS: Again, we had all the current hands available, and the choice was easy. BUFF by far was the best, both in quality and by having the correct dimensions. We still did a refinish on the hands, to get rid of the rough edges. And the hands got a white gold treatment/plating to match the hour makers on the gen dial. The hands where then relumed to match the gen dial. (That took us 3 tries). We ended up with a result, where gen hands wouldn’t make sense.
DATEWHEEL: Stock 3KF is a joke and went straight in the trash. We were originally going with BUFF and got 3 of them. 2 of them where so bad quality that they were unusable, and the last one was no price either. The print quality is just horrible, it’s not white it’s a weird gray color, a lot of the numbers are misaligned, and the result would never have been satisfactory. We got a couple of the Keylog date wheels, and the print quality is really good, however the font is slightly too small/thin and the 11 is looking kind of strange. This is nitpicking, I know, but with all the work being put into this build, I couldn’t live with the result, so we ended up buying a gen blistered date wheel.
MOVEMENT: The movement had a service, and just for fun, we beveled the different parts, to make it a bit prettier.
This was a very time consuming and LONG build, but I’m extremely happy with the result, and I think we achieved something truly unique with this build. All I know is, I absolutely love it.
Thanks for reading, and no, its not for sale
Gen left Keylog right
Final result:
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