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

My Franken / Modded ARF SD 43mm

MrBeasy

Put Some Respect On My Name
8/2/16
3,068
874
113
Sharing my improved Franken ARF SD 43mm. Just upgraded with bezel teeth mod.

I acquired this with a spare v2 bezel and sent it off to Backwoods John to heavily mill down the sharp bezel teeth - I asked him to make the teeth as flat as possible to get as close to gen. In understand that some of the the v2 batch had slightly less sharp teeth than v1 but this was just a batch variation and not an intentional improvement by the factories.

I just installed the bezel back from Jonj480 and am very happy with the look now.

IMO, ARF really outdid themselves with this watch in terms of OOTB quality and feel - together with the Franken parts added and the bezel teeth mod I think this is close as I care to get to gen (at least for now!)

Specs and upgrades:

- Gen new ETA movement (winds anticlockwise like new 3235 movement)
- Gen new datewheel (overlayed on ETA)
- Gen new crown
- Gen new Rolex SD 43mm crystal - rare (no magnification issues!)
- Gen new click springs under bezel
- Jonj480 bezel teeth mod

I will post some comparison pics with the original sharp bezel teeth later.

Let me know what you think - enjoy the pics.
9e27910e2335ec0f486fd1b08cbc7050.jpg
df6adbb8a9c18650752d0e7138d19c38.jpg
18aeca5246f4f3ed9dc9bc744cb1d44d.jpg
715fd7f47ecb6ea03490d23fd0f9b34d.jpg
dccda0cd740d3a6a1a48dead9800839f.jpg
42e4ae1bc0ab62b505a9af83eae48c7c.jpg
d5cc5278b7286c3ec6347705df0338f7.jpg
 

MrBeasy

Put Some Respect On My Name
8/2/16
3,068
874
113
I will fix that rehaut alignment one day, maybe in the next round of mods...
 

Silvester

You're Saying I Can Sell?
8/4/18
61
15
0
Very nice! I wild like to do the teeth-mod too but I’m to scared to fck up my watch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MrBeasy

sputim

Put Some Respect On My Name
Supporter
Patron
Certified
20/1/13
3,328
652
113
Amazing watch! Do you happen to know the crystal measurement. I have a gen xtal which I believe is for the sd43.
c6b3327dff8aaf77eb639609f89421e6.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

MrBeasy

Put Some Respect On My Name
8/2/16
3,068
874
113
Here is a measurement. Picture lens distorts it a bit but I believe it is just over 3cms. Also bear in mind that the ruler is just above the cyclops on my pic
32ea36b4e9732f2ce0b4d0c9881f3da8.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: turbogt

Drifter

Renowned Member
31/10/17
973
518
93
Looks magnificent mate. Well-done on a another franken...

I see that your based in AU. Did you have someone mod this locally?

Also where did you source the gen ETA ?

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: MrBeasy

botsyboy

Put Some Respect On My Name
Supporter
Certified
1/9/09
3,115
2,094
113
U.K.
Making me wish I still had it???? enjoy wearing her buddy! Looks great!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: MrBeasy

MrBeasy

Put Some Respect On My Name
8/2/16
3,068
874
113
Hey man - Pbwatch over at RG added all the gen parts. I sent the spare bezel to Jon in US (supporting vendor here - Backwoods) who milled the teeth at the same time he was doing work on my Daytona case.

I put the new bezel on myself (easy enough as crystal and gasket stays firm on the watch when bezel comes off - unlike some other Rolex reps)

I don't think there is anyone in our part of the world that does this type of modding for the public - hard enough to find rep friendly watchsmiths around here!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Drewsak

MrBeasy

Put Some Respect On My Name
8/2/16
3,068
874
113
It's worth doing - I feared screwing up my watch but figured I could always just source another bezel for not too much money if the mod went to hell!

But then again, might be worth waiting as I'm sure ARF will update the teeth in the next version...
 

FiliGelli

I'm Pretty Popular
Patron
Certified
11/2/17
2,929
1,329
113
EU
The question is:
Where did you find the xtal?



Inviato dal mio iPhone utilizzando Tapatalk
 

lan61t

Renowned Member
7/4/08
838
2
0
Can you please explain this " I asked him to make the teeth as flat as possible to get as close to gen" a bit more?
 

MrBeasy

Put Some Respect On My Name
8/2/16
3,068
874
113
Mobber - Jon milled / shaved down the pointy edges of the bezel teeth.

Rep bezel teeth comes relatively sharp/pointy out of the box - gen teeth are flatter, not pointy.
 

gekkehenkie

Renowned Member
21/7/14
888
205
43
Looks great thanks for sharing.

But in my opinion the indices @6&9 on the dial are still the biggest tell to spot without comparing it to a gen.
 

Tschacko

Active Member
Supporter
1/8/18
484
184
43
Wow, finally someone is sharing his SD43 mods! Great work!