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[Pompompurin's] How to build a Rolex GMT MASTER II 16710 properly

pompompurin

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Introduction
It has been a while since I started a thread to document my builds and franken process.

As far as I know, many of us have been pondering, hoping, yearning for a decent 16710 replica (the GMT MASTER II); historically, the replica factories gave us BP, Noob, and LF 16710. However, these releases are far from acceptable: their handstack is wrong, the crown height is wrong, and the bezel assembly is not gen-spec.

With consideration to my cost-benefit analysis, I subjectively realised that the best-value approach to building a 16710 is to buy a gen 16570 (Explorer II) and convert it into a GMT MASTER II.

Why start with a gen 16570 (Explorer II) base?
- The gen 16570 shares a lot of parts with the gen 16710: same mid-case, same crown, same hands (for the black dial Explorer II variant), same crystal, same bracelet, and the same 3185 / 3186 movement.
- Despite having the gen 16570 share a lot of commonalities with the gen 16710, the gen 16710 is priced twice as much as the 16570 in some markets. This makes the 16570 look like a bargain.
- When I first started this project (1 year ago), the cost of buying a gen 16570 (head only) is not far from the cost of building a superfranken 16710 that involves the use of a Noob case (with a re-positioned crown / stem / tube height) and a Yuki 3185.

Process
1. Find all the parts you need:
- A gen Rolex 16570 (I obtained it as head-only from an exchange. Back then, the cheapest gen 16570 -- head-only -- that I saw on ebay was $3200 USD). Preferably, obtain a 16570 that is a black dial variant (so that you don't have to buy silver hands. The white dial variant comes with black hands).
- Gen 16710 / 16570 silver hands (optional: only if you bought a white dial variant as it comes with black hands).
- Gen 16710 dial
- Gen insert
- Bezel assembly (gen 16710 or 16610 bezel assembly will work. In this case, I used a JF bezel assembly)

20180810-012448.jpg


2. Remove the 16570 bezel and crystal.

20180810-013524.jpg


3. Remove the 16570 hands.

20180810-013728.jpg


4. Open the caseback and remove the stem, loosen the movement screws, and remove the movement.

20180810-013935.jpg


5. Swap dial.

20180810-014431-1.jpg


6. Install hands.

20180810-020848.jpg


7. Install crystal and align the cyclops.

20180810-021354.jpg


8. Press the crystal retaining ring back on and proceed to install the washer, click spring, bezel ring, and insert.

20180810-022200.jpg


20180810-022440.jpg


9. Done!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D A 16710 that is as good as gen without having to pay hyped-up prices (the current market prices of the 16710 is way beyond its intrinsic value).
20180818-150821.jpg


Excuse the passport cover (a present from my friend after she saw my RWI profile pic)
IMG-20180917-WA0012.jpg


20180920-213105.jpg
 
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Rubberman

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Wow! Thanks for sharing.
i never thought of using a Gen for another build haha.
 

ginopino

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Great job, you did what I thought to do some months ago... but for the moment I can’t spend too much... this is the only way ti have a good GMT!
 

pompompurin

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Wow! Thanks for sharing.
i never thought of using a Gen for another build haha.

Pretty nice bud, great setup

Great job, you did what I thought to do some months ago... but for the moment I can’t spend too much... this is the only way ti have a good GMT!

Thank you guys.

It's the most realistic and straightforward way to build a 16710. Besides, one could convert the 16710 back into a 16570 and sell it as gen when needed.
 

switi

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will a 16610 bezel assembly fit in the 16570? hoaw about the rotation? since the 16610 rotates in one direction while the 16710 ratates both ways? how to do this? thanks. great mods BTW
 

KJ2020

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will a 16610 bezel assembly fit in the 16570? hoaw about the rotation? since the 16610 rotates in one direction while the 16710 ratates both ways? how to do this? thanks. great mods BTW

The 5-digit GMT and sub use the same bezel and insert size, so it should fit. The determining factor would be the retaining ring which both holds the crystal in place and locks the bezel assembly down.

You should check Rolex parts lists to be sure, I would think both the 16610 and 16710 retaining rings would be the same part. As far as the direction of rotation, the two models use a slightly different shape click spring. These are interchangeable and available cheaply, so no problem there. The Sub uses a larger crown too so you need to compare CG's as well.
 
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alligoat

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Nice build! Knowing how Rolex likes to save money and use the same parts for various models, I'm not surprised that the 16710 and 16570 have some parts in common.
 

Vvvlllooo

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How does the bezel function? Also, have you pressure tested it so it can be worn in the pool? This is a great build but I would hate to lose the functional aspect of the watch. Your answer is appreciated, thanks!
 

CarlosFFF

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Looks awesome. Do the 16570 and 16710 use the same midcase? More specifically, do the lugs & crown guards share the same shape?

Thanks for sharing the build.
 

pompompurin

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bezel parts for sub and gmt are the same, only the click spring is different: the gmt one can be rotate in both sides :)

That is correct! the 16710 and 16610 both share the same bezel assemble, except for the click spring. But that isn't a concern anyways because aftermarket 16710 click springs are cheap.

Nice build! Knowing how Rolex likes to save money and use the same parts for various models, I'm not surprised that the 16710 and 16570 have some parts in common.

Thanks! This is also exactly why i believe that the 16710 is currently overpriced in the second hand market.

How does the bezel function? Also, have you pressure tested it so it can be worn in the pool? This is a great build but I would hate to lose the functional aspect of the watch. Your answer is appreciated, thanks!

I don't have a pressure tester at home. The bezel assembly for the 16610 is identical to the 16710, except for the click spring. See ginopino's reply!


lol thanks. I hope you enjoyed the pics and the write-up.

Looks awesome. Do the 16570 and 16710 use the same midcase? More specifically, do the lugs & crown guards share the same shape?

Thanks for sharing the build.

from my observations (from handling both watches in person and viewing online pictures), yes, both watches share the same mid case IMO. This also explains why all of the 16710 and 16570 parts are cross-compatible and interchangeable with each other.
 
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ginopino

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Mate, now I have to front a renovation of my house... hope prices of Explorer will not go up quickly because I would like to do the same! :)
 

Vvvlllooo

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I don't have a pressure tester at home. The bezel assembly for the 16610 is identical to the 16710, except for the click spring. See ginopino's reply!

Thanks for answers mate, I guess my clarification to you is...when you do use the bezel action, does the rep parts make it feel cheaper or different from ger? With only the click spring, I would assume not. So in theory it feels like gen and it pretty much 98% gen. This is a very good way to build a 16710.
 

pompompurin

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Thanks for answers mate, I guess my clarification to you is...when you do use the bezel action, does the rep parts make it feel cheaper or different from ger? With only the click spring, I would assume not. So in theory it feels like gen and it pretty much 98% gen. This is a very good way to build a 16710.

it doesn't bother me. The quality of the rep JF bezel assembly feels more or less as good as gen. However, some say the JF bezel doesn't have precise clicks like gen. In my opinion, gen bezels get worn and sometimes their clicks aren't precise anyways.
 

Vvvlllooo

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it doesn't bother me. The quality of the rep JF bezel assembly feels more or less as good as gen. However, some say the JF bezel doesn't have precise clicks like gen. In my opinion, gen bezels get worn and sometimes their clicks aren't precise anyways.

Very good to hear...I may try this If i could find a cheap explorer 2. Kind of hard to go back to 5 digits if you have 6 digits for a long time, Where did you source your bezel?
 
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