EBAY / Ali express case set review

[Hec]

The tube is pressed in, maybe a tool will work, but in this case, as it is smooth on the inside, it could be a square screwdriver (I didn't try it). Heat didn’t work

I took it out by putting a file inside from the inside, hitting the file gently with the case and it came out without breaking, but it wasn't easy.

Now I have to widen the hole which is another challenge because the hole is not very centred and if you open it too much you can ruin the case.

 

[Slugger]

any tips on how to determine if the tube is screwed or press-in?

A clue that it is screw in is the tube will show some sort of engineering (like scalloping, a geometric shape, etc) inside the tube to afford purchase for a tool. This may be at the very innermost side of the tube but it will be there.

 

[Slugger]

Now I have to widen the hole which is another challenge because the hole is not very centred and if you open it too much you can ruin the case.

I use bits that are just an hair larger than the existing hole and then incrementally larger bits until I get what I want. This way, I am removing only a little steel at a time.

Also, make sure you are using a sharp bit that is rated for stainless steel and plenty of lubricant (WD-40, for example). Done this way, you shouldn’t have much drifting.

If you want to move the center of the hole, a vise and drill press would be your best bet to getting it exactly where you want.

 

[Hec]

In case anyone is interested, although the seller did not confirm the size of the crown. It looks like a big crown, and we could save us the headache of drilling the tube area.

Seems big crown but not sure, interesting for 6538, Tudor…

Acabo de encontrar este increíble artículo en AliExpress. ¡Échale un vistazo! 31,36€ 38％ dto. | BURRYJAZZ-caja de reloj estéril, cristal de zafiro abombado, color plata, negro, oro rosa, 39mm, compatible con NH35, NH36, NH34, ETA2824, PT5000, movimiento

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EQ15kN3

 

[369mafia]

In case anyone is interested, although the seller did not confirm the size of the crown. It looks like a big crown, and we could save us the headache of drilling the tube area.

Seems big crown but not sure, interesting for 6538, Tudor…

Acabo de encontrar este increíble artículo en AliExpress. ¡Échale un vistazo! 31,36€ 38％ dto. | BURRYJAZZ-caja de reloj estéril, cristal de zafiro abombado, color plata, negro, oro rosa, 39mm, compatible con NH35, NH36, NH34, ETA2824, PT5000, movimiento

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EQ15kN3

interesting. it looks like it may be slightly bigger but also it could be the style and pattern of knurling on the crown.
someone needs to buy and confirm!

 

[Hec]

interesting. it looks like it may be slightly bigger but also it could be the style and pattern of knurling on the crown.
someone needs to buy and confirm!

The seller told me that he is not sure of the size and that he cannot give me any measurements (typical on AliExpress).

Anyway I'm going to try to drill the case that you , @DeLoMan and me bought, what I won't do is touch the holes of the lugs because the margin of error there is 0

 

[369mafia]

The seller told me that he is not sure of the size and that he cannot give me any measurements (typical on AliExpress).

Anyway I'm going to try to drill the case that you , @DeLoMan and me bought, what I won't do is touch the holes of the lugs because the margin of error there is 0

good luck. look fwd to seeing your progress!!

 

[Hec]

Hello everyone,
I have aged the bezel following the advice of @DeLoMan using a torch, although it has not been all homogeneous.

Now comes the hard part, I want the Ali case and an 8mm crown, I have a raffles one on the way, is the athaya tube+crown worth it? In the athaya website they explain that if we are going to use an automatic movement we need a stem adapter from 0.90 to 1.20
This adapter would not be needed in the raffles?

And finally, I have the feeling-intuition that part of the tube will not fit, the original tube of this box was smooth, creating the shape of the tube I do not know if it will be enough with the tap.
Let's see if someone like the master @tripdog or someone else can shed some light, it would be good for my mental "ruckus".

Thanks

 

[Dizzy]

The Athaya crown and tube is much higher quality. It’s very well made. You will need the M4x0.35 tap and you need the stem adapter. I don’t know what stem the raffles crown takes But I would assume it’s the normal 0.90

i just looked at the raffles crown and it’s a normal cheap crown for sure. The athaya tube for the 8mm crown is close to gen size and it’s huge And feels like Gen. Athaya crown is 100% worth The upgrade if you are able to do the work and tap the case to install it. But if the raffles 8mm crown tube threads into the Ali case, then that’s an easy and cool upgrade.

 

[Aguszzz]

About crystal, I have removed and put a Sternkreuz XS 305.451

How was it? Needed to glue or press fitting was enough? Thanks

 

[Hec]

How was it? Needed to glue or press fitting was enough? Thanks

Hello,
press is enough, fits really good

 

[Hec]

@DeLoMan any progress with the AliX case?

I've drilled a little today the hole of the tube, the only thing I haven't gone beyond the 3.2 bit because I do it with a dremel and I think it's not ideal because you can feel a vibration that doesn't inspire confidence.

I'll have to use a drill, I have the m4 x 0.35 mm tap on the way.

 

[Hec]

3,5 tube hole is done! It is not easy. The material is very very hard, impossible to do it with a dremel at least for me, use of cutting oil is a must (and a lot of patience). First of all 3 mm hole… 3.2 mm.. and finally 3.5

Now the B part is missing, using the 4 x 0,35 tap, I'm following a tutorial I found, pity I don't have the tap yet (Chinese year has delayed me a lot the delivery and I couldn't find one in my area).

Thanks to master @Karbon74 for his advices and friendliness

 

[Hec]

Slight aging and faded the glossy appearance od a new no hash bezel.

Another element completed.

Back to the subject of this case.

I see you put a Rolex crown, did you change the tube? I tried to order one out of curiosity to try it on this case and the original tube and it did not fit, could you tell me what crown it is to buy it in case I decide one day to go for a 6536. (EDIT:I remember that you use raffles crown)!!

Now that I'm immersed in the project, I like more and more your dial...do you use pigments, water and acrylic painting?
I hope someday a tutorial,that effect on markers and dial is fucking beautiful!

 

[Hec]

Athaya tube and crown installed, not easy, the material is very hard.

Now I still have to do

1. the part of aging the dial (a thousand doubts about how to do it), I'm torn between trying to create patina or using makeup, I even investigated ways to create patina with chemicals

2. Decide for the bezel, none of them convince me about the quality and the pip I received has not convinced me either...


Otherwise, I'm happy with this project that I've been obsessing about.

 

[bcapa40]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but I thought the gen 5510/5508/6536/6538 had a octagon retaining spring bezel assembly as well as the GMT 6542 which these rep factories seem to love for cost cutting in manufacturing. Look up any used 5508/5510/6538 or 6542 GMT bezel on eBay or anywhere else and they all have the octagonal wire inside the center grove in the bezel. Of course we all know the 5512 / 5513 has the pressed crystal retaining ring, friction washer and bezel that snapped over it.

I was a bit peed off to see the previous stubby crown guard 5512 / 5513 case replaced for te current one piece spring wire bezel on the current JFK 5512 / 5513 because even though those stubby crown guards were short as fuke on the previos case, they could be worked with and the case had genuine bezel construction unlike the case that replaced it with which has the wire bezel. In one way they were trying to address the stubby crown guards but screwed it up by going cheap and easy on the non gen like bezel.

And lets be honest. Paying as much as a grand for one of the higer end Vietnam cases, and having to do more shapping because it's still off, is a real smack in the cajones. I 've never payed over $500 for a case that isn't accurate out of the box let alone a thousand and never will. I am mostly into vintage Rolex and I truly get the argument that rep makers are less intersted in more accurate vintage Rolex and more focused on making the near perfect ceramic 126610 Sub but I wish someone with machining capabilities would step it up to the OCD level of TC, who's legendary drive was to make the perfect 16610 replica he close as he could.

 

[trash3939]

 

[369mafia]

Athaya tube and crown installed, not easy, the material is very hard.

Now I still have to do

1. the part of aging the dial (a thousand doubts about how to do it), I'm torn between trying to create patina or using makeup, I even investigated ways to create patina with chemicals

2. Decide for the bezel, none of them convince me about the quality and the pip I received has not convinced me either...


Otherwise, I'm happy with this project that I've been obsessing about.

great job getting the 8mm crown on there...looks great

 

[trash3939]

 

[trash3939]

I could not find a good bezel for 6202 turn o graph bezel with dots all around.

The hands etc. are not accurate.