- 10/6/14
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I feel like I have to write this. I don’t know if it is just me but this hobby has been such a relief for me from stress. There is not much things that can compare to sourcing parts for a watch, building it, completing it. Then wearing it on your wrist.
It started with a mission to make the perfect 16610. I owned one when I hit 30. My dad had always had one since I could remember, a sub that is, and he wasn’t going to pass it on. I knew the man. So when I turned 30, I told my wife, I am getting a Stainless Submariner. One I wanted since as far back as I could remember.
So I drove to Zimmer brothers. I live in Orange county NY and that is the only authorize Rolex dealer around.
I walked in, and the salesmen walks up to me and asked how he could help me. I said I’m here to buy a Rolex submariner. My smile wasn’t there for long. He told me that he had a bunch on order and was waiting to get them. He said that he had a vintage one that he could sale me. He said that it was worked on and refurbish by the Rolex watch maker on staff.
He showed me the watch and I smiled again. It was $1000 cheaper so I said what the heck. It actually had a better warranty than a new one. Back then It was a year warranty and they were offering me a two year warranty. So I walked out with it.
A day later I saw that the time was off by 10 mins. I adjusted the time and payed no mind to it. A few days later I saw that I was 1/2 off. I adjusted the time again and started wondering. I called my dad who told me that if the watch wasn’t alway in motion it would lose time. So in my head that means leave it on all the time. So that was when I started to wear my watch to bed.
A few days later it was off again. I called Zimmer brothers. They had me come in. I left them the watch.
A few days later they said they adjusted the watch and it should be fine.
I went to work and later on that night I saw that my seconds hand was flipping around in the watch. Well that was it for me.
Next morning I drove to the watch store and walked in and told them for the price of the watch this shouldn’t be happening. The salesman apologized over and over and said the magic words, “We just got our shipment in of the new watch!†He pulled out three brand new subs. He said that there was a waiting list and I told him bull crap. I am walking out with one of those. And I did. I returned the messed up on and got my first brand new Rolex Submariner.
I was so proud. It was a watch I always wanted but could never afford. I had plenty of fakes. First one was in china town. I was a 21 and saw it and thought this is the best but then were I worked someone had one and it looked nothing like a real one.
So 9/11 happen. I forgot to mention, I was a NYPD detective. God saved me that day. I was off. I was home when the plans hit. I jumped in my Jeep and flew down to the city as fast as I could. The towers were down by the time I got to my Precinct. My wife, who was a NYC teacher and 9 months pregnant called me and said that they were staying until all the kids were accounted for.
When I arrive to work I get yelled at because I wasn’t authorized to come in on my day off. I looked at the Sgt. who was an ass and told him I'm going down to the WTC. 6 of us went down there. There was nothing we could do. We were really just there to absorb what had happen. We tried to do the bucket brigade. We would pass these home depot buckets to each other and then pass them down full of rocks and stuff. We did that for hours.
Well in all this confusion I look at my watch and I see chips in the crystal by the 2 pm area. I try to clean it and it wouldn’t come out. So from there I call, and it wasn’t easy to call, the place I got the watch Zimmerbrothers. I told them that I am down at the WTC and I cracked my crystal. They told me to bring it to them they would take care of it. So I worked that day until 4 PM the next day because the Chief made us start doing 12 hour tours from 4pm to 4 am and the next group 4 am to 4 PM. So I got off at 4 PM drove up there and dropped the watch off. I looked like crap. I had white powder all over my cloths face hair, I couldn’t wait to take a shower. But the place would close at 6 so I flew up there. They were all asking me 1000 question about what I saw, I was exhausted. I just wanted to get home. I gave them the watch. They told me that they would take care of it and it would be like new. Well a week later I got a call to come pick it up. It was like new. But it cost me over $300 to get a new crystal installed back in 2001.
So years go by and two other detectives want two tone subs. They wanted the blue face. I wanted the black face 16613. First I got ripped of on eBay but that is a whole story in itself. I won my money back. So now I go to Zimmerbrothers and tell the salesman that I want three 16613. He is excited. I ask how much of a discount could he give us. He tells me that Rolex USA doesn’t discount and that is how it stays limited. I looked at him and told him three 16613’s deal is going to walk out the door and that I know that someone would do it. He said he couldn’t. So My buddy Will who has a bunch of Rolex’s told me of his guy. Also authorized Rolex in PA. He said that if I were to get all three guys to come with cash, not credit cards that he would give me my black face 16613 for $4800 and the other guys blue ones for $5300. Again this was 2003 now. So all three of us drive down to PA and I now traded in my 16610 and gave him a little of cash, and walked out with a beautiful 16613. I drive home and to work. First thing I hear is from another detective, “That shits fake!†I tell him the story and the other detectives, one who worked mindset and one who worked burglaries backed my story.
A few weeks go by and I am looking at the watch and said to myself I should have never sold my 16610. Since then I wanted it back. I worked until June of 2012 when I retired from the NYPD. I have since wanted my 16610 back. Then someone told me about RWI. I went on RWI and heard about TC. I brought a TC 16610. I felt like I had my watch back. My 16613 stayed in my winder.
Then I saw the LV come on TC page. I jumped on that. My GOD was I in love. So I am now retired, I don’t give a f&*( So I join RWI, REPGEEK, RWG. I have been a happy camper. I gave my 1st TC to my brother in law. I swear to make my 16610. I sourced every part. I felt every thing. The 3135 and the crystal. The bezel, the bracelet. Everything but the case. I can’t find a case for the life of me. If I do find one its about the price of a watch. So I just finished my watch. Every part real but the case. Gaskets, pushpins, everything. This is my lifetime watch.
In the process I was introduced to Yuki. First I was very doubtful. Then Rudy40 told me how much of a clone a yuki was. It really is a one on one clone. I went nut. I brought one right away. That is where my TC 16610LV got transformed to the watch I go to almost everyday.
That watch his a yuki/rolex hybrid. The watch maker changed what is the down fall for the yuki, which is the hand pinions, the winding gears, and the date changing gears. I went nuts and put a full auto magic winding bridge with all gears and also the winding bridge. That watch runs perfect. Put a gen date wheel gen LV hands, Gen crown and tube and Crystal, TC case. Gen bezel assembly, I just need the insert.
I couldn’t stop there. NO. The day I go pick up my watch from my watch maker I see his GMT. I also love GMT. I have 4 clones of them. Different ones. Well he had a 116710. He said he can build the yuki movement to a 3185. I was mindblown. So I told him I wanted it. He said to find the parts.
It took me 3 months to fine the parts. I found the ceramic bezel and full assembly along with the dial. Then you have to find the right hands. Here is the catch. They made this watch with green and blue loom. So watch out when your sourcing your parts that they match. So I got the Noob Ceramic GMT II that the watch maker wanted me to get. So off to the watch maker.
I got back a breath taking GMT II, It is a bit of a pain in the ass adjusting the date if you let it die so always leave it in a winder. It works and pretty much is a 3185. So you have to go hour by hour clicking away 24 times to flip a day. No quickset. Just like Gen. So once you get it right put it on and wear it all the time or put it in a winder. But really no complaints. Watch is beautiful and as gen as you can get it. Unless I can find a gen band and case.
Well hope you guys enjoyed my stories. I have tons of them. I do own a lot of high end reps and some people question if the money is worth it since they are not real. I will answer this. I have great stories for each of my builds. I have made friends here and a great friend who is my watchmaker. All that, I would never have made walking in a store and saying I will take that one. Every time I put on one of my watches I will be reminded of what I did and how it was made. I wouldn’t give those stories up for the world.
It started with a mission to make the perfect 16610. I owned one when I hit 30. My dad had always had one since I could remember, a sub that is, and he wasn’t going to pass it on. I knew the man. So when I turned 30, I told my wife, I am getting a Stainless Submariner. One I wanted since as far back as I could remember.
So I drove to Zimmer brothers. I live in Orange county NY and that is the only authorize Rolex dealer around.
I walked in, and the salesmen walks up to me and asked how he could help me. I said I’m here to buy a Rolex submariner. My smile wasn’t there for long. He told me that he had a bunch on order and was waiting to get them. He said that he had a vintage one that he could sale me. He said that it was worked on and refurbish by the Rolex watch maker on staff.
He showed me the watch and I smiled again. It was $1000 cheaper so I said what the heck. It actually had a better warranty than a new one. Back then It was a year warranty and they were offering me a two year warranty. So I walked out with it.
A day later I saw that the time was off by 10 mins. I adjusted the time and payed no mind to it. A few days later I saw that I was 1/2 off. I adjusted the time again and started wondering. I called my dad who told me that if the watch wasn’t alway in motion it would lose time. So in my head that means leave it on all the time. So that was when I started to wear my watch to bed.
A few days later it was off again. I called Zimmer brothers. They had me come in. I left them the watch.
A few days later they said they adjusted the watch and it should be fine.
I went to work and later on that night I saw that my seconds hand was flipping around in the watch. Well that was it for me.
Next morning I drove to the watch store and walked in and told them for the price of the watch this shouldn’t be happening. The salesman apologized over and over and said the magic words, “We just got our shipment in of the new watch!†He pulled out three brand new subs. He said that there was a waiting list and I told him bull crap. I am walking out with one of those. And I did. I returned the messed up on and got my first brand new Rolex Submariner.
I was so proud. It was a watch I always wanted but could never afford. I had plenty of fakes. First one was in china town. I was a 21 and saw it and thought this is the best but then were I worked someone had one and it looked nothing like a real one.
So 9/11 happen. I forgot to mention, I was a NYPD detective. God saved me that day. I was off. I was home when the plans hit. I jumped in my Jeep and flew down to the city as fast as I could. The towers were down by the time I got to my Precinct. My wife, who was a NYC teacher and 9 months pregnant called me and said that they were staying until all the kids were accounted for.
When I arrive to work I get yelled at because I wasn’t authorized to come in on my day off. I looked at the Sgt. who was an ass and told him I'm going down to the WTC. 6 of us went down there. There was nothing we could do. We were really just there to absorb what had happen. We tried to do the bucket brigade. We would pass these home depot buckets to each other and then pass them down full of rocks and stuff. We did that for hours.
Well in all this confusion I look at my watch and I see chips in the crystal by the 2 pm area. I try to clean it and it wouldn’t come out. So from there I call, and it wasn’t easy to call, the place I got the watch Zimmerbrothers. I told them that I am down at the WTC and I cracked my crystal. They told me to bring it to them they would take care of it. So I worked that day until 4 PM the next day because the Chief made us start doing 12 hour tours from 4pm to 4 am and the next group 4 am to 4 PM. So I got off at 4 PM drove up there and dropped the watch off. I looked like crap. I had white powder all over my cloths face hair, I couldn’t wait to take a shower. But the place would close at 6 so I flew up there. They were all asking me 1000 question about what I saw, I was exhausted. I just wanted to get home. I gave them the watch. They told me that they would take care of it and it would be like new. Well a week later I got a call to come pick it up. It was like new. But it cost me over $300 to get a new crystal installed back in 2001.
So years go by and two other detectives want two tone subs. They wanted the blue face. I wanted the black face 16613. First I got ripped of on eBay but that is a whole story in itself. I won my money back. So now I go to Zimmerbrothers and tell the salesman that I want three 16613. He is excited. I ask how much of a discount could he give us. He tells me that Rolex USA doesn’t discount and that is how it stays limited. I looked at him and told him three 16613’s deal is going to walk out the door and that I know that someone would do it. He said he couldn’t. So My buddy Will who has a bunch of Rolex’s told me of his guy. Also authorized Rolex in PA. He said that if I were to get all three guys to come with cash, not credit cards that he would give me my black face 16613 for $4800 and the other guys blue ones for $5300. Again this was 2003 now. So all three of us drive down to PA and I now traded in my 16610 and gave him a little of cash, and walked out with a beautiful 16613. I drive home and to work. First thing I hear is from another detective, “That shits fake!†I tell him the story and the other detectives, one who worked mindset and one who worked burglaries backed my story.
A few weeks go by and I am looking at the watch and said to myself I should have never sold my 16610. Since then I wanted it back. I worked until June of 2012 when I retired from the NYPD. I have since wanted my 16610 back. Then someone told me about RWI. I went on RWI and heard about TC. I brought a TC 16610. I felt like I had my watch back. My 16613 stayed in my winder.
Then I saw the LV come on TC page. I jumped on that. My GOD was I in love. So I am now retired, I don’t give a f&*( So I join RWI, REPGEEK, RWG. I have been a happy camper. I gave my 1st TC to my brother in law. I swear to make my 16610. I sourced every part. I felt every thing. The 3135 and the crystal. The bezel, the bracelet. Everything but the case. I can’t find a case for the life of me. If I do find one its about the price of a watch. So I just finished my watch. Every part real but the case. Gaskets, pushpins, everything. This is my lifetime watch.
In the process I was introduced to Yuki. First I was very doubtful. Then Rudy40 told me how much of a clone a yuki was. It really is a one on one clone. I went nut. I brought one right away. That is where my TC 16610LV got transformed to the watch I go to almost everyday.
That watch his a yuki/rolex hybrid. The watch maker changed what is the down fall for the yuki, which is the hand pinions, the winding gears, and the date changing gears. I went nuts and put a full auto magic winding bridge with all gears and also the winding bridge. That watch runs perfect. Put a gen date wheel gen LV hands, Gen crown and tube and Crystal, TC case. Gen bezel assembly, I just need the insert.
I couldn’t stop there. NO. The day I go pick up my watch from my watch maker I see his GMT. I also love GMT. I have 4 clones of them. Different ones. Well he had a 116710. He said he can build the yuki movement to a 3185. I was mindblown. So I told him I wanted it. He said to find the parts.
It took me 3 months to fine the parts. I found the ceramic bezel and full assembly along with the dial. Then you have to find the right hands. Here is the catch. They made this watch with green and blue loom. So watch out when your sourcing your parts that they match. So I got the Noob Ceramic GMT II that the watch maker wanted me to get. So off to the watch maker.
I got back a breath taking GMT II, It is a bit of a pain in the ass adjusting the date if you let it die so always leave it in a winder. It works and pretty much is a 3185. So you have to go hour by hour clicking away 24 times to flip a day. No quickset. Just like Gen. So once you get it right put it on and wear it all the time or put it in a winder. But really no complaints. Watch is beautiful and as gen as you can get it. Unless I can find a gen band and case.
Well hope you guys enjoyed my stories. I have tons of them. I do own a lot of high end reps and some people question if the money is worth it since they are not real. I will answer this. I have great stories for each of my builds. I have made friends here and a great friend who is my watchmaker. All that, I would never have made walking in a store and saying I will take that one. Every time I put on one of my watches I will be reminded of what I did and how it was made. I wouldn’t give those stories up for the world.
