More info on BR rep movements

[watchbuff]

After some research and alot of cursing, I cracked the code for which movements go in the BR 01-92 cases.
There are 2 size cases out there, one thicker than the other. The thickest case gets the DG 2813 automatic chinese movements. Borel hand Ofrei have them for about $17.00 per.

The thinner (more correct)cases which is all I come across lately us a DG 4813 movement.
So the 2813 is 5.54 mm in height compared to the 4813 which is 4.60mm in height. Same hand sizes and stems (noted by the series # 13)

I just pulled the trigger from a dealer ordering just a movement for much much more than the $26.00 the DG4813 goes for.

Lesson learned but none the less not terrible. I paid nearly 3 x what the movemetn actually costs. dealers gotta eat too and I am not mad. In fact I would buy from this dealer first based on his quality.

The Only drawack is the 4813 movements are only in the Ofrei catolog, and oh how we love that crazt man! :shock:
Borel only lists a DG 2813 but i will inquire since I have an account with them.
My other option I thought of today in my moment of clarity was to buy the cheapie $69.00 +shipping, blue 46mm 01-92 from Ufanta on Ioffer and I would get the 4813 movemtnas well as a spare dial and hands with a case crown stem and band. That would have been the same cost as just the movement I got for my orange. I would have some more "hobby" monety from selling the cases and stuff people need and get my "favor" from Everest and hava blue lumed dial and hands I could swap when i got tired of looking at orange.

Live and learn

Here is a link to the Ofrei page on the movements Note the heights.

http://www.ofrei.com/page1119.html

Hope my experience of trial and error and research helps someone.

Now I'll be doing a PVD next....does it ever end?

 

[earlgrey-erfurt]

Thanks for doing OUR trial and error

you help us not to spend money on nonworking movements for our BRreps

but this is one pro in this communities like rwi that one is the first to go a new way and find the right path.

So hands up for the pathfinder!!!

Thanks for sharing your expeariance and the way of solving problems

Cheers from Germany

Helmut

 

[watchbuff]

My pleasure to contribute. Anything to closer to the 1:1 holy grail.
I called Borel and they do not stock the DG 4813. Looks like the only source known to me so far is Ofrei (God help us)
My movement should be in any day now and I will post pics when able.

 

[chuddism]

OK Watchbuff,

you seem to be the resident B&R expert, so ill ask it, i would like to build the ultimate B&R Phantom, where is the best place to buy this phantom to start modding, or am i better off just assembling one from scratch?
I have no modding skills but i would like to have a B&R with the lugs in the back, glowing brightly at night and understated and stealth during the day. It just fits my alternate superhero personality.
Thanks

 

[robc_uk]

It just fits my alternate superhero personality.

And your alternative superhero personality is..............?

Why not find out for yourself: http://www.thesuperheroquiz.com/

Rob

 

[watchbuff]

posted a thread but it got lost on how to mod the casebacks. Ill make it quick. get a phantom watch from dealer and get the lume done by Kent at Everest. Ask for extra lugs (hex head ones ) for cutting and placing (pressing) them in the drilled holes you'll make on a drill press.

See here:

 

[watchbuff]

Here it is all done on my last case:

 

[chuddism]

It just fits my alternate superhero personality.

And your alternative superhero personality is..............?

HULK!!!

 

[chuddism]

Thanks Watchbuff, any recommended dealer to get this from?

 

[watchbuff]

Silix or PM me for another source.

 

[ekwatch]

Do you know if there are ETA's that will fit the case for the 4813?

 

[watchbuff]

not to my knowledge. A 2892 will fit but the stem release dows nor align properly in the rep case . For the cheap price of the 4813 movements its just easier to dispose them and replace with a new one. I still have to try a 2892 eta test fit to see for myself but a member here has already made that discovery.

 

[ekwatch]

Thanks for the info. A friend of mine just got a stainless B&R with the 4813. It's one of his favorite watches and he was wondering if he could put an ETA in it, but you're right, with the price he could just keep a spare or two around.

 

[LegendofSpeed]

The 4813 is 4.6mm thick and the 2892 is 3.6mm thick... maybe a spacer on the top or bottom will alleviate the problem? hopefully it's between the screw and the movement or else you will have a recessed date issue....

@watchbuff - can kent do the stealth lume?

 

[watchbuff]

The spacer will definately create a recessed date issue. I like the BR's with no date plain dial. The issue with the 2892 ETA is the rep cases stem release hole is not in the right spot to accomodate the ETA. I got a 4813 coming and will post more as it happens

 

[watchbuff]

Here is another seller I used to get parts, just as an example of teh stealth. I would ask Silix first on this one.

http://www.ioffer.com/i/BR034-Instrument-03-92-PVD-Black-Grey-42mm-Asia-4813--35166301

 

[earlgrey-erfurt]

Here it is all done on my last case:

you are great!

but why should the eta gen not work the do not unscrew screw looks to be at the same place on your case as on gen case below

cheers helmut

my case is different the screw sits about one mm more on the left side

 

[watchbuff]

It's off by 2 mm and that might as well be a mile in watchmaking tolerances.

 

[Tommy Tom]

I've spoken in a bit of detail about this issue with Vince (Watchbuff) but just to let everyone else know what I found.

I bought a 4813 from Cousins for about $24. It seemed to be the only mechanism available that was anywhere near the right size to replace the one in my PVD/Orange BR01-92 from Trevor.

The mechanism that has originally came with the watch and has subsequently failed is 3.6mm thick. The 4813 is 4.6mm thick. Unfortunately that extra 1mm does not allow the rotor to spin on my watch so it is of no use.

If there are really only two sizes of case then mine is the thinner version and from my experience the 4813 will not work. It is noticably thicker side by side than the one I have taken out. I think they are built specially for this thinner case - they look identical until they are side by side where you can see the 1mm thickness difference.

 

[Tommy Tom]

Just for reference here is a few images of the 3.6mm "Asian 2813-2 clone" in the Bell & Ross watches. It is exactly the same thickness as the ETA - 3.6mm, but it's definitely NOT a Seagull ST18





[img=http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1655/cimg5943me5.th.jpg]



I can also confirm that the Seagull ST18 will not fit in any of the B&R cases, precisely because they are a clone of the ETA 2892 - the stem release is in the wrong place.

Here is an image of the ST18. "1" shows where the release button is and "2" shows where it would need to be to work in a rep B&R case.



I guess this means that I'm going to have to now buy another watch and pray to god it's one that doesn't have this thin mechanism in it, because after more than 6 months looking for a replacement and coming up with nothing I think I should finally admit defeat....even the dealer that sold me the original watch can't get it for me.

Worth thinking about in hindsight....If you want to keep your reps for years you need to make sure that the mechanism is cheap and easily replaceable.