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The 34mm thread...the red-haired stepchild of the Oyster Perpetual family.
- Thread starter dpd3672
- Start date
soon in WTS section.
- 30/8/24
- 86
- 64
- 18
Man, these 34mm builds are straight-up sleepers in the watch game! Everyone out here slapping together Raffles cases, gen bezels, and some killer dials It’s like a vintage watch buffet. Slim, comfy, and dripping with old-school vibes, these little Oysters are low-key flexes for anyone who gets it. Props to everyone showing off their builds you’re making it real hard not to start my own 1500 case adventure!
Today, I tried building a 5500 air king out of a rafflesdial 34mm case and spare parts. Overall, it is possible but tricky.
Build specs
- Gen air king 5500 dial without dial feet
- Gen bezel (not sure which rolex/ tudor did this bezel come from)
- Rafflesdial 34mm sterile case
- Rafflesdial 19mm hollow middle link + taper bracelet
- Asian lowbeat 2824 movement
- ETA 2840 setting lever
- Mix of hands (clarks minute hand, rafflesdial normal hour hand, rafflesdial tall post seconds hand)
- High quality replica 5.3mm crown
- Clarks 25 12 plexi
Mods
- Increased the rehaut diameter so that the rehaut doesn't squish/ touch the lume plots. Mirror-polished the rehaut, then rebrushed it
- Modified the movement so that there is no phantom date postion
- Modified the hour and minute hands so that their tips are pointed like gen
- Modified the caseback so that the rotor can spin freely. The Asian lowbeat 2824 movement is slightly thicker than the typical eta/ Asian clone 2824-2
- Modified the caseback so that it looks closer to a rolex caseback. The rafflesdial 34mm cases have casebacks that are flat and look like tudor casebacks.
Overall, a lot of effort was needed for a supposedly simple build.
A case reshape would be nice, but that's overkill for a supposedly simple build. The rafflesdial 34mm sterile cases have lugs that remind me of the 14000 air king
Build specs
- Gen air king 5500 dial without dial feet
- Gen bezel (not sure which rolex/ tudor did this bezel come from)
- Rafflesdial 34mm sterile case
- Rafflesdial 19mm hollow middle link + taper bracelet
- Asian lowbeat 2824 movement
- ETA 2840 setting lever
- Mix of hands (clarks minute hand, rafflesdial normal hour hand, rafflesdial tall post seconds hand)
- High quality replica 5.3mm crown
- Clarks 25 12 plexi
Mods
- Increased the rehaut diameter so that the rehaut doesn't squish/ touch the lume plots. Mirror-polished the rehaut, then rebrushed it
- Modified the movement so that there is no phantom date postion
- Modified the hour and minute hands so that their tips are pointed like gen
- Modified the caseback so that the rotor can spin freely. The Asian lowbeat 2824 movement is slightly thicker than the typical eta/ Asian clone 2824-2
- Modified the caseback so that it looks closer to a rolex caseback. The rafflesdial 34mm cases have casebacks that are flat and look like tudor casebacks.
Overall, a lot of effort was needed for a supposedly simple build.
A case reshape would be nice, but that's overkill for a supposedly simple build. The rafflesdial 34mm sterile cases have lugs that remind me of the 14000 air king
Last edited:
Was trying to adjust the tube to get the crown closer to flush with the body and broke the tube in 2 pieces. By the grace of GOD I was able to easily fish out the broken piece and install a gen tube and Crown into the 34mm raffles case.
freebalkany
Active Member
- 24/8/21
- 301
- 319
- 63
Talking about 34mm Oysters, I saw this rep on eBay.
I would assume the case and bracelet are genuine, but nothing else.
Still a nice inspiration for a next build.
Do you think the dial is from Yuki?
ROLEX VINTAGE REF.5500 S/STEEL CASE AND BRACELET REFINISH EXPLORER DIAL SOLD N/R | eBay
EXPLORER PRECISION REFINISH DIAL NICELY DONE AND STEEL HANDS. ORIGINAL ROLEX CROWN.
www.ebay.com
I would assume the case and bracelet are genuine, but nothing else.
Still a nice inspiration for a next build.
Do you think the dial is from Yuki?
Looks great! Which movement did you use?Thanks for the inspiration. Just finished my Commando based on a gen 1500 case.
johnchpark
Active Member
How are the Raffles' 34mm crystals? And are there any better sapphire crystals that would fit the case?
(couldn't find info on the dimensions).
From my experience, Raffle's 36mm sapphire crystals are SOOO poor quality compared to Deep crystals. They are night/day difference.
I would expect the same from Raffles' 34mm case/crystal, but not sure which I should swap to, since Deep does not make crystals for 34mm
(couldn't find info on the dimensions).
From my experience, Raffle's 36mm sapphire crystals are SOOO poor quality compared to Deep crystals. They are night/day difference.
I would expect the same from Raffles' 34mm case/crystal, but not sure which I should swap to, since Deep does not make crystals for 34mm