• The finalists in the Mod OTY have been chosen, please go vote in the finals: https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/2024-moderator-of-the-year-final-poll.11004158/
  • It's our birthday and YOU get the gifts! Eight giveaways including six watches that you can enter for free! https://forum.replica-watch.info/forums/raffles-contests-and-giveaways.58/

  • Tired of adverts on RWI? - Subscribe by clicking HERE and PMing Trailboss for instructions and they will magically go away!

1655 Explorer II : Ugly duckling or King of cool ?

369mafia

Resident Explorer Expert
Patron
Certified
7/7/15
3,840
7,518
113
Canada
It's true 😂 I don't know who would leave a Rolex dial in a spares bin but yes. In fact, it's much more of a headache than making a gilt dial.
Dude !! You nailed the patina on the dial I just saw this dial for sale on chrono stop that someone is trying to sell as a refinishing project.. lol why bother at this point
its a tudor 9401 MN dial ...apparently or so it says in the description lol

 

aphmars13

Renowned Member
Supporter
Certified
4/10/22
935
1,640
93
South of France
Dude !! You nailed the patina on the dial I just saw this dial for sale on chrono stop that someone is trying to sell as a refinishing project.. lol why bother at this point
its a tudor 9401 MN dial ...apparently or so it says in the description lol

It's from a French-speaking place (HS Hors Service) that's out of order. I can send it to him.

 
  • Haha
Reactions: 369mafia

aphmars13

Renowned Member
Supporter
Certified
4/10/22
935
1,640
93
South of France


It was off to a good start and I wanted to innovate with my lume technique.
😭


What's more, I've lost my seconds and minutes hands - it's a total disaster.
I think I'm ready to start my dial all over again
 
Last edited:
  • Wow
  • Like
Reactions: Tuco71 and 369mafia

WatchN3RD

I supported. Doesn't make me an expert!
Gold Patron
24/7/18
599
709
93
Dang. If you put a clear coat over it before you lume, sometimes you can remove the lume (mistakes) without damaging the transfer. Guess how I came up with that idea...
 
  • Like
Reactions: 369mafia

aphmars13

Renowned Member
Supporter
Certified
4/10/22
935
1,640
93
South of France
I made an unfortunate mixture of glue, varnish, patina, acrylic paint and gouache to obtain the desired shade (why?😂) the texture was strange, while trying to scratch, I tore slightly the bottom I had put 2 coats of varnish before I lume. It was not enough. I'm keeping this one just in case. I'm going to make another one. I've lost 2 hands anyway......
 

369mafia

Resident Explorer Expert
Patron
Certified
7/7/15
3,840
7,518
113
Canada
Raffles just released a new 1655 dial

yellow lume
_20240814203547__93360.1723639364.1000.1200.jpg


white lume
_20240814203607__34658.1723639367.490.588.jpg

 
Last edited:

1016 lover

Renowned Member
4/10/22
539
952
93

369mafia

Resident Explorer Expert
Patron
Certified
7/7/15
3,840
7,518
113
Canada
Sadly, 29mm, not really in Line with the 1675 case, i am about to buy one dial to ruby, possible to reduce to 27.3mm you think?
There is no ideal option for this other than perhaps a Cartel 1655 that has a 28.5mm dial but you can finagle a 29mm dial or some random aliex case . Its odd that raffles offers a dial this size but no case. instead of making one to fit the gmt case.

He also increased his GMT dial offering as well.
 

TubeGuy

Known Member
2/2/24
138
89
28
So California
A cartel 1655 is the one that Trusty Time and a couple of others sells, right? I'd like one with an aged hands/dial, but the one that comes that way looks fakey fakey. I don't need to spend the money on reshaping the case etc etc, but if you guys have an idea on somebody that can age the dial and hands slightly send me a PM please.

I ended up buying a gen 1655 after all, and it's complete with box, documents, everything. The more I looked the more nebulous it was trying to not get screwed.

Special shout out to @369mafia for being on the cool-guy lists
 

369mafia

Resident Explorer Expert
Patron
Certified
7/7/15
3,840
7,518
113
Canada
A cartel 1655 is the one that Trusty Time and a couple of others sells, right? I'd like one with an aged hands/dial, but the one that comes that way looks fakey fakey. I don't need to spend the money on reshaping the case etc etc, but if you guys have an idea on somebody that can age the dial and hands slightly send me a PM please.

I ended up buying a gen 1655 after all, and it's complete with box, documents, everything. The more I looked the more nebulous it was trying to not get screwed.

Special shout out to @369mafia for being on the cool-guy lists

Glad to hear that you found one and pulled the trigger. look fwd to seeing pics , please share some wrist shots when you receive it . Happy to be of assistance to you
 
  • Like
Reactions: aphmars13

aphmars13

Renowned Member
Supporter
Certified
4/10/22
935
1,640
93
South of France
Sadly, 29mm, not really in Line with the 1675 case, i am about to buy one dial to ruby, possible to reduce to 27.3mm you think?
If I were you, I'd ask @manodeoro who can create a personalised dial for you. It'll probably cost you less than ruby and there's nothing wrong with the quality. If not, you can always try to do it yourself if you know a thing or two about decals - it's not that easy to get it right every step of the way. Some people will understand 😂
 

1016 lover

Renowned Member
4/10/22
539
952
93
If I were you, I'd ask @manodeoro who can create a personalised dial for you. It'll probably cost you less than ruby and there's nothing wrong with the quality. If not, you can always try to do it yourself if you know a thing or two about decals - it's not that easy to get it right every step of the way. Some people will understand 😂
I am not really a Big fan of decal dial, prefer pas printed ones, will go viet this Time

Raffle seem to be well proprtionned but i have some trouble with the amount of varnish they used, i have one spacedweller dial from a first batch test and its not varnish, night and day printed détails are stellar. Will give a try to his 1655 any way
 

Karbon74

Pika Factory
Patron
Certified
5/5/23
11,402
23,139
113
EU - Kalos Region
I am not really a Big fan of decal dial, prefer pas printed ones, will go viet this Time

Raffle seem to be well proprtionned but i have some trouble with the amount of varnish they used, i have one spacedweller dial from a first batch test and its not varnish, night and day printed détails are stellar. Will give a try to his 1655 any way

I am still uncertain about the case and mvt to use for such a build. Any recommendations ?
 

aphmars13

Renowned Member
Supporter
Certified
4/10/22
935
1,640
93
South of France
I am still uncertain about the case and mvt to use for such a build. Any recommendations ?
It seems to me that you like working with metal, so there's quite a bit of work involved, but it's feasible and pretty damn economical.I don't know how you can adapt to a smaller crown, though...
Je viens juste de trouver cet article incroyable sur AliExpress. Jetez-y un coup d'Å“il !
17,98€ | Lunette en acier argenté Gstuff, boîtier d'accessoires de mouvement, classique 39 Explorer mm, adapté pour NH34, NH35, NH36, 24 heures
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EwnFopR
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 369mafia

Karbon74

Pika Factory
Patron
Certified
5/5/23
11,402
23,139
113
EU - Kalos Region
It seems to me that you like working with metal, so there's quite a bit of work involved, but it's feasible and pretty damn economical.I don't know how you can adapt to a smaller crown, though...
Je viens juste de trouver cet article incroyable sur AliExpress. Jetez-y un coup d'Å“il !
17,98€ | Lunette en acier argenté Gstuff, boîtier d'accessoires de mouvement, classique 39 Explorer mm, adapté pour NH34, NH35, NH36, 24 heures
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EwnFopR
That’s the thing
nh mvt
I don’t know if the Raffles dial is compatible with the date window
 

aphmars13

Renowned Member
Supporter
Certified
4/10/22
935
1,640
93
South of France
After a few modifications to the case and a dial that took a lot of time. Built from the raffles case.




Unfortunately it didn't last very long as I messed up with the keyless work and after disassembling and reassembling it, when I was putting on the u-shaped click spring that holds the date wheel, it sat up. I can't even find the spare part, so I've recommended a new movement. I'm not that close with this watch any more.
 
Last edited:

Karbon74

Pika Factory
Patron
Certified
5/5/23
11,402
23,139
113
EU - Kalos Region
After a few modifications to the case and a dial that took a lot of time. Built from the raffles case.




Unfortunately it didn't last very long as I messed up with the keyless work and after disassembling and reassembling it, when I was putting on the u-shaped click spring that holds the date wheel, it sat up. I can't even find the spare part, so I've recommended a new movement. I'm not that close with this watch any more.
What bezel did you use?