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16713 Build

WatchSmith.US

I'm Pretty Popular
Certified
13/3/16
1,304
2,051
113
An amazing build and a brilliant example of classic KJ problem solving along the way! There's a lot to absorb and learn here, and I applaud your efforts and willingness to share! Bravo!!!
 

johnchpark

Active Member
1/12/22
321
293
63
South Korea
Excellent troubleshooting all around. Seems like no real good case option for 5 digit GMT's. BP's got too fat lugs. These german cases seem like too thin lugs, almost like a 5 digit sub
 

Chroad

Known Member
Supporter
7/4/23
114
44
28
Alabama
Also gen hands NOS. A note on using gen hands with a VR3186:

The gen hour hand clearance to the dial is extremely short. I was able to fit it with a little angle up toward the hand tip but wasn't really happy with it. Then when I pressed the GMT hand on it pushed the hour hand down onto the dial. Ouch.
I recently completed a root beer franken/fantasy project with the German eBay case, gen dial and hands, and a VR3186. I observed the same issue with the gen hour hand and the VR. It took a bit of finagling, but I was able to get an upward angle that I was happy with and that didn’t get wrecked by the GMT hand. I didn’t even consider a spacer, but there’s always a next time. That said, my build is nowhere near as clean as yours, and my dial had rub to begin with…
 
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KJ2020

Time Traveler
Supporter
12/3/18
36,489
75,109
113
I recently completed a root beer franken/fantasy project with the German eBay case, gen dial and hands, and a VR3186. I observed the same issue with the gen hour hand and the VR. It took a bit of finagling, but I was able to get an upward angle that I was happy with and that didn’t get wrecked by the GMT hand. I didn’t even consider a spacer, but there’s always a next time. That said, my build is nowhere near as clean as yours, and my dial had rub to begin with…
Pics always welcome bro if you want. I always liked the root beers too. I had a chance to buy a NOS 16713 sunburst root beer dial from Minh Q about 5 years ago for $2K and that early in my rep experience I thought it was way too much. It got snapped up pretty fast so lesson learned there. Probably less than a handful of those left in existence. I've always wondered what Rolex does when one comes in for service with a totally destroyed dial that has to be replaced. But yeah the root beers are awesome models too.