2022 JKF (Cartel) 1680 Rolex Submariner review + modding the hell out of it

[Karbon74]

If you are ok to lose the crystal, you can use a crystal press and push it out. Chances are it’s glued and it will break at the rim

You can also dunk the midcase and crystal in nail varnish dissolvant or acetone.

For the bezel circle spring, two methods.
You insert it at the end by one side and then push it into the groove with a screwdriver

Or
You hold it in place with bracelet tape, clip on the bezel and then remove the tape

 

[Rolexmike69]

If you are ok to lose the crystal, you can use a crystal press and push it out. Chances are it’s glued and it will break at the rim

You can also dunk the midcase and crystal in nail varnish dissolvant or acetone.

For the bezel circle spring, two methods.
You insert it at the end by one side and then push it into the groove with a screwdriver

Or
You hold it in place with bracelet tape, clip on the bezel and then remove the tape

I got the bezel fixed. Thank you.
So there’s no retainer ring? It’s just glued/pressed in?
I’m afraid if I remove I won’t be able to find one to replace?!? Thoughts? Btw, thank you all for all of your suggestions.

 

[Karbon74]

I got the bezel fixed. Thank you.
So there’s no retainer ring? It’s just glued/pressed in?
I’m afraid if I remove I won’t be able to find one to replace?!? Thoughts? Btw, thank you all for all of your suggestions.

there is a retainer ring in a way

When you put the crystal, first you put a ring, then the bezel spring locks the bezel on top

Clarks and Cousins carry a wide range of crystals. I would be surprised if you can’t find one.

Also, these crystals are acrylic. So it’s fine if you get something a bit tight, sand it to fit and polywatch to make it transparent again

If you are ok with the crystal, just keep it as is !

 

[Rolexmike69]

there is a retainer ring in a way

When you put the crystal, first you put a ring, then the bezel spring locks the bezel on top

Clarks and Cousins carry a wide range of crystals. I would be surprised if you can’t find one.

Also, these crystals are acrylic. So it’s fine if you get something a bit tight, sand it to fit and polywatch to make it transparent again

If you are ok with the crystal, just keep it as is !

I got Crystal out. It’s just glued and pressed into case.
Thank everyone for their input. Very much appreciated.

Hope this helps someone else.

 

[Rolexmike69]

Now to find one that fits.

 

[Karbon74]

Generic Crystals to Fit Rolex

Here is a very useful reference guide
Tropic 19 should work fine on a 1680
Measure Outside Diameter of the midcase rehaut
And Inside Diameter of the retaining ring and Bezel ring

 

[Karbon74]

Also dunk the mid case in acetone or nail varnish dissolvant (raid your wife’s bathroom drawer )

This will remove the residue glue and crystal chippings

 

[automatico]

I accidentally purchased one of these (5513) must be the BP case although that’s not how it was advertised.

Me too, I don't really know what it is for sure, but I'll add my two cents on my 'JKF' case from 4 or 5 years ago...

The case is well made and the case neck is oem spec.
Case threads will accept oem spec case tubes.
Case neck is oem spec and will accept oem spec crystals.
I used a DW 'spring wire' bezel assembly on mine with a GS crystal because an oem spec bez insert was a good snap fit in the DW bezel (on this particular bezel).
All in all, the case is Ok for the $$.

One Major Gripe...
The lug holes are bored too high in the lugs and when drilled out to 1.25 or 1.3mm they are too close to the tops of the lugs. For this reason I put it in File 13.
Btw, the lug holes were drilled out on a milling machine, not a hand drill or wobbly drill press so they followed the original holes and did not 'go sideways'.

Looking waaay back...the best cheapo 5512/13, 1680 cases I have are the old 'ABAY' cases from 'Paul' in 2005 or so. They are oem spec (case neck, case tube threads in the case etc.) but they have a bezel setup worse than most spring wire bezels...the crystals are glued to the the case neck.
Besides that, the crystals have a 'mushroom top' that holds a non oem spec spring wire rotating bezel on the crystal and it all falls on the floor sooner or later.
How it works: The spring wire holds the bezel assembly to the crystal because the 'mushroom top' of the crystal is a larger OD than the crystal sidewall. You can pop the rotating bezel off with a fingernail. Usually, they just fall off.
One smaller imperfection is the case back gasket groove is machined in the case, not the case back like oem but this does not matter...to me anyway.
One other problem is they were all made to use 26.5mm dials, a 5512/13 26.0mm dial is not a good fit.
One upscale goodie is the ABAY COMEX models have oem spec escape valves, I compared them to a nos oem example.
Another upscale goody is they came with new Swiss ETA 2836-2 movements, no referb junk or clones.

New/nos Swiss ETA 2836-2 could be found back then in large quantities for $50 USD or less and I still have a few from back then that were $65 or less from USA supply houses, purchased one at a time. Swiss ETA 2824-2 were the same price or maybe a little bit higher.

The best way to find new/nos Swiss ETA 2824/2836 'bargains' today is to buy a forgotten brand or discontinued nos watch with one in it.
Example: I found some nos 'Gruen Swiss' models with Swiss ETA 2824-2 still in their boxes that came from Walmart closeouts for $40 each.
Walmart took a run at selling higher quality automatics 15+ years ago and they flopped...their customers wanted cheapo quartz watches.

Here is a Walmart Gruen for sale on eBay:
item number: 315555037195

 

[Rolexmike69]

Also dunk the mid case in acetone or nail varnish dissolvant (raid your wife’s bathroom drawer )

This will remove the residue glue and crystal chippings

Yes that worked awesome

 

[Rolexmike69]

So I got the crystal out… Cleaned out all the glue as per all of your suggestions. The Crown guards were so chunky. They were ridiculous.
I gave it a shot at thinning them out… I also re-polished the case and re-brushed the bracelet. I don’t think the Crown guards are perfect, but they’re better than they were in my opinion. I’m waiting for my crown and tube from Athaya to show up. I also ordered a new lower dome crystal from eBay. Any comments are more than welcome.

 

[Rolexmike69]

 

[Rolexmike69]

Took some advice and redid lugs and reshaped case. Pretty happy for first time at this.

 

[Singapore9]

Maybe a little too much judging by the hole placement but that's a fantastic first attempt!

 

[Rolexmike69]

Maybe a little too much judging by the hole placement but that's a fantastic first attempt!

The whole placement was like that when I purchased the watch, so there was really nothing I could do there.
If you look up at the previous pictures, it was kind of a lose, lose from the get-go.

 

[Rolexmike69]

Maybe a little too much judging by the hole placement but that's a fantastic first attempt!

I understand what you’re saying, though maybe I got a little crazy with the Dremel lol

 

[Singapore9]

First attempt - no harm done! An HR case straight out of the box from HR isn't much better

 

[Rolexmike69]

First attempt - no harm done! An HR case straight out of the box from HR isn't much better

I hear ya… My 18-year-old is going to wear it… if his friends comment on the lug holes, I should probably find another hobby.
He wants his genuine 16610 I purchased for him (it’ his birth year)
I figured I’d fix this one up for him and if he took care of it then we’re a little closer to him getting his genuine. A little closer……Until then, it just sits in the case or I wear it lol.
Anyway thanks for commenting.

 

[Karbon74]

I understand what you’re saying, though maybe I got a little crazy with the Dremel lol

I am so pleased to watch your journey. I took the same road a bit more than a year ago, also starting from zero knowledge.

 

[Rolexmike69]

I am so pleased to watch your journey. I took the same road a bit more than a year ago, also starting from zero knowledge.

Thank you! I’ve done a few builds that I am thoroughly amazed and then I’ve done a few builds that it would’ve been less embarrassing throwing them in the garbage can lol but that’s this hobby you live in you learn hopefully you get better with each one you do.
Thank you for the nice comments.

 

[Singapore9]

I hear ya… My 18-year-old is going to wear it… if his friends comment on the lug holes, I should probably find another hobby.
He wants his genuine 16610 I purchased for him (it’ his birth year)
I figured I’d fix this one up for him and if he took care of it then we’re a little closer to him getting his genuine. A little closer……Until then, it just sits in the case or I wear it lol.
Anyway thanks for commenting.

Lovely idea for your son!