3K 324 Parts interchangeable with genuine or not?

[ywg]

I have read different opinions on this and seen contradicting information. Some say it's possible other say it's not. Some say all parts other than the balance are a direct fit, other say some parts need tweaking/modification, other say all the parts are not interchangeable and are of different sizes compared to their genuine counterparts. I have just bought a genuine mainplate + rotor, balance, along with all other bridges and some gen spare parts. Hopefully I haven't hit on a rock!

 

[grillbrill]

Try you or your modder yourselves. Perhaps @Spongebob or @theREALgoat know the answer.

 

[DerpyOfficer]

The answer is a yes and no. For some parts with looser tolerances such as items from the keyless works, rotor, date mechanism. They may fit with only a little modification or no modifications. For basically everything else such as bridges, train wheels, barrel and I would imagine balance (I never had a balance to try and install). These items will not work. And the reason is due to pivot size. Pateks pivots are more robust then it's clones counterpart which creates a annoying problem. While you could change the bridge with the clone 324, there would be too much space in the pivot holes and would cause problems. And if you changed internal components you'd find because of Patek's more robust pivot, that none of the parts would fit in the clone mainplate.

A lot of pivot jewel modifications would need to be done.

 

[dashindark]

In general the answer is no. The 3k 324 as a whole is a bit smaller than 324sc.

 

[cartierjoe]

I am trying to find some gen parts as well and I saw that in the 3k 324 that the calibre engraved is "324/390".

I saw the 5711 with that calibre but I also saw some with "324" only engaved. What does the extra "/390" means? Is there a difference in parts between the two?

I can't seem to find the answer. Anyone here knows?

 

[theREALgoat]

I am trying to find some gen parts as well and I saw that in the 3k 324 that the calibre engraved is "324/390".

I saw the 5711 with that calibre but I also saw some with "324" only engaved. What does the extra "/390" means? Is there a difference in parts between the two?

I can't seem to find the answer. Anyone here knows?

That bridge has the movement's serial number on it, you're not likely to find a genuine part unless it comes with the complete movement.

 

[cartierjoe]

Yes the serial is under the 324/390 or 324. However is there a difference between the two calibres? Or its just a year it was manufactured thing?
I saw some 5711 with 324 then serial under them, then some with 324/390 then serial under them.

 

[moneybbq]

anyone has experience installing gen bridge on 3k 324?

 

[patekdreams]

Derpy Officer is correct. I've attempted this myself. The answer is, yes and no. The date mechanism can be transplanted from gen to rep and vice versa. The click springs are completely different in the 3k compared to gen. The bridges are of different sizes. Therefore, the 3K bridges will not fit in the Gen, they need to be modded to fit the gen mainplate.

The center wheel, third wheel, fourth wheel and escape wheel, pallet are all different from gen. You would not be able to use a combination of gen and 3k here, they simply wont fit together. The pallet bridge is completely different in terms of screw positions and won't fit in the gen, no matter how much you manipulate it.

It will take TREMENDOUS effort to make a franken 324 Movement with a combintation of 3K and Gen parts. I would not recommend going down this rabbit hole. I've given up on it myself. It would be better to source a 324 movement.

It is also near impossible to source the bridge with the movement serial on it, so keep that in mind. You'll likely have to manipulate the 3K serial bridge to fit in your gen mainplate.

 

[patekdreams]

Worth mentioning also that the barrel cap and barrel drum (the mechanism that holds the mainspring) from the 3K will not fit in the gen mainplate. Likewise, the gen barrel won't fit in the 3K mainplate.

All in all, half the components on the date side will fit from 3K to Gen. None of the components will fit from the rotor side (other than the rotor itself).

 

[moneybbq]

Worth mentioning also that the barrel cap and barrel drum (the mechanism that holds the mainspring) from the 3K will not fit in the gen mainplate. Likewise, the gen barrel won't fit in the 3K mainplate.

All in all, half the components on the date side will fit from 3K to Gen. None of the components will fit from the rotor side (other than the rotor itself).

thanks for those info, btw, is a gen mainspring interchangeable with the 3k mainspring? potentially removing the regulator on 3k model.

 

[patekdreams]

thanks for those info, btw, is a gen mainspring interchangeable with the 3k mainspring? potentially removing the regulator on 3k model.

The mainspring itself is interchangeable. It only interacts with the arbor. The length of the 3K mainspring is slightly shorter than the gen mainspring when flattened. Which could translate to shorter power reserve.

 

[ywg]

Derpy Officer is correct. I've attempted this myself. The answer is, yes and no. The date mechanism can be transplanted from gen to rep and vice versa. The click springs are completely different in the 3k compared to gen. The bridges are of different sizes. Therefore, the 3K bridges will not fit in the Gen, they need to be modded to fit the gen mainplate.

The center wheel, third wheel, fourth wheel and escape wheel, pallet are all different from gen. You would not be able to use a combination of gen and 3k here, they simply wont fit together. The pallet bridge is completely different in terms of screw positions and won't fit in the gen, no matter how much you manipulate it.

It will take TREMENDOUS effort to make a franken 324 Movement with a combintation of 3K and Gen parts. I would not recommend going down this rabbit hole. I've given up on it myself. It would be better to source a 324 movement.

It is also near impossible to source the bridge with the movement serial on it, so keep that in mind. You'll likely have to manipulate the 3K serial bridge to fit in your gen mainplate.

Are you sure the escape wheel is not interchangeable? Would a 3K escape wheel not be compatible with a gen pallet bridge, pallet fork, as well as fourth wheel?

 

[patekdreams]

Are you sure the escape wheel is not interchangeable? Would a 3K escape wheel not be compatible with a gen pallet bridge, pallet fork, as well as fourth wheel?

The escape wheel is held together by a bridge, the one with the PP insignia on it. The jewel on the bridge is what holds onto the escape wheel. Due to the size variation from gen to 3k. The 3K escape wheel will have insufficient endshakes. Here is the TLDR on what endshakes are.

https://nobswatchmaking.com/courses/551203/lectures/9992688

Furthermore, the gen pallet fork will strike the 3K escape wheel at different points compared to the 3K pallet fork. The 3K escape wheel will sometimes be unable to complete a rotation and be stuck in a single position when paired with a gen pallet fork. If you insist on fitting the 3K escape wheel to the gen mainplate, expect your watch to stop working in a day.

 

[patekdreams]

Are you sure the escape wheel is not interchangeable? Would a 3K escape wheel not be compatible with a gen pallet bridge, pallet fork, as well as fourth wheel?

Seems like you already bought a lot of parts for the franken project you're working on. I hate to be the bearer of bad news. I also hate to be the guy that says trust me because I'm a watchmaker. In this instance you should...trust me when I say, this is genuinely a huge undertaking. I'm a rep friendly watch modder/maker based in Canada. I've had experience servicing rep 3Ks and Gen 5711s. I've had the opportunity to run several small experiments with the permission of my clients.

 

[ywg]

The escape wheel is held together by a bridge, the one with the PP insignia on it. The jewel on the bridge is what holds onto the escape wheel. Due to the size variation from gen to 3k. The 3K escape wheel will have insufficient endshakes. Here is the TLDR on what endshakes are.

https://nobswatchmaking.com/courses/551203/lectures/9992688

Furthermore, the gen pallet fork will strike the 3K escape wheel at different points compared to the 3K pallet fork. The 3K escape wheel will sometimes be unable to complete a rotation and be stuck in a single position when paired with a gen pallet fork. If you insist on fitting the 3K escape wheel to the gen mainplate, expect your watch to stop working in a day.

I have purchased most of the genuine parts for the 324 (other than the bridge with the serial number), some new some used. There was a used escape wheel available, but the escape wheel had one of its triangle shaped things bent, which would make it non-functional. Therefore, I decided to see if the 3K escape wheel would work when paired with all the surrounding gen parts. If it doesn't work, I'll order a brand new one.

 

[patekdreams]

I have purchased most of the genuine parts for the 324 (other than the bridge with the serial number), some new some used. There was a used escape wheel available, but the escape wheel had one of its triangle shaped things bent, which would make it non-functional. Therefore, I decided to see if the 3K escape wheel would work when paired with all the surrounding gen parts. If it doesn't work, I'll order a brand new one.

well, that does make things much easier. Once everything is assembled you should get a modder to mod your 3K serial bridge to fit the gen mainplate. It will take a lot of work though. Honestly, not even sure its possible. Would be nice if any other modders could chime in. Simply because there are three jewels, a bearing, and two screws. Their positions don't align with that of the Gen mainplate. You would need to shit each of those bits slightly.

 

[cartierjoe]

It looks like a tough job to franken a 3k 324 movement. Would just fully servicing the stock 3k movement will make it last for years?

 

[moneybbq]

The mainspring itself is interchangeable. It only interacts with the arbor. The length of the 3K mainspring is slightly shorter than the gen mainspring when flattened. Which could translate to shorter power reserve.

Hi, would this gen 324 mainspring in the picture would fit the 3k model? I have not tried but curious. Thanks!

 

[grillbrill]

Hi, would this gen 324 mainspring in the picture would fit the 3k model? I have not tried but curious. Thanks!

Mainspring?