A guide to 16613 builds /FRANKENING

[TheHokage]

I think this is the best place to post this. This week I got a real 16613 case from a friend along with a real 93253 band. Now I have had a WM9 93253 and I really thought it was the cats meow. The wrapping on this case is thick. Only thing is now I think its 14K gold. Here are some pictures. You can see on the links that are solid 18K on the Rolex, where they meet the clasp. WM9 put a real thick plate. I mean real thick. By far the best rep bracelet for a 16613. No if ands or buts.

So today I got the final part, the band, in the mail. I cleaned it up. I had put the watch head together yesterday. It came out amazing. Today when the band came in I cleaned the crap out of it after I took the pics. Looks amazing. Anyway here are the pics prior to cleaning and buffing comparing the two.

This is the real one on the bottom and the WM9 on the top

Now the top one is Rolex and the bottom one is WM9. The WM9 is made after a 2006 bracelet where there would have been no engraving of the band number.

This is the real band's end link

This is the WM9. Again, different year band so this marking might be proper.

The top pic is the two clasp codes. I think the WM9 looks good. Not sharp like the orig Rolex but not bad.

Here is what I was talking about. The bottom one is the real one. Solid 18k link. The one above is a WM9. Look how thick the gold wrap it on it. That is impressive. I am sorry. It is.

Same with the other end that attaches to the band. While Rolex is solid gold WM9 is wrapped gold. Amazing.

Just a pic showing the color difference of WM9 18K and Rolex 18K

Another picture.

Here is a cheap 16613 I built a client today. The middle is the WM9 and the right is all Rolex.


Hope this helps. Rolex makes their own gold. So that might explain the color difference. It is a little more yellow than the WM9 or the cheap one I made today. The bottom line is that a WM9 93253 band is a great band for the money. When it is on it is very hard to see the difference in color. It is just a little lighter. Maybe 14K. Hope this helps everyone.

Very nice!


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[C Master]

I think this is the best place to post this. This week I got a real 16613 case from a friend along with a real 93253 band. Now I have had a WM9 93253 and I really thought it was the cats meow. The wrapping on this case is thick. Only thing is now I think its 14K gold. Here are some pictures. You can see on the links that are solid 18K on the Rolex, where they meet the clasp. WM9 put a real thick plate. I mean real thick. By far the best rep bracelet for a 16613. No if ands or buts.

So today I got the final part, the band, in the mail. I cleaned it up. I had put the watch head together yesterday. It came out amazing. Today when the band came in I cleaned the crap out of it after I took the pics. Looks amazing. Anyway here are the pics prior to cleaning and buffing comparing the two.

This is the real one on the bottom and the WM9 on the top

Now the top one is Rolex and the bottom one is WM9. The WM9 is made after a 2006 bracelet where there would have been no engraving of the band number.

This is the real band's end link

This is the WM9. Again, different year band so this marking might be proper.

The top pic is the two clasp codes. I think the WM9 looks good. Not sharp like the orig Rolex but not bad.

Here is what I was talking about. The bottom one is the real one. Solid 18k link. The one above is a WM9. Look how thick the gold wrap it on it. That is impressive. I am sorry. It is.

Same with the other end that attaches to the band. While Rolex is solid gold WM9 is wrapped gold. Amazing.

Just a pic showing the color difference of WM9 18K and Rolex 18K

Another picture.

Here is a cheap 16613 I built a client today. The middle is the WM9 and the right is all Rolex.


Hope this helps. Rolex makes their own gold. So that might explain the color difference. It is a little more yellow than the WM9 or the cheap one I made today. The bottom line is that a WM9 93253 band is a great band for the money. When it is on it is very hard to see the difference in color. It is just a little lighter. Maybe 14K. Hope this helps everyone.

Fantastic post R. That Is a great comparison for a bracelet freak like me.

 

[Nivka]

@occb2 is on fire lately. Please keep the pearls of wisdom and great pics coming.

 

[bcat]

Hey everyone! Loved going through the pages of this thread. I am interested in getting into the 16613 game, but I'm not really sure where to start. Most importantly, I want to add a gen dial and gen insert. What base would be best for me? Thanks so much!

 

[TheHokage]

Hey everyone! Loved going through the pages of this thread. I am interested in getting into the 16613 game, but I'm not really sure where to start. Most importantly, I want to add a gen dial and gen insert. What base would be best for me? Thanks so much!

@QueTip has laid it all out via the first pages of this thread. Read through it


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[antotony0203]

I have bought the above tritium dials and I wonder which case I shd be buying.
Would the TC or the phong case too "new" for the dial?

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[QueTip]

I have bought the above tritium dials and I wonder which case I shd be buying.
Would the TC or the phong case too "new" for the dial?

Phong is good. He offers a 'vintage' or 'used' treatment to the case. It'll be good.

That dial looks sick. Loving the structure of it.

 

[antotony0203]

Phong is good. He offers a 'vintage' or 'used' treatment to the case. It'll be good.

That dial looks sick. Loving the structure of it.

Thank you brother. Maybe I ll get the phong case then!! This is bought from @DVNE
the dial is lovely. Fall in love with it when I first saw it.

Phong is good. He offers a 'vintage' or 'used' treatment to the case. It'll be good.

That dial looks sick. Loving the structure of it.

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[C Master]

Yep the purists are going to kill me lol. I am not going for period correct. I am going for a bluesy I love I was not a Rolex fan until I saw one of @QueTips builds when I was more of a noob than I am now. So t is all his fault I fell in love with it. I bought the BP loved it but could not live with it so I donated it to my father in law. He broke it as I knew he would. So I had it back to fix it and fell in love with it all again. So I got that old Franken which is great but I am so in love with the old 16803 dial. I was lucky to pick one up off @JackJ1980 this is the foundation and centrepiece of the build. Everything else is pure "I want" so a custom piece rather than a period correct build.

I have to say and I will say it again and again this an amazing place and this would not have happened if it was not for the great people on this forum.

My fingers and toes are crossed that everything arrives and safely.

The dial arrived but I have been up to my eyes and have not had time to even photo it.

ST 18K bracelet
ST 18K Bezel assembly
ST 3135 case
Yuki 3135 wth @Tickleshoes V2 Winding bridge
Gen absolute beautiful 16803 or early 16613 tritium dial
Gen Crystal with LEC and AR
Gen 703 crown
Gen Insert
Gen creamy patina hands to match the dial indices


As of today all I have is the dial in my possession so squeaky bum time lol



That TC dial was a great pic up. I love it

I added a gen clasp to the list today

 

[TheHokage]

I added a gen clasp to the list today

That'll be my next step also but I'm gonna use my TC 16610's clasp on the 116613 bracelet until then.


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[C Master]

That'll be my next step also but I'm gonna use my TC 16610's clasp on the 116613 bracelet until then.


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Only problem will be the 93150 clasp's connecting link will be SS not Gold.

 

[TheHokage]

Only problem will be the 93150 clasp's connecting link will be SS not Gold.

Right, but there's a model of the 16613 that has that:

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[TheHokage]

Only problem will be the 93150 clasp's connecting link will be SS not Gold.

But I know what you mean by the link connecting to it. Won't bother me much


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[C Master]

Right, but there's a model of the 16613 that has that:

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Yep that is the 93153 bracelet and clasp. However the link at the flip lock side is integral to the clasp. I suppose there is a way to take out the rivet that secures the link and replace it.

 

[C Master]

But I know what you mean by the link connecting to it. Won't bother me much


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Lol both typing at the same time.

 

[occb2]

Right, but there's a model of the 16613 that has that:

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Hey. There is no 16613 that has a stainless link that connects the clasp. The clasp itself is stainless but the link connecting them, scuba link and claps link are 18k. I can show you later when I go home. The clasp is identical to a stainless just the model number and the 18.


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[occb2]

Some people buy the clasps and they didnt come with the correct clasp links and they used the stainless. I have seen the right gold links going for hundreds which is nuts.


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[TheHokage]

Some people buy the clasps and they didnt come with the correct clasp links and they used the stainless. I have seen the right gold links going for hundreds which is nuts.


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Yeah, I'd rather just save up for a gen clasp eventually but the TC one would be ok to me for now.


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[TheHokage]

My new bracelet needs to hurry up and get here!!! Lol

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[C Master]

My new bracelet needs to hurry up and get here!!! Lol

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No No get that off quick lol. I put mine on a Vintage Nato as the bracelet was driving me nuts.