Best TUDOR 5514

[MRB1]

Please can you advise who does absolute best version of this watch. I appreciate there are masters who can create excellence with mods. However, I want the best out of the box version so to speak. Never spent so much time looking into watches . Years since I've been into watches again like this. BBB V BBR, gen or rep....head is battered. Finally think if I love a vintage lok then vintage sub is the wa but must be TUDOR. Puretime state and I have read their version is the best. Difficult to mid but best out the box which is fine for me.

Thanks again for any helpful advice/opinion.

Marc

 

[Arko]

5514 is a Rolex ref, are you maybe looking for a 7928, 9401 or 94110?i think best out of the box is from phong but they run ~$900

 

[d4m.test]

A simple, cheap, reliable and good companion is the cartel Tudor Oysterprince just with the Asian 21j movement or slow-beat ETA if You find it. You don´t need to start with the best. Later this can always be upgraded with another dial/crown/crystal or plexi etc. Supermirrors can get You one for less than $260 or $160 depending on the movement shipped.

Plus: nice, reliable and very enjoyable watch, putting it on a strap and changing/aging insert changes it a lot; h
ere on rwi we are always trying to put it in a condition, like it was when it first came out, in reality I find many owners just put in the pieces that are available and not the original, genuine ones, so it might be a thicker crown, a larger plexi, newer hands etc. I really don´t care anymore it´s a cost/result equation

- pearl/insert is wrong
- crownguards are too thick
- crown is too thick but can be changed to an Athaya one
- lugholes should be bigger
- plexi could be thinner

Hands and dials You can always change for cheap Raffles like here (samples): http://rafflestime.com/watch-dial/submariner-dials/?sort=featured&page=2
And the most expensive I will ever go someday Ingod is like here: http://www.ingod44.com/rolex-submariner-chapter-gilt-dial-ref-5513-2-line/


Out-of-the-box picture

Lumeshot

and modded for 0$ USD with a dremel, bleach, acrylic paint, coffee etc.

 

[btxc]

A simple, cheap, reliable and good companion is the cartel Tudor Oysterprince just with the Asian 21j movement or slow-beat ETA if You find it. You don´t need to start with the best. Later this can always be upgraded with another dial/crown/crystal or plexi etc. Supermirrors can get You one for less than $260 or $160 depending on the movement shipped.

Plus: nice, reliable and very enjoyable watch, putting it on a strap and changing/aging insert changes it a lot; h
ere on rwi we are always trying to put it in a condition, like it was when it first came out, in reality I find many owners just put in the pieces that are available and not the original, genuine ones, so it might be a thicker crown, a larger plexi, newer hands etc. I really don´t care anymore it´s a cost/result equation

- pearl/insert is wrong
- crownguards are too thick
- crown is too thick but can be changed to an Athaya one
- lugholes should be bigger
- plexi could be thinner

Hands and dials You can always change for cheap Raffles like here (samples): http://rafflestime.com/watch-dial/submariner-dials/?sort=featured&page=2
And the most expensive I will ever go someday Ingod is like here: http://www.ingod44.com/rolex-submariner-chapter-gilt-dial-ref-5513-2-line/


Out-of-the-box picture

Lumeshot

and modded for 0$ USD with a dremel, bleach, acrylic paint, coffee etc.

All I gotta say is... Wow! I thought that looked really good brand new, but you nailed that vintage look lol. Well done

 

[ferristara]

.....but where to buy.....???

 

[TempusAurum]

A simple, cheap, reliable and good companion is the cartel Tudor Oysterprince just with the Asian 21j movement or slow-beat ETA if You find it. You don´t need to start with the best. Later this can always be upgraded with another dial/crown/crystal or plexi etc. Supermirrors can get You one for less than $260 or $160 depending on the movement shipped.

Plus: nice, reliable and very enjoyable watch, putting it on a strap and changing/aging insert changes it a lot; h
ere on rwi we are always trying to put it in a condition, like it was when it first came out, in reality I find many owners just put in the pieces that are available and not the original, genuine ones, so it might be a thicker crown, a larger plexi, newer hands etc. I really don´t care anymore it´s a cost/result equation

- pearl/insert is wrong
- crownguards are too thick
- crown is too thick but can be changed to an Athaya one
- lugholes should be bigger
- plexi could be thinner

Hands and dials You can always change for cheap Raffles like here (samples): http://rafflestime.com/watch-dial/submariner-dials/?sort=featured&page=2
And the most expensive I will ever go someday Ingod is like here: http://www.ingod44.com/rolex-submariner-chapter-gilt-dial-ref-5513-2-line/


Out-of-the-box picture

Lumeshot

and modded for 0$ USD with a dremel, bleach, acrylic paint, coffee etc.

Hi Daywatch, an awesome watch you have there. Can you please share the info on the seller? I can't seem to find a seller named 'cartel'. Thanks in advance!

Sent from my MX4 using Tapatalk

 

[d4m.test]

Hi Daywatch, an awesome watch you have there. Can you please share the info on the seller? I can't seem to find a seller named 'cartel'. Thanks in advance!

Sent from my MX4 using Tapatalk

Hi, You´re welcome. Supermirrors can get these for You, just mail him and ask for a Cartel Tudor or join the pic. As above I´m very happy with the lowbeat Asian 21j movement on these (the cheapest one), tough and reliable. Just refinished my other one (same watch but this one with Rafflestime gilt-look parts):

 

[TempusAurum]

Hi, You´re welcome. Supermirrors can get these for You, just mail him and ask for a Cartel Tudor or join the pic. As above I´m very happy with the lowbeat Asian 21j movement on these (the cheapest one), tough and reliable. Just refinished my other one (same watch but this one with Rafflestime gilt-look parts):

Nice! Is there anywhere that I can view my choices? Or get more info about cartel tudor? I may prefer a solid end link if available.

Sent from my MX4 using Tapatalk

 

[d4m.test]

Nice! Is there anywhere that I can view my choices? Or get more info about cartel tudor? I may prefer a solid end link if available. ?

Sent from my MX4 using Tapatalk

This is the exact watch You get:

 

[TempusAurum]

Thanks! The CGs seems unusually thick though.

 

[darby g]

This is the exact watch You get:

That still looks pretty good, especially when you can pick one up at 118. Pulling the crown, shaving the CG, fading the bezel, and removing the pearl seems to leave you with a pretty good watch at very little cost (if you DIY).

How difficult was the bezel and insert removal? I've had nothing but trouble with bezel removal in the past

 

[d4m.test]

That still looks pretty good, especially when you can pick one up at 118. Pulling the crown, shaving the CG, fading the bezel, and removing the pearl seems to leave you with a pretty good watch at very little cost (if you DIY).

How difficult was the bezel and insert removal? I've had nothing but trouble with bezel removal in the past

The bezel removal on these is extremely easy, simple and fast, doing it all the time. Just push a Stanley knife or caseback opener in between the lug and position 23 minutes on the bezel, than do the same at position 35 and everything comes out. To push back in just pressure against a wooden tabletop until it audibly clicks in the same positions.
(Taking out all the rest is really not necessary).

 

[darby g]

The bezel removal on these is extremely easy, simple and fast, doing it all the time. Just push a Stanley knife or caseback opener in between the lug and position 23 minutes on the bezel, than do the same at position 35 and everything comes out. To push back in just pressure against a wooden tabletop until it audibly clicks in the same positions.
(Taking out all the rest is really not necessary).

Glad to hear it isn't a sticky bezel, thanks for the tips. I'll have to post my results once my sub comes in, and I get to some modding!