Gen. Extal, faded bezel, drilled lug holes. Also put on TC bracelet the stock is a bit rubbish. These are legit with very little modification. Meant to look worn since 1993.
-
Tired of adverts on RWI? - Subscribe by clicking HERE and PMing Trailboss for instructions and they will magically go away!
BP 16710 with VR3186
- Thread starter Satanduparadis
- Start date
Gen. Extal, faded bezel, drilled lug holes. Also put on TC bracelet the stock is a bit rubbish. These are legit with very little modification. Meant to look worn since 1993.
tripwire759
Time Is a Thief
- 3/11/23
- 75
- 83
- 18
hollywoodrollie
Getting To Know The Place
- 12/12/23
- 46
- 81
- 18
Did Steve include pictures of the movement in the qc album?Received my QC pictures today and pretty happy for what it is. Since this doesn't have the drilled lugs, it should still have the micro etching at the 6 but I don't see it. I can always drop in another crystal.
tripwire759
Time Is a Thief
- 3/11/23
- 75
- 83
- 18
hollywoodrollie
Getting To Know The Place
- 12/12/23
- 46
- 81
- 18
Just buy a Pepsi then change the insert laterMy seller told me the coke wasn’t available anymore
This case looks way better than the Pepsi that was posted. Nice!Received my QC pictures today and pretty happy for what it is. Since this doesn't have the drilled lugs, it should still have the micro etching at the 6 but I don't see it. I can always drop in another crystal.
tripwire759
Time Is a Thief
- 3/11/23
- 75
- 83
- 18
Looks like mine is off center as well. I assume you loosened these two and shifted?Autoreponse: I received the watch and centered the dial myself, it's very easy. Here an after picture for comparison
You just have to remove the bracelet, open the caseback then slightly unscrew the 2 movement screws. With your screwdriver you gently push the movement from the side then reassemble everything (2 or 3 iterations may be necessary).
I confirm your dial is too low.
Yes you loosen these 2 screws then place the screwdriver between the case and the movement on the bottom and move the assembly gently (we're talking 0.1 or 0.2 mm). It's very easy
tripwire759
Time Is a Thief
- 3/11/23
- 75
- 83
- 18
Perfect, thank you. I would have rejected, but after seeing how you fixed yours, I can deal with the when it arrives.
Actually I don't understand why the TD is not fixing it directly, it's an easy fix to avoid a rejection
tripwire759
Time Is a Thief
- 3/11/23
- 75
- 83
- 18
The crown is not perfectly centered but I think it looks better now. I posted a picture few pages ago.
The crown guard is also shaped better.
My BP 16710 is exactly 13mm thick with VR3186. It's improved by 0.5mm compared to the older one（unless there is batch variation) and is acceptable in my opinion
tripwire759
Time Is a Thief
- 3/11/23
- 75
- 83
- 18
- 13/9/15
- 472
- 371
- 63
I have one from trusty coke model, case is much better far less chamfered than previous models which is a big plus, if you fit a lower case back you can get the height down to 12.3mm which sit low on the wrist. the CG's are much better too along with the position of the crown its much more central, Im guessing the Vr3186 movement is a better fit.
Downsides
Crystal (no etching) not quite high enough (I guess it could be fixed with a gasket)
Bezel feels a bit loose, seems fine clicking in certain parts but a bit cheap in other parts. (not had the guts to pop it off an look yet) I have a bezel removal tool rather than using the knife technique just not sure what is under there, Im guessing a little bent wire for the clicks spring.
Bezel insert isnt to bad at a distance, and the size seems to be 37.5mm OD and 30.6mm ID I havent tried to swap yet so the insert I got to try might be too big I dont know yet (depends on how easy it is to swap out)
Bracelet seems pretty good to be honest, stamping of crown is clear and period hollow mid links. Not removed it to look at the case stamping. The bracelet is pretty good so much so that its not far from the Sub of the same year apart from the expansion links (this are more handy than you think)
Dial is pretty good too, (need a little aligning I missed) and so are the hands the only hand that is tell tale is the GMT one as the tip is more isosceles than equilateral, but could be easily swapped I guess, I'm sure only an expert would notice this.
Movement is very smooth and functions as it should get + 6sd which is just inside COSC guides so pretty good for a copy movement it not noisy in the housing, the only thing is it feels a little tight when winding it, this might bed in a little perhaps or is just a characteristic of the VR3186. Others ive played with felt a little nicer. I guess it could be the winding stem a little tight in the tube as Ive heard this is a thing and maybe corresponds with the dial alignment being just ever so slightly out?
The only thing that bugs me on this is the bezel as the rest is unlikely to ever really be scrutinised under inspection, if someone were to have a look they most certainly would paly with the bezel and the lack of a satisfying click would raise question where as the other minor flaws wouldn't not that, that is the plan just an observation. That said I have a Brietling Chronomat Evolution from new that is genuine and the bezel on that is now pretty loose that the arm rests in the car will easily move it!
So as a project I thought Id do the following
Case (really isnt that bad compared to the ones I have seen (see pics) but I think maybe it will need to be swapped for one of these fancy gen spec ones so that the bezels can be swapped with gen fit one more easily, also if I can fin one happy to get one with the holes as I kinda like the look. Only issue with a case swap it the bracelet fit.
Not sure if VR3186 will just slot in using all the dial and movement etc... and crown as Im not sure whats involved having never taken anything like this apart since breaking stuff when I was a kid!
The cases from either of these guys (im gussing the ebay one which seem non existent on the UK site anyway are from the them.
Complete case with bezel insert and crown and crystal 1200 eur
vintagewatchesmq.com
The also do dials and hands so might be better to get them all at the same time
This one I believe to be Phong
Complete case with bezel insert and crown and crystal
https://www.jewelryandwatch.com/contents/en-us/p1450.html 1450 USD but shipping on top
There is a thought that in order to get reliability along with the movement, is if maybe buying the cheapest second hand Tudor black bay or similar GMT model could be used, only thing might be the date wheel I guess, but could work out a half decent build in the end.
Downsides
Crystal (no etching) not quite high enough (I guess it could be fixed with a gasket)
Bezel feels a bit loose, seems fine clicking in certain parts but a bit cheap in other parts. (not had the guts to pop it off an look yet) I have a bezel removal tool rather than using the knife technique just not sure what is under there, Im guessing a little bent wire for the clicks spring.
Bezel insert isnt to bad at a distance, and the size seems to be 37.5mm OD and 30.6mm ID I havent tried to swap yet so the insert I got to try might be too big I dont know yet (depends on how easy it is to swap out)
Bracelet seems pretty good to be honest, stamping of crown is clear and period hollow mid links. Not removed it to look at the case stamping. The bracelet is pretty good so much so that its not far from the Sub of the same year apart from the expansion links (this are more handy than you think)
Dial is pretty good too, (need a little aligning I missed) and so are the hands the only hand that is tell tale is the GMT one as the tip is more isosceles than equilateral, but could be easily swapped I guess, I'm sure only an expert would notice this.
Movement is very smooth and functions as it should get + 6sd which is just inside COSC guides so pretty good for a copy movement it not noisy in the housing, the only thing is it feels a little tight when winding it, this might bed in a little perhaps or is just a characteristic of the VR3186. Others ive played with felt a little nicer. I guess it could be the winding stem a little tight in the tube as Ive heard this is a thing and maybe corresponds with the dial alignment being just ever so slightly out?
The only thing that bugs me on this is the bezel as the rest is unlikely to ever really be scrutinised under inspection, if someone were to have a look they most certainly would paly with the bezel and the lack of a satisfying click would raise question where as the other minor flaws wouldn't not that, that is the plan just an observation. That said I have a Brietling Chronomat Evolution from new that is genuine and the bezel on that is now pretty loose that the arm rests in the car will easily move it!
So as a project I thought Id do the following
Case (really isnt that bad compared to the ones I have seen (see pics) but I think maybe it will need to be swapped for one of these fancy gen spec ones so that the bezels can be swapped with gen fit one more easily, also if I can fin one happy to get one with the holes as I kinda like the look. Only issue with a case swap it the bracelet fit.
Not sure if VR3186 will just slot in using all the dial and movement etc... and crown as Im not sure whats involved having never taken anything like this apart since breaking stuff when I was a kid!
The cases from either of these guys (im gussing the ebay one which seem non existent on the UK site anyway are from the them.
Complete case with bezel insert and crown and crystal 1200 eur
Case Rolex GMT Master II ref 16710 Pepsi Insert Replacement Spec
This one I believe to be Phong
Complete case with bezel insert and crown and crystal
https://www.jewelryandwatch.com/contents/en-us/p1450.html 1450 USD but shipping on top
There is a thought that in order to get reliability along with the movement, is if maybe buying the cheapest second hand Tudor black bay or similar GMT model could be used, only thing might be the date wheel I guess, but could work out a half decent build in the end.
Just to add quantity to the thread, here’s my approved QC. Date is very right leaning but I have a video of him going through all the dates and it’s basically just 26 and 27 that looks a little off so idc.
