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BP Factory Rolex 16710 GMT Full Review VS Gen

KJ2020

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12/3/18
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mnkoshka LetMeHearItNow ado213

Tragedy strikes the BP case, Well it looks like the BP case and all its work is scrap....very sad

Wow so sorry to read about this bro. Reps can be maddening sometimes but as much effort and money as you invested in this, arghh.

Glad to see you putting Plan B into action right away. Best way to forget about a big disappointment!
 

Thrasher

Legendary Member
15/4/14
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The Beach
Wow so sorry to read about this bro. Reps can be maddening sometimes but as much effort and money as you invested in this, arghh.

Glad to see you putting Plan B into action right away. Best way to forget about a big disappointment!

The project has gone on way to long but sometimes that's just the way it is and I dont ever give up on anything. I was able to contact Nguyen in Vietnam through Whatsapp and he quoted me $670 for the case + $50 shipping to California. I then got in Touch with Tripdog and he quoted a price just $90 more plus shipping to supply the case and do all the work.

"When I work on the cases I slim the lugs and reprofile them, reshape the CGs, polish and brush the case, recut the chamfers. The retaining ring is slimmed, the bezel is brushed on the sides, polished on the top/teeth side.
Case back is slimmed, reprofiled, brushed & polished.
Everything is then ultrasound cleaned. I can keep the look 'as new/crisp' or soften it all up, adding a little patina/a few marks, depending on the look you want."

This is awesome. Now all I need is a good click spring , Tension washer and the 600 crown plus 6020 tube.

From France (Tripdog) to UK (Adrian) the case will go for final assembly
 
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japule24

Getting To Know The Place
29/11/20
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Glad you hear that you're continuing with you build Thrasher. Can't wait to see the final result!

I've been quite happy with the stock BP but now I want to build something a bit more gen spec. I reached out to Tripdog to see if I can procure a VN case from him. Thanks for this info.
 
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mpt1993

Do not accept unsolicited offers
2/3/21
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The submarine case back from Rafflestime didn't fit for me. Could not screw it in, perhaps it was the threading. Managed to change the bezel insert easily by dipping the watch in golf grip solvent for 3 hours before plying it out effortlessly with a knife. Just a reminder that gen insert will not fit here.
 

japule24

Getting To Know The Place
29/11/20
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Same for mine, Rafftestime case back does not fit. Great tip on how to remove the bezel insert, I'll give that a try.
 

shel504

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I'd ordered one of the BP 16750 (black). Raffles caseback fit, but was the same thickness as the one that had already come with the watch.
 

KJ2020

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This. Think it's the same case on the 1675 that they list from BP, and wasn't sure if this and the 16710 shared the same caseback or not. Was curious if the Raffles caseback would fit it. It does, but the thickness is the same.

https://www.intime05.co/rollie/3660-gmt-master-16750-ss-bp-best-black-bezel-white-markers.html

Ah yes. That's really a 1675, Ryan (and maybe BP) got the model number wrong. The caseback on your rep is not like the one on the BP 16710.

Key differences that identify this as a 1675:

Caseback is polished smooth - 16750 has a brushed center section like the 16710
Bracelet is rivet - 16570 has brushed oyster link edges like the 16710
Clasp is Big Crown with polished edges - 16750 has small crown, entirely brushed clasp
Hand stack is GMT on bottom (so your 1675 is actually CHS) - 16750 has hour hand on the bottom like all 5 digit GMTs

The 16750 was produced from 1981 - 1988. In 1986 the dial was updated to have raised hour markers with white gold surrounds like the 16710, so the 16750 is the only GMT model that was made with both types of dials. The updated dial also added the word "DATE" to OYSTER PERPETUAL on the dial.

The 16750 was replaced with a lower model number (unusual), the 16700 that ran until 1999. It has an upgraded movement, the 3175 from 3075, and introduced a sapphire crystal.

Both the 16750 and the 16700 had fixed (non-independent) GMT hands and were GMT Master (I) not GMT Master II's.

Yours could pass as an early 16750 with a bracelet/clasp swap and the Raffles caseback but then it would be ICHS!
 
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shel504

Renowned Member
26/5/20
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Ah yes. That's really a 1675, Ryan (and maybe BP) got the model number wrong. The caseback on your rep is not like the one on the BP 16710.

Key differences that identify this as a 1675:

Caseback is polished smooth - 16750 has a brushed center section like the 16710
Bracelet is rivet - 16570 has brushed oyster link edges like the 16710
Clasp is Big Crown with polished edges - 16750 has small crown, entirely brushed clasp
Hand stack is GMT on bottom (so your 1675 is actually CHS) - 16750 has hour hand on the bottom like all 5 digit GMTs

The 16750 was produced from 1981 - 1988. In 1986 the dial was updated to have raised hour markers with white gold surrounds like the 16710, so the 16750 is the only GMT model that was made with both types of dials. The updated dial also added the word "DATE" to OYSTER PERPETUAL on the dial.

The 16750 was replaced with a lower model number (unusual), the 16700 that ran until 1999. It has an upgraded movement, the 3175 from 3075, and introduced a sapphire crystal.

Both the 16750 and the 16700 had fixed (non-independent) GMT hands and were GMT Master (I) not GMT Master II's.

Yours could pass as an early 16750 with a bracelet/clasp swap and the Raffles caseback but then it would be ICHS!

I figure as much. I'd picked it up to play with and treating it as a 1675. Going to replace a few parts and see how it turns out.
 

KJ2020

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I figure as much. I'd picked it up to play with and treating it as a 1675. Going to replace a few parts and see how it turns out.

It's a nice rep at that price. If you think of it when you have the bracelet off, post back what the model number is between the lugs.
 
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shel504

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My BP 16710 came in. Brushed center caseback as expected and a 13mm thickness ootb. The raffles caseback that I'd ordered in anticipation is the polished sort.
 

KJ2020

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My BP 16710 came in. Brushed center caseback as expected and a 13mm thickness ootb. The raffles caseback that I'd ordered in anticipation is the polished sort.

The BP at 13.4mm is considered fat.

Gen-BP-10-Medium.jpg


Nothing wrong with a polished caseback other than it being technically wrong for model. I have one BP 16710 with a polished caseback.

This caseback from RT is more appropriate if you wanted to try a different one.

http://rafflestime.com/submariner-watch-case-back/

The real test is how it feels on your wrist

Gen-BP-11-Medium.jpg
 
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shel504

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The BP at 13.4mm is considered fat.

Nothing wrong with a polished caseback other than it being technically wrong for model. I have one BP 16710 with a polished caseback.

This caseback from RT is more appropriate if you wanted to try a different one.

http://rafflestime.com/submariner-watch-case-back/

The real test is how it feels on your wrist

I was expecting the 13.5ish thickness, so the 13.0mm surprised me ootb.

That's what Intended to order, but got the polished. I'll order again and be more specific. I'm happy with 13mm as it is, but if I can shave a little more off it, all the better.
 
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shel504

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Did the polished caseback fit your 16710?

Planning on trying that tonight. I'll let you know. External diameters aren't the same. 35.5mm on the BP, 35.8mm on the polished, so I'm not hopeful. No clue what the diameter of the BP caseback is at the thread, but the polished is 30.2mm.

Was planning on trying it today while at my office, but left home without anything to get the BP caseback off.
 
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