Could it be possible to use a San Martin for a franken base?

[Alexkat]

Dear friends,
I have seen that the quality of San Martin watches is really good and I was wondering if anyone have tried to franken one. I was thinking if it is possible to make a better Pepsi gmt2 than clean or vrf. Could some more experienced in modding members tell me what they think?

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[GrandmasterChime]

No pointless

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[GrandmasterChime]

No it would be pointless

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[Alexkat]

OkI I imagined it. thank you for your answers.

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[Alan Bourdillion Traherne]

I investigated doing this with a Pagani sub as a base. After much research and investigation I determined that it would be... pointless. By the time needed parts were acquired and the required mods made its just cheaper and less hassle to buy a nice rep.

 

[acidrain33]

Why, the entire set you can purchase is cheaper than their whole watch.

 

[watchchris]

Where can you buy the watch kit? The parts look nice.

 

[Alexkat]

interested also

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[acidrain33]

Where can you buy the watch kit? The parts look nice.

Taobao and some local dealers, pretty much all you need to do find a movement.

 

[elconquistador]

Taobao and some local dealers, pretty much all you need to do find a movement.

I think they are asking about all the parts in your picture

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[40mm]

I don't see anything like this on Taobao. What did you search under?

To the OP's original question, I bought a San Martin PT5000 watch and replaced the movement with genuine eta 2824 when the PT5000 crapped out. So you can do what you are suggesting as long as you buy a PT5000 watch to begin with.

 

[acidrain33]

I think they are asking about all the parts in your picture
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This is something you can get from Taobao indeed. Look.

 

[elconquistador]

This is something you can get from Taobao indeed. Look.

Not easy for us in the US

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[acidrain33]

If you gonna low-ball the s**t out of this assembly kit. You can even get them under 600￥ on a app called Xianyu, for all 2nd hand aka grey market stuff.

 

[acidrain33]

Not easy for us in the US

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I guess that's a double edge sword then.

We got reps source while you can't reach. You got rep market with profits we can't imagine either.

Tbh, most of dealers, at least ones that I know work on low profit, loads of orders. Slowly building up their reputation.

Yes, they can sell it both domestic and foreign like Hont. But most of the time they are limited by languages, after-sales service and many more.

Therefore extremely affordable source like these can't go anyway but domestically. And you guys got rip off by those racketeers at the same time.

 

[APjumbo]

I’m about to do a dial swap on a cronos (similar to San Martin) to make a fun Seiko datejust. If I was looking for a Rolex rep no way would I bother using a San Martin. Way easier to buy a rep in whatever price range you are considering.
Having said that, taking a San Martin vintage big crown style watch and throwing a Rolex dial into it is tempting. New big crown fantasy watch hmmmm.

 

[watchchris]

Thanks for the info on where to get watch parts. Guess I will have to brush up on my Mandarin, or was that Cantonese?

 

[acidrain33]

Thanks for the info on where to get watch parts. Guess I will have to brush up on my Mandarin, or was that Cantonese?

Written Chinese are mostly Mandarin. But anyway, in search engine you type in "movement model no. + assembly" would pretty much do the work. Like "2824 组装", will probably lead you to tons of building kit. Since 2824, Asian 2824, ST2130 or whatever it is. That is the most universal platform they use this tier of reps.

Speaking of Rep movement tier list, you can check out something I just posted.

https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo.../10317352-replica-movement-tier-list-nov-2021

 

[watchchris]

Thanks. I tried your search phrase 2824 组装" and it worked like magic.
I will give them a try on my next project.

 

[acidrain33]

Thanks. I tried your search phrase 2824 组装" and it worked like magic.
I will give them a try on my next project.

There are so many interesting find on Taobao, sadly it got more and more strict over the last few years. And those seller chose to reside in WeChat but not Taobao simply because the platform won't allow. You can also try "movement model no. + watch part". Like now I'm trying to build a home-mada Panerai. I just use "6497 表壳", which is just "6497 case". Anyway, you'll get the gist.

Edit: Back in those days, you can get a 44mm Titanium Luminor case under 600RMB with sapphire, simply nuts. What a shame these grey area parts all disappear from Taobao now.