First build, asking for a little clarification and moral support...and Raffles correct website

[dpd3672]

I've been bitten by the bug to build a watch of my own. I see Raffles mentioned a lot as a good place to start. Just to verify I have the correct site, is it:

https://rafflesdials.com/ ?

I'm looking at a SS Datejust to start, like the gen I used to own at the beginning of my days of collecting. Looking at this:

Steel Rolex 116234 DateJust 36mm Watch Set With Fluted Bezel And Silver Dial Fit ETA 2824 Movement

rafflesdials.com

Along with the cheapest eBay/Ali/DH movement I can find, so the loss won't be too bad if I butcher something, lol. Maybe this:

Direct Replacement ETA 2824 Date Automatic Mechanical Movement Mens Watch X X3A4 4712910916741 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Direct Replacement ETA 2824 Date Automatic Mechanical Movement Mens Watch X X3A4 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

So all I have to do is set the dial on the movement, press the hands on the dial, drop the movement in the case, screw on the back and attach the bracelet? Seems hard to screw up, even for me.

If it goes well, I've got a beater watch for a song. If it goes badly, I'm only out less than $200...I've spent more to be disappointed plenty of times on restaurant meals, concert tickets, and dates, lol.

Am I forgetting or missing anything?

 

[Karbon74]

tools

 

[dpd3672]

tools

You mean like a butter knife? Got one!

Kidding, I have the basics...good screwdrivers, hand press tool, movement holder, case back tool, spring bar tool...I think that's all I should need, right?

 

[tripdog]

I've been bitten by the bug to build a watch of my own. I see Raffles mentioned a lot as a good place to start. Just to verify I have the correct site, is it:

https://rafflesdials.com/ ?

I'm looking at a SS Datejust to start, like the gen I used to own at the beginning of my days of collecting. Looking at this:

Steel Rolex 116234 DateJust 36mm Watch Set With Fluted Bezel And Silver Dial Fit ETA 2824 Movement

rafflesdials.com

Along with the cheapest eBay/Ali/DH movement I can find, so the loss won't be too bad if I butcher something, lol. Maybe this:

Direct Replacement ETA 2824 Date Automatic Mechanical Movement Mens Watch X X3A4 4712910916741 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Direct Replacement ETA 2824 Date Automatic Mechanical Movement Mens Watch X X3A4 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

So all I have to do is set the dial on the movement, press the hands on the dial, drop the movement in the case, screw on the back and attach the bracelet? Seems hard to screw up, even for me.

If it goes well, I've got a beater watch for a song. If it goes badly, I'm only out less than $200...I've spent more to be disappointed plenty of times on restaurant meals, concert tickets, and dates, HOOKERS, lol.

Am I forgetting or missing anything?

Rafflesdials is OK, Rafflestime is better quality and used to have more choice, but I think his son has now taken over the business and doesn't want the risks associated with fake Rolex parts.

You need a DWO, which are called 'overlays' on RD's.

Make sure the case is for a 2836 movement if you're using a DG2813 - 2824 case will not work.

 

[dpd3672]

Rafflesdials is OK, Rafflestime is better quality and used to have more choice, but I think his son has now taken over the business and doesn't want the risks associated with fake Rolex parts.

You need a DWO, which are called 'overlays' on RD's.

Make sure the case is for a 2836 movement if you're using a DG2813 - 2824 case will not work.

Thanks,

From what the site says, there are cases for the 2824, which do not work with a DWO, and some for the 2836, which does allow a DWO, but isn't offered in the model I want. After hearing horror stories of getting a DWO lined up correctly, I'm not sure I want to try one on my first build.

The Raffles Time site doesn't seem to offer any rep parts...at least not enough to build a watch from scratch.

 

[Karbon74]

I have been hesitating to between buying a JKF 1665 (or1680) and a Raffles set...

Interested to follow the quality of the parts you get

 

[Winni1611]

You should look for a case which fits an 2824 and its DW without needing a DWO. Alligning that is really terrible work. I'm just doing that with a 36mm DJ and mickeymouse dial.
Beside that you should seal the gasket before assambling.

 

[dpd3672]

I have been hesitating to between buying a JKF 1665 (or1680) and a Raffles set...

Interested to follow the quality of the parts you get

Great minds think alike, lol. I'm in the process of ordering some of the JKF Subs from Marvelous Replicas. I want a 1680 (I had a gen a long time ago), a no date (probably 5512 or 5513) and a Comex Sub or SD.

FWIW, also ordering a couple of his Daytonas, since I go weak in the knees for vintage watches. Most of my gens are at least 20 years old, some are over 50. New stuff just doesn't tend to rev my motor like the classics, although there are exceptions.
I'll make sure to start a thread when everything arrives, and post my successes and failures.

 

[Karbon74]

You mean like a butter knife? Got one!

Kidding, I have the basics...good screwdrivers, hand press tool, movement holder, case back tool, spring bar tool...I think that's all I should need, right?

tweezers and finger cots
some kind of magnification
a silicone mat or a mouse pad
a place to put the parts and a place to put the tools ( i got badly burned on my first as I was totally disorganised...when I put your watch head on the screwdrivers )

and rodico, absolutely essential to align the hands. I did it the first time with tweezers, I almost died of stress

if you have done a dial swap in the past, this should be a breeze

 

[dpd3672]

You should look for a case which fits an 2824 and its DW without needing a DWO. Alligning that is really terrible work. I'm just doing that with a 36mm DJ and mickeymouse dial.
Beside that you should seal the gasket before assambling.

I'm pretty sure that's what I selected, unless I'm not seeing something.

 

[Winni1611]

I have been hesitating to between buying a JKF 1665 (or1680) and a Raffles set...

Interested to follow the quality of the parts you get

Quality of the parts is good for the money. It's not viet , but you can work on it to make it look used and more gen spec. It's fun to do.

 

[Karbon74]

and don't forget a good light source. I was shocked to see how small those things are. Youtube tutorials give you a bad sense of size 🫣

 

[dpd3672]

and don't forget a good light source. I was shocked to see how small those things are. Youtube tutorials give you a bad sense of size 🫣

Like QC pics, where every flaw looks like King Kong, but the real watch arrives and only a fighter pilot or neurosurgeon can see it, lol.

 

[SamiJ]

Nice first build. That's a good model. I've only worked with the 15000, 1500, and the 15053. How did it end up working for you?