Franken Project - convert bulova seville day date to rolex day date

[Hec]

hello everyone, since I discovered this forum I have become in love with franken.

I will tell you my idea, to see if someone can guide me or even a watchmaker in Europe could help me in the future project.

I have a bulova seville day date that i am not wearing, the other day i read someone that it is a good watch as a base for a rolex day date (watch of my dreams)

i thought about buying a Gen Rolex Day Date dial and hands, and using the bulova as a base.

I understand that perhaps some adaptation of the dial is needed, what do you think? suggestions?

greetings!

 

[Geonor]

You could try some raffles parts before you dive in head first with gen parts.

Watch Dials - Day-Date Dials - Raffles Dials

rafflesdials.com

 

[Hec]

You could try some raffles parts before you dive in head first with gen parts.

Watch Dials - Day-Date Dials - Raffles Dials

rafflesdials.com

Thanks, is a good idea as a starting point.

Greetings!

 

[Got20Mate]

You could try some raffles parts before you dive in head first with gen parts.

Watch Dials - Day-Date Dials - Raffles Dials

rafflesdials.com

I'm actually embarrassed I didn't know this site / supplier existed. Supremely embarrassed. I'm going to log off now from sheer shame

 

[Geonor]

I'm actually embarrassed I didn't know this site / supplier existed. Supremely embarrassed. I'm going to log off now from sheer shame

He's real chill to deal with as well. You just email him with links to the parts you want to buy, send some money through paypal and they magically appear a couple of weeks later at your door.

 

[Got20Mate]

He's real chill to deal with as well. You just email him with links to the parts you want to buy, send some money through paypal and they magically appear a couple of weeks later at your door.

What's the quality like in terms of the bracelets? (Ridiculously open question I know but I thought I'd ask). I love this, I feel a kid in a candy shop

 

[Dohdoh]

The Bulova cases I have worked with have a different bezel, crystal and case back construction then oyster cases... You won't be happy with the results compared with a Gen in my opinion...

 

[KushBandit]

It's your watch, but the Bulova Seville should just stay as it is. It's a really nice watch. Day-Date reps arent expensive

 

[deju]

That’s it destroy a perfectly good watch that has a decent following and going up in value.

Honestly either buy a DD rep or build a raffles rep, for the love of god don’t destroy a decent watch to make a 1:0.6 rep.

 

[Geonor]

What's the quality like in terms of the bracelets? (Ridiculously open question I know but I thought I'd ask). I love this, I feel a kid in a candy shop

The quality is alright. It's not high end but it's not trash. As with a lot of other things you get what you pay for. Luckily Raffles is mostly for building vintage stuff and those bracelets were jangly as hell to begin with

 

[Hec]

@deju @KushBandit maybe you are right. another option would be to use a ricoh day date, the idea was to have one. franken with an ETA machinery.
Thanks

 

[Procurator]

You can stick an ETA in your DD rep case.

I don’t follow your logic. What led you to come up gutting Bulova and trying to make it a DayDate, when you can just start with the correct case?

 

[Hec]

You can stick an ETA in your DD rep case.

I don’t follow your logic. What led you to come up gutting Bulova and trying to make it a DayDate, when you can just start with the correct case?

I did nothing, they are only assumptions and because I read that some people did it. The Bulova is a good watch but I don't wear it, hence my idea.

I didn't understand the box... you mean size?

 

[Procurator]

Huh?

 

[Winni1611]

You can buy all the parts you need from raffles for around 150 Euro and then use a eta 2836 which may cost you 200 - plus the fun of building your own watch. That's how I would start. By the say you learn all the skills you need for a franken Projekt without destroying expensive parts

 

[Onepickledginger]

I did nothing, they are only assumptions and because I read that some people did it. The Bulova is a good watch but I don't wear it, hence my idea.

I didn't understand the box... you mean size?

There are tons of Day Date reps utilizing an a2836. Just have that swapped out for a swiss ETA 2836 you'll have your desired build. FWIW, If you add a gen dial you'll need to have the dial feet clipped. Gen Hands won't fit a 2836 movement without some serious modifications.

It's likely the dial diameters are not the same with your Bulova and the Day Date.

 

[Hec]

There are tons of Day Date reps utilizing an a2836. Just have that swapped out for a swiss ETA 2836 you'll have your desired build. FWIW, If you add a gen dial you'll need to have the dial feet clipped. Gen Hands won't fit a 2836 movement without some serious modifications.

It's likely the dial diameters are not the same.

that's a very good idea, thanks. In any case, I'll need a watchmaker (I've seen Franken's good projects on the forum).

The idea of the machinery is because I spoke with a user of this page who had a daydate rep with an ETA movement, but he said that they were no longer produced with that movement.

 

[Onepickledginger]

that's a very good idea, thanks. In any case, I'll need a watchmaker (I've seen Franken's good projects on the forum).

The idea of the machinery is because I spoke with a user of this page who had a daydate rep with an ETA movement, but he said that they were no longer produced with that movement.

That's incorrect.

DayDate 40 SS GSF Gain Weight Silver Crystal Dial on President Bracelet A2836 - DayDate - Rolxx - Watch Brands

puretimewatch.io

This GSF was just added 4/23. Browse the TD sites and find the model you want with an a2836. Then find a watchmaker under the tab here and you're in business. The movement swap shouldn't cost more than $100 and the eta2836 will cost $200-$300 new.

 

[Hec]

That's incorrect.

DayDate 40 SS GSF Gain Weight Silver Crystal Dial on President Bracelet A2836 - DayDate - Rolxx - Watch Brands

puretimewatch.io

This GSF was just added 4/23. Browse the TD sites and find the model you want with an a2836. Then find a watchmaker under the tab here and you're in business. The movement swap shouldn't cost more than $100 and the eta2836 will cost $200-$300 new.

He told me that he bought his rep Rolex Day Date a long time ago and it had an ETA movement, is that what you mean by "incorrect"? Nowadays is ETA clon no?

I totally agree about the watchmaker, I have already seen several here in the forum that are from Europe

 

[GokuSon]

i'm working at the same project right now. What the people her dont mentioned is, that you will build a vintage DD 18xxx! Thats what is so unique on this because you cant find any vintage cases anymore sadly. You will need a dial that will fit the eta movement you got. (Raffle is the way to go here i think)

On my project it is just puting a eta and dial in a new case. But as i said its about the vintage case!!

Please keep updating on here!