GMT Master II dial swap.

[TonyMonatana44]

Hope this thread finds you all well.

Unfortunately, I purchased a used GMT Master II Sprite off another rep forum while I was brigged on RWI, I needed a parts watch ASAP and i pulled the trigger. The posting said it was a Clean Factory Sprite but when I got the watch in the mail today, from what I can tell it wasn't even close to my original CF Sprite I got about a month and a half ago.

Serial number of the case is J16815Z8, the movement says 3186, not a DD3285, and the caseback is a lot thicker than the CF GMT I have.

Unless I was sold the very first iteration of the CF Sprite GMT, I guess I have to live with it. With that long story over, my question is: Can I swap out the dial from the 3186 movement and put it on my DD3285? That is the whole reason I got the replacement watch in the first place. If anyone can confirm or know if it can be done, please let me know.

Also - If anyone has any DIY dial swap steps please let me know. I've searched on RWI but couldn't find much. I know there is a screw on the side of the movement, and then have to basically lift up the minute, hour, seconds hand etc.

 

[TonyMonatana44]

From the research i've done - it seems that the dial cannot be swapped from a 3186 to a 3285?

"Hands for both cals are interswappable I believe, a 3186 uses dial feet for dials, a 32XX movement does not, but rather a rim around the dial that sits on top of the movement--irrespective to dial feet."

Is this true?

 

[TonyMonatana44]

Confirmed it cannot be done. Found this thread that says so:

New Clean GMT - First Impressions

Thanks for the images and review. Is the bezel and dial of the Clean GMT an easy swap with genuine ones? I've got a gen bezel and gen dial from a 116710LN and I'd like to build a franken and I'm considering the clean as base after reading this post. Thanks in advance. For 126x GMT models, the...

forum.replica-watch.info

Putting case back on and throwing the 3186 in the trash.

 

[asusundevils1971]

If the GMT was working when received, just put it back together and sell it to recoup your money.

Send Ctime a message and see if they can order a Sprite dial for you.

Home - CTime

ctime.io

 

[TonyMonatana44]

If the GMT was working when received, just put it back together and sell it to recoup your money.

Send Ctime a message and see if they can order a Sprite dial for you.

Home - CTime

ctime.io

Thanks for the advice. That is what I a plan on doing as soon as I get back home. I did message them prior to purchasing this watch from the guy but they said it would take 20+ days to source the dial plsu 10 days or so to ship to me. I didn't have the time to do that, so I decided to buy this watch. just upset I was duped and lied to. Post said it was a DD3285 and a CF but I got a shitbox from DHGate and a 3186 lol.

 

[KJ2020]

Check the 3186 dial diameter and the date window position. Test fit the 3186 dial (even while still on the movement) in the 3285 case. If the 3186 dial fits the rehaut opening adequately with respect to minute tics vs rehaut spacing (it should), then you can probably use it. You can clip the 3186 dial feet, sand the stumps flat and epoxy the dial onto the 3285 date plate.

This is now my default method of attaching dials when the dial and movement have incompatible anchoring mechanisms. There is plenty of open space on the date plate or top plate in the case of a no-date or Daytona to place 3 - 4 blobs of epoxy without interfering with any moving parts.

See an example in the thread below
Use 3235 parts with an ETA movement

Another example - this is a 2836 dial epoxied onto a 3186 movement

 

[TonyMonatana44]

Thanks @KJ2020. I am asking the seller to see if he'll refund the money if I send the watch back to him. He scammed me and is refusing to cooperate, so if he doesn't budge i'll more than likely go that route since the watch will be useless to me. So might as well try.

If I decide to put the 3186 dial on the DD3285, will I have to put the screw back into the movement for the dial? Or just leave it out?

 

[KJ2020]

Thanks @KJ2020. I am asking the seller to see if he'll refund the money if I send the watch back to him. He scammed me and is refusing to cooperate, so if he doesn't budge i'll more than likely go that route since the watch will be useless to me. So might as well try.

If I decide to put the 3186 dial on the DD3285, will I have to put the screw back into the movement for the dial? Or just leave it out?

CLEAN 32xx dials have no feet and a DD 32xx movement has no dial feet holes so no dial feet screws. VR/SH 32xx movements have dial feet holes and screws but neither are used if the dial is a gen-spec 32xx dial, which has no feet. Gen-spec 32xx dials have the underside rims which hug the movement in a friction fit manner. When using epoxy (or dial dots, etc) there is no need for dial feet, dial feet holes, or dial feet screws.

 

[TonyMonatana44]

CLEAN 32xx dials have no feet and a DD 32xx movement has no dial feet holes so no dial feet screws. VR/SH 32xx movements have dial feet holes and screws but neither are used if the dial is a gen-spec 32xx dial, which has no feet. Gen-spec 32xx dials have the underside rims which hug the movement in a friction fit manner. When using epoxy (or dial dots, etc) there is no need for dial feet, dial feet holes, or dial feet screws.

So either way, which ever dial I go for i'll have to epoxy basically to my DD3285. Sorry for my ignorance, but how do I take the DD3285 dial off if it doesn't come off with the screw?

 

[KJ2020]

So either way, which ever dial I go for i'll have to epoxy basically to my DD3285. Sorry for my ignorance, but how do I take the DD3285 dial off if it doesn't come off with the screw?

Didn't your original dial have the underside rims for friction fit?

Like this

I shaved those rims off to epoxy that dial onto a different movement

To just change a friction fit dial, find a place between the date plate and the dial where there is no rim, insert a small screwdriver blade and twist it to pry the dial up.

 

[TonyMonatana44]

Didn't your original dial have the underside rims for friction fit?

Like this

I shaved those rims off to epoxy that dial onto a different movement

To just change a friction fit dial, find a place between the date plate and the dial where there is no rim, insert a small screwdriver blade and twist it to pry the dial up.

I don't know to be honest. I didn't take the dial off my DD3285. I assume it's like the gen dials where you have to unscrew the one screw and then lift up, but if what you're saying is that I just need to lift up, then I can try that. I assume it has dial feet but unsure. I don't know what the parts watch (3186) has either. I'll find out when I take them both apart.

 

[KJ2020]

I don't know to be honest. I didn't take the dial off my DD3285. I assume it's like the gen dials where you have to unscrew the one screw and then lift up, but if what you're saying is that I just need to lift up, then I can try that. I assume it has dial feet but unsure. I don't know what the parts watch (3186) has either. I'll find out when I take them both apart.

Your DD3285 dial should be like the one I pictured above with underside rims. So if you get a replacement CLEAN dial, pry off the old dial and press fit the new one - no epoxy, no dial feet, no screws.

For the 3186 dial, there will be two feet and feet screws at 13 and 37 minutes. To reuse that dial on the DD3285 movement, those feet will need to be removed, sanded flat and then you can epoxy the dial on.

 

[TonyMonatana44]

Your DD3285 dial should be like the one I pictured above with underside rims. So if you get a replacement CLEAN dial, pry off the old dial and press fit the new one - no epoxy, no dial feet, no screws.

For the 3186 dial, there will be two feet and feet screws at 13 and 37 minutes. To reuse that dial on the DD3285 movement, those feet will need to be removed, sanded flat and then you can epoxy the dial on.

You are the man KJ. I will attempt this as soon as I get home from my trip.

Thank you for your wisdom and knowledge as always.