GMT Master!

[maw]

I never like rollies, when I was growing up my dad would spend hours at ADs picking up rollies and some point in time he would buy one a week!!! (I guess business were good!!) Now I truly appreciate rollies, wish I could travel through time and sit with him at those ADs and just stare at these beauties!

So I want to make this special!! How Special?? Well I wanna make one for myself and one for my dad as a surprise. I wanna take my time to do this, and make it good! One that will go on for years to come! =)

What I want to know is, any mods out there willing to work with me long term, looking for parts and stuff? I have no knowledge of rollies so i'll need guidance.

Which case should I use? And I'm planning on at least getting gen crown/tube, insert, hands and dial if possible and I heard that there is a CHS movement that is reliable so this has to be CHS movement, i'm not in any rush so that way this will give time for the modders to work and source for parts =)

What is the use of a GMT Master thread without pictures?!?! Please Post your Rep or Gen GMT Masters! And If its a Rep it would be awesome if you could list the specs =)

Cheers!!

 

[wat44]

I thought the incorrect hand stack was better...

 

[correctime]

Start with a Cartel Exp.II case
Put a TW 16610 bezel assembly on it
Find a Noob GMT II (if you can) or go with a gen dial....at 27.1mm opening a gen will fit.
Put in a gen crystal, insert, crown and tube along with a BK DW OL and it won't get much better than that.
Maybe find a gen 78790A clasp....and you're there.
An awesome GMT rep leading the pack and certainly a keeper

 

[maw]

I thought the incorrect hand stack was better...

You are right it is better but I heard from bk that there is a CHS which is reliable now and its swiss so I want it to be CHS =)

 

[correctime]

You are right it is better but I heard from bk that there is a CHS which is reliable now and its swiss so I want it to be CHS =)

I have to disagree based on the past experiences (and reviews) of many members here that have posted about them.
There's rumor an improved CHS version is in the works but I don't know of any CHS 2836-2's available at the moment.

 

[wat44]

My IHS ones have been flawless FWIW

 

[correctime]

I've never had any problems with the ICHS's either....but a CHS "would" be nice if they're proven to be just as reliable.
As it stands at the moment I myself am not not willing to take the risk on any CHS mvts. that may be available at the moment.

 

[maw]

I have nothing against ICHS, its reliable but if there is a CHS out there why not? =)

 

[rooster133]

A while ago I spent a long time sourcing the best CHS versions of the GMT, including a mysterious modified version that did work but in order to work had the datewheel follow the GMT hand instead of the hour hand. I'm now convinced that there simply isn't a reliable CHS movement, and you can try as much as you like to source or build one, but eventually it'll fail on you or wont function correctly. You may be lucky, and use the movement very little , so that some time will pass before it starts failing. But they're bound to fail.

Now, here's the interesting thing... I also have a gen GMT IIc, and that one failed too after a while! The hands started slipping exactly like in the rep CHS GMT movements. The problem is a click spring that tends to fail. Rolex has identified this as a fault and now replaces all these springs as policy whenever a GMT II is in for service. This happened to my watch when it was two months out of warranty, so I've had to send in the watch for a service at my own expense.

Morale of the story: if Rolex can't even get it right and bulletproof, what are the odds some Chinese reppers can? Stick to the ICHS. You'll save yourself a lot of headache.

 

[txrob779]

Ok, we have lots of great experiance chiming in here but, sounds like the noob has spent TOO much time reading and spin doctoring in his head,,,,unless you have great eyes, have a loupe or hold a GMT up to your face CHS vs. ICNS (lets think sa3135) makes absolutely NO bearing on a great rep IMO...i agree with

Cartel base (either EXPII or a 1675)
NO GEN DIAL...this is an expensive non issue for me
Gen crown & tube, depeding on what model you are having built
CG's massaged
Correct bracelet and clasp
WSO bezel and insert...
Clone a2836 with a service

and your all set, I figure about 4 bills in the GMT as described....

Enjoy

 

[levelmanroger]

CHS movements will be an expensive nightmare.
And unless you plan to take it to the AD or send it to the RSS for service, who's really going to spot the hand stack flaw?
You have to 1) have the watch close to your face and still to see it, and 2) know what the CHS order is - which 90%+ of people who own the gen of this watch couldn't even tell you.
Good luck with your build. I hope your dad has a box full of those old gens to leave you one day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sardonix]

What is the use of a GMT Master thread without pictures?!?! Please Post your Rep or Gen GMT Masters!

I could by this gen from 1991 in a nice worn quality from first owner.
Never polished!
Took it, love it.

 

[grejyedi]

unless you have great eyes, have a loupe or hold a GMT up to your face CHS vs. ICNS (lets think sa3135) makes absolutely NO bearing on a great rep IMO

What I would like is a rep that does the same functionality as the Rolex when i am traveling, ie I can change the hour hand easily.

Thats why CHS is the holy grail

 

[wat44]

You are kidding. The ICH changes gmt as easily as changing the date or time.

 

[jsmn4vu]

You are kidding. The ICH changes gmt as easily as changing the date or time.

That it does. However ... GMT never changes, while the zone your are in can, so the ability to adjust the hour hand independently, as opposed to resetting the time then having to reset the GMT hand (which has deviated from GMT as a result of setting the time), is worth its weight in gold (well, almost).

 

[wat44]

Huh ???

The ICH DOES change the GMT hand indepenantly of the hour hand!

 

[Bigjule111]

This is the one that View attachment 4053View attachment 4054I finish putting together. Has gen dial gen crown and tube gen insert gen case gen jubilee and Clark xstal. Had a gen plexi but cracked it by accident. Its been fun Putting it together. I say take ure time and stay on vrf and eBay to source your gen parts!

 

[jsmn4vu]

Huh ???

The ICH DOES change the GMT hand indepenantly of the hour hand!

Of course it does, as I agreed with you above. My point is, that is the less preferred approach, as compared with the hour hand adjusting independently.

 

[grejyedi]

That it does. However ... GMT never changes, while the zone your are in can, so the ability to adjust the hour hand independently, as opposed to resetting the time then having to reset the GMT hand (which has deviated from GMT as a result of setting the time), is worth its weight in gold (well, almost).

Thanks - you save me from saying something rude.

Australia does have 30 min time zone differences so ig doesn't work there

 

[jsmn4vu]

Thanks - you save me from saying something rude.

Australia does have 30 min time zone differences so ig doesn't work there

Yep. Somewhat ironically, the GMT analog in my collection that does allow setting the hour hand independently in 1/2-hour increments is a quartz Timex.