How I built my Franken Submariner 16610 JF

[mari115]

Oh great pic for comparison.
Actually I can distinguish only between B3 and the rest, without having all of them next to each other that’s why there is only two main green versions available where I can differentiate.
Not sure but WSO on eBay might have a B3 version available, problem is that they have horrible pearls. JF is rather dark b4/b5 I would say

i see, thank you so much, yeah this comparison seems incredibly helpful, i am desperatley looking for a b3 insert (not gen ofc, they go for 2k $ or more, and it's not worth it) but all i can find is b4/b5 or even darker colors (olive) which are not my favorites. i'll look for them on ebay, i'll let you know!

 

[mari115]

Oh great pic for comparison.
Actually I can distinguish only between B3 and the rest, without having all of them next to each other that’s why there is only two main green versions available where I can differentiate.
Not sure but WSO on eBay might have a B3 version available, problem is that they have horrible pearls. JF is rather dark b4/b5 I would say

the closest one from WSO is this: https://www.ebay.it/itm/GREEN-BEZEL...=item488fbbae00:g:y-0AAOSw-gFbpAAm:rk:11:pf:0 but it's more like a B2

then the closest one to lime is this one: https://www.ebay.it/itm/50th-Annive...=item566da488c5:g:CkIAAOSw2XFUgPCs:rk:20:pf:0 but still it's far from being a lime B3.

this is gen: https://www.ebay.it/itm/Rolex-Subma...=item26047b1897:g:0nAAAOSw-Ghbrmmu:rk:34:pf:0

 

[Holla09]

mega12 is there any special trick for getting the bezel assembly snapped back in place?

 

[Holla09]

 

[Holla09]

Taking it off was easy but it won’t just snap back in place so I think I’m missing something

 

[mega12]

Taking it off was easy but it won’t just snap back in place so I think I’m missing something

Hey man, not sure if the tension ring is missing but usually it snaps even in without this as well. I start from 12 o clock side and make sure that click spring fits into bezel first, then I’m just using my hands from both sides up to down. Maybe you should remove the insert first, then you can put more pressure on it without being afraid of destroying something. What kind of bezel assembly is it?

 

[mega12]

the closest one from WSO is this: https://www.ebay.it/itm/GREEN-BEZEL...=item488fbbae00:g:y-0AAOSw-gFbpAAm:rk:11:pf:0 but it's more like a B2

then the closest one to lime is this one: https://www.ebay.it/itm/50th-Annive...=item566da488c5:g:CkIAAOSw2XFUgPCs:rk:20:pf:0 but still it's far from being a lime B3.

this is gen: https://www.ebay.it/itm/Rolex-Subma...=item26047b1897:g:0nAAAOSw-Ghbrmmu:rk:34:pf:0

Think I have a WSO one lying around here and can take a picture later on. Color is ok but pearl is really not good. Have no experience with roleyshop...

 

[mega12]

That’s WSO

 

[Dino2018]

mega12 the WSO insert color looks good, maybe you can buy a LN gen insert and put the gen pearl on the WSO.

 

[mega12]

...could be an option. Not sure if diameter of pearl fits to gen one, but probably yes

 

[mari115]

That’s WSO

i see, nice, but sadly it's not the lime one, beautiful nonetheless!

 

[Holla09]

 

[Holla09]

mega12 can you tell if the LN insert is genuine? I purchased it on here as a gen insert but the back of the pearl looks identical to the stock LV insert.
and thanks for the info about snapping the bezel on. It worked better without the insert installed. The click spring was keeping it from snapping down

 

[Dino2018]

mega12 can you tell if the LN insert is genuine? I purchased it on here as a gen insert but the back of the pearl looks identical to the stock LV insert.
and thanks for the info about snapping the bezel on. It worked better without the insert installed. The click spring was keeping it from snapping down

I would say LN insert is gen, you can see the four small dents in the pearl back, there is a good comparison picture in the page 2 of this very same thread.

 

[mega12]

I would say LN insert is gen, you can see the four small dents in the pearl back, there is a good comparison picture in the page 2 of this very same thread.

Yes seems gen for me as well.
No sights of glueing or something
But zoomed pictures would always be better to identify those little details

 

[Dino2018]

mega12 your excellent post has been trully inspirational. I just bought all the parts at Startime to build a 16610 lug holes case. All my experience was with a Cartel case, so I must say that the build quality of the ST is superb!

 

[mega12]

Dino2018 great to see! Did you manage to buy the 703 crown - which might not be a truly 703 by the way

Which bezel assembly are you using?

 

[manodeoro]

Decide on your own... Here we go.

mega12 ... I really like your topic and subscribed to

Nice pics ... though some comparison pics of the crowns in the exact same position and taken from the same view side would have been more significant.

I would say that, apart from the cheapest crowns that are easily pointed out, one of the differences between a Gen and most of Rep crowns is the case-side chamfer (the one that sits close to the case when the crown is on).
The edges of the case-side chamfer on a Gen crown (and TC too IMO) looks more "sharpened" and the angle seems different.
If you look closely to the Gen and TC crowns the chamfer is sharp while on the JF crown it is slightly rounded.

On my last build I have deeply reworked the case-side chamfer of the crown and, IMHO, that little modd deeply modify the look at first sight (though the Rep crown still can be identified from close inspection).
Here's a pic of the reworked crown on my 5500 build.

I did the same on my son's 16800 Comex build (too bad I have no pics yet) and the last person who saw it said "the Gen crown changes everything".

 

[Dino2018]

Dino2018 great to see! Did you manage to buy the 703 crown - which might not be a truly 703 by the way

Which bezel assembly are you using?

Hello mega12 ! the bezel assembly, and in fact all the parts are supplied by ST. Where there were option to a "Swiss superior" quality part I toke it! It was not cheap, as including shipping and taxes it went well over the 400 US, but the fit and finish is beautiful.

For the crown I'm awaiting for the Green, and being gen is not so important for me if 703 or 704 as the price is really good. I have to save somewhere!

I bought from Mary a SH3135 movm't and I will collect some gen and Swiss parts and rebuild it. It will be my first try at dissassembling a movement but is an exciting challenge!

 

[mega12]

manodeoro, you are right, this is indeed different. But as long as you don’t know this, you won’t notice it

Dino2018, cool. Personally I love ST case, although CGs are bit short. Only ST bezel assembly I would replace. But just my personal opinion.
I might have a 3135-145 autowind module leftover.