Introduction
This GMT II is the incorrect hand stack version. With its brother, the correct hand stack version being out of production, it is the best GMT II rep currently available, IMHO. The dial markings, date font, date mag, date window position, rehaut depth and thickness, crystal height and beveling, case, bracelet are most accurate. It's no surprise because it comes from the same factory as the noobmariner. This factory makes some of the best rollie reps including YM, Explorer II, GMT II correct hand stack and incorrect hand stack, and of course the noobmariner.
The Weaknesses
This watch has a few flaws, all of them fixable:
- wrong crown. It's a little oversized and has the wrong shape. But the teeth definition is excellent. I'm not going to change it. I'll leave it to the eventual owner (By-Tor) to take care of it if he wants to.
- wrong CG shape, I'll trim the inside. That's all is needed. There's no need to reshape the outside
- the bezel insert has the wrong font and colors for pepsi and red/black. By-Tor already bought the inserts. I will provide the mod instruction here.
- the bezel teeth are OK. But I like to see longer and sharper teeth. I'll replace the stock bezel with one from a cn sub. The side-effect is the bezel can be easily popped off by hand. You can change the bezel insert easily. I call it the "Transformer GMT". It's like having 2 or 3 GMT II in one watch. What you give up is the clicking when you turn the bezel.
The Process
The watch before modding:
Removing the bezel. This is the scariest part.
Masking-tape the bezel and the case to protect them from getting scratched
Pry a utility razor between the bezel and the case. Be really slow and careful. It is basically a noobmariner bezel and case. Many know how hard it is to pop the bezel. I almost lost a finger trying one time. We want to separate the bezel from the case a little at a time.
Finally I got the bezel out, couldn't help bending it though. In the process I used a flat head screw driver to help pry the bezel off once I got a good gap from the razor blade. Use some wooden stick to cushion the prying so you don't scratch the case.
Reshaping the CGs.
Prepare to remove the tube. First take out the tube gasket before sticking the rat's tail file in
Remove the tube with a rat's tail file
File the inside of the CGs with a flat needle file
Basically done.
Cyclop wasn't level with date window. Popped the crystal, re-aligned and re-installed the crystal. Now the cyclop is level with the date window.
Prep'ping the replacement bezel.
Compare the stock bezel with cn sub bezel. The stock bezel has shorter and pointier teeth.
Look at the longer and sharper teeth on the cn sub bezel.
The gear teeth on the bottom have to go
File them off with a large flat file
Gear teeth gone
Get a replacement insert from JeweleryOut for $10 + $5 shipping. Mill off the ridge on the back like this
Don't mill off too much otherwise the insert can't snap in to the bezel and you have to glue it. Mill this much and that's enough
and it will snap in and fit perfectly
To fit the bezel on, bend the retaining wire to a pentagon.
Make the wire look like this from the side. It helps to pull the bezel close to the case
Fit the bezel on without the insert.
Check if there's any gap between the case and the bezel. If yes, file the bottom of the bezel some more.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the transformer "GMT II"
Pepsi insert on
Switching bezel. Just pop the bezel off by hand.
Red/Black insert on
Bracelet back on, showtime.
I'm happy how it turned out. I had a lot of fun and some scare in the process. I hope you enjoy this post.
-bk
This GMT II is the incorrect hand stack version. With its brother, the correct hand stack version being out of production, it is the best GMT II rep currently available, IMHO. The dial markings, date font, date mag, date window position, rehaut depth and thickness, crystal height and beveling, case, bracelet are most accurate. It's no surprise because it comes from the same factory as the noobmariner. This factory makes some of the best rollie reps including YM, Explorer II, GMT II correct hand stack and incorrect hand stack, and of course the noobmariner.
The Weaknesses
This watch has a few flaws, all of them fixable:
- wrong crown. It's a little oversized and has the wrong shape. But the teeth definition is excellent. I'm not going to change it. I'll leave it to the eventual owner (By-Tor) to take care of it if he wants to.
- wrong CG shape, I'll trim the inside. That's all is needed. There's no need to reshape the outside
- the bezel insert has the wrong font and colors for pepsi and red/black. By-Tor already bought the inserts. I will provide the mod instruction here.
- the bezel teeth are OK. But I like to see longer and sharper teeth. I'll replace the stock bezel with one from a cn sub. The side-effect is the bezel can be easily popped off by hand. You can change the bezel insert easily. I call it the "Transformer GMT". It's like having 2 or 3 GMT II in one watch. What you give up is the clicking when you turn the bezel.
The Process
The watch before modding:
Removing the bezel. This is the scariest part.
Masking-tape the bezel and the case to protect them from getting scratched
Pry a utility razor between the bezel and the case. Be really slow and careful. It is basically a noobmariner bezel and case. Many know how hard it is to pop the bezel. I almost lost a finger trying one time. We want to separate the bezel from the case a little at a time.
Finally I got the bezel out, couldn't help bending it though. In the process I used a flat head screw driver to help pry the bezel off once I got a good gap from the razor blade. Use some wooden stick to cushion the prying so you don't scratch the case.
Reshaping the CGs.
Prepare to remove the tube. First take out the tube gasket before sticking the rat's tail file in
Remove the tube with a rat's tail file
File the inside of the CGs with a flat needle file
Basically done.
Cyclop wasn't level with date window. Popped the crystal, re-aligned and re-installed the crystal. Now the cyclop is level with the date window.
Prep'ping the replacement bezel.
Compare the stock bezel with cn sub bezel. The stock bezel has shorter and pointier teeth.
Look at the longer and sharper teeth on the cn sub bezel.
The gear teeth on the bottom have to go
File them off with a large flat file
Gear teeth gone
Get a replacement insert from JeweleryOut for $10 + $5 shipping. Mill off the ridge on the back like this
Don't mill off too much otherwise the insert can't snap in to the bezel and you have to glue it. Mill this much and that's enough
and it will snap in and fit perfectly
To fit the bezel on, bend the retaining wire to a pentagon.
Make the wire look like this from the side. It helps to pull the bezel close to the case
Fit the bezel on without the insert.
Check if there's any gap between the case and the bezel. If yes, file the bottom of the bezel some more.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the transformer "GMT II"
Pepsi insert on
Switching bezel. Just pop the bezel off by hand.
Red/Black insert on
Bracelet back on, showtime.
I'm happy how it turned out. I had a lot of fun and some scare in the process. I hope you enjoy this post.
-bk
