I am happy to present my latest build. The Franken Rolex 116618 GMT2 (Green Dial) :B:
I started this Project probably back in April this year when I was seriously considering acquiring the gen version of this, but I concluded that I couldn’t justify the cost for a watch that I wouldn’t be wearing daily to work (can’t show up my bosses 116613LB two tone… hehe… can’t let him think that he pays me too much…) so I started hunting around for parts – I was a man on a Franken mission.
After months of painstakingly collecting the parts, shipping delays and anxiety as parts cross into that customs vortex “Germany”, then patiently waiting for the watchsmith and the ever-present last minute build hiccups – 6 months later and bang! Here it is, just came back to me today...
Gen Specs:
Overall I am really happy with it – I haven’t seen a Franken like this before on RWI or RG, but even if there has been, I feel a real sense of pride in this specific build.
Some build pics first then some shots mounted on the gold wrapped bracelet. I love it – but just don’t ask me how much it all cost me (my wallet is still groaning…)
Special thank you shout out to the watchsmith who made it happen and the various contacts here in RWI and RG who helped me source the parts and answered some of my dumb questions. You know who you are!
And believe it or not, I have a bunch of other crazy Rolex and AP Franken builds coming up in the next month or so… dare I say even crazier than this one! Watch this space for more…
I started this Project probably back in April this year when I was seriously considering acquiring the gen version of this, but I concluded that I couldn’t justify the cost for a watch that I wouldn’t be wearing daily to work (can’t show up my bosses 116613LB two tone… hehe… can’t let him think that he pays me too much…) so I started hunting around for parts – I was a man on a Franken mission.
After months of painstakingly collecting the parts, shipping delays and anxiety as parts cross into that customs vortex “Germany”, then patiently waiting for the watchsmith and the ever-present last minute build hiccups – 6 months later and bang! Here it is, just came back to me today...
Gen Specs:
- Gen Dial (I chose the green dial as I think it is more interesting than the black dial and is characteristic to the gold GMT2 only, unlike the black dial version which is similar to the black dial submariner)
- Gen 18k hands
- Gen 18k Bezel Assembly
- Gen Ceramic Insert
- Gen 18k Crown
- Gen Tube
- Gen GMT2 Crystal
- Gen Date wheel (I opted for the standard black over the green datewheel version)
- Gen Rolex 3186 GMT (Bang! – this is the icing on the cake. I was going to add a tickleshoes yuki GMT2 hybrid CHS but a unique opportunity came up to get the real deal so I took it)
- BP Gold Wrapped case and bracelet (the one with the correct gold colour! – not the super bright yellow, nor the coppery yellow colour found on other versions)
- BP Stem
Overall I am really happy with it – I haven’t seen a Franken like this before on RWI or RG, but even if there has been, I feel a real sense of pride in this specific build.
Some build pics first then some shots mounted on the gold wrapped bracelet. I love it – but just don’t ask me how much it all cost me (my wallet is still groaning…)
Special thank you shout out to the watchsmith who made it happen and the various contacts here in RWI and RG who helped me source the parts and answered some of my dumb questions. You know who you are!
And believe it or not, I have a bunch of other crazy Rolex and AP Franken builds coming up in the next month or so… dare I say even crazier than this one! Watch this space for more…
