NEW! 1675 GMT case set offering from Raffles.

[1016 lover]

Really good work bro, the result is quite nice.

I can recommend to you the tool below for crimping hands collars. I use it a lot even on correct size collars after they get stretched from repeated removals and reinstalls. Just find a slightly smaller hole, place the hand and gently squeeze. Perfect crimp in seconds, no damage.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808113643596.html?spm=a2g0n.order_detail.order_detail_item.4.6208f19c2y5hMV&_gl=1*rtxg8o*_gcl_au*MTYzNzM4MTc1Ni4xNzM2NDI0NDY0*_ga*MTEzOTg1NTQ1MTc0MTMzLjE3MzY0MjQ0NTQwNTc.*_ga_VED1YSGNC7*MTczOTM3NjMwMy4yMS4xLjE3MzkzNzYzNzEuNTkuMC4w&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

Cheers

This was in my basket for a long time and now, thing to order, thanks for the tip

 

[geoffdragon]

I have the same one, great little tool.

Which size did you go for please?

 

[Geonor]

Which size did you go for please?

0.2-1.5 is the one I have.

 

[1016 lover]

That sad that bivintage hands need an adjustment, they are nice and relatively cheap, I like the second hand really sharp, not rounded as other supplier

 

[turbo911]

my current 1675 project. Target is a RCG long E
gen crystal, retaining ring and bezel installed.
still need to install the gen crown and better datewheel. Also have gen bracelet and gen long E dial but will not cut the feet. also have a 1570 + GMT conversion parts lying around, maybe with the gen dial worth a try. but then i need gen hands.... never ending story...



or with black insert

 

[WatchN3RD]

I'm also on a mission to complete a Long E or Mark II, but I keep screwing up my hz 6460 movements. Decided to mock up the movement holder, clamp, and screw fitment with parts I already damaged.
-destroyed BiVintage insert
-scratched Raffles dial
-broken movement and scratched crystal

I'll switch out all the parts once I get the stem length right, but I just needed some motivation. After a few years of no issues, the keyless and date wheels on the HZ6460s have come back to haunt me with a vengeance

 

[geoffdragon]

My 16570 franken.....

This is a Raffles case, gen bezel, dial and hands, 3186 clone movement, 6mm rep crown.

I tried to find a crystal that would be wide enough for the bezel to friction fit and still fit the case....I couldn't, so it's the Raffles crystal, some PTFE tape, and the bezel is glued (currently with hypo cement, but will probably go Gorilla glue when I'm happy).

The 24 hour hand is needs reseating as its slightly misaligned.

The 3186 does fit, but I had widen the internals of the case with my Dremel. And the dial is slightly away from the rehault, but as it's a gen dial I don't mind that.

 

[aphmars13]

I'm also on a mission to complete a Long E or Mark II, but I keep screwing up my hz 6460 movements. Decided to mock up the movement holder, clamp, and screw fitment with parts I already damaged.
-destroyed BiVintage insert
-scratched Raffles dial
-broken movement and scratched crystal

I'll switch out all the parts once I get the stem length right, but I just needed some motivation. After a few years of no issues, the keyless and date wheels on the HZ6460s have come back to haunt me with a vengeance

I have a lot of problems with this movement. I have disassembled and reassembled this watch so many times because of the problems with the date change. I think it's really bad quality. I ended up damaging the watch... I won't buy it again.

 

[EnryDJ36]

I have a lot of problems with this movement. I have disassembled and reassembled this watch so many times because of the problems with the date change. I think it's really bad quality. I ended up damaging the watch... I won't buy it again.

The HZ6460 is a low quality movement for me when building the 1675 I broke two of them, both reinserting the stem. Terrible quality, in the end I opted for an original ETA movement and used the Chinese parts only for the GMT function so it works perfectly, the cost is certainly higher but there is no comparison

 

[aphmars13]

The HZ6460 is a low quality movement for me when building the 1675 I broke two of them, both reinserting the stem. Terrible quality, in the end I opted for an original ETA movement and used the Chinese parts only for the GMT function so it works perfectly, the cost is certainly higher but there is no comparison

There's sure to be a way to upgrade the movement on this site. Are the parts to be modified recoverable from this rotten movement or are they as rotten as the others?

 

[EnryDJ36]

There's sure to be a way to upgrade the movement on this site. Are the parts to be modified recoverable from this rotten movement or are they as rotten as the others?

It will probably be improved and someone will know more, as for the HZ parts that are used for the GMT modification, they are functional, I have mounted them for a year now and they work perfectly

 

[369mafia]

In convo with Raffles today , asking him if he would consider doing a dark brown tropical dial with gold print . He is unsure if there would be any interest from the community. I think it would be a nice addition to his line and offering a tropical gmt dial would be unique. not many offer one. The min is 50 pcs for an order. I think we can handle that. He does not expect everyone to commit to buying one or we need to have 50 buyers , but just to gauge interest. I think the interest would be there.

drop a like if you would be interested in seeing a tropical brown gmt dial to fit this case.


gen pics for clicks. - it would be similar to this. but with a light almond tone lume.

 

[matzemedia]

It is a great achievement that you are in such good contact with Raffle and always negotiate such good products with him. Many thanks for that.

dark brown tropical dial with gold print

This combination is not interesting for me. I have two other suggestions:

1. real gilt dial, where only the brown (or black) will be printed. The lettering and minute indices are not printed, so that the brass from the dial shows through and builds the lettering and minute indices.
2. a 1675 dial (as on the GEN photo), brown dial and white, slightly silver lettering print

 

[369mafia]

It is a great achievement that you are in such good contact with Raffle and always negotiate such good products with him. Many thanks for that.



This combination is not interesting for me. I have two other suggestions:

1. real gilt dial, where only the brown (or black) will be printed. The lettering and minute indices are not printed, so that the brass from the dial shows through and builds the lettering and minute indices.
2. a 1675 dial (as on the GEN photo), brown dial and white, slightly silver lettering print

He could do them with white text if there was enough interest.

he did one tropical with white text however I think the gold print would be better received.

Generally , We know why (or how) a gilt dial turns tropical ,

Matte dials dont turn tropical. The exception being the 1680 red and very very few 5513 do. Why is that? I have not seen any other matte dial models turn tropical. Is it the paint they used ? if so, you think they would use that same paint on all the dials of that year. so why did some change and others not.

 

[matzemedia]

Matte dials dont turn tropical. The exception being the 1680 red and very very few 5513 do. Why is that? I have not seen any other matte dial models turn tropical. Is it the paint they used ? if so, you think they would use that same paint on all the dials of that year. so why did some change and others not.

Well as I read in different sites it is a mix of Lacquer, environment of the watch. I asked ChatGpt and here the answer, that makes sense in my eyes:

Older Rolex dials can turn "tropical" due to the breakdown of materials used in their production. The term "tropical" refers to a dial that has aged to a brown, caramel, or even chocolate hue over time, often highly sought after by collectors. This effect is primarily caused by several factors:

1. UV Exposure & Heat​

• Extended exposure to sunlight and high temperatures can cause the dial paint, lacquer, and finish to oxidize or fade unevenly.
• Tropical dials are more commonly found in watches worn in warmer, sunnier climates.

2. Material & Paint Composition​

• Rolex used different paint formulations over the years, and some batches were more prone to color degradation.
• The black dials of vintage Rolex Submariners, GMT-Masters, and Daytonas, for example, sometimes age into brown tones due to chemical instability in the black pigment.

3. Lacquer & Coating Breakdown​

• The clear lacquer layer that protects the dial can degrade over time, allowing the paint underneath to be exposed to air, humidity, and light, leading to oxidation.

4. Radium & Tritium Lume Aging​

• Older Rolex dials used radium (until the 1960s) and tritium (until the 1990s) for luminescence.
• These radioactive materials can interact with the surrounding paint and lacquer, accelerating the aging process and contributing to a tropical effect.

5. Environmental Conditions & Humidity​

• Watches worn in humid conditions (e.g., tropical regions) may have experienced micro-moisture seepage, which can affect the dial’s surface over decades.
• This is why some vintage Rolex watches with imperfectly sealed cases (such as earlier Submariners and Explorers) exhibit tropical dials.

 

[WatchN3RD]

He could do them with white text if there was enough interest.

he did one tropical with white text however I think the gold print would be better received.

Generally , We know why (or how) a gilt dial turns tropical ,

Matte dials dont turn tropical. The exception being the 1680 red and very very few 5513 do. Why is that? I have not seen any other matte dial models turn tropical. Is it the paint they used ? if so, you think they would use that same paint on all the dials of that year. so why did some change and others not.

Just curious, why can't he pad print the black or brown part only? If he already has the design, it seems he could just do the cliche of the negative image used for the text.

I've also seen some brown 1675 matt dials. Perhaps only the mark 1.

 

[369mafia]

Just curious, why can't he pad print the black or brown part only? If he already has the design, it seems he could just do the cliche of the negative image used for the text.

I've also seen some brown 1675 matt dials. Perhaps only the mark 1.

that I do not know. you would think that the inverse would not much more difficult. however I feel that would require an entire new set of templates to go neg rev. gilt. no idea where he gets them done or the costs involved.
all I know that his min order is 50 pcs

 

[1016 lover]

that I do not know. you would think that the inverse would not much more difficult. however I feel that would require an entire new set of templates to go neg rev. gilt. no idea where he gets them done or the costs involved.
all I know that his min order is 50 pcs

It would be nice that raffle offer dial with no varnish as a test dial I received from him, will post picture, the dial is much more plaisant without the thick Matt varnish....

 

[369mafia]

UPDATE:
RAFFLES IS willing to do a run of brown tropical gmt dials with gold print but he keeps saying with yellow lume.
I would prefer white over yellow because that yellow not it for me.

or a lighted toasted tone like he did on the caramel tropical dial

 

[WatchN3RD]

Gold print but not gilt? I'm only a true gilt or white print guy, but I definitely prefer white lume instead of yellow on all dials. It's not hard to yellow or darken something but you can't make yellow turn white!