New Ebay 1:1 16710 Case Review

[KJ2020]

Update concerning SEL

We've all experienced SEL issues and many of us have tried some various techniques to improve a look. I'd like to share a few things I learned over the years that might help others improve their look.

I'm making a 16713 with my case and finally have all the parts now but the bracelet I was going to use was a Noob TT and the gold didn't look so great. I had tried an ARF 116613 TT bracelet previously (a real beauty) but didn't get a good fit straight away.

So today I had another go at it and after trying a bunch of different springbars and some tape and bending and sanding mods, I was able to achieve a nice result.

The ARF bracelet will take a 2.0mm springbar but on the shoulderless bars the tips are too big to both fit in the lug holes and extend fully. I had used a 1.5mm bar with about 6 layers of narrow bracelet tape on one long axis for the Noob and it was a reasonably decent fit. This technique allows you to force the bar to one side of the SEL hole (raising the SEL up), and makes the fit solid. It also provides smaller diameter tips that can fit into the lug holes without having to be centered.

So with that in mind, I wondered if a 2.0mm springbar with shoulders and a smaller diameter tip would at all be feasible. The ARF SEL hole was big enough to also fit one layer of tape which would serve the two purposes mentioned above.

The springbars I used were from ST, the part number is on the bag. These are very nice, solid and strong.

You can stick tape on the bar right from the roll and cut off the excess.

So on the initial fit attempt there was some rotational play in the SEL that created a little gap to the case if the bracelet was pulled down. Two layers of narrow tape on this vertical part of the case lip fixed that.

Then both sides of the bar tips wouldn't go in the holes because the bottom of the SEL was pushed back a little. So I bent the tip a little but even that wasn't enough.

So I began sanding a little of the tip off from the backside to let that tip extend into the hole. After a few attempts, it worked.

Now everything fits tightly and the SEL recess is OK.

The view from the bottom isn't the prettiest sight around but I know it's not going to bother me any.

I'll take this look every time.

With a little tinkering and some simple mods you can often make some substantial improvements. Ofc this result really needs the fake springbar tip mod to finish it properly. Ah the joys of repping, haha.

BTW if you are wondering I am going to use the ARF Glidelock clasp on this build. I've used a Glidelock on my gen 16710 for years, what an awesome improvement.

 

[APjumbo]

Kj2020
You have an unusual amount of patients for this stuff.
If I tried this the case would be across the room.

 

[KJ2020]

Kj2020
You have an unusual amount of patients for this stuff.
If I tried this the case would be across the room.

I just keep looking at this for inspiration bro. It's flawless.

 

[Perpetual]

I just keep looking at this for inspiration bro. It's flawless.

I'm like this build already as I see your going two tone on this! (That was my intention with this case as well)

Subscribed! Keeping my eye on this really want to see this end result

 

[APjumbo]

Here is the fit of the WSO 18k plated bracelet and below is the Italian bracelet in case anyone was interested.
I haven’t worked on the endlinks at all, need to do some reading before I bugger them.

 

[KJ2020]

Here is the fit of the WSO 18k plated bracelet and below is the Italian bracelet in case anyone was interested.
I haven’t worked on the endlinks at all, need to do some reading before I bugger them.

Those folded end links can be reworked. They can be bent (opened or closed) some, and the curve to the case can be carefully shaved for a good fit. Inserting a toothpick outside of and next to the springbar collars provides nice resistance for closing a link down - keeps you from over-bending and offers varying depths of bending along the toothpick taper. Use a sturdy flat piece of wood or thick plastic to press down the tops.

Usually the outer forward "link" edges need a little shaving to bring the center in tighter. I did one on a dremel but using 400 - 600 grit paper on a round tool handle also works and is a safer way to start out. Practice on a junk end link!

In general bend first, then shave as bending changes the contact points. Sometimes you might need to shave a little to be able to bend down though. I've taken material off the bottom of end links also to de-conflict with the caseback. I was able to keep the basic shape and the number stamps intact.

 

[shadys]

A little late to the thread and here’s my BP 16710 built. Went a long way but I’m happy with the results now. If your interested:

My BP 16710 Franken on a low budget

Managed to put this piece together while I was in China and now enjoying it in Canada The build consist of: - BP 16710 watch - Gen 16710 coke insert - Gen crystal no AR - Gen GMT hand & aftermarket second, minute and hour hands to fit the VR3186 GMT movement - VR3186 GMT movement (CHS) - JF...

forum.replica-watch.info

 

[Danza1813]

Evening everyone. So my parts have started to arrive. Case arrives tomorrow all being well.
Gen ‘Swiss made’ dial
Gen 604 crown
Gen bezel
Gen hour hand
Gaskets and rubber seals
EBay case
3186 clone

All I have left to source are the hands. I got a Gen hour hand but can’t stretch my budget build to a full set of gen hands. Who can recommend the best aftermarket hands, I know the lume won’t match the SuperLume but I’ll sacrifice that until I can afford a full hand set.

 

[RDRoss]

Alright already!!! The FOMO has gotten the best of me. Off to order a polar dial and handset. Damn this forum for giving more watch lust.

Note to self, remember to sell a few pieces so the better half doesn’t catch on.

 

[KJ2020]

Evening everyone. So my parts have started to arrive. Case arrives tomorrow all being well.
Gen ‘Swiss made’ dial
Gen 604 crown
Gen bezel
Gen hour hand
Gaskets and rubber seals
EBay case
3186 clone

All I have left to source are the hands. I got a Gen hour hand but can’t stretch my budget build to a full set of gen hands. Who can recommend the best aftermarket hands, I know the lume won’t match the SuperLume but I’ll sacrifice that until I can afford a full hand set.

Take a look at these hands. I bought the gold ones and they looked decent. I won't be using them as I got some gen hands but I'll probably get a silver set for another build. I don't like WSO hands and both ST and Esslinger.com have the wrong handstack hole sizes. Go figure.

Watch Material

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Also since you are doing a 16570 you really should brush out the lugs to a higher point so the unbrushed part won't show next to the bezel. I showed how to do that earlier in this thread.

You can add some chamfers too. Both the GMT and EXP have them.

Next to my unpolished 1989 gen

 

[KJ2020]

I shaved the rehaut 0.15mm. It could have stood a tad more off but I didn't want the second hand any higher relative to the rehaut ledge. Note that this does not affect the sitting height of the crystal which is dependent only on the crystal gasket.

This is really easy to do, takes like 10 minutes. It also makes the rehaut ledge wider, a good thing as the stock ledge is too skinny. 400 grit to lower it, 800 grit to finish it. I like to leave a little brush grain on the ledge.

Before and after next to gen

 

[brane]

Incredible this is motivating and honestly the only thing holding me back.

 

[Danza1813]

@KJ2020 my case arrived today and I’m blown away. Any tips for best creating the chamfers?

 

[KJ2020]

@KJ2020 my case arrived today and I’m blown away. Any tips for best creating the chamfers?

Depending on how wide you want to make them, a dremel with a 600 grit sanding drum is a good way to get a nice cut started. Ofc practice first on a junk case but this is not nearly as hard or risky to do as you might think if you have a steady hand.

Just barely contact the lug top and side corner and swipe the drum along over as long a stroke as you can while maintaining the correct depth and angle. It doesn't take much off at a time if you are careful. Don't worry if it's slightly uneven, the next step with smooth it all down nicely.

Before initial cut

Nice cut started

Others do it with a file after anchoring the case in a vice. I haven't tried it that way but it would take the same technique - work the file along the corner in a series of strokes while maintaining a correct pressure and angle.

Or you can just do it all with small strips of sandpaper rolled around a a toothpick or a springbar tool, etc. I did my first one this way but it took so long I decided to jump start the rest with a dremel.

After you get a cut started, then just work it away as described above. Start with 400 grit but use it lightly until you get a feel for how much material it removes. Then progress to finer grits 600 800 1000 2000 5000 7000, etc. Finish with buffing wheel polish.

It's important to keep the angle right and the sandpaper contact point to a minimum. Don't let it roll on top onto the brushing or to the polished side or those will have to be touched up. It will happen and touch up will be necessary but keeping it to a minimum means less extra work later.

I do the extra top lug brushing first.

But these two mods are the type that improving one can adversely impact the other so you need to go back and forth until the border between rough brushing and smooth chamfer is distinct.

 

[Pinion Minion]

That's fantastic- thanks so much.

They need a bust of your likeness at RWI World Headquarters in Guangzhou ..

 

[Danza1813]

Absolutely fantastic response. You need an award for this man. Thanks so much.

 

[KJ2020]

Absolutely fantastic response. You need an award for this man. Thanks so much.

Haha, thanks guys but truly I'm just a tinkerer who enjoys new challenges!

True modding masters like @tripdog can make a case look original. Look at this masterpiece. Lugs to die for!

[SOLD] - Gen' spec' 16610 case, Rolex 1675 Khanjar dials from Vietnam.

High quality 16610 case made to genuine specifications, N serial number engraved between lugs. The case will take all gen parts, and is supplied with a tube compatible with 703 & 704 crowns, a sapphire crystal with LEC, no AR, full bezel assembly and case back with all stampings in place. Bezel...

forum.replica-watch.info

 

[FaekieOne]

Sorry for a noob question, but where can I purchase Clark crystals and can I purchase the gaskets for them from the same place?

 

[APjumbo]

Clarks comes from eBay
Clarkwatchparts

@FaekieOne

 

[Michaelarena89]

Happy new year everyone !
Thank you so much for creating such anziani content and pushing me to try my first build! Thank you Kn 202 for your so much useful informations and time. I have now realized how much stuff I could learn and source from this specific thread.

At the moment my build should be the following :
-ebay case
- gen spec crystal 25. 295C no LEC no AR wit gasket 2.7 mm
- aftermarket retaining ring
- aftermarket bezel ( probably the german supplier posted priorly )
- insert…still don’t know since I do own a faded bp insert which Id like to put in but as I remember it may not fit due to excessive diameter. Is there any soecific you re going for?
- dial with hands and movement I’m trying to swap them all in at the moment..movement is SA3186 which is going to be replaced asap with VR3186. About the dial, it scares me a little since it probably need some reduction in order to fit even tho it should be 27.8 mm 1:1.
- bracelet.. i may try to source a decent gen second hand one with clasp and appropriate reference with the “swiss made” dial but probably gonna end up with an ARF from some TD.

I still have many concerns…
What do you guys think?
If one had to source 1 or 2 gen parts which do you think it may be worth the expense?