Planning my first mod on 1655

[jam_27]

While I am enjoying my 1655 (2813 based from BP I was told), I have also started thinking about modding it. Baby steps at first as this would be my first attempt at watch modding and all could go horribly wrong! So I have done some research and need some help from the experts here.

1. I would like to swap the current orange 24 hour hand with a tiger hand. Some info here . My question is will the tiger hand (DG3804B) fit on 2813? This suggests it would, but I would like to verify.
2. I would like to swap my current bezel with the tiger bezel which has the 4 closer to gen. Are the dimensions same and has anyone tried this before?
3. Is there a tutorial on how to remove the 1655 bezel and replace with a new one?
4. While I am at it, I might as well swap the 2813 with a tiger DG3804B which I read is a better movement (basically I am planning to get a tiger 1655v2 watch head with AR hands or these first mod steps). Possible?
5. I would like to keep my current date wheel as it has the correct 6 and 9. Will the DG3804B take the 2813 date wheel?

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[tripdog]

1. If you have a functioning independently adjustable GMT hand then you don't have a DG2813 inside the watch, you have a DG3804B, which is the GMT version of the 2813.

2.No such thing as the 'correct' 4, there were 5 variations of the 1665 bezel, all were slightly different, especially the 4s. As to whether the Tiger bezel will fit, that would depend on its inner diameter, which would need to be the same as the BP bezel inner diameter.

3.Probably, but it's pretty easy to do, just slide a very thin blade (craft knife etc) between the case and the bezel ring, prise it up gently working your way around the bezel ring till it pops off.

4. See 1.

5. See 1.

 

[KJ2020]

In the pics you posted in your link to the watch, your GMT hand is always at the same time as your local hour hand so you may actually have a DG2813 with the extra gear for a (non-independent) GMT hand. You can check by moving the crown to position 2. This is the position in which moving the crown clockwise quicksets the date. Rotate the crown anti-clockwise and see if the GMT hand moves by itself. If it does NOT, then you do indeed have a DG2813, and a DG3804B would be a 1:1 fit into the case. The DG3804B has the independent GMT hand, adjustable as previously described.

Several times I have thought about doing exactly what you are looking into with a Tiger 1655. I like the flat 4 bezel marker a lot more than the pointed one you see on nearly every factory rep. Other than the bezel and a (possibly) better movement, I don't think the quality of the Tiger watch (case edges, bracelet, crystal, cyclops, etc.) will be appreciably better than your $98 DHGate rep. I have read some reviews on them by members and a blogger and there is nothing stellar about them. At the very least you will need a 3rd party crystal with a proper cyclops, and probably a 3rd party bracelet like from Yuki or Ruby's. I'll follow this thread and hope you do pursue your project. If you have specific questions about parts, tripdog is the knowledge master and will steer you right. Good luck!

 

[tripdog]

I clicked on some of the links in your original post. Tiger watches are OK, but I don't believe they make any attempt to get close to genuine dimensions - they use a basic case and make as many watches as possible with it. That said the CGs on the Tiger are pretty good compared to the BP, but the Tiger has a terribly wok like rehaut, and I'm fairly certain a gen spec dial, crystal, bezel etc aren't going to fit.

If your watch is a true BP, then some parts are fairly close to genuine in dimensions, meaning you can use better quality aftermarket crystals, Yuki does a fairly good 1655 bezel ring, Rubys Watch has also sold them in the past. You may also be able to get a gen spec dial in the case with little to no modifications, meaning you can fit a better quality dial.

As far as the movement goes, it looks like your GMT has moved in some pics, so do a test as described above to confirm.

 

[jumpope]

Here's my old 1655 for reference. The hands are all from Rafflestime. I did the mods on the case. The bezel is from...oh...I can't remember where. It has an ETA 2836 in it. FYI...the 1655 did not have an independently adjustable 24-hour hand. I took the gear off mine so it cannot be moved. It's my understanding that the bezel is an early '70's layout and 4.

 

[jam_27]

Tested. I have a functioning independently adjustable GMT hand. So a DG3804B. I plan to open the case this weekend and confirm.
As I am new to watch modding, I do not want to attempt too many things and would like to keep spending to a minimum. More when I gain more confidence. I like the tiger AR hands so I would like to go with them. The movement I have is keeping very good time, so I guess no need to change it this time round. But I do not like the bezel with the 4. Where to get a good case with the gen like bezel these days (so that I have to remove and put a new bezel)?

 

[jam_27]

Here's my old 1655 for reference. The hands are all from Rafflestime. I did the mods on the case. The bezel is from...oh...I can't remember where. It has an ETA 2836 in it.

Now this is getting interesting.

1. I would love to swap the movement to an ETA 2836.
2. Where to get one from? Which hands are compatible?
3. Also can I use the existing BP dial or would I need a new compatible one?
4. Also is the BP crown compatible?

 

[KJ2020]

Now this is getting interesting.

1. I would love to swap the movement to an ETA 2836.
2. Where to get one from? Which hands are compatible?
3. Also can I use the existing BP dial or would I need a new compatible one?
4. Also is the BP crown compatible?

You should have look at this post to see about swapping movement types around. Most likely you would be able to do this. The 2836 GMT movement will come with a stem that you will mate to the existing crown. The dial feet will have to be clipped and new feet glued/soldered on or dial dots used. Hands are available at Raffles dials and Raffles time. This is a little more advanced skill level project.

Swap CHS to ICHS

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GOLD-PLATE...IC-GMT-MOVEMENT-EXACT-AS-2836-2-/283332855516

 

[jumpope]

You can look on rafflestime.com. They have most of what you need to do a reasonable job. They have the hands for the 3804b or the 2836. Just ask. Go to eBay for a look at a 2836. While I have a gen movement, it is not necessary. Look at the Seagull movements. It will do you a great job. https://www.ebay.com/itm/SEAGULL-ST...090895?hash=item4b46d7bccf:g:3NUAAOSwmGZbKx5I.

I have built many vintage watches in the ten years that I have been on the fora and I will give this advice, for what it's worth. Google the history of the watch you are building and find out all you can about it. Make it your watch and not a watch that someone else has built. There are write-ups on every Rolex model. Then choose a base watch, such as Josh's 1655. Now scour eBay and other sites with images of 1655s and choose an image that you can work with, in line with the rep you purchased. For instance, I noticed that the "waist" of a 1655...that is the curve inward on either side of the CGs is tangential to the bezel insert. This makes, virtually, all of the rep cases wrong. That was my first attempt at case modifying and it was a fearful thing. But after you've ruined thousands of dollars worth of watch parts, as many of us old-timers have, you'll get to where it's just a part of this crazy hobby.

The 1655 was, originally, made for the use of miners and others who work out of the daylight, for days at a time, like early sailors on subs. The idea is that they could look at the watch and know if it was day or night outside.

 

[manodeoro]

jam_27 ... enjoy modding time as that's a great hobby ...

The only real problem with you cheap 1655 is that you gave me the idea of getting one to play with it ...
Would you kindly post a link to the seller ?.. I know they are easy to find but most sellers offer dils with "swiss made" and your's has a "t swiss < 25 t" dial ...

And would you please check the diameter of the case ?
If I'm true the 1655 case is 39mm ... so if your case is 40mm you could shave each side of it to make it both "39mm" and "tangent to the bezel" ...
And looking at your pics on the other thread I'm quite certain you can shorten the lugs a little bit ... the holes for the sprinbars will still look well positionned and the case will look thicker so more "genlike" ...

 

[jam_27]

jam_27 ... enjoy modding time as that's a great hobby ...

The only real problem with you cheap 1655 is that you gave me the idea of getting one to play with it ...
Would you kindly post a link to the seller ?.. I know they are easy to find but most sellers offer dils with "swiss made" and your's has a "t swiss < 25 t" dial ...

And would you please check the diameter of the case ?
If I'm true the 1655 case is 39mm ... so if your case is 40mm you could shave each side of it to make it both "39mm" and "tangent to the bezel" ...
And looking at your pics on the other thread I'm quite certain you can shorten the lugs a little bit ... the holes for the sprinbars will still look well positionned and the case will look thicker so more "genlike" ...

This is the link to the seller. Unfortunately he appears to have left.
Is having a "t swiss < 25 t" dial" a good thing or a bad thing- you dont say.
The case dia is 39mm.

 

[jam_27]

But after you've ruined thousands of dollars worth of watch parts, as many of us old-timers have, you'll get to where it's just a part of this crazy hobby.

Thanks. I will try to follow your wisdom and put together a watch I would like to wear. I will source some parts and then come back. Finally, as I like ETA movements, could I please get a pointer to the correct ETA 2836. A quick search gives this one, is this the correct one?
Thanks to all again. Great info & great forum.

 

[KJ2020]

Thanks. I will try to follow your wisdom and put together a watch I would like to wear. I will source some parts and then come back. Finally, as I like ETA movements, could I please get a pointer to the correct ETA 2836. A quick search gives this one, is this the correct one?
Thanks to all again. Great info & great forum.

I posted a link to a 2836 GMT in my post above. The one you posted would work but its always out of stock and you don't need to spend 3x the $.

 

[manodeoro]

This is the link to the seller. Unfortunately he appears to have left.
Is having a "t swiss The case dia is 39mm.

Thanks for checking the dimension ...

About the dial, depending on which year model you rep, you could have a "T SWISS T" a "T SWISS

Same about the bezel ... here's a pic showing some models ...

Envoyé de mon moto g(7) power en utilisant Tapatalk

 

[manodeoro]

This is the link to the seller. Unfortunately he appears to have left.
Is having a "t swiss The case dia is 39mm.

Thanks for checking the dimension ...

About the dial, depending on which year model you rep, you could have a "T SWISS T" a "T SWISS

Same about the bezel ... here's a pic showing some models ...

Envoyé de mon moto g(7) power en utilisant Tapatalk

 

[jam_27]

I posted a link to a 2836 GMT in my post above. The one you posted would work but its always out of stock and you don't need to spend 3x the $.

Please excuse my ignorance, but how do I add a 24 hr/GMT hand in the sea-gull (I am assuming that the existing hands would fit)? Also do I need to remove the day wheel or can I keep it there?

 

[jumpope]

I built this watch 5 or 6 years ago, but I am certain that I purchased the base from Josh at Perfect Clones at pfclones.com. The dial is the rep dial that came with the watch. I thought that it was pretty good, at the time. Also the original Rolex 1655 was 38 X 44mm. The bezel on my watch is 38mm. In addition to modding the crown side, I also took material off of the other side. My watch is 38mm. I am not sure if the bezel is gen or not. I purchased it from a dealer of vintage watch parts, who is no longer in business. Some on RWG think it might be gen. I paid a lot for it at the time. A correct bezel is really important on a 1655 build.

 

[jam_27]

The dial is the rep dial that came with the watch. I thought that it was pretty good, at the time. Also the original Rolex 1655 was 38 X 44mm. The bezel on my watch is 38mm. In addition to modding the crown side, I also took material off of the other side. My watch is 38mm

The bezel I currently have is 38mm and the case (without crown) is 39mm.

 

[jam_27]

deleted repeated post.

 

[KJ2020]

Please excuse my ignorance, but how do I add a 24 hr/GMT hand in the sea-gull (I am assuming that the existing hands would fit)? Also do I need to remove the day wheel or can I keep it there?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GOLD-PLATE...IC-GMT-MOVEMENT-EXACT-AS-2836-2-/283332855516

The movement I linked for you has provision for 4 ETA hands. Your DG hands are not compatible, except for the GMT hand.

There is no day wheel. You can use the new movement's existing datewheel overlay unless your dial has a DG/ETA date window and not a Rolex date window.