Now that I have built a lot of vintage rolex (4 and 5 digits models), I started building 6 digits because i got nothing else to build and to satisfy my curiosity.
Ingredients:
- gen dial
- gen hands
- gen date disc
- gen bezel + gen bezel insert
- gen crystal
- swiss 7030 tube
- aftermarket 116610 hytrel ring
- VSF 116610 watch base
Most of the parts used in this build are pictured below (except for the gen 7mm crown because I find that its threads are too worn for my liking).
Comparing the dials, I immediately noticed that the vsf dial's lume are sunken in. The gen dial's lume are more puffy and fills the indices well. It's hard to tell from the photos, but it was noticeable in person.
I installed the gen date disc and gen dial onto the vs3135 movement. Immediately, I noticed that the date can have better alignment. To improve the date alignment, I bent the gen dial's dial feet slightly to my desired angle which helps center the dates within the date window.
I find that vs3135 movements have date alignment that are generally worse than vr3135.
Before bending the dial feet slightly
After bending the dial feet slightly
With the gen dial, gen date disc, and gen hands installed:
Once the above is sorted, I focused my attention on the case tube. Vsf went for the extra mile and provided a tube that mimics the triplock function: there are two gaskets inside the hole where the crown goes in and there is one more gasket between the case and tube.
I decided to install a Swiss 7030 triplock tube.
Firstly, I tapped the tube hole to remove any glue residue and to make sure the size is correct. Notice there are a lot of dried glue residue removed:
I countersunk the case and test-fitted the swiss 7030 tube:
Once the tube was sorted, i replaced the bezel and crystal with gen parts. To extract the bezel, I gently hammered a blade between the bezel and the case, then i gently pried off the bezel:
I removed the retaining ring that holds the crystal in place, using the same method as above.
The stock hytrel ring from the vsf bezel doesn't fit the gen bezel. So I used an aftermarket gen-spec hytrel ring. The hytrel ring is interchangeable for 116610 and 116710.
Installed gen crystal, crystal retainer, and gen bezel:
Done!
This is the first 116610 that I have ever franken-ed and built.
Ingredients:
- gen dial
- gen hands
- gen date disc
- gen bezel + gen bezel insert
- gen crystal
- swiss 7030 tube
- aftermarket 116610 hytrel ring
- VSF 116610 watch base
Most of the parts used in this build are pictured below (except for the gen 7mm crown because I find that its threads are too worn for my liking).
Comparing the dials, I immediately noticed that the vsf dial's lume are sunken in. The gen dial's lume are more puffy and fills the indices well. It's hard to tell from the photos, but it was noticeable in person.
I installed the gen date disc and gen dial onto the vs3135 movement. Immediately, I noticed that the date can have better alignment. To improve the date alignment, I bent the gen dial's dial feet slightly to my desired angle which helps center the dates within the date window.
I find that vs3135 movements have date alignment that are generally worse than vr3135.
Before bending the dial feet slightly
After bending the dial feet slightly
With the gen dial, gen date disc, and gen hands installed:
Once the above is sorted, I focused my attention on the case tube. Vsf went for the extra mile and provided a tube that mimics the triplock function: there are two gaskets inside the hole where the crown goes in and there is one more gasket between the case and tube.
I decided to install a Swiss 7030 triplock tube.
Firstly, I tapped the tube hole to remove any glue residue and to make sure the size is correct. Notice there are a lot of dried glue residue removed:
I countersunk the case and test-fitted the swiss 7030 tube:
Once the tube was sorted, i replaced the bezel and crystal with gen parts. To extract the bezel, I gently hammered a blade between the bezel and the case, then i gently pried off the bezel:
I removed the retaining ring that holds the crystal in place, using the same method as above.
The stock hytrel ring from the vsf bezel doesn't fit the gen bezel. So I used an aftermarket gen-spec hytrel ring. The hytrel ring is interchangeable for 116610 and 116710.
Installed gen crystal, crystal retainer, and gen bezel:
Done!
This is the first 116610 that I have ever franken-ed and built.
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