Introduction
It has been a while since I started a thread to document my builds and franken process.
As far as I know, many of us have been pondering, hoping, yearning for a decent 16710 replica (the GMT MASTER II); historically, the replica factories gave us BP, Noob, and LF 16710. However, these releases are far from acceptable: their handstack is wrong, the crown height is wrong, and the bezel assembly is not gen-spec.
With consideration to my cost-benefit analysis, I subjectively realised that the best-value approach to building a 16710 is to buy a gen 16570 (Explorer II) and convert it into a GMT MASTER II.
Why start with a gen 16570 (Explorer II) base?
- The gen 16570 shares a lot of parts with the gen 16710: same mid-case, same crown, same hands (for the black dial Explorer II variant), same crystal, same bracelet, and the same 3185 / 3186 movement.
- Despite having the gen 16570 share a lot of commonalities with the gen 16710, the gen 16710 is priced twice as much as the 16570 in some markets. This makes the 16570 look like a bargain.
- When I first started this project (1 year ago), the cost of buying a gen 16570 (head only) is not far from the cost of building a superfranken 16710 that involves the use of a Noob case (with a re-positioned crown / stem / tube height) and a Yuki 3185.
Process
1. Find all the parts you need:
- A gen Rolex 16570 (I obtained it as head-only from an exchange. Back then, the cheapest gen 16570 -- head-only -- that I saw on ebay was $3200 USD). Preferably, obtain a 16570 that is a black dial variant (so that you don't have to buy silver hands. The white dial variant comes with black hands).
- Gen 16710 / 16570 silver hands (optional: only if you bought a white dial variant as it comes with black hands).
- Gen 16710 dial
- Gen insert
- Bezel assembly (gen 16710 or 16610 bezel assembly will work. In this case, I used a JF bezel assembly)
2. Remove the 16570 bezel and crystal.
3. Remove the 16570 hands.
4. Open the caseback and remove the stem, loosen the movement screws, and remove the movement.
5. Swap dial.
6. Install hands.
7. Install crystal and align the cyclops.
8. Press the crystal retaining ring back on and proceed to install the washer, click spring, bezel ring, and insert.
9. Done!!!!!!!!!
A 16710 that is as good as gen without having to pay hyped-up prices (the current market prices of the 16710 is way beyond its intrinsic value).
Excuse the passport cover (a present from my friend after she saw my RWI profile pic)
It has been a while since I started a thread to document my builds and franken process.
As far as I know, many of us have been pondering, hoping, yearning for a decent 16710 replica (the GMT MASTER II); historically, the replica factories gave us BP, Noob, and LF 16710. However, these releases are far from acceptable: their handstack is wrong, the crown height is wrong, and the bezel assembly is not gen-spec.
With consideration to my cost-benefit analysis, I subjectively realised that the best-value approach to building a 16710 is to buy a gen 16570 (Explorer II) and convert it into a GMT MASTER II.
Why start with a gen 16570 (Explorer II) base?
- The gen 16570 shares a lot of parts with the gen 16710: same mid-case, same crown, same hands (for the black dial Explorer II variant), same crystal, same bracelet, and the same 3185 / 3186 movement.
- Despite having the gen 16570 share a lot of commonalities with the gen 16710, the gen 16710 is priced twice as much as the 16570 in some markets. This makes the 16570 look like a bargain.
- When I first started this project (1 year ago), the cost of buying a gen 16570 (head only) is not far from the cost of building a superfranken 16710 that involves the use of a Noob case (with a re-positioned crown / stem / tube height) and a Yuki 3185.
Process
1. Find all the parts you need:
- A gen Rolex 16570 (I obtained it as head-only from an exchange. Back then, the cheapest gen 16570 -- head-only -- that I saw on ebay was $3200 USD). Preferably, obtain a 16570 that is a black dial variant (so that you don't have to buy silver hands. The white dial variant comes with black hands).
- Gen 16710 / 16570 silver hands (optional: only if you bought a white dial variant as it comes with black hands).
- Gen 16710 dial
- Gen insert
- Bezel assembly (gen 16710 or 16610 bezel assembly will work. In this case, I used a JF bezel assembly)
2. Remove the 16570 bezel and crystal.
3. Remove the 16570 hands.
4. Open the caseback and remove the stem, loosen the movement screws, and remove the movement.
5. Swap dial.
6. Install hands.
7. Install crystal and align the cyclops.
8. Press the crystal retaining ring back on and proceed to install the washer, click spring, bezel ring, and insert.
9. Done!!!!!!!!!
A 16710 that is as good as gen without having to pay hyped-up prices (the current market prices of the 16710 is way beyond its intrinsic value).
Excuse the passport cover (a present from my friend after she saw my RWI profile pic)
Last edited:
