I can feel the suspense
The TC superfranken dial or the JF 16610 dial? Tell me more about that dial
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[Pompompurin's] Rolex 16610/16800 submariner (super?)franken build diary + JF 16610 LN review
- Thread starter pompompurin
- Start date
I can feel the suspense
The TC superfranken dial or the JF 16610 dial? Tell me more about that dial
gilrob
Legendary Member
Excellent unbiased review. Looking forward to see your modifications. I'm guessing your plans in purchasing an Oyster Perpetual will be on hold for some time.
Thank you for your feedback!
Surprised you still remember me from the other thread hah
Yea I won't be buying the 114300 (for now at least) because I lost interest and the TD refunded me after I rejected QC twice only. They don't reply me anymore as well
The bezel seems to be tightly stuck onto the retaining ring - I am trying to install a gen crystall now just to see if it would improve the rehaut
bobandshawn
Respected Member
it doesn't have dial feet right?
that tritium dial pictured (of mine) doesn't have dial feet
if yours didn't have dial feet then it is probably the same one, or the previous owner(s) removed them
it has a nice patina to it and the dial has gone matte. I called Micheal Young's Classic Watch Repair (CWR) in Hong Kong to see if they can restore the dial feet, but they warned me that soldering the feet on would likely leave a small mark/dimple on the other side of the dial
7. Franken process - gen 25 295c crystal
To install the gen crystal, I have to pry the bezel off. But as I was prying the bezel off with a swiss army knife, the whole bloody bezel assembly (including the retaining crystal ring) came off as well.
This meant that the bezel has a very very tight fit onto the bezel retaining ring.
So I re-installed the whole bezel assembly onto the watch and try to pry the bezel ring out again. It took a lot of time and eventually, the bezel ring was finally removed from the crystal retaining ring.
I swapped crystal and tried to clean the dust on my gen crystal (my home is very dusty, I have no idea why) before placing it on
Here is the 25 295c crystal on the watch. I miss the Stock JF AR crystal and in my opinion it actually looks better than the genuine non-AR crystal. But I have to be period correct with the franken process
As I was reassembling the bezel assembly, I tried putting on my spare 18k plated bezel for a future 16613 build (I have the gen dial, gen insert, and gen 703 gold crown ready). The bezel fits perfectly
After messing with the spare 16613 bezel, I tried reinstalling the stock JF 16610 bezel but it won't fit! the fitting was originally very tight and now I have problems reinstalling the bezel onto the crystal retaining ring
Anyways I will call it a day and try fixing it tomorrow. But I enjoyed looking at the stock JF AR crystal much more than the gen Rolex non-AR crystal - even if it isn't correct
Good night folks
To install the gen crystal, I have to pry the bezel off. But as I was prying the bezel off with a swiss army knife, the whole bloody bezel assembly (including the retaining crystal ring) came off as well.
This meant that the bezel has a very very tight fit onto the bezel retaining ring.
So I re-installed the whole bezel assembly onto the watch and try to pry the bezel ring out again. It took a lot of time and eventually, the bezel ring was finally removed from the crystal retaining ring.
I swapped crystal and tried to clean the dust on my gen crystal (my home is very dusty, I have no idea why) before placing it on
Here is the 25 295c crystal on the watch. I miss the Stock JF AR crystal and in my opinion it actually looks better than the genuine non-AR crystal. But I have to be period correct with the franken process
As I was reassembling the bezel assembly, I tried putting on my spare 18k plated bezel for a future 16613 build (I have the gen dial, gen insert, and gen 703 gold crown ready). The bezel fits perfectly
After messing with the spare 16613 bezel, I tried reinstalling the stock JF 16610 bezel but it won't fit! the fitting was originally very tight and now I have problems reinstalling the bezel onto the crystal retaining ring
Anyways I will call it a day and try fixing it tomorrow. But I enjoyed looking at the stock JF AR crystal much more than the gen Rolex non-AR crystal - even if it isn't correct
Good night folks
before I slept, I tried again and used a crystal press to help me install the bezel. It worked and the bezel snapped back into the retaining ring
here is what it looks like
And here is what a gen one looks like (just realised that the rehaut is equally as slopey
Next to my TC superfranken (with the JF bracelet installed)
here is what it looks like
And here is what a gen one looks like (just realised that the rehaut is equally as slopey
Next to my TC superfranken (with the JF bracelet installed)
bobandshawn
Respected Member
Yup - it looks REALLY close...especially that matte patina. Anyway, You know you can just epoxy the dial feet ...right?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Copper-watc...epairs-for-old-wristwatch-dials-/321432340951
Bob
Hey Bob!
Yeah I know I could, but I was advised by CWR that it will eventually come loose after many years of experience from their part. Epoxy with those feet is my last resort but I hope to somehow make the feet more original and restore the dial to its original former glory
Do you have a superluminova 16610 dial by any chance? I can perhaps swap that patina dial with a matching gen tritium insert for it
bobandshawn
Respected Member
Sorry - I don't. I gotta say though, I don't really believe what CWP is saying (they kinda got a dog in the fight). The feet are just guides. The tabs and screws keep the movement locked in the case...
B
B
That's okay haha, sharing opinions is caring too and I understand. I asked for CWR to look for an elegant solution in restoring the dial to its original state as well, rather than doing a quick fix-up. So i suggested gluing the feet without the fat base like the ebay ones you have sent. They said that there won't be enough surface area to have strong adhesion.
My line of thinking was that the dial is so pretty! the patina is so beautiful and I hope to restore the dial to its former glory with proper soldered dial feet.
But if i proceed to turn this JF 16610 into a vintage 16610, then I will just use double-sided tape to fix the dial onto the 3135 movement and it works well from experience and it doesn't cause irreversible damages if the tape is stuck strategically
thumbsarehandy
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I admire your discipline
haha
since I have spent a lot of money onto this build, then I might as well get it correct with gen parts
but seriously, the JF stock AR crystal is so much prettier than the glaring and reflection-prone genuine crystal
update
just want to update that the JF's 16610 lume is actually the same colour as the gen dial/hands when it glows at its brightest
just want to update that the JF's 16610 lume is actually the same colour as the gen dial/hands when it glows at its brightest
Subscribed to this. Props to @pompompurin for your builds and also for giving me some food for thought. The ln looks really good, much better than I expected.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have one of this beauty, with gen luminova dial, and gen crystal on board. It's amazing, it's unbelievable how JF works.
I bought a gen bezel thinking that the jf insert will fit on it, but no way, the jf insert is smaller and doesn't block on the gen bezel. So I am still waiting for the postman with my gen insert ordered here on m2m from a Grecian good guy. I have already changed the poor dw with an aftermarket high quality. I am in love with my new beast.
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I bought a gen bezel thinking that the jf insert will fit on it, but no way, the jf insert is smaller and doesn't block on the gen bezel. So I am still waiting for the postman with my gen insert ordered here on m2m from a Grecian good guy. I have already changed the poor dw with an aftermarket high quality. I am in love with my new beast.
Inviato dal mio iPad utilizzando Tapatalk
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How did I miss this thread?! Amazing work.you are doing here @pompompurin !
I'm now a bit intrigued about the JF, actually. I went for the 5-digit BP instead, mainly because of the movement (Miyota 9015), but I am not sure the dial is 100% correct, whereas it looks like the JF is, right?
Anyway, I've got a 6-digit coming and will decide which one will be a keeper. If I finally settled for the 16610LN I'll probably follow your steps, buddy.
Good luck with this project, looks amazing already. I have subscribed to the thread as I want to follow it closely.
I'm now a bit intrigued about the JF, actually. I went for the 5-digit BP instead, mainly because of the movement (Miyota 9015), but I am not sure the dial is 100% correct, whereas it looks like the JF is, right?
Anyway, I've got a 6-digit coming and will decide which one will be a keeper. If I finally settled for the 16610LN I'll probably follow your steps, buddy.
Good luck with this project, looks amazing already. I have subscribed to the thread as I want to follow it closely.
Stay tuned for more, I will try to install a TC V6 bezel ring onto stock JF crystal retainer and see if it works
Glad you enjoyed the thread
The BP 1661x reps seem like good value for money and they cost $100-150 less than the JF at least
I will see if the stock JF crystal retainer is compatible with my TC V6 ring, and I will see if a genuine tritium bezel insert is compatible with the stock JF bezel