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Rolex Datejust II 41mm BP V2 (unboxing + review + franken process)

pompompurin

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We nitpick about all the little flaws but for me, the main difference is the weight (gen is heavier) and the feel of the bracelet. Mainly because as the wearer that's what most obvious to you. I vaseline the shit out of the bracelet and that seems to help the most. There's another thread where the bracelet edges are sanded down on a SD4K and I imagine that would help. The shine of the fluted is different. Not really enough to notice unless you have them side by side tho.

I haven't compared the bezel shape/size/angle on the v2 with the gen. The rep is out of my hands at the moment for repair, but I'll compare them when I get it back.

Great job, keep up the great work! Loving this thread

Did you vasoline the bracelet because it was making too much rattling noise? My BP bracelet feels excellent, no sharp edges and no sanding needed to be done - I am beginning to think that this might be because it is from a new production batch. Before xmas during december 2016, BP did mention that they will make some significant changes to their watches. I have noticed that my BP has a different SEL when compared to the other V2 versions where the bracelet SEL would extend all the way to the case lugs (maybe it just the picture angle?)
 

pompompurin

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5. Franken process (continued)

First thing to do is to start filing the movement ring and make grooves so that the gen dial's dial feet can sit in it comfortably:

HFsPBMPh.jpg


The process took a while because I didn't want to remove too much metal out of the ring - I still want the ring to be as rigid as possible

5IFoaBDh.jpg


I then proceeded to use blue-tac (the poor man's rodico) to clean any remaining metal shavings - you don't want metal shavings going into your movement.

czd3KFQh.jpg


And yay! the gen dial fits on the movement ring. I hate removing dial feet and I always try my best to do everything possible to leave any gen dial's dial feet intact

chFZS5Zh.jpg


The movement ring with the gen dial on it is then placed onto the movement for hands assembly. I hate installing hands and that is one of my weakest skills. I noticed that cheap hands-setting tools have openings that are wider than the hands' pinion, which may bend the hands when installing the hands. Therefore it is important to buy the right tools and always double check if the hands-setting tool is correct for your hands.

ymEc3Wgh.jpg


Once the hands are installed, it is time to realign the bezel and dial so that the date is aligned in the dial's date window. Notice from the picture below, there are 2 additional grooves in the movement ring so that the gen dial's dial feet can sit in there

DSiB0PMh.jpg


Finally when all the screws and tabs are installed, here is a front shot of the head. The gen dial brings this watch to a whole new level!

bXG8s8sh.jpg


And... finally done!

xXOZzz1h.jpg


Now that the watch has a gen dial [which corrects a lot of flaws - (1) 3D dial coronet, (2) better indices lume, (3) correct placement of letters, (4) better date alignement because the gen dial has a bigger window I guess], The next proposed steps to frankening the watch is:

- Re-install the hour hand... it is currently sitting quite low
- See if it possible to install a gen crown
- Relume the hands to match the gen dial's lume

... And once those steps are done, I will have a superfranken in my opinion. Pretty much identical to gen in every way aesthetically
 

tchockie

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Did you vasoline the bracelet because it was making too much rattling noise? My BP bracelet feels excellent, no sharp edges and no sanding needed to be done - I am beginning to think that this might be because it is from a new production batch. Before xmas during december 2016, BP did mention that they will make some significant changes to their watches. I have noticed that my BP has a different SEL when compared to the other V2 versions where the bracelet SEL would extend all the way to the case lugs (maybe it just the picture angle?)

The bracelet isn't bad per se, it's just different from gen. Weight being one, i heard the noob bracelet is somewhat better but never felt it firsthand. But the rep bracelet always feels a little.... tinny-metal-like compared to gen? vaseline seems to make it feel more solid and less tinny imo.

the last bracelet i got actually had screws that were stuck and felt glued, so i had to get a new bracelet, but the SEL on the new bracelet didn't fit the case, so i again had to return it, and it's been a headache. really glad to hear yours is working great!
 

pompompurin

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The bracelet isn't bad per se, it's just different from gen. Weight being one, i heard the noob bracelet is somewhat better but never felt it firsthand. But the rep bracelet always feels a little.... tinny-metal-like compared to gen? vaseline seems to make it feel more solid and less tinny imo.

the last bracelet i got actually had screws that were stuck and felt glued, so i had to get a new bracelet, but the SEL on the new bracelet didn't fit the case, so i again had to return it, and it's been a headache. really glad to hear yours is working great!

damn, you really make me want to go to the AD now to handle a gen for comparison. I thought this BP bracelet I have is beautiful by comparison to the usual crap bracelet i handle all time when building frankens.

In fact, i am now considering to sell the watch, 41mm is too big for me ahaha what a shame damnit
 

tchockie

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damn, you really make me want to go to the AD now to handle a gen for comparison. I thought this BP bracelet I have is beautiful by comparison to the usual crap bracelet i handle all time when building frankens.

In fact, i am now considering to sell the watch, 41mm is too big for me ahaha what a shame damnit

Man don't even do it. I make it sound more than it is. I'm happy with the current rep bracelets, it a damn fine bracelet.

Dang I can't believe you're gonna sell it after all this work! Oh actually, yes I can, because that's what we do cuz we're crazy addict horology fanatics [emoji12]
 

pompompurin

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Man don't even do it. I make it sound more than it is. I'm happy with the current rep bracelets, it a damn fine bracelet.

Dang I can't believe you're gonna sell it after all this work! Oh actually, yes I can, because that's what we do cuz we're crazy addict horology fanatics [emoji12]

I have an incoming 5513 sub project with a gen service dial. Again, I will be saving the gen dial's dial feet, so the seller has kindly drilled holes onto the ETA movement's mainplate which allows the gen dial to sit on it. I might have to make some space for that project! And yea, this hobby is very addictive especially when the words "franken", "modding", and "OCD" are combined together.

Do you have any watch projects? tell me about your current collection!
 

pompompurin

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Just for giggles.. on a 22mm NATO strap with lume shot (in fact, the NATO strap feels really good, I might keep it like this loll)

oHE8J7ch.jpg
 

pompompurin

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quite the difference between lume on rep hands and gen dial

yea quite a big difference from the gen dial lume, barely tolerable but still readable in the dark

less popular rep watches all have terrible lume unfortunately

I might invest in some relume kit with C3 superluminova. Problem is I need to learn how to mix and match the lume
 

tchockie

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I have an incoming 5513 sub project with a gen service dial. Again, I will be saving the gen dial's dial feet, so the seller has kindly drilled holes onto the ETA movement's mainplate which allows the gen dial to sit on it. I might have to make some space for that project! And yea, this hobby is very addictive especially when the words "franken", "modding", and "OCD" are combined together.

Do you have any watch projects? tell me about your current collection!

I cleared out most of my reps to fund a gen speedy... but all these new versions keep coming out and i keep dipping into the funds man, damn adhd. i keep hanging on to a mbw 5513 thinking i'm gonna mod it but it's just sitting here, prob gonna put it up m2m in a bit. so no, no ongoing projects atm. but now i wanna franken one of the DJ after your thread.

- Just ordered a IWC 3714 zf v2, with a gen strap waiting for it
- silver DJII v2 but it's out for repair
- black DJII just got from m2m
- pam 111 v3/4
- jf v2 ap 15400 (just got this, but idk if i LOVE it yet (https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/my-new-15400-jf-v2-white-prof-arx2.367408/#post--3299451)
- gen DJII rhodium, here's a few pics (https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/new-bp-dj-ii-from-lucy-with-my-gen.229117/)
- gen BLNR

what else you got going on? what's next?
 

Spongebob

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Very nice!!

Did you notice that there are some tiny ripple on this BP case?
 

pompompurin

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I cleared out most of my reps to fund a gen speedy... but all these new versions keep coming out and i keep dipping into the funds man, damn adhd. i keep hanging on to a mbw 5513 thinking i'm gonna mod it but it's just sitting here, prob gonna put it up m2m in a bit. so no, no ongoing projects atm. but now i wanna franken one of the DJ after your thread.

- Just ordered a IWC 3714 zf v2, with a gen strap waiting for it
- silver DJII v2 but it's out for repair
- black DJII just got from m2m
- pam 111 v3/4
- jf v2 ap 15400 (just got this, but idk if i LOVE it yet (https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/my-new-15400-jf-v2-white-prof-arx2.367408/#post--3299451)
- gen DJII rhodium, here's a few pics (https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/new-bp-dj-ii-from-lucy-with-my-gen.229117/)
- gen BLNR

what else you got going on? what's next?

Damn, you go the ultimate grail for most, the gen BLNR!!!!!

What happened to your silver DJ II that is out for repair? Is that a BP V2 as well?

Coincidentally, I am going to start a 5513 project and I ordered a gen service dial already. But I am having a hard time trying to find a decent case with the right crown height
 

tchockie

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Damn, you go the ultimate grail for most, the gen BLNR!!!!!

What happened to your silver DJ II that is out for repair? Is that a BP V2 as well?

Coincidentally, I am going to start a 5513 project and I ordered a gen service dial already. But I am having a hard time trying to find a decent case with the right crown height

Thanks man, just got the blnr a couple weeks ago. I'm actually out of town right now and kept it locked up at home, here's the one pic i have on me right now, sorry for the quality and filter



the sub in that pic is my brother-in-law, we got them on the same day. and the AD gave us a hat. ONE hat for buying 2 watches lol. o well it was a good deal.

the silver djii is a bp v2. but when I got it, the bracelet felt like all the screws are glued down, and basically couldnt remove any screws. I actually had bought an extra bracelet, but that didn't actually fit the case! so i basically sent all of it back to make sure they can get me a bracelet that fits and actually works. actually there was nothing wrong with the watch itself but they requested it so they can see what their issues were with this bracelet situation.