Rolex Datejust two tone 16013

[automatico]

"One last issue that I am having is that unfortunately there is not enough space for the caseback to properly clear the rotor. I did some dremel action again but I'm not sure I have solved the issue. Also the 3135 is fairly silent movement, so sometimes it is a bit hard to gauge if it is spinning or not."

Rotor clearance can be checked by rolling out a very small ball or string of 'Rodico' and placing it on the rotor.
Start the case back and turn it down about half way.
Unscrew the back and check the Rodico ball or string to see if it is flattened out, and if it is, see how much of the initial thickness is left.
If the ball/string is Ok, or just barely flattened, replace the back and screw it down gently until it contacts the case.
Remove the CB and check the ball/string again. The thickness of the ball/string after the back has been screwed all the way down will tell how much room there is between the rotor and case back.

It is a good idea to remove the case back gasket when doing this test so the back can go all the way down against the case.
If the Rodico ball/string is too thick, it can damage the rotor bearings or jewel when the back is screwed down, so start out with a very small ball or string of Rodico.
The rotor may clear the case back in the center and drag on the outer edge (or the other way around), so check clearance at the center and outer edge of the rotor.

 

[316lad]

This is a great write-up, thaks.
Any final thoughts on the VS3135 in a 2824 Raffles case - especially with the Rotor-hit. What was the final solution - a thicker case gasket or somesuch?

 

[freebalkany]

Hello and thank you all for your interest in my project.
The watch was built for a relative and it recently came back into my possession because of the aforementioned rotor problem.
I'm not yet sure how to solve the issue, it will be either a flat gasket or more grinding work.
I'll keep y'all posted when I make progress.
Cheers

 

[316lad]

Brilliant! It's such a shame - it must be a tiny amount that the interference between rotor and caseback - yet, it's the difference between success and failure.
Is your dial absolutely flat?

 

[freebalkany]

Hey there,
I finally found a way to let the rotor spin freely.
The person for whom I built that watch wanted a clear caseback. So I bought the one from the raffles, removed the glass & gasket, and dremeled the inside. It seems to be working for now, but the clearance is very tight.
In the future I'd like to buy and use and mini-lathe for such job.

Cheers

 

[316lad]

Hey there,
I finally found a way to let the rotor spin freely.
The person for whom I built that watch wanted a clear caseback. So I bought the one from the raffles, removed the glass & gasket, and dremeled the inside. It seems to be working for now, but the clearance is very tight.
In the future I'd like to buy and use and mini-lathe for such job.

Cheers

Looks good.
Dremmelled the inside of what?

 

[freebalkany]

Dremelled the inside of the caseback. It's quite a hack job really.

 

[Globemaster_98]

Hello there,
hopefully y'all cool with my spamming.
So today, I widened the aperture of the rehaut. Somehow the dremel went much faster than I expected and I might have removed too much material.
I also received a crystal gasket that works perfectly as movement holder. Everything seems to be fitting fine. The stem is properly aligned.
Unfortunately for me it's a bit difficult to tell if the rotor is spinning freely or not because it's completely silent.

I'm adding some pictures as well as the reference for the gasket.
Cheers

Hello there,
hopefully y'all cool with my spamming.
So today, I widened the aperture of the rehaut. Somehow the dremel went much faster than I expected and I might have removed too much material.
I also received a crystal gasket that works perfectly as movement holder. Everything seems to be fitting fine. The stem is properly aligned.
Unfortunately for me it's a bit difficult to tell if the rotor is spinning freely or not because it's completely silent.

I'm adding some pictures as well as the reference for the gasket.
Cheers

Very nice!!! Do you have a link for the crystal gasket used as a movement spacer? That build looks fantastic!

 

[qjai89]

Hey @Niko1U ,
I bought the movement on Aliexpress https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005003392374501.html
To my understanding, this a VS3135. The quality is very good.

On another note, I received the crystal today from Sternkreuz. It seems to fitting just fine.
I did a quick test fit and I think I might have broken one of the lume pip on the dial. So yeah, tolerance is very tight, be careful!

Hey which sternkreuz crystal is this? Planning to press an acrylic crystal to my 2824 case as well. Thanks!

 

[Replicated]

Hey which sternkreuz crystal is this? Planning to press an acrylic crystal to my 2824 case as well. Thanks!

It's in the first post, 135.
I used one Sternkreuz crystal out of five. They were all really bad! They were like a funhouse mirror.
Now used AliX plexi's for two builds, and they are so much better!

 

[intellects]

Can you link the crystal from AliX you used? Looks great

 

[Replicated]

Can you link the crystal from AliX you used? Looks great

I did choose the 1601 plexi’s

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EyzJkbJ

And:

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EGrBkIz

I did install them with a genuine bezel. The raffles bezel needed a little bit of trimming on the inside with a Dremel.

 

[intellects]

Thank you. I also plan on using a genuine engine turned bezel. Would you say one of those two crystals is the better or are they the same?

 

[Replicated]

Thank you. I also plan on using a genuine engine turned bezel. Would you say one of those two crystals is the better or are they the same?

They are the same to me. Same packing. But the first will fit for sure! The other one I will know tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

 

[Replicated]

Thank you. I also plan on using a genuine engine turned bezel. Would you say one of those two crystals is the better or are they the same?

They’re definitely 100% the same. Just received another engine turned bezel and it fits like a glove.

 

[intellects]

Thank you, I just ordered the top one after cracking a Sternkreuz. I think some remnants of the original Raffles crystal was still on the case. Hoping the next one goes better..