- 25/10/18
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Some time ago I read a build report here about a DateJust, which used a case from South Korea. Since I still had enough parts for a DateJust build, I got myself such a case and stayed in contact with the seller. Over time, discussions developed about builds, cases and a possible expansion of the range.
I was asked my opinion on a 1675 PCC case, he had an original unpolished case that he could use to make Gen Spec aftermarket cases from. In fact I thought it was a fantastic idea, but my opinion was that the market for Gen Spec GMT Master (4-digit Ref.) cases would be small compared to Gen Spec Submariner cases (Ref. 16610) which are as close to the original as possible.
After some time, I received pictures and CAD illustrations of a 16610 case from the guy and thus also contributed some information. Especially in the final phase before the start of the pilot series production, I was able to support him with detailed illustrations of the profiles of the horns and the crown guards taken from my unpolished Rolex 16610T i bought in the meantime.
My input was also that he should definitely produce cases with drilled lug holes, the vintage Rolex fan community is simply huge and not every modder manages it to drill authentic looking lug holes.
The first case he provided me with (v1.0) had a design error. The opening of the rehaut was slightly too large, so that – probably due to tolerances – gen dials fitted not in all cases. Some rehaut diameters were larger than the diameter of an authentic Rolex.
This feedback was important for him and he redesigned this part so that
I was then able to use the second case I received (v1.1) for a very nice vintage build. The case is available both with drilled lug holes and as a T version (without lug holes) and can be used for all builds of reference 16610 that do not yet have a rehaut engraving. I decided to use a wonderfully aged tritium dial for this build and after having a set of yellow gold hands rhodium plated and lume color matched to the dial, the build was completed after far too long a wait.
Before I sent the parts to the watchmaker, I checked various Oyster bracelets for accuracy of fitting to the case with the following result:
Everything else is extremely well made, be it the crystal retaining and the bezel ring or even the tension ring. Nothing wobbles. I used a Swiss made click spring for my build. The bezel perhaps turns a little too tightly compared to the original. However, I can't say to what extent the 20 years of age of my original are noticeable. In any case, I have no desire to swap back and forth with my Gen Submariner. The noise when turning the bezel is a little louder than compared with my Rolex, and I also have to apply a little more force. The tension ring holds the bezel up nicely, the feeling when touching the bezel ring is slightly different to my 20 year old original, as the teeth are still as sharp as when it was "delivered". Of course, the tube and crown fit without any problems, as does a 295 Crystal with original gasket.
Both the case to case back and the crystal retaining ring are prepared for gaskets to be fitted.
The case is beautifully polished and has the right grind on the horns. The chamfers are a little too thin, but you can easily modify the chamfers on your own.
All in all, a really very good aftermarket case that currently has no real competitors, especially with drilled lug holes. Compared to the ST case, the proportions of the lugs and the crown guards fit much better. Compared to Vietnam cases, you can see that it has been redesigned from a 16610 case and is less of an adapted 16800 case.
Of course, there are also weaknesses in the case. The angle of the crown guards are not perfect, although the profile is really good. The wrong angle is the most noticeable tell. Also the lug profile is not perfect. It will be improved in later versions. And the case is only sold as a sterile case, i.e. not engraved. However, this is the case with the very well-reputed TC case. In addition, the TC case is no longer available new. I find the price itself ambitious, but if you consider that the proportions of the case are better than the German ebay 16710 case and that it also comes with a complete bezel set, it justifies the price. And the VN cases also cost around +/- $700.
I left a feedback for all the points I think that can be improved. The manufacturer told me that this feedback is taken into account for future versions of the case.
And now to a 1:1 comparism. The one with drilled lug holes is the SK case in version 1.1, the other one is a unpolished Gen Submariner Date.
This will be fixed in the near future. Lug width of the SK case is a 0.1 mm thicker than the Gen on one side.
Here you can see the - in my opinion - missing chamfers:
From this angle the different lug shape (and the wrong CG angle) is really visible
The bezel ring is close to perfection
The inner construction is absolutely Gen spec.
I was asked my opinion on a 1675 PCC case, he had an original unpolished case that he could use to make Gen Spec aftermarket cases from. In fact I thought it was a fantastic idea, but my opinion was that the market for Gen Spec GMT Master (4-digit Ref.) cases would be small compared to Gen Spec Submariner cases (Ref. 16610) which are as close to the original as possible.
After some time, I received pictures and CAD illustrations of a 16610 case from the guy and thus also contributed some information. Especially in the final phase before the start of the pilot series production, I was able to support him with detailed illustrations of the profiles of the horns and the crown guards taken from my unpolished Rolex 16610T i bought in the meantime.
My input was also that he should definitely produce cases with drilled lug holes, the vintage Rolex fan community is simply huge and not every modder manages it to drill authentic looking lug holes.
The first case he provided me with (v1.0) had a design error. The opening of the rehaut was slightly too large, so that – probably due to tolerances – gen dials fitted not in all cases. Some rehaut diameters were larger than the diameter of an authentic Rolex.
This feedback was important for him and he redesigned this part so that
- Gen dials now fit without ifs and buts and
- you can also use slightly larger Rep dials for a build too
I was then able to use the second case I received (v1.1) for a very nice vintage build. The case is available both with drilled lug holes and as a T version (without lug holes) and can be used for all builds of reference 16610 that do not yet have a rehaut engraving. I decided to use a wonderfully aged tritium dial for this build and after having a set of yellow gold hands rhodium plated and lume color matched to the dial, the build was completed after far too long a wait.
Before I sent the parts to the watchmaker, I checked various Oyster bracelets for accuracy of fitting to the case with the following result:
- The original 92350 Bracelet fits the horn profiles wonderfully and without modification, the impression is almost perfect. At least I could not notice any significant difference in the result compared to an original Rolex
- The 93150 bracelet from markiemark didn't really fit without modifying the end links. However, I know from TomRep that the end links can be adapted so that the result is also convincing
- The same bracelet with Gen 501b endlinks also fits perfectly. The impression is the same as with the original 92350 bracelet
- The South Korean guy also sent me pictures of the case with a JF 93250 bracelet fitted. Here, too, the result is convincing
Everything else is extremely well made, be it the crystal retaining and the bezel ring or even the tension ring. Nothing wobbles. I used a Swiss made click spring for my build. The bezel perhaps turns a little too tightly compared to the original. However, I can't say to what extent the 20 years of age of my original are noticeable. In any case, I have no desire to swap back and forth with my Gen Submariner. The noise when turning the bezel is a little louder than compared with my Rolex, and I also have to apply a little more force. The tension ring holds the bezel up nicely, the feeling when touching the bezel ring is slightly different to my 20 year old original, as the teeth are still as sharp as when it was "delivered". Of course, the tube and crown fit without any problems, as does a 295 Crystal with original gasket.
Both the case to case back and the crystal retaining ring are prepared for gaskets to be fitted.
The case is beautifully polished and has the right grind on the horns. The chamfers are a little too thin, but you can easily modify the chamfers on your own.
All in all, a really very good aftermarket case that currently has no real competitors, especially with drilled lug holes. Compared to the ST case, the proportions of the lugs and the crown guards fit much better. Compared to Vietnam cases, you can see that it has been redesigned from a 16610 case and is less of an adapted 16800 case.
Of course, there are also weaknesses in the case. The angle of the crown guards are not perfect, although the profile is really good. The wrong angle is the most noticeable tell. Also the lug profile is not perfect. It will be improved in later versions. And the case is only sold as a sterile case, i.e. not engraved. However, this is the case with the very well-reputed TC case. In addition, the TC case is no longer available new. I find the price itself ambitious, but if you consider that the proportions of the case are better than the German ebay 16710 case and that it also comes with a complete bezel set, it justifies the price. And the VN cases also cost around +/- $700.
I left a feedback for all the points I think that can be improved. The manufacturer told me that this feedback is taken into account for future versions of the case.
And now to a 1:1 comparism. The one with drilled lug holes is the SK case in version 1.1, the other one is a unpolished Gen Submariner Date.
This will be fixed in the near future. Lug width of the SK case is a 0.1 mm thicker than the Gen on one side.
Here you can see the - in my opinion - missing chamfers:
From this angle the different lug shape (and the wrong CG angle) is really visible
The bezel ring is close to perfection
The inner construction is absolutely Gen spec.
