The 1016: The Under Appreciated Thread

[1016_idiot_savant]

I have a plan one day to … make a military pocket watch with an Explorer dial….

So... the plan is to buy a mechanical pocket watch, print a dial and find some giant Mercedes hands. The first two are easy, but sourcing oversize hands is proving to be difficult...

 

[316lad]

So... the plan is to buy a mechanical pocket watch, print a dial and find some giant Mercedes hands. The first two are easy, but sourcing oversize hands is proving to be difficult...

Make them!

 

[Got20Mate]

Well I decided to have a bit more practice ripping some cheap ones apart and this chrono had it's hands just fall off into the glass. Made me laugh because they were obviously decorative. Slow progress but progress nonetheless lol

 

[dpd3672]

One of the rarest of all 1016s (for the moment, at least). Possibly the only one on earth right now (well, I’m sure @Caboose has one).

The 1016, RWI edition.

Dials came today so I mocked one together to see how the $28 AliX cases were and to see what gold hands would look like against the dial.

Actually really love it like this, probably won’t even lume the dial. Maybe a different strap…

 

[1675lover]

One of the rarest of all 1016s (for the moment, at least). Possibly the only one on earth right now (well, I’m sure @Caboose has one).

The 1016, RWI edition.

Dials came today so I mocked one together to see how the $28 AliX cases were and to see what gold hands would look like against the dial.

Actually really love it like this, probably won’t even lume the dial. Maybe a different strap…

Looks like the dial is too big for the case.
the Swiss word at the bottom is covered

 

[Karbon74]

I have a plan one day to … make a military pocket watch with an Explorer dial….

you read my mind...

 

[316lad]

One of the problems I've found is actually finding cases for these pocket watches. I always like the movement on display - so glass both sides of the case. Never been a fan of flip lids and what have you.
You can grab an old pocket watch as a donor case but then you have the shenanigans of fitting everything you're making to that case's dims - which can be restrictive and annoying. The other option is there are new out there - such as these;

D061 - C

Pocket watch in palladium brassRequires a dial or a ringPolished termination with a transparent glace in the front and a screwes grey backFor caliber Unitas 6497 Features Diameter of the case : 49.00 mm Diameter of the background : 48.00 mm Thickness of the case : 11.00 mm Diameter...

mdwatch.ch

Nice quality.

Otherwise it's trawling though pages and pages of Ali pocket watches of the most hideous designs imagineable to find a suitably austere case you can use.

https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-pocket-watch-.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.search.0

Or, you can make one - like this enterprising solution.

Oh well, all part of the challenge.

 

[Karbon74]

One of the problems I've found is actually finding cases for these pocket watches. I always like the movement on display - so glass both sides of the case. Never been a fan of flip lids and what have you.
You can grab an old pocket watch as a donor case but then you have the shenanigans of fitting everything you're making to that case's dims - which can be restrictive and annoying. The other option is there are new out there - such as these;

D061 - C

Pocket watch in palladium brassRequires a dial or a ringPolished termination with a transparent glace in the front and a screwes grey backFor caliber Unitas 6497 Features Diameter of the case : 49.00 mm Diameter of the background : 48.00 mm Thickness of the case : 11.00 mm Diameter...

mdwatch.ch

Nice quality.

Otherwise it's trawling though pages and pages of Ali pocket watches of the most hideous designs imagineable to find a suitably austere case you can use.

https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-pocket-watch-.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.search.0

Or, you can make one - like this enterprising solution.

Oh well, all part of the challenge.

let's stop the pocket watch digression here.
When one of us starts the serious build research, we open a thread ok?

 

[Got20Mate]

One of the rarest of all 1016s (for the moment, at least). Possibly the only one on earth right now (well, I’m sure @Caboose has one).

The 1016, RWI edition.

Dials came today so I mocked one together to see how the $28 AliX cases were and to see what gold hands would look like against the dial.

Actually really love it like this, probably won’t even lume the dial. Maybe a different strap…

Which case did you end up going for if you don't mind me asking. Got a few cases on the way for this

Looks great though, how fun man

 

[dpd3672]

Which case did you end up going for if you don't mind me asking. Got a few cases on the way for this

Looks great though, how fun man

There was some discussion of them a few pages up. Looking for alternatives to Raffles cases, I found a few contenders on Ali Express. These were the only ones that didn't have an obvious shortcoming, so I picked a few up to see how they were.

No engravings, completely sterile, so a rep would need a crown and tube at least. Sapphire crystals, so that would probably have to be replaced as well, but we do those things on Raffles cases anyway.

They were selling for under $30, but now seem to be a bit over $30.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802502022728.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.121.4f031802no4TCk&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

Overall, fairly happy with the quality and value, although as mentioned, they're one or two steps farther away from the goal from the Raffles cases, but about $20 cheaper, so it all depends on what items you can live without or do yourself. I am set up to do engraving, and have a stash of crowns on hand, so these were worth experimenting with for me.

 

[Got20Mate]

There was some discussion of them a few pages up. Looking for alternatives to Raffles cases, I found a few contenders on Ali Express. These were the only ones that didn't have an obvious shortcoming, so I picked a few up to see how they were.

No engravings, completely sterile, so a rep would need a crown and tube at least. Sapphire crystals, so that would probably have to be replaced as well, but we do those things on Raffles cases anyway.

They were selling for under $30, but now seem to be a bit over $30.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802502022728.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.121.4f031802no4TCk&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

Overall, fairly happy with the quality and value, although as mentioned, they're one or two steps farther away from the goal from the Raffles cases, but about $20 cheaper, so it all depends on what items you can live without or do yourself. I am set up to do engraving, and have a stash of crowns on hand, so these were worth experimenting with for me.

That's really helpful thank you. I'm completely new in the game, so need all the help I can get when it comes to starting off in the right place. Still nice to see what is out there to get an understanding of how it all comes together. Remarkable infact! Cannot wait to get my hands on all of this now and start putting it together

The one you've put together looks ace - Gold hands really pop!

 

[dpd3672]

Looks like the dial is too big for the case.
the Swiss word at the bottom is covered

Noticing that now myself. Part of the problem is the dial is attached with dots, and probably shifted a little on assembly, but it's probably a tiny bit too big.

Will try a Raffles case to see if the opening in the rehaut is slightly bigger, or maybe try to open up the case slightly on a lathe (just ordered a lathe, because I have a sickness, lol).

Or just learn to live with the slight imperfection, since that's a big part of the rep world already, lol.

Also, toying with ideas for the case engraving...this will be the first actual case I do, so why not start with a $30 case on a fantasy build?

I'm thinking "ORIG. RWI DESIGN" and "CABOOSE STEAL" between the lugs, lol.

 

[Got20Mate]

Noticing that now myself. Part of the problem is the dial is attached with dots, and probably shifted a little on assembly, but it's probably a tiny bit too big.

Will try a Raffles case to see if the opening in the rehaut is slightly bigger, or maybe try to open up the case slightly on a lathe (just ordered a lathe, because I have a sickness, lol).

Or just learn to live with the slight imperfection, since that's a big part of the rep world already, lol.

Also, toying with ideas for the case engraving...this will be the first actual case I do, so why not start with a $30 case on a fantasy build?

I'm thinking "ORIG. RWI DESIGN" and "CABOOSE STEAL" between the lugs, lol.

Caboose steel would be brilliant haha

 

[Feefo]

@dpd3672 do you have the possibility to make some comparison pics raffles Vs Alix case?

 

[dpd3672]

That's really helpful thank you. I'm completely new in the game, so need all the help I can get when it comes to starting off in the right place. Still nice to see what is out there to get an understanding of how it all comes together. Remarkable infact! Cannot wait to get my hands on all of this now and start putting it together

The one you've put together looks ace - Gold hands really pop!

If you're just starting out building watches, I'd highly recommend going all Rafflesdials for your first. They're as close to plug and play as you can get, the support is great with advice and help on what to get, everything fits together with no surprises, and they've got an impressive selection of options, at very attractive prices. Right out of the box, once assembled, it's a damn good rep, that really needs nothing. About the only decision you'll have to make is which movement to use, and which dial and hands to get. There's really no wrong choice, it's all about personal preference.

That said, if you want to "upgrade" the Raffles offerings, a good start would be the crystal. A Clark's or Sternkreuz is a reasonable upgrade and looks great, and it's a simple mod requiring only a fairly inexpensive couple of tools (get a cheap, Chinese crystal press from AliX or Ebay for ~$10-20).

The dial and hands aging would be a simple, inexpensive addition, and there's more techniques (almost all detailed somewhere in this thread) than the human brain is capable of retaining, lol. The cost is basically free, assuming you can get the case back open (use a cheap rubber ball), remove the movement (a small screwdriver to remove the stem and the movement holders), and a tool to remove and reinstall the hands (a couple dollars on Ebay or AliX). Then it's a matter of choosing coffee, make up, paint, UV light, acid, a human sacrifice, or a year in direct sunlight on the roof of a beach cabana to give it the proper patina...

The "next level" modifications would be modifying the case by drilling out the lug holes (a 1.3mm drill bit and a drill or drill press, which you probably already have) and case shaping (some sandpaper, a Dremel, heavy machinery, it's up to you). Luming the dial isn't terribly expensive, but it does require some practice and a steady hand. A better bezel and there's really nothing left to improve on.

If you've done all that, you pretty much have as close to a gen 1016 as you can get, short of substituting gen parts. Perfection is nearly attainable, it just requires effort on your part...at some point, all builders decide where the return on investment starts to drop off. A select, mentally unstable few continue past that point, lol...most of them check in here regularly.

 

[dpd3672]

@dpd3672 do you have the possibility to make some comparison pics raffles Vs Alix case?

Yes, I can do that tonight when I get home from work. I'll pop it out of the AliX and drop it into the Raffles and take some pictures. I meant to do a side by side, but I have a big problem with taking on more projects than I'm able to finish, so I jump in and out of my "brilliant ideas" and make small progress on each, rather than...you know...actually finishing anything, lol.

 

[Got20Mate]

If you're just starting out building watches, I'd highly recommend going all Rafflesdials for your first. They're as close to plug and play as you can get, the support is great with advice and help on what to get, everything fits together with no surprises, and they've got an impressive selection of options, at very attractive prices. Right out of the box, once assembled, it's a damn good rep, that really needs nothing. About the only decision you'll have to make is which movement to use, and which dial and hands to get. There's really no wrong choice, it's all about personal preference.

That said, if you want to "upgrade" the Raffles offerings, a good start would be the crystal. A Clark's or Sternkreuz is a reasonable upgrade and looks great, and it's a simple mod requiring only a fairly inexpensive couple of tools (get a cheap, Chinese crystal press from AliX or Ebay for ~$10-20).

The dial and hands aging would be a simple, inexpensive addition, and there's more techniques (almost all detailed somewhere in this thread) than the human brain is capable of retaining, lol. The cost is basically free, assuming you can get the case back open (use a cheap rubber ball), remove the movement (a small screwdriver to remove the stem and the movement holders), and a tool to remove and reinstall the hands (a couple dollars on Ebay or AliX). Then it's a matter of choosing coffee, make up, paint, UV light, acid, a human sacrifice, or a year in direct sunlight on the roof of a beach cabana to give it the proper patina...

The "next level" modifications would be modifying the case by drilling out the lug holes (a 1.3mm drill bit and a drill or drill press, which you probably already have) and case shaping (some sandpaper, a Dremel, heavy machinery, it's up to you). Luming the dial isn't terribly expensive, but it does require some practice and a steady hand. A better bezel and there's really nothing left to improve on.

If you've done all that, you pretty much have as close to a gen 1016 as you can get, short of substituting gen parts. Perfection is nearly attainable, it just requires effort on your part...at some point, all builders decide where the return on investment starts to drop off. A select, mentally unstable few continue past that point, lol...most of them check in here regularly.

Wonderful information and very insightful, useful for myself personally and will save all this information to refer back to. I think I'm making the right steps, I'm on the path going in the right direction, and thanks to you guys, I should have a decent rep to hand before I know it. Practice makes perfect I'm sure, along with having patience and a steady hand.

I've already made a raffles shopping list, but I'm going to persevere with my aliex haul first. So darn excited!

 

[Karbon74]

I am looking forward for warmer sunny days for me to setup my outdoor workshop again, for case work

 

[Got20Mate]

I am looking forward for warmer sunny days for me to setup my outdoor workshop again, for case work

You're not wrong. The temps need to go up and the rain needs to go away

 

[316lad]

Is everyone nervous about being the 200th Page Poster or something?

You're not wrong. The temps need to go up and the rain needs to go away

goodness me am I waiting for that, in the meantime good night boys, see you in the morning when we blast through 200 pages of this amazing thread.