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The 34mm thread...the red-haired stepchild of the Oyster Perpetual family.
- Thread starter dpd3672
- Start date
soon in WTS section.
- 30/8/24
- 79
- 59
- 18
Man, these 34mm builds are straight-up sleepers in the watch game! Everyone out here slapping together Raffles cases, gen bezels, and some killer dials It’s like a vintage watch buffet. Slim, comfy, and dripping with old-school vibes, these little Oysters are low-key flexes for anyone who gets it. Props to everyone showing off their builds you’re making it real hard not to start my own 1500 case adventure!
Today, I tried building a 5500 air king out of a rafflesdial 34mm case and spare parts. Overall, it is possible but tricky.
Build specs
- Gen air king 5500 dial without dial feet
- Gen bezel (not sure which rolex/ tudor did this bezel come from)
- Rafflesdial 34mm sterile case
- Rafflesdial 19mm hollow middle link + taper bracelet
- Asian lowbeat 2824 movement
- ETA 2840 setting lever
- Mix of hands (clarks minute hand, rafflesdial normal hour hand, rafflesdial tall post seconds hand)
- High quality replica 5.3mm crown
- Clarks 25 12 plexi
Mods
- Increased the rehaut diameter so that the rehaut doesn't squish/ touch the lume plots. Mirror-polished the rehaut, then rebrushed it
- Modified the movement so that there is no phantom date postion
- Modified the hour and minute hands so that their tips are pointed like gen
- Modified the caseback so that the rotor can spin freely. The Asian lowbeat 2824 movement is slightly thicker than the typical eta/ Asian clone 2824-2
- Modified the caseback so that it looks closer to a rolex caseback. The rafflesdial 34mm cases have casebacks that are flat and look like tudor casebacks.
Overall, a lot of effort was needed for a supposedly simple build.
A case reshape would be nice, but that's overkill for a supposedly simple build. The rafflesdial 34mm sterile cases have lugs that remind me of the 14000 air king
Build specs
- Gen air king 5500 dial without dial feet
- Gen bezel (not sure which rolex/ tudor did this bezel come from)
- Rafflesdial 34mm sterile case
- Rafflesdial 19mm hollow middle link + taper bracelet
- Asian lowbeat 2824 movement
- ETA 2840 setting lever
- Mix of hands (clarks minute hand, rafflesdial normal hour hand, rafflesdial tall post seconds hand)
- High quality replica 5.3mm crown
- Clarks 25 12 plexi
Mods
- Increased the rehaut diameter so that the rehaut doesn't squish/ touch the lume plots. Mirror-polished the rehaut, then rebrushed it
- Modified the movement so that there is no phantom date postion
- Modified the hour and minute hands so that their tips are pointed like gen
- Modified the caseback so that the rotor can spin freely. The Asian lowbeat 2824 movement is slightly thicker than the typical eta/ Asian clone 2824-2
- Modified the caseback so that it looks closer to a rolex caseback. The rafflesdial 34mm cases have casebacks that are flat and look like tudor casebacks.
Overall, a lot of effort was needed for a supposedly simple build.
A case reshape would be nice, but that's overkill for a supposedly simple build. The rafflesdial 34mm sterile cases have lugs that remind me of the 14000 air king
Last edited:
Was trying to adjust the tube to get the crown closer to flush with the body and broke the tube in 2 pieces. By the grace of GOD I was able to easily fish out the broken piece and install a gen tube and Crown into the 34mm raffles case.
freebalkany
Active Member
- 24/8/21
- 296
- 304
- 63
Talking about 34mm Oysters, I saw this rep on eBay.
I would assume the case and bracelet are genuine, but nothing else.
Still a nice inspiration for a next build.
Do you think the dial is from Yuki?
ROLEX VINTAGE REF.5500 S/STEEL CASE AND BRACELET REFINISH EXPLORER DIAL SOLD N/R | eBay
EXPLORER PRECISION REFINISH DIAL NICELY DONE AND STEEL HANDS. ORIGINAL ROLEX CROWN.
www.ebay.com
I would assume the case and bracelet are genuine, but nothing else.
Still a nice inspiration for a next build.
Do you think the dial is from Yuki?