The Vintage DateJust Thread

[Hasslebank]

 

[Carrera]

Hi I've just started my build today and would really appreciate some help.

I am attempting to place a genuine dial onto a VS3135 movement, however the dial will not sit all the way down as it should. Upon further inspection, neither of the dial feet are bent, but there are 2 small screws on the side of the movement where the holes for the dial feet are. Do these screws need to be removed before installing the dial?

Thank you so much for your help.

 

[beanvatan]

Hi, I've just started my build today and would really appreciate some help.

I am attempting to place a genuine dial onto a VS3135 movement, however the dial will not sit all the way down as it should. Upon further inspection, neither of the dial feet are bent, but there are 2 small screws on the side of the movement where the holes for the dial feet are. Do these screws need to be removed before installing the dial?

Thank you so much for your help.

Yes, you need to loosen the dial screws to put the dial in correctly. Once you have the dial installed, tighten those screws so the dial can be secured to the movement.

 

[Carrera]

Yes, you need to loosen the dial screws to put the dial in correctly. Once you have the dial installed, tighten those screws so the dial can be secured to the movement.

That's perfect, thank you!

 

[beanvatan]

Nice!!!!! Can you share the specs for this beauty? Thanks

 

[Tony-Soprano]

 

[xray7]

I’m about to begin building something very similar to your white/silver dial, Oyster bracelet 16030. Is that a Beyler dial?

 

[asusundevils1971]

Here is my 16014 built for me by @369mafia

 

[Tony-Soprano]

I’m about to begin building something very similar to your white/silver dial, Oyster bracelet 16030. Is that a Beyler dial?

Yes it is

 

[WatchN3RD]

The drawer's gem!-BVT

Well, there is already a thread for the most iconic Rolex Datejust series, so there's no point in creating another one. However, I would love to share my findings today while cleaning up my extra drawers. I've been around on the forum for a while, and as you can tell, I've built some Datejusts. Now that my age is catching up with me, my eyes are not as sharp, and my hand likes to dance to "a shaky-shaky song," so I have to put my watch-building hobby aside. I miss it dearly every day. I find myself looking at parts and listings on eBay and reading about builds on RWI. I decided to speak to my wife about it. My wife and I have an agreement that I can only buy two watches a year, whether it's a build, parts, or a complete watch. Yeah, I know—I tried to fight back and complain about how much she spends on kitchenware and why we need the same skillet in different colors. But my back is too old for the couch, so I agree with whatever now. LOL. As a wise man once said, "Sometimes ignorance is bliss."

So upon cleaning up my drawers, I found some spare parts, that I made a build-out of, and below is a list:

Case	36mm Datejust (2824)- Raffle with no lug holes- has JMB engravings between lugs with correct model numbers and custom serials. The case has not been reshape.
Bezel	Raffle's fluted bezel stainless steel
Crystal	Genuine Rolex Crystal 25-295c with a small crack on the side. And a Gen-spec crystal gasket.
Crown	High-quality Rep crown
Bracelet	Genuine Jubilee bracelet- with Raffle's clasp for Datejust
Handset	Genuine hour/ minute hand (damaged) - rep second hand
Dial	Genuine 16234 (damaged)
Movement	VR3135 with some VS3135 parts ( I didn't have a full movement, so I put them together using parts from here and there. LOL )
Date wheel	VS3135

*** Please excuse the unhealthy environment ( i.e working on A4 papers instead of a proper bench)

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Since the case is a Raffle's Case, I put into it a thin crystal gasket that I got from Raffle and secured the movement with two custom movement tabs. And it sits tight inside the case.

After all, the watch is not perfect, but it will do it for now. I will find some time to work on it later. Even though it appears to be finished, but I am not happy with the bezel, because the bezel height is not correct for the build, so I will have to sand it down later.
** Guys, this is my 3rd watch for this year, please don't tell my wife!!! LOL

You might have the shakes, but you still got the magic touch. Nice build, man.

 

[beanvatan]

You might have the shakes, but you still got the magic touch. Nice build, man.

Thanks, man.

 

[pompompurin]

Another simple 16200 build:
- Gen patina black dial
- Gen hands
- JMB smooth bezel
- VR3135
- Rafflesdial 3135 white date disc
- Rafflesdial case set
- Rafflesdial oyster bracelet
- Replica 604 crown
- Swiss 5330 tube

And lots of modding, like enlarging the rehaut diameter.

 

[xray7]

Oh mighty @pompompurin, I beseech thee to impart your DJ rep knowledge…

- JMB smooth bezel

JMB hasn’t logged in for 6 months, and considering you as a very prolific builder like the Raffles parts, I’m interested in knowing, are there any other third party makers you like for the smooth bezels for Datejust builds?

 

[1016 lover]

Oh mighty @pompompurin, I beseech thee to impart your DJ rep knowledge…


JMB hasn’t logged in for 6 months, and considering you as a very prolific builder like the Raffles parts, I’m interested in knowing, are there any other third party makers you like for the smooth bezels for Datejust builds?

I do smooth bezel, wath IS the crystal diameter

 

[pompompurin]

Oh mighty @pompompurin, I beseech thee to impart your DJ rep knowledge…


JMB hasn’t logged in for 6 months, and considering you as a very prolific builder like the Raffles parts, I’m interested in knowing, are there any other third party makers you like for the smooth bezels for Datejust builds?

That smooth bezel was in my parts bin for a while. I don't have a lathe to reshape my own bezels either, unfortunately.
I am pretty sure @ado213 has the tools to reshape smooth bezels, and he is based in UK.

 

[pompompurin]

One more pic:



16220 build
- Gen dial
- Gen hands
- Gen 16220 bezel
- VR3135
- Rafflesdial 3135 white date disc
- Rafflesdial case set
- Rafflesdial jubilee bracelet
- Replica 604 crown
- Swiss 5330 tube

And lots of modding again, like enlarging the rehaut diameter.

 

[osw880]

my 2nd build

S. Korea case (engraved by JMB with custom serial numbers, and model numbers)
Gen Bezel
Gen Crystal
Gen Dial
Gen Crown
Gen Date-Wheel
Gen Hands
Gen bracelet (not picture)
VS3135 with the gen balance
Rolex 3135-145 (complete autowind)
Rolex 3135-421 ( pallet fork)
Rolex 3135-115 (pallet fork bridge)
Rolex 3135-110 (train wheel bridge)
more gen parts but I can't recall all. LOL





custom model engraving pic

This thing is a beauty bro. You got a wrist shot?

 

[osw880]

One more pic:



16220 build
- Gen dial
- Gen hands
- Gen 16220 bezel
- VR3135
- Rafflesdial 3135 white date disc
- Rafflesdial case set
- Rafflesdial jubilee bracelet
- Replica 604 crown
- Swiss 5330 tube

And lots of modding again, like enlarging the rehaut diameter.

Amazing build as usual, @pompompurin!

 

[beanvatan]

This thing is a beauty bro. You got a wrist shot?

Thanks, I don't have any wrist-shot at the moment. maybe when I have time, I will shoot it. LOL, I replaced the dial with the linen dial tho, same watch!

 

[osw880]

Thanks, I don't have any wrist-shot at the moment. maybe when I have time, I will shoot it. LOL, I replaced the dial with the linen dial tho, same watch!

I love all linen dials. I am sure it looks amazing.

I've had many Korean cases myself and never seen it got custom engraving (done by JMB?). Cool modding work.

Here are my 5-digit TT DJs: one is franken and one is gen