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The Vintage DateJust Thread

flashu

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This thread is

Kate Upton Model GIF
 

Daniel_AUT

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super nice vintage watches people :) !!! May I ask everyone where you got the parts from or where you can buy them, this is something new for me!! You can also send me a PM! Thank you !!
 

Replicated

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super nice vintage watches people :) !!! May I ask everyone where you got the parts from or where you can buy them, this is something new for me!! You can also send me a PM! Thank you !!

I did purchase the dials from eBay.
You can also try and search on Chrono24, I've also seen a lot for sale on "firstclassdials.com" - Never purchased from them, but I've seen them on Chrono24 and eBay too.

Cases, bracelet,etc. you can buy from Rafflesdials.com
 
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dpd3672

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super nice vintage watches people :) !!! May I ask everyone where you got the parts from or where you can buy them, this is something new for me!! You can also send me a PM! Thank you !!
Rafflesdials is more or less the go to for getting into buildling vintage watches. They'll sell you a complete set of everything you need to build one. As you gain knowledge and experience, you might prefer different parts, from various sources, that are a bit more accurate to the gen.

From there, there's nearly infinite possibilities, as you can modify the Raffles parts to be more accurate, or use "better" parts, including genuine Rolex parts.

A Raffles build can cost $150-200 USD and be pretty damn good, with a cheap, Asian movement. Some work on the case and dial is limited by only your skills. A top of the line build with all the best parts, modified by a good watchmaker, can approach the cost of a genuine, used Datejust.
 

Daniel_AUT

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Great people, thank you very much for the first answers!! That means at Raffles I get the components that also fit GEN dials and GEN bezels etc. into the Raffles case?

Your watches really appealed to me and I have to say I want to try them too
 

Timmer

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Excellent, I've heard the Korean cases aren't available anymore, is that correct?
Yes - AFAIK, they are not currently available.
My Raffles case has a gen bezel, dial and crown (though I can't recall if I had to install a different tube...). And since the Raffles 2824 case comes with the cyclops for a 2824 date position, I replaced the xtal with a Clarks with cyclops in the correct location.
 
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Karbon74

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I did purchase the dials from eBay.
You can also try and search on Chrono24, I've also seen a lot for sale on "firstclassdials.com" - Never purchased from them, but I've seen them on Chrono24 and eBay too.

Cases, bracelet,etc. you can buy from Rafflesdials.com
100%

it was great place to start for a wannabe builder like me. Affordable, relatively quick, easy to source, good ootb but enough to improve so that you get a sense of satisfaction to actually do modding vs just assembly

then you can start to branch into more expensive parts
 
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dpd3672

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Great people, thank you very much for the first answers!! That means at Raffles I get the components that also fit GEN dials and GEN bezels etc. into the Raffles case?

Your watches really appealed to me and I have to say I want to try them too
I think the Raffles DJ cases use a 28.5mm dial, while a gen Rolex dial is 27.2mm(?) so gen Dials in Raffles cases can require a bit of extra work, as the dial will be slightly undersized. Not sure what cases will take a gen dial, other than the (expensive) Viet cases.

Not sure on the bezels, but likely there will be some machining involved.
 

Timmer

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I think the Raffles DJ cases use a 28.5mm dial, while a gen Rolex dial is 27.2mm(?) so gen Dials in Raffles cases can require a bit of extra work, as the dial will be slightly undersized. Not sure what cases will take a gen dial, other than the (expensive) Viet cases.

Not sure on the bezels, but likely there will be some machining involved.
This is a close-up of my gen dial in the Raffles 2824 case, slightly off center by a couple hundredths of mm (compare the left and right side of the chapter ring against the rehaut) - but no machining at all to the case. Also, able to press on a gen bezel without the need for any case machining. The only machining required, is to remove some material from the inside of the caseback - to allow room for the autowinder rotor to spin freely.


 
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1016_idiot_savant

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I think the Raffles DJ cases use a 28.5mm dial, while a gen Rolex dial is 27.2mm(?) so gen Dials in Raffles cases can require a bit of extra work, as the dial will be slightly undersized. Not sure what cases will take a gen dial, other than the (expensive) Viet cases.

Not sure on the bezels, but likely there will be some machining involved.
My gen dial fits in Raffles 2824 case - when ordering, make sure to confirm with him that you are using a gen dial.

 

Replicated

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This depends on the Dial, I had to enlarge the rehaut because of the "SWISS MADE" text is pretty low placed on the dials I used.
Lume pips are also dangerously close to the rehaut on some dials. ;-)

As demonstrated by @freebalkany :
zniXdt.jpg


The dial you used might be a "better match" for this case.
But, it takes just a minute or two to get the rehaut to the correct size wit a Dremel/Proxxon.
 
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1016_idiot_savant

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My Raffles case has a gen bezel, dial and crown (though I can't recall if I had to install a different tube...). And since the Raffles 2824 case comes with the cyclops for a 2824 date position, I replaced the xtal with a Clarks with cyclops in the correct location.
In addition, be aware there is a difference in the date position in 4-digit dials (use Rolex Cyclop 118 #25-118, Sternkreuz XS 306.133) and 5-digit dials (use Rolex Cyclop 135 #25-135, Sternkreuz XS 307.457). Also - the 5-digit bezel fits the Cyclop 135, so make sure you pair the dial, crystal, and bezel. With this being said, everything just fits together like Lego blocks...
 
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Daniel_AUT

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I've now looked through it, there's a lot... I'm going to get the following: a complete DJ 36mm case (bezel and caseback included), 28mm dial, hands for 36mm DJ, 20mm Jubilee, and a clone Eta 2824 from ALI. .with the hope that there are also movement retaining screws ;)
 

dpd3672

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I've now looked through it, there's a lot... I'm going to get the following: a complete DJ 36mm case (bezel and caseback included), 28mm dial, hands for 36mm DJ, 20mm Jubilee, and a clone Eta 2824 from ALI. .with the hope that there are also movement retaining screws ;)
Raffles usually includes them with the case set. That said, they're often not the right size (too big) and need to be filed down a bit to fit.