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What AP Franken(s) do you have in the works?!

Edgematic

I'm Pretty Popular
5/8/08
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I've decided to finally build my franken build. Parts have been in my drawer for too long and within a couple of months it's spring => ROO Time for me until next winter.

Does anyone have an LWO283 lying around?

Also looking for a datewheel from the A2824 AP 15703 Diver, (Noob V3, V3.5)

Let me know if you have something, I've also posted a WTB add.

Thanks!
 

elmoelmched

Do not accept unsolicited offers
30/1/20
8
1
0
Hello guys,im thinking to build an AP genstein.Which parts should i use? Can i modify the rep case to make it gen specs? And is it possible to rework on dial and make it same as gen?Thanks!
 

legend

The RWI Dragon
Staff member
Global Moderator
Certified
20/9/10
64,143
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Where I need to be.
Hello guys,im thinking to build an AP genstein.Which parts should i use? Can i modify the rep case to make it gen specs? And is it possible to rework on dial and make it same as gen?Thanks!

If you are thinking to build an AP genstein, then you have replied your own question: you should use gen parts all the way.
 

AlphaProt

Respected Member
Advisor
24/3/19
3,209
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New Zealand
Hello guys,im thinking to build an AP genstein.Which parts should i use? Can i modify the rep case to make it gen specs? And is it possible to rework on dial and make it same as gen?Thanks!

Genstein imho is made up of 100%, entirely, periodically correct gen parts. The watch itself is 100% gen without box, paper and pedigree. Also it wasn't assembled by AP in their workshop.

Other than that it's a watch (stock or modded) that tries to resemble the look of an AP. Nothing more. It is no where near gen AP, nor it could ever be made to look like one, no matter how hard you try.

A franken watch (rep + gen parts put together) is a watch that give off aesthetically look closer to an AP. It is still far different from a gen AP, depending on how many gen parts are used to build such watch.

Ahhhh the beauty and the forever headaches of the replica watch world.
 

ThePlayboy

Known Member
14/1/14
157
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I want to build a Royal Oak Chronograph 41mm franken, I have dial, hands and the bezel. My question is, can I use a movement from Blancpain, Calibre 1185?
 

W47chl0v3r

Franken AP Enthusiast
Certified
29/8/19
1,219
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What happened with the bezel? Did it knock against something? The crack pattern looks interesting.

The bezel came to me like that from an M2M sale. I wouldn't have bought it except that it was the only one of that model on sale at the time. I epoxied it back together and plan on getting a genuine 44mm ceramic bezel. For right now I need to work out fitting the LWO283 to the genuine steel case. Pushers fit and function well. Movement is stuck in a customs warehouse and the dial was lost in the mail, thankfully was insured. Really would like to have someone thin the massive caseback for me. Any takers?
 

flofas

Active Member
3/10/13
384
235
43
Europe
I was going to use the OMF rep case, but I‘m not sure it will work. If that doesn't‘t work I have no idea, maybe try to source a gen case, but that‘s difficult.

The OMF stock case is quite thick to be honest (looks more like an offshore than a regular RO), although since you have the gen bezel you're already thinning the profile a lot. The reason I'm asking is cause a 41mm ROC is my dream build, and I've talked to modders that have made an ROC franken a reality, and all have told me that the whole build is very hard to do.

When I assembled a price list of parts needed plus the time the modder would possibly need in modding a case and sourcing the correct parts, the price list came down to little bit more than $10k (that included gen hands, crown, datewheel, screws n shit) and, at the time, the projected time of completion was more than a year. I'm not trying to prevent you from doing a build like that, in fact, if you have positive results I would be delighted to use your build as an example, but at the time, I realised that a build like that could reach $15k and I decided that it's not worth it since the cheapest gen ROC's at C24 were about $15k.

Please let us know how you are willing to go forward with this build. I'm very interested in your ideas.
 
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ThePlayboy

Known Member
14/1/14
157
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The OMF stock case is quite thick to be honest (looks more like an offshore than a regular RO), although since you have the gen bezel you're already thinning the profile a lot. The reason I'm asking is cause a 41mm ROC is my dream build, and I've talked to modders that have made an ROC franken a reality, and all have told me that the whole build is very hard to do.

When I assembled a price list of parts needed plus the time the modder would possibly need in modding a case and sourcing the correct parts, the price list came down to little bit more than $10k (that included gen hands, crown, datewheel, screws n shit) and, at the time, the projected time of completion was more than a year. I'm not trying to prevent you from doing a build like that, in fact, if you have positive results I would be delighted to use your build as an example, but at the time, I realised that a build like that could reach $15k and I decided that it's not worth it since the cheapest gen ROC's at C24 were about $15k.

Please let us know how you are willing to go forward with this build. I'm very interested in your ideas.

I have talked to Domi, he already made my OMF case thinner, and he rebuild the movement to a manual movement (no root) an we got the thickness to 13mm, not possible to make it thinner with at the 7750. So I decided t go franken since a gen dial doesn't‘t fit the 7750 I need a new movement. However, Domi don‘t think it‘s possible to mod the case to fit the 1185 movement, so I think I have to buy a gen watch instead since the ROC is my dream watch. I have a gen 42mm offshore (a Safari) and one franken (The Beast, built by Domi) but I prefer the 41mm.
 

flofas

Active Member
3/10/13
384
235
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Europe
However, Domi don‘t think it‘s possible to mod the case to fit the 1185 movement

You can try this gen case https://www.chrono24.com.gr/audemar...ograph-26300-26320-steel-case--id18278746.htm but you will still need to find (or mod) a caseback, screws, pushers, plus gaskets and crystal. Maybe a 15400 rep can be used for the screws and caseback.

Then you can use these gen plots to fit a rubber strap to it https://www.chrono24.com.gr/audemar...ograph-26300-26320-steel-case--id18278746.htm theoretically.

As I said it's a pretty hard build, whenever you find some gen parts, there's something new you're missing. What are going to do with subdial hands? Will OMF's fit? Will gen hands from a 39mm model fit? It's all trial and error at this point, maybe slaughterer62 can also chime in cause he has completed a 41mm ROC build.
 
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ThePlayboy

Known Member
14/1/14
157
146
43
You can try this gen case https://www.chrono24.com.gr/audemar...ograph-26300-26320-steel-case--id18278746.htm but you will still need to find (or mod) a caseback, screws, pushers, plus gaskets and crystal. Maybe a 15400 rep can be used for the screws and caseback.

Then you can use these gen plots to fit a rubber strap to it https://www.chrono24.com.gr/audemar...ograph-26300-26320-steel-case--id18278746.htm theoretically.

As I said it's a pretty hard build, whenever you find some gen parts, there's something new you're missing. What are going to do with subdial hands? Will OMF's fit? Will gen hands from a 39mm model fit? It's all trial and error at this point, maybe slaughterer62 can also chime in cause he has completed a 41mm ROC build.


Thanks for the info, you know much more about this than I do. I really want to build a ROC franken, but I don‘t think it will be possible.
 

flofas

Active Member
3/10/13
384
235
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Europe
Thanks for the info, you know much more about this than I do. I really want to build a ROC franken, but I don‘t think it will be possible.

As I said, I REALLY hope you can work something out with this build. You can probably source the parts missing from a quartz rep of the ROC since that exists. It's still going to be a big pain in the ass for any modder that will undertake a project like this, but it's theoretically possible.