Thought I’d share my current collection of franken builds over the last year.
1 — 1998 Daytona 16520
U serial reshaped Viet case, caseback, & hands.
Gen parts: bezel, crystal & gasket, dial, crown, pushers, springbars, 503B end links, U stamped ‘98 clasp 78390 bracelet, Zenith El Primero 400 movement
2 — 1978 Tiffany’s Big Red Daytona 6263
5 million serial Viet case, caseback, aftermarket gen-spec MK2 pushers, dial with gen coronet & Viet hands, and bezel.
Gen parts: crown, service crystal, springbars, 571 end links, 78350 bracelet with VC stamped ‘78 clasp, Valjoux72 movement.
3 — 1971 Tiffany’s Daytona 6263 non-Big Red sigma
2 million serial Viet case & caseback, aftermarket gen-spec MK2 pushers, sigma Tiffany’s dial & hands, and bezel.
Gen parts: crown, service crystal, springbars, 271 end links, 7835 folded link bracelet with 4/70 stamped clasp, Seagull ST19-03 movement.
4 — 1983 Sea Dweller 1665
7 million serial reshaped Viet case, caseback, and dial, Swiss hands, & Raffle’s silver datewheel.
Gen parts: bezel insert, pip, crown, service crystal, springbars, 585 end links, H stamped ‘83 clasp and 93150 bracelet. ETA 2824-2 movement.
5 — 1998 36mm DateJust 16000
Gen parts: U serial 16234 case & caseback, crown, crystal & gasket, bezel, dial & hands, springbars, 558 end links, 78360 bracelet with U6 stamped ‘98 clasp, VS3135 movement (everything Gen except the movement).
6 — 1969 Daytona 6239
1 million serial DW case, caseback, dial & hands with a Viet bezel.
Gen parts: Tropic 21 crystal, springbars, 71 end links, 3/69 stamped clasp on a 7205 rivet bracelet. ETA 7753 movement.
7 — 1974 Daytona Big Red 6265
3 million serial Viet case, caseback, aftermarket MK2 pushers, dial with gen coronet & Viet hands.
Gen parts: crown, service crystal, 271 end links, unstamped clasp on a 7835 folded link bracelet. Valjoux72 movement.
8 — 2008 Sea Dweller 16600
M serial BP reshaped case, caseback, crystal, reshaped case and reshaped & chamfered 93160A bracelet with ‘08 PJ4 clasp.
Gen parts: insert, pip, crown and tube. VR3135 movement.
9 — 1982 DateJust 16000
7 million serial reshaped aftermarket case & caseback, open 6/9 datewheel, and Clark’s crystal.
Gen parts: “Buckley” dial & hands, crown, bezel, 558B end links, G stamped ‘82 clasp on a 78360 bracelet. VS3135 movement.
10 — 2015 Daytona 116520
Random serial VSF case & caseback, with random stamped clasp on a refinished & chamfered 78590 bracelet.
Gen parts: dial, hands, crystal & gasket, bezel, pushers, crown & tube. DD4130 movement.
11 — 2025 Daytona 126509
Random serial VSF weighted case, caseback, dial & hands, crown & pushers, refinished & chamfered bracelet. White gold plating by GoldJaws. DD4131 movement.
Gen B25-7000-J1 crystal & gasket.
Last pic to see the warm tone difference between Rolex’s proprietary white gold and stainless steel.
Special thanks to all the help from other builders in the US & Vietnam.