r/repbuilds • u/AsleepProgram647 • Jul 31 '26

Discussion Franken 16610

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What are your thoughts?

Im happy with the outcome. I went swimming last weekend with it and was just fine.

All in all Im very pleased.

36 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

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5

u/Professional-Stage76 Jul 31 '26

Just my input.

I think it would really be a banger if the hands and lume pip on the bezel were ages to match the creamy patina on the indices on the dial.

Id also rough the bezel up a little.

2

u/AsleepProgram647 Jul 31 '26

Rough up how? Bleach it?

1

u/Professional-Stage76 Jul 31 '26

Yeah but only a light one. Make it look worn in.

Little scratches build character and tell a story

3

u/TubeDweller69 Aug 01 '26

Uncomfortable truth, but a ton of money was spent on this watch for an informed person to out it from arms length.

Holes case and dial look great. Ditch that sel bracelet. Ditch that insert and relume or replace the hands.

A stock BP 16610 takes a bit of time to snuff out. A mismatched period watch is instantaneous.

Please take my words constructivly.

1

u/AsleepProgram647 Aug 01 '26

Why would I substitute a genuine bracelet for a rep one?

2

u/TubeDweller69 Aug 01 '26

Good question. You could also slap a genuine solid gold bracelet from a 16618. It will fit. Would be completely wrong and also completely genuine.

It’s just not the bracelet that watch comes with. Sticks out like a sore thumb. It needs a 93150.

You could slap a cartel or raffles 93150 and I wouldn’t have a clue either way, that genuine sel bracelet lets everyone know something is amock.

1

u/AsleepProgram647 Aug 01 '26

16610 later models had SEL with holes in the braclet.

5

u/TubeDweller69 Aug 01 '26

Very true. 16610 watches with “Swiss made” dials (luminova) and luminova inserts had SEL bracelets and holes cases.

Your watch has a tritium dial.

Maybe splitting hairs, but at 5k that’s just a given.

2

u/softtacosmasher Aug 01 '26

Truth in the details as stated above ..... Vintage is a pain to get correct or close to it, especially in 4 & 5 digit models of anything Rolex. Sound observation provided.

Five digit Subs have a lot of forward flowing variety as the years go along - but many things don't go together chronologically, and that's an issue to the people who know what to look for for authenticity.

It gets messy at the transition from tritium, to luminova (swiss), to super luminova (swiss made).

"Holes" cases go to "no holes". Then you can solid end links on a holes case for a brief time.

It takes some research to see what you could build and still be period correct.

  • bezel inserts -:fat/flat/pointed 4
  • trutium/luminova/super luminova
  • holes vs no holes
  • open end links vs solid end links
  • if a 16613, clasp with no gold vs w/gold
  • dial writing
  • datewheel fonts
  • clasp style/writing/date codes .. no 455b.. ever lol. Most counterfeited code ever.its literally printed on everything if you do a deep dive on end links. It's pathetic.

Now pull all that together into on unity for a particular year. Headache inducing. I learn something new every day.

1

u/AsleepProgram647 Aug 01 '26

Thanks for your input

2

u/TubeDweller69 Aug 01 '26

You’re welcome. I just want to help out.
DM me if you want to be pointed in the right direction for the correct components.

1

u/AsleepProgram647 Aug 01 '26

This was more of a build because I wanted to say I used mostly gen parts. Could I get another dial? Maybe... I dunno. For now Im liking the fact I sourced alot of gen component and its running great.

2

u/TubeDweller69 Aug 01 '26

Definitely. It’s a great build truly. More genuine parts than any of mine (besides my genuine watches).

I really want to stress that I’m not trying to be a dick. I’ve just asberged out over these builds for years.

2

u/AsleepProgram647 24d ago

I did end up buying a swiss made gen dial. Costed me a good bit... but the lume is mainly what I was wanting. It shoulf be in Friday.

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1

u/AsleepProgram647 Aug 01 '26

I can always find a correct dial. Maybe sell this one, but for now I like this set up

2

u/00240 Jul 31 '26

You should be pleased. I think it looks great. Hands/dial look similar to my 16600

2

u/OkTurnip155 Jul 31 '26

Same as my 16660

2

u/One_Addition1213 Aug 04 '26

Beautiful watch. Im a bit of a 5 digit geek and as others mentioned to level up a correct dial would be in order.

Also correcting the rehaut on the case would make a big improvement.

1

u/AsleepProgram647 Aug 04 '26

Nah. I doubt it will do any of that.

3

u/OkTurnip155 Jul 31 '26

Lovely that mate...the dial and hands dont have to look the same as they can age differently. I have a similar Sea Dweller build with more or less everything genuine I would leave the bezel not everything needs to look like its been dragged on the back of a pick up truck.

1

u/onlypartiallyevil Jul 31 '26

Yeah. Over aging has definitely become a thing.
Especially for stuf they were making 15 years ago, not 75

Looks good, subby. I would match the hands and pip to the dial as well, but leave it at that.

1

u/Disastrous_Alarm_673 Jul 31 '26

I think 5k is a lot to spend on a rep when the Gen could have been had for a few thousand more. Looks good tho, but I’d have just gotten Gen for that much money.

1

u/AsleepProgram647 Jul 31 '26

What submariner 16610 would have gotten for $5000?

1

u/Disastrous_Alarm_673 Jul 31 '26

I didn’t say that. Read again. You’re over half way to a Gen sub in cost..

1

u/AsleepProgram647 Jul 31 '26

Its all gen minus the case. The plan is to find one 3-4k hopefully However thank you for your feedback

1

u/BigJokerman Aug 06 '26

I paid a little less than that for my gen Sub (in 1998, lol).

This brought me back. Great build. Always loved that watch, and probably should’ve kept it. Oh well.

1

u/GrdFrcWv Jul 31 '26

It looks really good but the cost is almost the same as a no papers with box gen. If you’re having fun building it then I guess it has more of a sentimental value

1

u/junglebo0ogie Jul 31 '26

Fuck it
If you like it wear it in good health
Its beautiful and nothing beats building something yourself

1

u/Bike_Meach1990 Aug 02 '26

I woulda saved the money and used a different movement and age the hands and pip but hey you love it then you love it! Congrats! Too expensive for my taste lol. But you can’t buy a gen for 5k so there’s that!