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u/lsosi

Image 1 — My First Build
Image 2 — My First Build
Image 3 — My First Build
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▲ 126 r/retrotime

My First Build

I finally completed my first full build from scratch — and what better excuse than making custom watches for my groomsmen for my wedding.

Specs for the build:

Raffles updated case, crown, hands, dial, updated bezel, open 6 & 9 date wheel and Jubilee bracelet, Alibaba VS3135 movement, and Alibaba box set.

What an absolute adventure this turned into. Somewhere between “this will be a fun little project” and me turning my house into a questionable underground watch factory, I learned a ton. There were definitely moments where I questioned my sanity, my eyesight, and whether tiny watch screws are actually engineered to launch themselves into another dimension.

Huge shoutout to this Retrotime community — especially ClarktheRealtor, Jumpy, Defqon88, Archaedin, Jbusta2202, and No_Candle8699. Everyone was incredibly helpful anytime I had questions. And despite me probably sending Clark enough questions to qualify as a part-time apprenticeship, he always responded, helped me troubleshoot issues, and pointed me in the right direction.

Big thanks also to my friend Matt for helping with the diamond-tip engraving on the DJ casebacks and the laser etching on the glass casebacks. Add in a few custom 3D-printed jigs, some trial and error, and somehow these turned out way better than I ever expected.

I even managed to rope my dad into helping out in the sweatshop during assembly — which honestly made the whole experience even more memorable.

For anyone on the fence about getting into watch building: just jump in and do it. If I can figure this out with a little patience, a few tools, YouTube, and mild emotional breakdowns, anyone can. It’s an incredibly rewarding hobby… and apparently a very slippery slope.

Thanks again to everyone in this community for the motivation, advice, and support along the way. Excited to keep learning and building more.

Also want to thank Ken at Raffles dials. He is such a great person to work with. He was always friendly and answered all my questions. Shipping to USA only took around 2 weeks.

Cheers 🍻

u/lsosi — 1 day ago
▲ 9 r/LabDiamonds+1 crossposts

Bad Experience with Grown Brilliance

I purchased both my engagement ring and wedding band from this company, and unfortunately my overall experience has been extremely disappointing.

One of the main reasons for my frustration is that the complimentary 2 ct earrings included with my $4,430.27 purchase—earrings the company valued at $595—broke in less than a year. When I contacted customer service regarding the warranty, I was told the warranty would not be honored because the earrings were considered a “gift.” Regardless of how the item was categorized, it was included as part of a significant purchase, and I expected the company to stand behind the quality of the products they provide.

I should have taken this as a warning sign, but I decided to give the company another opportunity when purchasing my wedding band. Unfortunately, that experience was equally frustrating.

After selecting a ring listed at $1,995 and placing it in my cart, the price unexpectedly increased to $2,295 during checkout. I contacted customer support through the chat feature, and the representative initially confirmed the lower advertised price. However, when he added the ring to his own cart, he experienced the same issue. He offered to call me back to resolve the matter, but I never received a call.

I then had to contact customer service by phone and explain the situation again. The representative I spoke with stated she did not have the authority to honor the original listed price and said she would speak with her manager and call me back the same day. That call never came either.

The following day, I called again and requested to speak directly with a manager. I was told the manager was unavailable and would return my call later. When I finally did receive a callback, I once again had to explain the entire situation from the beginning. I was informed there had been a “system glitch,” but again was told they did not have the authority to correct the issue immediately. Eventually, after several conversations and repeated follow-ups on my end, the company agreed to honor the original advertised price, while also emphasizing that they reserve the right to change prices at any time.

Throughout the entire process, there was very little accountability, communication, or ownership of the issue. I consistently felt like I was being passed from one person to another without any real effort to resolve the situation efficiently or professionally.

Based on my experience, I do not feel this company stands behind its products or prioritizes customer service after the sale is completed. I will not be purchasing from them again, and I would not recommend them to friends or family looking for engagement rings or wedding jewelry.

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u/lsosi — 1 day ago