r/vintagerepwatches

Not long ago, I managed to finish a longtime favorite build. This one took me a few months to finalize—I was being lazy and waiting to gather quality parts! The result is what I consider a perfect piece. Honestly, nothing here can be improved. Maybe the dial, but I chose it based on my personal preference, so I won’t change that either.

The Valjoux 72 movement is probably the cleanest one I’ve ever seen, and its performance is off the charts, running at basically +1 second a day. I’ll be making a cool video and taking more pictures of this one, but for now, enjoy!

Specs:

• Viet case with the correct 6240 reference engraving and a custom serial number engraving
• Viet dial with the perfect eggshell color and printing
• Viet bezel with the correct curved profile
• Genuine hour, minute, and chronograph hands; small subdial hands from Yuki
• Genuine service plexi
• Mk0 pushers from Phong, exactly like the genuine ones
• Genuine crown and tube
• Genuine bracelet from Wind Vintage
• Valjoux 72 movement in NOS condition

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this vintage Rolex Submariner.

Based on my assessment, I believe the following:
Gen case (probably genuine)
Gen dial (probably genuine)
Gen bezel (probably genuine)
Rep hands (aftermarket)
Rep crown (aftermarket)
Do you agree with my assessment?

I’m particularly interested in your opinions on the authenticity of the dial, its originality, and overall condition.
Do you notice anything unusual or concerning?
I’d really appreciate your thoughts, especially from vintage Rolex experts.

Thanks in advance!

I am considering buying this. What is everyone’s thoughts on it.

Selling my “1966” Full Viet Rolex 5513 Submariner build (Kuared) with genuine 1520 Rolex Movement. The watch looks amazing, and runs amazing. Will come with genuine Rolex warranty paper that matches the case number. Fully Serviced. Asking $5,500 obo. Message me with any questions.

- Dials from u/attorneyimmediate918 (I’ve been sitting on these for months and happy to finally use them)
- Raffles case
- Nh38
- hands aged by me

Two of the most iconic dive watches of the 20th century. Which one are you picking?

Well, I own the Tudor. To me, a little more obscure and downplayed. The 1680 - especially the red sub - is so iconic.

Here it is, finally, the 6036!! Enjoy! ☺️

Mr. No_Candle8699 built this one for me, but I haven’t been wearing it, so it’s time to find it a new home.

Specs:
• Viet case
• Viet dial
• Genuine insert sourced from eBay
• Relumed hands
• Tropic 19 low-dome crystal one of my favorite looks, the best looking one hands down
• Triplock crown
• High grade Swiss ETA 2824, no date

Price: 1900 shipped

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

Catching the sunset on my way out to dinner with the fam. Custom 5517 courtesy of Ok_Application_8141

Many thanks!

Astrua is one of the lesser-known retailer-signed Rolex names. Based in Turin since 1860, Astrua sold watches from major Swiss houses, with some examples carrying the retailer signature on the dial - much rarer and less recognized than Tiffany or Cartier

Build specs:
Milk case
Modified ST19
Custom Viet Astrua dial
Viet bezel
Upgraded tube & crown
Upgraded crystal
13.5mm thickness

Challenge: Can raffles 1675 look good enough to compete with Viet’s?

My $.02: I think it came out great! Viet wins but for the price and the right amount of elbow grease, raffles is a contender! You tell me.

Some of you may have seen the “in progress” post. Long story short, I’m gonna have stop building for a week or two due to some personal issues. So I wanted to finish this before I hit pause.

Parts:
Raffles dial, case, hands and jubilee
ETA clone gmt movement
Clark’s xtal
Milk fat font pink panther insert

Mods:

Aged dial with a slight gradient of black in the center then tropical, hands, dwo with full relume

Shaved Crystal a bit to fit the raffles retaining ring

Aged, shaved the insert - a royal pain to get the right diameter, curvature right to fit raffles. Also tried a new technique to gradient fade the insert. It’s a work in progress.

Now the most laborious thing was the case, from softening, getting the lugs right and crown guards - the right curvature, profile, height.

Had to spend a lot of time to get the CGs right, boy did they have a lot of meat.

Enjoy! And thanks for looking.

Did some nice fading/aging of my BiVin 9401 bezel insert, since i have a CAC mounted on my build. Turned out pretty sweet. Bleached it with diluted bleach w/q tips and made a single layer of scratches on it. What are your opinions?

Vintage-inspired 1680 build with an aged black dial, warm cream lume, and matching aged hands. The faded olive-green bezel shifts between green and brown/bronze tones depending on the lighting.

Vintage 1680-style case
Acrylic crystal with cyclops
Aged black dial
Hand-aged handset
Faded olive-green bezel insert
ST2130 automatic movement
Dark brown distressed leather strap with insignia buckle

$360 shipped in the US.

Freshly finished MilSub-style vintage build with a heavily aged dial, paired with aged lume and a weathered bezel insert.

Aged dial
Aged hands and lume
Faded/weathered bezel insert
Domed acrylic crystal
ST2130 movement
Olive green NATO strap
Built, regulated, and tested prior to sale

$360 shipped CONUS

Took the 1675 for a trip this weekend and put it through the paces. From fishing to business meetings it handled itself great. This one was originally a yodog build that I upgraded with a Swiss eta movement, gen insert, crystal, custom date wheel, gen crown and gen C&I bracelet. I recently sourced the link connectors for the end links and look forward to swapping the current one a buddy macgyver for me. This is a special watch that sadly I had sold but was able to get back from the buyer and now it will stay with me for other long haul.