Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to get one of those fancy Rolex Submariner watches for a while now. But man, those things are expensive! So I thought, why not try to make my own? I mean, how hard could it be, right? I decided to go with the two-tone black Submariner because it looks super slick.
First, I did some digging online to see what I was getting myself into. Apparently, the real deal, especially the two-tone ones with gold, can cost you an arm and a leg. And while the replicas hold their value for a bit, it drops over time. Also found out that the first copy watches are like, almost the real thing, but not quite. They might look and feel similar, but they’re not genuine, no matter how good they are.
I started by gathering all the materials I needed. I found some stainless steel for the case and bracelet. I got some that are not authentic, just some regular watch movement I found online. It is important to assess the placement and quality of this placement. For the gold parts, I used some gold-plated stuff. It wasn’t real gold, obviously, but it looked close enough. I also got some black ceramic for the bezel insert, and some sapphire crystal for the glass. I tried to make sure the watch weighed about the same as a real one, about 150 grams, and the case size was 40 millimeters.
- Finding a decent watch case and bracelet: This was a bit tricky. I looked at a bunch of those online stores and finally found one that looked pretty good.
- Getting the movement in: I bought one of those cheap automatic movements. Fitting it into the case was a pain, I won’t lie.
- The bezel was tough: I got a ceramic bezel insert, but making it rotate smoothly like the real ones was super hard.
- Gold plating: I tried to gold plate some parts myself to get that two-tone look. It didn’t turn out perfect, but it was okay for a first try.
Putting It All Together
Next, I started assembling the watch. I carefully placed the movement inside the case and attached the hands. Then, I installed the dial and the bezel. I used some special tools to screw in the case back and the crown. It was a bit nerve-wracking, but I managed to put it all together without breaking anything.
Once the watch was assembled, I started working on the details. I found out that real Rolexes have these serial numbers engraved on them. So, I tried to engrave a serial number on the inside of the case. It wasn’t perfect, but it added a little touch of realism. I also made sure the bracelet had all the right markings and the clasp worked smoothly. It turns out that a genuine Rolex has its serial number on the rehaut or behind the bracelet. So, I tried to replicate that. I also tried to make sure the weight was right, around 150 grams or so.
After a lot of trial and error, I finally had a working watch. It wasn’t a perfect replica, of course. There were a few details that were off, and the movement wasn’t as smooth as a real Rolex. There were some flaws here and there, and the gold plating wasn’t perfect. But honestly, it looked pretty darn good! It kept time okay, and it definitely had that Submariner vibe.
So, that’s my story of making a “high imitation” Rolex two-tone black Submariner. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot about watches along the way. Would I do it again? Maybe. But next time, I might try to make an even better one! It’s not about tricking anyone; it’s more like a fun DIY project. Plus, I saved a ton of money!
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