Alright, let’s talk about this little project I got myself into. You know how some people collect stamps? Well, I’m into watches, specifically, trying to make a pretty darn good imitation of the Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600, the older model. Yeah, I know, it’s a bit of a wild hobby, but I’ve always been fascinated by the engineering of these things.
First off, I spent a good chunk of time just staring at pictures of the real deal. I mean, this watch, the 16600, it’s a classic, right? It replaced the Sea-Dweller Submariner 2000, and this bad boy can supposedly go down to 4,000 feet underwater. Not that I’m planning to test that out, but it’s cool to know.
So, I started by gathering all the parts. This wasn’t as easy as it sounds. I had to find pieces that looked the part, felt right, and didn’t cost an arm and a leg. It was like a treasure hunt, but instead of gold, I was after tiny screws and watch hands.
Main steps to complete the imitation
- Disassembling the base watch I bought a cheap watch as a base. Taking it apart was like performing surgery, but much more fun. I made sure to keep all the parts organized because, trust me, you don’t want to lose a screw that’s smaller than a grain of rice.
- Replacing the face Getting a watch face that looked like the 16600’s was a real challenge. I spent hours online, comparing fonts and spacing. When I finally found one, it was a moment of pure joy. Swapping the face was tricky; one wrong move and I would ruin the face or break a hand.
- Adding the bezel The Sea-Dweller has this rotating bezel, which is a key feature. I found one that clicked just right, and attaching it was satisfying. It’s all about those small details, you know? The bezel I got is designed to be strong and scratch-resistant.
- The helium escape valve Now, this is just for show, of course. The real 16600 has a helium escape valve for deep-sea diving. I managed to find a dummy valve that looked exactly like the real one. Gluing it on was nerve-wracking, but I got it done. This is a very important part to make the imitation look real.
- Putting it all back together This was the moment of truth. I carefully reassembled the watch, piece by piece. Each click and snap was a small victory. When I finally got the case back on, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment.
When I was done, I just sat there, looking at it. It wasn’t perfect, but it was my version of the Sea-Dweller 16600. It felt heavy on my wrist, just like the real thing. It’s not about tricking anyone; it’s about the process, the craftsmanship, and the satisfaction of building something with my own two hands. I even managed to find a bracelet that closely resembled the original. It wasn’t easy, but after a lot of searching, I found one that matched the style and feel of the authentic Rolex bracelet. Fitting it to the watch case was the final touch, and it really completed the look.
So, yeah, that’s my story. I made an imitation of a Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600. It’s not something I’d wear out to a fancy dinner, but it’s a cool piece to have. And hey, it started some interesting conversations with other watch nerds. We’re a weird bunch, but we appreciate the effort, the details, and the sheer craziness of trying to imitate a legend like the 16600.
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