Alright, let’s talk about my little project – a high imitation Rolex Black Submariner. I’ve always been a fan of the classic style, but you know, the real deal is way out of my budget. So, I thought, why not try to make one myself? It was a bit of a challenge, but a fun one!
First, I started by gathering all the materials. I found some good quality stainless steel online, it looks the part, you know. I had to learn a bit about watchmaking, which was cool. I watched a bunch of videos, read some forums, and basically tried to soak up as much information as I could.
Collecting Parts
The next step was finding parts that looked like the real thing. I found a movement that works pretty well, it’s not a real Rolex movement, obviously, but it keeps time okay. Then there was the dial, the hands, the bezel – all that stuff.
- Movement: Got a decent automatic movement online, keeps time.
- Dial and Hands: Found some that look super close to the real thing.
- Bezel: This was tricky, but I managed to find one with the right markings and feel.
- Case and Bracelet: Used that stainless steel I mentioned, shaped it as best as I could.
Assembly Time
Putting it all together was the hardest part. I bought a cheap watchmaking toolkit and just went for it. There were a few hiccups, messed up a couple of times, but eventually, I got it working. I was surprised how tiny all the parts were, it’s like, you need the hands of a surgeon or something! Had to take breaks because my eyes started to hurt after staring at those small parts for too long.
I have to say, it was pretty satisfying to see it all come together. The final product isn’t perfect, far from it, there are a few rough edges here and there, but it looks pretty darn close to a real Black Submariner. I mean, I wouldn’t fool a watch expert, but to the average person, it looks legit. I wore it out the other day, and a couple of people even asked me about it. Felt pretty good, not gonna lie.
This whole thing was a fun experiment. I learned a lot, and now I have a cool-looking watch. Plus, I saved a ton of money! It’s not the same as owning a real Rolex, but it’s a nice little reminder of what I can do when I put my mind to it. I spent the next few days admiring my handiwork and showing it off to my friends. We all agreed, it was a pretty impressive fake, especially considering it was made with my own two hands. Would I do it again? Maybe, maybe not. It was a lot of work, but the end result was worth it.
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