Okay, so I’ve been wanting a Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” for a while now. The real deal? Forget about it, way too pricey. So, I thought, why not try to make a high imitation one myself? Sounds crazy, right? But I was determined, so here’s how it went down.
First, I needed to get all the parts. I spent days, maybe even weeks, just searching around. I found some decent-looking parts from various places, trying to get the best quality for as little money as possible. After some trial and error I got all the stuff together. It wasn’t a walk in the park, let me tell you.
Getting Started
I started with the case. I got a stainless steel one that looked pretty close to the original. Then came the movement. I opted for a decent automatic movement, not the best, but good enough to keep time accurately. Putting these two together was already a bit of a challenge. I had to make sure everything fit just right.
The Dial and Hands
Next up was the dial. This was tricky. I wanted that classic “Pepsi” look, with the red and blue bezel. I managed to find a dial that was almost an exact match and some hands that looked the part. Getting the hands on the movement without bending them? That was a real test of patience, haha.
The Bezel
The bezel was probably the most fun part. I found a ceramic bezel insert with that iconic red and blue split. Fitting it onto the case was a bit nerve-wracking, I had to be super careful not to crack it. But once it was on, man, it looked good.
Bracelet
For the bracelet, I went with a stainless steel Oyster-style one. It’s not the original Jubilee, but it’s close enough and feels solid. Getting the bracelet attached to the case was the easiest part, thank goodness.
Putting It All Together
After all the parts were ready, it was time to assemble the whole thing. This was like putting together a really complicated puzzle. I followed some guides I found, took my time, and made sure everything was aligned perfectly. There were moments I thought I’d messed up, but I kept at it.
The Final Result
And finally, after hours of work, it was done. My very own high imitation Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi”. It’s not perfect, and a real watch expert could probably spot the differences, but to me, it looks amazing. It keeps time well, feels good on the wrist, and I’m pretty darn proud of myself for pulling it off.
Here’s what I learned from this whole project:
- Patience is key: Seriously, you need a lot of it.
- Research pays off: The more you know, the better your result will be.
- It’s okay to make mistakes: Just learn from them and keep going.
Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a fun challenge, and I learned a ton. But it’s definitely not something you can do in an afternoon. If you’re thinking about trying something like this, be prepared to put in the time and effort. But hey, if you pull it off, the feeling is pretty great!
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