Alright, buddies, let me tell you about this little project I’ve been messing with. I’ve always been a fan of those fancy Rolex watches, especially the Submariner. But, you know, they cost an arm and a leg! So, I thought, why not try to make a high-quality fake one myself? I’m not trying to sell these or anything, it’s just a fun hobby. Today, I’m working on a two-tone black Submariner, just like you’d find in one of those specialty stores.
First off, I started digging around for info on the real deal. I found out that the genuine Submariner, like the 126610LN, goes for around $10,250. The green one, the 126610LV, is even pricier, especially if you’re buying it second-hand. And get this, the rarest ones, like the 5517, are super collectible. It’s crazy how much people are willing to pay for these things!
Then, I started gathering my materials. Now, I’m not using real gold or anything, but I found some pretty convincing stainless steel and some other metals that look just like the real deal when they’re all polished up. I’ve got some black and some gold-colored parts to make it that classic two-tone look.
The next step was figuring out the design. I spent hours looking at pictures and videos of real Submariners, trying to get every detail just right. I even studied those fancy terms they use, like “sunburst” and “gloss black”. One guy was saying sunburst is for one part, and gloss black is for another. I chose the black gloss because I think it is good to fit my wardrobe. There’s also a version called the “Kermit” and the “Hulk”. It’s all pretty confusing, but I think I’ve got the hang of it.
Now, the hard part: actually putting this thing together. I’ve got all these tiny little parts and tools, and it’s like a real-life puzzle. I started with the case, which is the main body of the watch. I carefully put together the bezel, which is that rotating ring around the face. Then came the dial, which is where all the numbers and hands go. This part was super tricky because everything has to be lined up perfectly. I chose a black Maxi Dial, just like the real deal. I tried to imitate model 7922, which looks really nice.
After that, I worked on the movement, which is the engine that makes the watch tick. I’m not gonna lie, this part was a real pain. I had to use tweezers and a magnifying glass to get all those tiny gears and springs in the right place. But, after a few tries, I finally got it working!
Finally, I put on the bracelet, which is the metal band that goes around your wrist. I made sure to use a mix of black and gold-colored links to get that two-tone effect. And, voila! I had my very own “Rolex” Submariner.
Here are some of the features I managed to imitate:
- Rotating bezel with ceramic insert
- Black Maxi Dial with luminescent hour markers
- Two-tone bracelet with gold and black links
- Automatic movement with sweeping second hand
I know it’s not a real Rolex, but I’m pretty darn proud of how it turned out. It looks almost identical to the ones you see in those fancy stores. And the best part is, it didn’t cost me thousands of dollars! It’s more like a personal achievement, a testament to what you can do with a bit of research, some basic tools, and a whole lot of patience.
Now I wear it from time to time. Sure, it’s a copy, but it’s my copy. I made it. And that’s worth more than any genuine one to me. This whole project was a great learning experience. Maybe I’ll try making other models in the future, perhaps the “Hulk” or the “Kermit”. Who knows? The possibilities are endless!
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