Watchprojects.com only publishes information about micro-brands. We do not sell nor modify watch components.Independent watch projects come to life when individual try to fill a void left in the watch market.
That void is sometimes caused by the lack of audacious and creative designs from conservative mainstream watch companies, but it can also be caused by the frustration of watch collectors regarding cult watches that have been discontinued and brought out of financial reach by limited availability and heavy speculation; or the need to have something unique.
On one hand there are the certified watchmakers who get their hand on vintage movement and spare parts to build one-off timepieces. On the other hand there are entrepreneurs like Ken Sato, Bill Yao and Eddie Platts who venture into a “grey” intellectual property zone (recycling elements of discarted designs) and try to keep it affordable at the same time.
This web blog aimes at providing an exhaustive list of all watch builders, independent watch projects and modification parts suppliers. We hope these pages will most of all help you enjoy the watch collecting experience and hopefully help you find that rare piece or mod part that will add up to your collection.
Hello Everyone,
I have a Rolex replica that I like to wear. It’s really quite pretty and I could never afford to buy the real thing because I’m on a pension. I only wear it out in the evenings for fun. It has a Chinese movement that doesn’t keep good time and sometimes stops for no reason at all. I would like to switch the movement and replace it with an ETA Swiss made movement, but have no idea whether to use a 2824-2, 2836-2, 2892 ? or what, and I can’t find any cross reference information of any kind. Specifications:
Oyster Perpetual DayDate. Width NOT counting the crown is 33 mm and with the crown 37 mm; Length from lug to lug is 41.5 mm; Between lugs for bracelet is 17 mm; Thickness is 10 mm; Hologram on back marked 16233.
My brother has a SS one but it is a DateJust. It has all the same measurements as mine except the thickness is 8.5 mm.
Can anyone tell me what ETA movement or another that would fit and work in either of these watches ?
Thanks for taking the time to answer.
Don
Hello Don.
Swapping the Chinese movement for a Swiss one is a near-to-impossible operation. There are too many differences: stem height, dial feet position, dial windows position, hands setting diameter, and so on…
Besides, the version you need is an ETA 2836 that is only used by a limited amount of brands like Tudor and TAG Heuer, so sourcing a blank movement will probably cost as much as you had previously invested in your Chinese watch.
At this point, you may want to consider investing in something more genuine. I would recommend to look for a Sandoz watch. Made for the Asian market, most Sandoz watches reproduce Rolex designs that have fell into the public domain and they don’t infringe on the Rolex trademark. Besides, they come with Swiss-Made ETA movements that any decent watchmaker in the world will be able to fine-tune or repair.
If you have the budget, I warmly recommend to browse the Sandoz watch page from Redo Castellazi. Otherwise, you can easily find second-hand Sandoz watches on eBay.