Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this Rolex GMT-Master II, trying to make a decent copy of it. It’s a classic style, you know? Everyone wants one, but they’re crazy expensive.
First off, I started by looking at a bunch of real ones online. I mean, pictures, videos, everything I could find. I needed to see what makes a real Rolex tick, literally. I spent hours just staring at these things.
Then, I started gathering parts. This was a pain, let me tell you. Finding parts that look like the real deal isn’t easy. I went through a few different suppliers, trying to find the best balance of quality and price. I ordered a bunch of parts, waited, and then got disappointed more than once. You wouldn’t believe how many bad copies are out there!
Hands and Movement
- I found out that the way the hands are stacked on the real deal is specific. It’s like, hour hand first, then the GMT hand, and then the minute hand on top. Most fakes get this wrong. I made sure that mine were stacked in the right order.
- I tried to find a movement that looked and worked like a Rolex one. This was probably the hardest part. There are a lot of “super clones” out there that are pretty good, but they still ain’t perfect. I picked the best I could find.
After I got all the parts, I started putting this thing together. It was like building a puzzle, but way more stressful. Every little piece had to be just right. I used some basic tools, nothing fancy, but I did need to buy a loupe. One mistake, and it’s game over!
After a lot of trial and error, and a few messed-up attempts, I finally got something that looked pretty darn good. It’s not perfect, but it’s close enough to fool most people. But when comparing it to a real one, I still noticed some very small details that were off.
The whole process took me weeks, maybe even a couple of months. It was a lot of work, but it was also kind of fun, in a frustrating way. I learned a ton about watches, and I got a pretty cool-looking piece out of it. And, hey, it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than dropping $30,000 on a real one!
Would I do it again? Probably not. It was a cool experiment, but it was a lot of hassle. Still, I’m pretty proud of what I made. This fake piece has become a real topic starter when hanging out with friends.
Click to consult