Alright, so I’ve been messing around with watches lately, and let me tell you, it’s a wild world out there. I got this idea to try and make a “high imitation” of a Rolex GMT-Master II, the one with the Pepsi bezel – you know, the red and blue one. It’s a classic, and everyone seems to want one, but they’re crazy expensive! I figured, why not try to make one myself? Not to sell or anything, just to see if I could do it.
First things first, I needed to find some parts. I hit up the internet, looking at all sorts of websites. It took a bit of time, I’m not going to lie. I read that people are talking about how popular these watches are and how they are a good investment because they are so hard to get. I’m not looking to make money, but it’s good to know. They say that the GMT-Master II is a good watch to invest in because it holds its value. The top 3 popular ones are the Daytona, the Submariner, and the GMT-Master II. The price for the real thing is like 10 grand. The GMT-Master II that I want to make is the 116710LN. I see some listings online, and they go for at least 13,000 dollars. Crazy.
Finding the parts:
- The Case: This was tough. I wanted something that looked and felt like the real deal. I spent hours looking at pictures and comparing. Finally, I found a case online that looked pretty darn close.
- The Movement: This is the heart of the watch, the part that makes it tick. I opted for a decent automatic movement. Nothing too fancy, but something reliable.
- The Dial and Hands: These are pretty easy to find online. It is important that I choose the correct ones for the 116710LN.
- The Pepsi Bezel: This was the tricky part. I wanted that iconic red and blue. I finally found one that was a ceramic insert, just like the real one. It snaps onto the case.
Once I had all the parts, I started to put this thing together. Now, I’m no watchmaker, but I’m pretty handy. I watched a bunch of videos online and read some guides. It was definitely a challenge. Getting the movement to sit just right in the case was a pain. Then, attaching the dial and hands? Let me tell you, those hands are tiny! It took a lot of patience and a steady hand, but I finally got them on.
Putting the bezel on
The bezel was surprisingly easy. It just snapped right onto the case. I was so happy when I saw it all come together. It actually looked like a Rolex GMT-Master II! I mean, it’s not perfect. A real watchmaker could probably spot a million flaws, but I was proud of myself. The red and blue colors on the bezel look great. I wore it around the house for a few days, just to see how it felt. It kept time pretty well, and it felt good on my wrist.
Overall, this was a fun little project. I learned a lot about watches and how they’re put together. It was definitely a challenge, but it was worth it. Would I do it again? Maybe. It’s not exactly cheap to buy all the parts, but it’s way cheaper than buying a real Rolex. Plus, there’s something satisfying about building something with your own hands, even if it’s just a “high imitation” of a luxury watch. It is a cool feeling to wear something that I made.
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