Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a Rolex GMT-Master II Batman for a while now. You know, the one with the black and blue bezel? It’s a real beauty. But, man, those waiting lists are insane, and they’ve even stopped making the original model! So, I thought, why not try to make my own? I mean, how hard could it be, right?
First, I started looking around for parts. I knew I couldn’t get the real deal Rolex parts, so I had to find some good quality alternatives. It wasn’t easy, let me tell you. I spent hours online, browsing through forums and online stores. Finally, I found a few places that sold generic sapphire crystals and ceramic bezels that looked pretty close to the real thing. They even had a blue and black “Batman” bezel!
- Spent hours searching for parts online
- Looked through countless forums and online stores
- Found a generic sapphire crystal
- Scored a ceramic “Batman” bezel
Getting the parts was just the first hurdle. I also needed to figure out how to put this whole thing together. I watched a bunch of videos on YouTube about watch assembly, especially about the GMT-Master II. I learned that the genuine Rolex watches always have the hour hand on the bottom of the stack. That was a useful detail to get right.
Then came the case. Now, I read somewhere that the Submariner has a slightly thicker case than the GMT-Master II. I think it was something like 12.5mm for the Submariner and 12.0mm for the GMT. Apparently, it’s because the Submariner is more water-resistant. I didn’t need mine to be super water-resistant, so I went with a thinner case I found online to stick closer to the GMT’s design.
Next, I tried to copy the watch hands and movement. This was tough, I found some hands that looked pretty similar, but getting the movement right was a real challenge. I ended up using a simple, reliable movement I found. The whole process took several days. I had to be really patient, carefully putting all the tiny pieces together. My fingers definitely got a workout! I made a few mistakes along the way, but eventually, I got it all assembled.
Final Result
Finally, after all that work, I had my own “Batman” GMT-Master II. It’s not a real Rolex, of course, but it looks pretty darn good if I do say so myself! It might not be worth $14,750, but it’s a nice personal project. Plus, I learned a lot about watches in the process. Maybe next time I’ll try making a “Pepsi” bezel!
It’s not perfect, but it’s mine. I wore it around for a few days, and you know what? It kept time pretty well! It felt good to wear something I had put together myself. It’s a bit rough around the edges, sure, but that adds to its charm, right? It is a fun project, and you can get into it too, if you have the patience.
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