Okay, so, I’ve been eyeing this two-tone Rolex Submariner for a while now, the one with the blue dial. It’s a real beauty, but the price tag, well, it’s a bit steep for me. So, I thought, why not try to make my own?
I started by searching online to get an idea of what I was getting myself into. I found some discussions on forums like WatchUSeek, talking about older models from 1998 and people mentioning other brands like Seiko and Deep Blue. I even stumbled upon the Casio Duro, which apparently is a good “cheap” option that kind of looks like a Submariner. There were also mentions of Rolex “look-alikes,” which got me thinking that this might not be as crazy as it sounds.
My Build Process
First, I needed a base watch. I didn’t want to spend a fortune, so I opted for a cheap diver-style watch I found online. It had a rotating bezel and a decent-looking stainless steel bracelet, which was a good start.
- Next, the dial. I knew I wanted that iconic blue, so I searched for a while and finally found a dial that was a pretty close match. It wasn’t easy, but I got it!
- Then came the hands. I managed to get my hands on some Mercedes-style hands that looked quite similar to the ones on the real Submariner.
- After that, I bought a gold-colored bezel insert to give it that two-tone look.
Putting it all together was a bit tricky. I watched a bunch of videos online on how to disassemble and reassemble a watch. It took me a few tries, and I might have messed up a couple of times, but eventually, I got it all together.
The final result? It’s not a Rolex, obviously, but it’s a pretty decent imitation. It’s got the two-tone look, the blue dial, and it feels good on the wrist. I even nicknamed it my “Poor Man’s Smurf” because of the blue and white colors, just like a real Rolex Submariner affectionately called “Smurf”. I wear it around, and people do a double-take, which is kind of fun.
Would I say it’s a replacement for the real deal? Definitely not. But it’s a fun project, and it satisfies my craving for that Submariner look without breaking the bank. Plus, I learned a lot about watches in the process. It was a bit of a hassle, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.
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