Super Franken Rolex Submariner 116613LB
As some of you may know, I’ve had a thing for the two-tone Rolex Submariner 116613LB for a while.
It all started a few years ago when I bought a Regmariner version to see how I liked it, which had the solid blue dial, and I instantly fell in love with it. I therefore upgraded to a BP version with the sunburst dial. This was also a great watch, but on getting more into this particular model and doing more research, I decided to upgrade to the JF with the SH3135 movement. When it arrived the JF version blew me away, but shortly after getting it the VRF Max was launched. This had the fully wrapped bracelet, so there were no bare metal sides of the midlinks or the side of the SEL. This was a fair bit more expensive than the JF, but I sold the JF and upgraded again to the VRF Max. Despite having all these different versions I craved perfection, so the only thing to do was either to go for a gen 116613LB or build a Franken.
With 2nd hand values of the gen coming in at between £10,500 and £11,500, I decided to go down the Franken route.
Over an eight month period I started buying and collecting gen parts to do a “Super Franken” build. I may have got a little carried away, but was determined to try and build the best I could, so managed to get the following:-
Genuine Rolex Dial (new in blister)
Genuine Rolex Gold Hands (new)
Genuine Rolex DateWheel (new in blister)
Genuine Rolex Solid Gold Bezel (new)
Genuine Rolex Insert (new)
Genuine Rolex Retainer (new)
Genuine Rolex Hyrtel (new)
Genuine Rolex Click Springs (new)
Genuine Rolex Crystal (new in blister)
Genuine Rolex Solid Gold Crown (NOS)
Genuine Rolex Tube & Gasket (new)
Genuine Rolex Autowind
Genuine Rolex Springbars (new) Once I had all the parts, I needed another donor watch with an SH3135 movement, as the 2836 in the VRF Max isn’t suitable for the majority of the gen parts. I therefore tried to get another JF version, but these were no longer available with ARF taking over from JF, so I got the latest ARF version which from reading reviews had some flaws. As the majority of it was getting changed for gen parts, I wasn’t too fussed about the flaws, but in all honesty when the ARF arrived I was really impressed with it. The dial had a lovely colour and print, and the bezel insert had the best shade of blue I have seen on any version. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the side of the midlinks and SEL were also fully gold plated/wrapped unlike any other ARF version of this watch that any other member here or next door had bought, and the shade of gold is scarily close to the gen.
After five different versions of the 116613LB I now have as close to my grail piece as possible while still saving roughly between £6,000 and £6,500 and it looks and feels like the gen. The only things not gen are the case, bracelet and part of the movement. I also purchased a gen box set and manuals to give it even more of a gen feel.
Anyway, I suspect you are all waiting for the pictures, so enough talking. A couple of pics in its bare ARF state And the finished article
It all started a few years ago when I bought a Regmariner version to see how I liked it, which had the solid blue dial, and I instantly fell in love with it. I therefore upgraded to a BP version with the sunburst dial. This was also a great watch, but on getting more into this particular model and doing more research, I decided to upgrade to the JF with the SH3135 movement. When it arrived the JF version blew me away, but shortly after getting it the VRF Max was launched. This had the fully wrapped bracelet, so there were no bare metal sides of the midlinks or the side of the SEL. This was a fair bit more expensive than the JF, but I sold the JF and upgraded again to the VRF Max. Despite having all these different versions I craved perfection, so the only thing to do was either to go for a gen 116613LB or build a Franken.
With 2nd hand values of the gen coming in at between £10,500 and £11,500, I decided to go down the Franken route.
Over an eight month period I started buying and collecting gen parts to do a “Super Franken” build. I may have got a little carried away, but was determined to try and build the best I could, so managed to get the following:-
Genuine Rolex Dial (new in blister)
Genuine Rolex Gold Hands (new)
Genuine Rolex DateWheel (new in blister)
Genuine Rolex Solid Gold Bezel (new)
Genuine Rolex Insert (new)
Genuine Rolex Retainer (new)
Genuine Rolex Hyrtel (new)
Genuine Rolex Click Springs (new)
Genuine Rolex Crystal (new in blister)
Genuine Rolex Solid Gold Crown (NOS)
Genuine Rolex Tube & Gasket (new)
Genuine Rolex Autowind
Genuine Rolex Springbars (new) Once I had all the parts, I needed another donor watch with an SH3135 movement, as the 2836 in the VRF Max isn’t suitable for the majority of the gen parts. I therefore tried to get another JF version, but these were no longer available with ARF taking over from JF, so I got the latest ARF version which from reading reviews had some flaws. As the majority of it was getting changed for gen parts, I wasn’t too fussed about the flaws, but in all honesty when the ARF arrived I was really impressed with it. The dial had a lovely colour and print, and the bezel insert had the best shade of blue I have seen on any version. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the side of the midlinks and SEL were also fully gold plated/wrapped unlike any other ARF version of this watch that any other member here or next door had bought, and the shade of gold is scarily close to the gen.
After five different versions of the 116613LB I now have as close to my grail piece as possible while still saving roughly between £6,000 and £6,500 and it looks and feels like the gen. The only things not gen are the case, bracelet and part of the movement. I also purchased a gen box set and manuals to give it even more of a gen feel.
Anyway, I suspect you are all waiting for the pictures, so enough talking. A couple of pics in its bare ARF state And the finished article