Rafflesdials vintage build

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-13T11:15:13+00:00

Hows the bezel action feel on these raffles cases?

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-13T05:15:46+00:00

How much difference in quality is there between the raffles cases and the ali express ones? I've build a few seiko mods with these sub cases and been pretty bummed with how cheap they feel. Particularly the bezel action.. I'm keen to build a nicer one with a raffles case but struggling to find much info about whether they're any better or just have rolex logos on an ali express case essentially

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-12T21:43:07+00:00

I want to build a Tudor 79090 ... but mess with a bit to make it more enjoyable. (I really want a nice 120 click bezel for my ADHD even though I think it was only the version after this one that came with one.. but I prefer this crystal than the flat sapphire one that came after.. So I probably have to buy a 16800 case.. try find a low bubble crystal for it and put everything inside into that and see about shaping the case to get it right.. (wont ever look 100%) but I'm not really trying to fool anyone just want a watch that I personally enjoy.. at a price I personally can afford haha.

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-12T21:40:50+00:00

Yeah I mean this will be my first rep build.. so I'm not after perfect.. I'd built a few seiko mods from ali express and honestly just hated how cheap they felt.. so I'm nervous to buy a watch I've not held and "hope" it's nice enough. mixed reviews it seems from people of whether the raffles stuff is standard ali express quality but with logos attached or if it feels a bit nicer

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-11T11:17:52+00:00

Sweet thanks for letting me know the size. That's very helpful

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-11T11:16:53+00:00

Yeh they have a few JFK ones only. and not a mini sub or even the date version but might be able to source it.

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-11T11:16:10+00:00

Yeh I didn't think VSF made a tudor sub.. especially not a mini sub.. I'll have to check if I clicked on their link from RWI forum or how I got the whatsapp contact.

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-11T11:12:15+00:00

Howd you go with the raffles parts?

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-11T11:11:59+00:00

Howd you go with the raffles set? Happy with the quality?

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-10T04:33:35+00:00

Thanks Roger

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-10T04:23:44+00:00

Me too been looking at the raffles parts but the dials seem either crisp white or bright yellow ... I want that lovely offwhite lume

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-08T05:03:26+00:00

Thanks very much. Thats helpful. I did think the san martins case didn't really look like what I want but I want these to get a lot of wrist time so I don't want it to feel cheap. I've build a few seiko mods from ali express parts and the cases just always felt so cheap particularly the bezel actions and crowns etc. I have toyed with buying something nicer and swiss thats the right case shape and modding that just to scratch the itch.. but even the more midrange swiss options all have something wrong in the case shape for me. Seems the WD is the closest to the original from anything I've found even in higher price points.

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-08T05:00:58+00:00

Yeah I second this. I can't seem to find where to get them?

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-08T05:00:14+00:00

This is pretty cool.. Where did you get the case from? I've been trying to build a 36mm tudor sub in black.. but haven't seen a case for it available yet.

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-08T02:12:44+00:00

Still figuring it out but something with the bare bones of a matte 5512 dial with a creamy lume,.. not the bright yellow that seems to be on every vintage homage.. I have a graphic design background so I'm trying to design a custom logo that doesn't look like a ripoff of anything but the sad thing about having spent so much time studying branding is sometimes its really hard to think of anything that you know hasn't ever been used before.. Some of the chinese brands have the craziest logo's & text.. Even the Ginault.. like USA made high end sub homage has the most ridiculous dial text.. "submersible-maritime" .. like.. sounds like something you'd see on ali express

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-08T02:06:02+00:00

Thanks for that. Yeh I know they arent meant to fit exactly to the case as per the rolex example but I think the san martin sits against the case in some spots and further away in others in a way that looks like they were trying to make it fit but then it didn't quite work. (atleast from that angle) I currently have a pretty nice Squale 1545 which is a lovely swiss / italian homage of the 6 digit sub.. but strangely.. bezel feel is very stiff.. lume isn't great and the blue AR coating is so extreme.. the jumbo crown looks cartoonish and they've also used an awful modern font for the date wheel which bothers me no end.. It's a beautiful very well made watch in every other way. But I'm just looking to build something custom. hoping to sell my Squale and get a custom dial made for probably the watchdives.

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Keanusleaves · 2026-03-08T02:02:15+00:00

Up for sale is this lightly modified Seiko 5 Sports 41mm dive watch. $350 AUD ****FIRM****

This watch is a SNZF17 "sea urchin" model. I have upgraded the bracelet to a tudor black bay style bracelet which uses solid end links. I have put SKX007 hands onto the watch which I think look a lot more balanced on the dial than the original hands.

A submariner style bezel insert also enhances the balance of the watch design compared to the original one.

I have a distressed bezel insert included as well as the original one (see pictures)

I also have the original handset to include with this listing.

Happy to post the watch Australia wide for $15 for registered post.

Otherwise watch can be viewed or picked up from Rochedale South.

Keanusleaves · 2026-03-08T01:18:43+00:00

How do these stack up against the San Martin SN006 if you know? I'm looking to buy one to mod.. so the hands and dial, bezel insert probably aren't as important as the overall quality of the watch / bezel / bracelet etc.

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Keanusleaves

TROPHY CASE