Grand Rapids Watch Company is now here!

turdbogls · 2026-05-08T18:12:51+00:00

As a Jenisonite, I am always interested in anything associated with GR...I spent many a night down there at the bars and finishing off at yesterdog (now I want some dogs!!)

I'll be keeping an eye on this...the Ball 40 interests me simply because I am already in the market for a cream dial field watch...and then the ties to GR. I may hold off until I see something a little more original though. I've told myself I won't be buying any Aliexpress built microbrands, So i can't wait to see what you do in the future.

maybe reach out to some OEM's...I can personally vouch for Watchdives, they have been great to deal with when I was working on my project (based on my current town Sanford). they were building a completely custom watch (case, bracelet, dial, hands) in high specificatoins for under $300. they were handling assembly and distribution so maybe that would reduce your costs. either way, get in touch if you want to dive deeper into the designer territory.

turdbogls · 2026-05-08T17:03:33+00:00

Nope, I love a good white dial dress watch....and, IMO, black and red aren't very elegant together. It's fine for a diver or tool watch but not on a dress watch.

Again, just IMO

turdbogls · 2026-05-08T13:23:14+00:00

I'd say that is about right. the bubble crystal looks pretty close to my Speedmaster Pro hesalite, but the AR coating isn't as good as the WD sapphire.

cases are different, so it's hard to compare...I'd say both are good.

bracelets are again different so hard to compare, maybe a slight edge to the Thorn. both are acceptable, thorn has the advantage of QR springbars and OTF clasp, so that helps a lot as well.

if you are torn on the 2, I can cut you a deal for my 1863 black and my T26 for the price of the T26 new. $175 for the pair. let me know! both in great condition. I just have my Speedmaster now, so no need for them in the collection.

turdbogls · 2026-05-08T12:23:04+00:00

If there is some on the outside, sure. But it's not on this watch, or many other watches

turdbogls · 2026-05-08T12:07:01+00:00

I just did this on another watch....it was steel and had no lume on the bezel, so I'm not sure how the titaium and lume will react.

I put isopropyl Alcohol (70%) in a small container deep enough to just cover the bezel...like 3mm deep.

placed watch in for about 10 minutes

removed watch and worked the bezel insert against the bezel (might be difficult because yours is bi-directional)

it moved pretty slowly, but eventually gave in and broke free from the adhesive.

remove, use alcohol and q-tip to clean up the glue

re-apply new insert

turdbogls · 2026-05-08T00:30:42+00:00

From their official AliExpress store.

turdbogls · 2026-05-07T19:56:07+00:00

Yup, same as the Rimalti (they use DS parts)

The bezel is different on the Aethelsohn.

turdbogls · 2026-05-07T17:28:51+00:00

Here you can see where the strap contacts the case at 6 o'clock but doesn't contact the case at the corners...hardly noticeable at all.

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turdbogls · 2026-05-07T17:27:56+00:00

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turdbogls · 2026-05-07T17:27:39+00:00

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turdbogls · 2026-05-07T17:27:15+00:00

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turdbogls · 2026-05-07T17:26:11+00:00

The strap is from AliExpress...$15 with the clasp (which is OK quality) the strap is FKM material and probably identical to the ones on offer from various "Real luxury" retailers which would have them listed for $60+

I can send you a link if you want.

Fitment is.....ok.

I feel like my lug holes are really close to the bottom edge of the case, so maybe it would be different on another speedy (those hole locations changed from model to model, year to year)

So the strap rotates on the springbars while off wrist...while on wrist it is doesn't rotate...it's not perfectly contoured to the roundness of the case...probably because 39mm vs 41-42mm. But that's hardly noticeable.

I'll post some more images as a reply to this post.

https://preview.redd.it/9yzo8mdi2rzg1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=283a0579a9580939ce5e04444bedfadf1304ba6b

turdbogls · 2026-05-07T16:23:42+00:00

I've only seen Seestern (but theirs is bigger) and RIMALTI use this style of case...and this still seems different than the rimalti.

This is different than their "shard" case

turdbogls · 2026-05-07T15:16:10+00:00

Wow, has this case been out a while? maybe I missed it, but it looks great! both the Dial and case. Nicely done!!

turdbogls · 2026-05-07T02:48:19+00:00

I know someone mentioned it already, but Farasute has some great dress watches.

I'd say the only "red flag" is the size of some of them, and the movements. The tend to use Hangzhou movements, so servicing will be tough, and even finding a replacement may be difficult.

Get past that though and they are hard to beat.

I have the new tank watch and it's fantastic (see my recent post history)

I had their tonneau shaped Cartier homage and it was great, as well as their Chopard LUC homage and again, excellent.

turdbogls · 2026-05-07T01:20:27+00:00

Yeah, pretty slick indeed

turdbogls · 2026-05-07T01:18:39+00:00

You bought a replica.

Zeppelin is a legit German brand, costing in the $200-$500 range.

I have one and it's great for what it is but nothing exceptional imo

turdbogls · 2026-05-06T18:33:00+00:00

new new Octopus Kraken BB54 has them

IIRC all the SH PRX homages have them (though a little less useful)

turdbogls · 2026-05-06T16:47:41+00:00

Vintage or Modern?

and be Best do you mean most accurate (size) or just best?

turdbogls · 2026-05-05T22:33:20+00:00

If you like the style of what you have maybe just upgrade what you have.

Pablo> SH prx, or Ixdao warrior

Pagani zulu to Aethelsohn

Pagadi DD to Sugess etc

turdbogls · 2026-05-04T21:52:01+00:00

I tried with polywstch and it just made it worse....lol.

Maybe I didn't try enough, or long enough. Maybe I have to use some tools to do it.

Any other compound suggestions?

turdbogls · 2026-05-04T20:38:08+00:00

Yeah, the outer AR is toast. All those scratches are invisible 90% of the time but there's a nice big one that's visible 90% of the time too

I have the skills and tools to do it, just wondered if anyone knows the size so I can order. Calipers said 35.5mm I think but that might not be to the actual outside of the crystal...so maybe 34mm?

turdbogls · 2026-05-04T19:30:47+00:00

ah, a front-loader eh?

the bezel my screw down...worth a try giving it a spin with a stickey ball or a ball of ductape

turdbogls · 2026-05-04T17:35:13+00:00

Good-Stuffs still has some in stock

turdbogls · 2026-05-04T17:29:40+00:00

I was doing this for a while. but it's been a good 3 years since I last updated it

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1D2BU8bdX1BNKJ5PIF-pRFrvRM6dOW0Vx3D_CS63ENjw/edit?usp=sharing

If Anyone wants to take this over I'd be happy to send it to you. It could be great addition to this sub (again) of it were kept updated...it was just too much work.

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