Should I take out the movement out of an old datejust to build a sub?

[murrayhill]

I have a 36mm Datejust from 1998 that I have kept for sentimental value (initially received new as a gift when I was a teenager), but I never worr it except for special occasions when younger, and now 36mm is just way too small for me. I was thinking of taking out the movement cal. 3135 and building my own vintage style sub with it.
I like vintage style subs, don't own any, and I am not necessarily interested in buying an existing vintage sub that I have no special connection to... I want to know part of it has something special that I sentimentally connect to from that original gift. Should I do it or leave the original DJ alone? And how should I go about finding original parts to fit it?

[Dr.Smellody]

No

[TimeLord2]

Have to agree on NO. Sell it and buy a vintage sub. Maybe not vintage but a Tudor 79090 might fit the bill. An example…
https://www.ebay.com/itm/404689223578

[Dan S]

How would you build a vintage Sub starting with a cal 3135 movement, just curious. What other parts do you have?

[ExplorerI]

You’ll destroy a perfectly good watch to end up with more money in the sub than if you just bought a working 16610. Have you priced out parts like a genuine case and dial? Very expensive

[Andad]

I wouldn’t bother, we are having enough issues building subs.

[zapokee]

Absolutely not.

And 36 mm isn't too small for anybody. Reconsider.

[alwayshere]

Vintage subs aren’t generally based off 3135 so I think that should talk you out of it.

[GGGMT]

No


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[Tools]

To take a watch worth a few thousand, and tear it apart so you end up with a makeshift watch worth a few hundred just doesn't make sense.

If you don't like it, sell it to somebody who does, then use the money to build your dream.

[joli160]

Bad idea

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by alwayshere

Vintage subs aren’t generally based off 3135 so I think that should talk you out of it.

Originally Posted by Dan S

How would you build a vintage Sub starting with a cal 3135 movement, just curious. What other parts do you have?

OP, can you answer this?

[Toronto Soup King]

Even I wouldn't consider something like this and my personal Rolex kennel is full of disreputable mongrels (1601/8 with service dial and handset this snowy morning). I'd say just buy a Seiko if you want a diver today and don't have Sub money!

[Dom9]

I guess you could buy one of the super replica Chinese 16610s for ~$500 and drop the 3135 straight in... but it wouldn't be a Rolex/Sub and, as the others have said, by the time you source the genuine parts, it would probably cost more than just buying a 16610.

I think selling the DJ and getting a Tudor Sub is a good shout. A Tudor 76100 can be had from ~$5k on a NATO and is probably the best value of the range at the moment. What's a '98 36mm DJ worth?

Equally; your DJ has sentimental value so keep it and enjoy making many more memories!

[murrayhill]

Wow, thanks everyone for these answers. I honestly didn't expect to have such an unanimous response, as I assumed people regularly modify their watches.

A few more elements regarding the conversation:

By vintage I meant the older sub models that also used the 3135 movements (late 80s-90s according to my research), which I guess based on replies here is still not considered vintage?

I will never sell the watch, I just want to be able to wear it, or wear the "heart" (movement) of it. The person that gifted it to me was like a grandmother to me. My grandfather hid her from the nazis during ww2 when she was a child, and upon surviving ww2 and becoming very successful, she always treated our family like hers. I want to be able to pass on these family values and history through this watch down the road, but in the meantime I also feel bummed that it looks way too tiny on my big wrist.

Re building: I don't have any other parts. I can afford to buy a sub to fit it in but I also like the idea of searching for the various parts to build it over time. Paying more doesn't bother me.. I don't want any fake parts if I were to build this project.. But I also want to be able to put the movement back in the original watch once it's ready to be passed on.

[TuRo]

A sub-optimal endeavour I'd venture ;-)

[GGGMT]

Thinking about building a vintage Volkswagen beetle starting with a HEMI. Thoughts?


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[Twophonetoni]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

Thinking about building a vintage Volkswagen beetle starting with a HEMI. Thoughts?


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Damn near impossible but that thing would RIP!! Also no, don’t do it op. It will never be as cool as a hemi-beetle


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[omar-rye]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

Thinking about building a vintage Volkswagen beetle starting with a HEMI. Thoughts?


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[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by Twophonetoni

Damn near impossible but that thing would RIP!! Also no, don’t do it op. It will never be as cool as a hemi-beetle


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So funny! Good to have a little fun. The hemi-beetle — would be epic!!


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[pk552502]

I would recommend keeping the datejust for sentimental value. Even if you don't wear it now, your tastes may change in the future. If it has sentimental value, you might regret selling it later. A 36mm datejust is such a classic piece it will never go out of style.

Just save up your money to buy what you really want when you can and keep the datejust. That's my thought.

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by omar-rye

Outstanding! That is precisely my vision!


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[steversaurus]

Originally Posted by zapokee

Absolutely not.

And 36 mm isn't too small for anybody. Reconsider.

I think we need a wrist shot to see what way too small looks like.

[Styles Bitchley]

Originally Posted by pk552502

I would recommend keeping the datejust for sentimental value. Even if you don't wear it now, your tastes may change in the future. If it has sentimental value, you might regret selling it later. A 36mm datejust is such a classic piece it will never go out of style.

Just save up your money to buy what you really want when you can and keep the datejust. That's my thought.

This. You sound young and I'm writing from the future to tell you that your tastes will change.

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley

I'm writing from the future to tell you that your tastes will change.

perhaps the truest words ever spoken on this forum.


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[Stan Cooper]

Doing what you're suggesting is commonly called creating a "frankenwatch." I believe that once you own a watch, you should be able to do as you wish with it, but a complex mod as you suggest won't be worth much, and Rolex would never service it.

I have made modifications to my Rolexes to personalize them to my tastes, but everything I do can be easily reversed in a few minutes to return them to their original OEM configuration.

Lots of men with big wrists wear 36mm watches, and they look great. Just MHO.

[0nly5iv3Digits]

Sounds like a strange thing to do, no offence. Buy a sub, sell the DJ. Don’t over-complicate it

[cardiel]

I say go for it! Let the chips fall as they may!

[S’portEye]

Don’t do this, you will regret it later.

[springer]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

Thinking about building a vintage Volkswagen beetle starting with a HEMI. Thoughts?


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Forget the Hemi and get a supercharged engine used in a late model Shelby GT500. Now we're taking!

Oh, and forget the Datejust conversion too. A waste of time and resources.