So, I’ve been messing around with watches lately, and I wanted to share my experience trying to replicate a Rolex GMT-Master II with the Pepsi bezel. You know, the one with the red and blue? It’s a classic, but way out of my budget. So, I thought, why not try to make something similar myself?
I started by looking up what makes the Rolex Pepsi so special. It’s got this Swiss automatic movement, which is pretty fancy, and a 39mm case size. But what really caught my eye was the bezel. That red and blue is iconic.
I did some digging online and found that there are a few watches out there that try to copy the look. One that kept popping up was from a German brand that uses a Swiss ETA movement in a 41mm stainless steel case. That sounded promising. It’s not the real deal, but it’s got the same vibe.
Then I started gathering parts. I managed to find a decent watch case that looked similar to the Rolex. It wasn’t 39mm, but it was close enough. I also found a movement that seemed to fit the bill. It wasn’t a genuine Swiss ETA, but it was a good quality automatic movement.
- Case: I found a 40mm stainless steel case that looked close enough to the Rolex. Not perfect, but it did the job.
- Movement: Sourced an automatic movement. It’s not a fancy Swiss one, but it’s reliable and keeps time well.
- Bezel: This was the tricky part. I couldn’t find an exact replica of the Pepsi bezel, so I had to get creative.
The real challenge was the bezel. I couldn’t find an exact replica of the Pepsi bezel anywhere. I looked at a bunch of online stores, but nothing matched. So, I had to get a bit creative. I ended up finding a plain bezel and some red and blue paint. It was a bit of a gamble, but I figured I’d give it a shot.
Painting the bezel was a real pain. I had to be super careful to get the colors right and not mess up the lines. It took a few tries, and I definitely messed up a couple of times, but eventually, I got something that looked pretty decent. It wasn’t perfect, but it had that red and blue pop that I was going for.
Assembling the watch was another adventure. I’m not exactly a watchmaker, so there was a lot of trial and error. I watched a bunch of videos online and read some guides, but it was still a challenge. I almost broke the movement a couple of times, but I managed to put everything together in the end.
The Result
The final product? It’s not a Rolex, that’s for sure. But it’s a pretty cool watch that I’m proud to wear. It’s got that GMT-Master II look, and the Pepsi bezel, even though it’s hand-painted, really stands out. It’s a conversation starter, and I’ve had a few people ask me if it’s the real deal.
Would I recommend doing this? It depends. If you’re looking for a perfect replica, this isn’t it. But if you want a fun project and a unique watch, it’s definitely worth a try. Just be prepared to put in some time and effort, and don’t expect to fool any watch experts.
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