Alright, so I’ve been messing around with watches lately, and I got this wild idea to try and make a “lefty” version of the Rolex GMT-Master II. You know, the one with the crown on the left side instead of the right? Yeah, I know, it sounds crazy, but hear me out.
First off, I did some digging. Apparently, these left-handed watches are called “Destro” by those watch-collector types. Rolex just dropped one of these in 2022, and it’s got this black and green bezel that’s pretty slick. It’s basically the same as the regular GMT-Master II we all know and love, except, well, it’s backwards! Those Rolex guys usually put the crown on the right, but not this time.
So, here’s what I did. I got my hands on a regular GMT-Master II – you know the ones, everyone wants these watches, like the Daytona and the Submariner, they say. These are not cheap!
Then, I started taking it apart. Carefully, of course. I’m no watchmaker, but I’m pretty handy. I figured the main thing was to somehow flip the movement and the dial, so the crown ended up on the left. Sounds easy, right? Wrong. It took a lot of fiddling and some serious trial and error. But I didn’t give up!
I had to make some custom parts, I will tell you that. Nothing too crazy, just some small bits to make everything fit right on the opposite side. A lot of measuring, cutting, and praying I didn’t mess it up. I spent hours hunched over my workbench, squinting at these tiny screws and gears. My wife thought I was nuts!
- Disassembly: Took the whole watch apart, piece by piece.
- Modification: Flipped the movement and dial, made some custom parts.
- Reassembly: Put it all back together, hoping for the best.
- Testing: Wound it up, set the time, and… it worked!
The Process:
In the end, after a lot of sweat and maybe a few curse words, I actually did it. I made my own “Destro” GMT-Master II! It’s not perfect, and I wouldn’t try to sell it as a real one, but it’s pretty darn cool if I do say so myself. It’s like a little piece of watchmaking history, but on my terms. And you know what? It actually keeps pretty good time, too! Not bad for a regular guy messing around with a super fancy watch, huh? I was so proud of it, wore it to the bar the other night, and people were mirin, for sure!
Now, I’m not saying everyone should go out and start chopping up their Rolexes. But it was a fun project, and I learned a lot. Plus, now I have a one-of-a-kind watch that’s sure to turn some heads. Or at least confuse people. Who knows, maybe I’ll start a new trend!
Anyway, that’s my little watch adventure. Hope you enjoyed the story. Maybe it’ll inspire you to try something crazy, too. Just be careful with those tiny screws, they’re a real pain!
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