What would you consider as franken?

[cruvon]

I come across the Franken term discussed quite often and get different definitions for it everytime, most recently in a discussion I came across in another forum.

Would you consider a watch with Rolex service replacements like say a service dial or service hands which are distinguishable from the original as Franken? If not what would such a watch be categorised as?


I am guessing some would consider such a watch franken whereas other collectors would think they are not?

[Roley]

Anything that deviates from factory made specs is a franken IMO.

[springer]

Originally Posted by Roley

Anything that deviates from factory made specs is a franken IMO.

Rolex replacement parts does not make a watch "Franken." Cobbled together watches with mis-matched parts, especially aftermarket parts, make it "Franken." But then again, beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. Some it bothers, some it doesn't.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by springer

Rolex replacement parts does not make a watch "Franken." Cobbled together watches with mis-matched parts, especially aftermarket parts, make it "Franken." But then again, beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. Some it bothers, some it doesn't.

X2

[linesiders]

To me, a Franken is something comprised of significant non-factory parts. If you have an all Rolex 5513 but an aftermarket crystal I would not consider that a franken. Vintage and Original is certainly better than Vintage and service.

To me significant would be:

Case
Dial (though refinished on original model plate is not out of bounds on old / hard to find pieces - some are old enough that the refinish is now vintage )
Movement
Crown
Hands - I'm up in the air on

Less than Significant items:
Screws
Stem
Crystal

Restoring an old sports car can be done and is sometimes necessary to be done with aftermarket parts, especially when cost is a factor

Service parts are just that, service parts and meant by the factory to be used in a product. In most cases they will have an impact but do not result IMO a "Franken"

[cruvon]

Thanks Roley, linesiders for your opinion.

Any more opinions on this subject?

[motoikkyu]

Based on the opinions I read here with regularity and amazement, a franken-watch is any watch that has been taken out of its original package and worn :).

Seriously, the term was originally coined to denote what is also called a "marriage", taking two or more watches and combining them to make a functional timepiece. Not a felony, wanting to have a working watch, but definitely lessens collector's value. So, by the high standards of this forum, you need to have all original or service parts, or to have replaced any worn, broken or missing parts with the appropriate parts FROM THE APPROPRIATE YEAR. So, you can have a fully functional watch, all factory parts, that is a franken, if it has been carelessly mixed and matched. As for parts that deviate from factory spec, I will respectfully disagree since I would never want such parts in my watch under any circumstances. The converse: parts that match factory specs are always acceptable, is NOT true, IMHO, as pertaining to collector value.

[psv]

I might have a broader definition of Franken that most - to me it is a) a watch contains non OEM parts and/or b) a watch that was build by spare parts, i.e. it is a watch that the manufacturer never produced. There are too many examples out there where hobbyist shops around for parts there and there, form different years, sometimes decades, a cobble something together and pawns it off as a genuine Rolex. That doesn't work for me.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by cruvon

...

Would you consider a watch with Rolex service replacements like say a service dial or service hands which are distinguishable from the original as Franken? If not what would such a watch be categorised as?
. . .

No, of course not..

A Franken, by sheer name, is a watch made up from a box of parts of other watches to become something that it was not originally... Usually done to deceive prospective buyers.

Proper service parts do not a Franken make..

[dysondiver]

its a bit like trigers brush from only fools an horses.
i think i would put a box of spares together to make a wearable watch ,,, and not see too much wrong with it ,,, but if its a collection of parts put together to decieve ,,, different story.

[skprd13]

X3

[crowncollection]

Originally Posted by springer

Rolex replacement parts does not make a watch "Franken." Cobbled together watches with mis-matched parts, especially aftermarket parts, make it "Franken." But then again, beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. Some it bothers, some it doesn't.

X 4


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