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There is an overlap here with the classic car world. Rep car parts have been available for years, highly reputable replicas exist (Pur Sang Bugattis for example) and have become well respected in their own right. As always cars with proven provenance always command the highest prices but most people have also come to accept that if a certain part is no longer available and a rep part is your only choice then far better to keep the old car running than to leave it to rot. I mean after all its only a piece of steel or rubber or whatever. I personally have no particular hankering for gen pieces. I like the hunting down of parts. I like 'designing' the build in my head and all that stuff and when you get your piece back from the skilled people here who can work their magic I love showing it off to the world and telling them that I had the watch made. Also the two fingered salute to Rolex et al is quite satisfying too Long live the rep watch, whatever the percentage of gen parts they may or may not contain.

Joining the Daytona fun:

The ludicrous prices of vintage Rolex watches and parts means this is an inevitable consequence. Its a reality check. Hopefully people paying 3k for a painted disc with Rolex written on it will become a thing of the past and put the 3k into something a bit more meaningful ,... Cheers P.

Hi Guys! I want to show you my last purchase. This project started up a few months ago after a conversation with my friend Darío (Reziarius). We talked about we would like to get a Seamaster 300 vintage NOS (he already had one, so this one would be his second ). After an unexpected delay because of a missing piece that refused to appear, I can finally enjoy of this full GEN timepiece. Darío, thanks so much for your amazing job! :kneel: Hope you enjoy the pictures Some wrist shots Thanks for looking! All comments are welcome

Well on order is a 6538 case and a tudor rose dial (round markers) and snowflake gold handset from raffles and a harley davison insert . guess what this watch will be based on? This is not meant to be an exact replica of it but more like a homage to the tudor homage, but dare i say a little bit more vintage looking. this will be powered by an early 1970s 2783 eta which is only one digit away from a tudor 2784 eta (ok lets see if you experts can tell me the difference between 2783 and 2784 eta ! Stay tuned!

I have been MIA lately, but now that summer craziness is slowing down time for some projects. In Ronin style the watch will be nearly ALL gen except the JMB Bezel. I am using a DJ 1601 case, and it will be powered by a 1570. HELP. I have a GEN C&I 7206 Rivet bracelet, that does not seem to fit the DJ case very well. I wonder if this is a C&I thing, as the endlinks are unnumbered. -or is does the DJ case vary from the 1016 case. Can anyone advise on bracelet fit for a DJ Case (converted for 1016) with drilled lugs. THANKS! Dial Porn:

I agree and disagree... I agree that Rolex might not have the recognition/presence today were it not for the above mentioned, however, I think one must bear in mind, that the Newman Daytona was an unpopular budget model... It wasn't purchased as a premium piece... That's not something I see in their practices...

What I like about this whole topic is that today with the internet you can pretty much source all the parts to build a superfraken or a gen from scratch for 30-35% of the value of a gen original.Some of the gens are out of the price range of most of us...but if you save up and buy your parts piece by piece you "roll" with the"big players" without paying the cost for it......the gen guys know this and don't like it....

We are taking this too seriously and in the process taking the fun out of our hobbie lets build our watches for our own entertainment so if our watches have gen or aftermarket parts we appreciate a super franken or a low build rep , i have noticed that some new members come here all stressed out and ask should i fit a gen case gen dial gen crown and so on build your watch to your own pocket there is nothing wrong with a low cost rep or a rep upgraded to aftermarket parts (im going off topic here appologies) rolex should realise that they (SELL) there watches not rent them so a rolex owner should be able to have is watch repaired by any watch repairer he chooses and the watchmaker/repairer should be able to have parts supplied to none ADs and being a classic car restorer myself this has been said above after market parts have been accepted in the classic car community ,parts are re-manufactured as the original factory do not exist or dont supply vintage parts of cause there are those that will say that the car is now not original and so on and its the same with vintage watches more and more watches have aftermarket parts finished there are restorers and those who prefer to leave there watch dial faded and aged but a gen watch with aftermarket or refinished parts does that make your watch a fake? and who decides that ,is there an offical gen or fake offically cerified body?

Switzerland with little white gloves, anal employees with tons of experience and centuries of passed down knowledge If you ever go to Biel you will be supprised how many migrant people there are wandering round that town. Switzerland has to import watchsmith from all over just to fill the demand admitedly only the best get to work for the big names but i do not think that the ETA factory is full of old swiss gentlmen tinkering away i belive the answer is like any large industry. The chinese are getting close to the quality that we get from switzerland it is just the QC that we get in reps where the failing comes to play. Buy official marketed asain 2824/ ST16/ST18 and i have been impressed with what i got, particualy when it costs 1/4 of the price Oh and ETA used to make movements in China ect, so there are a ot of ETA trained watchsmiths over there as well.

great watch, i miss mine big time, but alas twas too big for me, mine had superb lume from day one, like an aqua blue and a white afterglow that would last hours...i wear my watches on my right wrist which didnt help with that huge crown guard

Really good read... Enjoy ~ Mike _______________________________ They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie, as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly. I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street. But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must've thought I did. But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes and a sealed letter from his previous owner. See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. Maybe we were too much alike. I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice." ____________ _________ _________ _________ To Whomever Gets My Dog: Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy writing it. He knew something was different. So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you. First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hoards them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after them, so be careful. Don't do it by any roads. Next, commands. Reggie knows the obvious ones ---"sit," "stay," "come," "heel." He knows hand signals, too: He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business. Feeding schedule: twice a day, regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand. He's up on his shots. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car. I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows. Finally, give him some time. It's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially. And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you...His name's not Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. But if someone is reading this ... well it means that his new owner should know his real name. His real name is "Tank." Because, that is what I drive. I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. You see, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with .. and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call to the shelter ... in the "event" ... to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my CO is a dog-guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word. Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family. And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family, too, and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me. If I have to give up Tank to keep those terrible people from coming to the US I am glad to have done so. He is my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades. All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth. Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me. Thank you, Paul Mallory ____________ _________ _________ _______ I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure, I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer. I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog. "Hey, Tank," I said quietly. The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright. "C'mere boy." He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months. "Tank," I whispered. His tail swished. I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and hugged him. "It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek. "So whatdaya say we play some ball?" His ears perked again. "Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?" Tank tore from my hands and disappeared into the next room. And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.

So comfortable

I did my first keyless recently too, after the fourth attempt and nearly launching the movement across the room I decided to hand it over to a pro Great thing is you learn quite a bit when you do a bit of work yourself and when it works you'll be smiling from ear to ear

I have said it in many posts here before, but ONLY in the Rolex world do I see this level of craziness. While I fully support true collectors with their safe queen's of providence, they represent a small portion of Rolex buyers IMHO. I would rather have 5 GEN/Geninstein's missing B&P instead of 1 GEN Rolex as the budget would allow. Like the automotive comparisons, stuff wears out and breaks. That said a healthy aftermarket is a GOOD THING. I would love to see dozens of broken Rolex's retrofitted with ETA Style movements. It sends a big fsck you to Rolex, and people who think Rolex transcends a "regular watch". I would love to see indie watchsmiths advertising "Rolex Movement Swaps" right next to their "Battery Replacement" signs. (There is technically NOTHING ILLEGAL or CRIMINAL about this. It is your personal property. It is no different than dropping a VW Bug engine into a Porsche 356. If there is no attempt to defraud, it should even be legal on eBay if fully disclosed.) One thing I like about the Panerai crowd is their willingness to change to aftermarket straps as if it is a badge of courage. In the Rolex world, you could use a $30 legal/non-infringing aftermarket Oyster bracelet, or cool strap, which is probably better quality than its 30yr old counterpart-- but because it is missing the coronet on the clasp, your otherwise GEN watch is branded as fake by Douche' McDouche' who paid $1100 at the AD for his replacement 93150. It's cockeyed.... I love, love, love vintage Rolex aesthetic. How I satisfy my itch is up to me. I have NO LOVE for "Rolex Corporation" these days.

6263

Its My fantasy watch. I took a GMT IIC and put in a Milsub Hands and a Mcween GMT hand. Had the numbers filled in with a cool off white (looks cream in the photos) paint. Had the GMT IIC green paint on the dial removed, DLC Big crown and crownguards removed. I love it. It is a blend of everything i love about Rolexes in one watch.

I dream of chronos with a light brown strap..

Agree the strap sucks...that come from discount tire? lol

I have too, but like I said, it's pretty rare. When you pry on a gen-style bezel it pops off. And typically when they get bent they won't turn anymore.

While we're on the subject regarding the future of Rolex, I rang Rolex UK in Bexley about a week ago to check up on the history of a potentual purchase by a friend of mine who's not that experienced with the purchase of high end watches. Guess what Rolex had to say, "Sorry but we no longer provide that service Sir" So in a nut shell if i go out and buy a privately owned secondhand Rolex tomorrow, a couple of years later when I decide to take it into my local AD for a service, I may be faced with the situation that in fact the watch has been stolen in the past. There goes my hard earned dough. Not sure if this policy is a Worldwide decision but makes collecting Rolex here in the UK one hell of a risk going forward. As Panerai 153 has mentioned Rolex are really only interested in selling new watches, personally I wouldn't give anything they currently offer the time of day. The only glimmer of hope and Taste in my humble opinion is what Tudor have managed to acheive recently.

Does this crown has the same construction as the newer 703 crown? I mean will it be waterproof on a clarks/7030 tube?

I understand and hear your arguments everyday.... Enjoy the malware...

I just don't understand why anyone would limit themselves to a windows machine... good luck. D.

Yes, a rivet or folded link with fliplock clasp.

Hey guys, I'm going to use a Dremel/rotary tool for the first time. I picked up a pretty decent one off the bay, and it came with two polishing heads, I have no idea what the quality of these are like, I don't know much about polishing with a dremel or benchtop grinder fitted with polishing mop. I am looking for a high quality mirror finish. I've noticed that whenever I polish by hand, whether it's Brasso, Silvo, Mothers Mag & Alu, or Cape cod, I never get a finish quite like a factory finish. It always has tiny hairline marks which is visible under strong light and looks 'hazy'. I plan to use this as my 'rouge': Which of these two polishing mops should I use, and anyone have any decent tips on how to get that perfect mirror finish Thanks guys.