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In the case of my Big Gonzo build, I wanted to build a 6538 Big Crown Sub that would hearken back to the days it was for sale in the showroom. What does that mean? Back then it was a nice durable watch that could go in the water, nothing more. It had no aura of "Bond" or exclusivity, it was a tool. I'd think it would be a lot like a good Seiko diver today, not very expensive and pretty durable. I'd never think twice about taking a Seiko in the ocean, and if I dropped it on the desk at the end of the day I wouldn't notice or care. Nobody in their right mind would do that with a genuine 6538 today. So I used a sturdy aftermarket case and bezel with the right dimensions, got lucky with a gen crystal and found a gen crown and insert for good prices. I finally found the dial I wanted, and into this housing I plunked an ETA movement. Heresy? Nope. Just like a 1030 movement during the 50s and 60s, the contemporary ETA is robust and easy to find parts for. If I flood it and ruin the ETA, it will be no big deal to simply replace it. Not so with a 1030. In the end I have a watch that's impossible to tell from gen without a strong loupe, or by opening the back. I get to use it any way I want, with total disregard for it being "Bond" or exclusive. In a way it's taken me right back to the 50s and 60s, and I get to use it swimming and diving ... like it was meant to be. That usage is what I've replicated. There's a lot of freedom and enjoyment in that. You can replicate the usage of a tool stopwatch with your 6263 the same way.

Panerai + Rose wine = nice afternoon! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

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Hello. I do not want to disturb other threads, but I realize that I think different compared to other users here. From my point of view, a really good rep should not be distinguishable from a gen at first sight. Many people here focus very much on verly little details, like fonts used on the dial, position and spacing of charakters, exact shape of crystal, crown, etc.. A watch that has been serviced by a "free" watchmaker, who is not allowed to buy gen parts from rolex, will get more and more aftermarket replacement parts during its life. Every time the watch goes to be serviced, most likely some parts will have to be replaced. That could lead to a "wrong" crystal, a "wrong" crown and so on. The original dial could be changed to a Paul Newman because of an owners demand or the old gen one has to much patina on it, the stretchy, scratched and worn out bracelet could have been replaced by a new one - stainless steel with logo, but from the aftermarket. The case probably will have been repolished and maybe now has a slightly altered shape due to the removing of dents or scratches when polishing. From my point of view, this gen watch having been repaired and serviced several times with aftermarket parts, is still a gen. When you open the case back you will see a gen Rolex 727 movement, not only with the engravings, but also with right balance [censored], the red guilded wheels and the freesprung Balance with the microstella screws, the breguet hairspring and so on. Even if you do not open the case back and only put the watch on a timegrapher, you would see that it is ticking at 21.600Vph, unlike a V72 ticking at 18.000. This watch has a value far above any rep (I think so). So I focus to these details on my build. My target is a watch that you could show to a watchmaker and he would not be able to tell if it's gen or not. Which he could easily when seeing a Asia Venus 75, a Valjoux 7753 or a regular V72, even with all Rolex engravings on top. Isn't this more important than taking care to small details on the outside of the watch? Same about Submariner builds with ETA or worse movements... What do you think? Regards Profherm

For your eyes is a all Vietnam 6263. V72 was partially Rolex converted, and the case was reworked to reach a very near 1:1 shape and details all around. Dial is rep, and for you to consider how convincing it is see the pictures of a genuine one at the end... Only difference really is some tiny details of the subdials numbers. The "4" mostly. However, that being said: it's not something you can notice when seen in the real world. Bezel is genuine, Crown is from Athaya. Enjoy the pictures !!!

Here, here. I am fortunate enough to have some genuine Georgian furniture that has come down through the family. I also have a few Roman artefacts. I have family, children, dogs and the usual trappings of modern life. I am considered prudent to keep the genuine stuff away from daily life and the fake stuff in the hall is considered respectable. So why I ask when I do the same with watches am I accused of being a fraud?

253 on python strap. Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

This hobby is quite a broad church. Different members seek different things from a rep and to some extent the fora each have a different focus. We have always been the home of franken builds and I guess we have a high number of guys who like building things almost indistinguishable from genuine. Some go for visual appearance on the wrist, others obsess about dial details, some are gearheads and need the right movement, a few do all of that. Some are happy with a cheap rep that looks somewhat like an iconic model. There is no right or wrong in my opinion

Not a 1675, but I love everything about this new Tempus Machina other than the price. Vintage looks, modern practicality. The bezel insert is sapphire.

Good to see you back mate! You bought a new rep? Shit, I was ONLY thinking of getting a Tudor. Did resist for months if not years. Now you triggered the desire again! Good to see those photos of you again

These pics really show your passion

120kg for a 75kg body weight is very strong brother. How did you manage to achieve that? I am about the same weight at you, but cannot go beyond a 100kg bench press. Will it help if I remove the spiderman spandex costume I wear to the gym you think?

What fingers u possessed??? Crazy works!!! "There are more than 1 road to Rome...."

I hear ya, I used to do sets with declined bench and 90lb dumbbells. No big deal. Now I much prefer climbing quiet rocky places with the dog.

outstanding skills... you make my photos look like they were made by a dwarfed, hairless, mutated, degenerate, one eyed, toothless ghoul.

44mm 6154 On Maddog strap and buckle Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk

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I posted these in a thread on RWG1 almost exactly a year-to-date ago. Martin D-45 I purchased in 1970 and a circa 1922 National which I bought in 1971. The Martin was played on all gigs 5 to 6 nights a week for 25 years, its seasoned body now puts out as loud as concert jumbos but with a deeper pitch even after a refinish job. Nanug, love your Guilds, I've been through two, a F-512 Jumbo 12-string and a Mark V Classical.

I had a Guild 12 string once, but sold it to British folk artist Rod MacKenzie. Les