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I have wanted to buy a gen 126610LV since I first saw one as a way to celebrate my selling off one of my companies. The resellers are asking way too much of a premium for me (at one point near double MSRP), and despite asking dealers everywhere I travel to even get on a "list", I can't buy one. So I bought a VSF, and honestly I'm not looking as hard anymore. From your pictures, the CF Daytona looks like it might be that good too.

From my experience and disappointments: Plated cases... Imho, a 'Yellow Gold Plated Prez' just will not do if it is worn very much. Sooner or later the plating wears away and the base metal shows through. Silver shows through if it is steel or a (sometimes toxic) silver colored 'pot metal' and a goldish contrasting color shows through if the case is brass. Toxic = the 'ufo' metal breaks the skin out. I don't know what the metal really is, but it looks a lot like the metal they made automobile hood ornaments and carburetors out of in the 1950s/60s. Solid gold cases... For the reasons above, maybe start out with a 14K or 18K aftmkt case and a croc, lizard etc. strap with a gold buckle. That's what I set out to do about 15 years ago but it stalled out. Q...Why did it stall out? A...Because my aftmkt 18K case was accurate to oem on the outside but the dial window is too big for genuine spec day/date dials. It takes oem spec 36mm case crystals and case tubes but not movements or dials. It needs a 29.5 or 30mm dial and I never found one. Thought about making it into a DJ but still no dials...except for 41mm DJ dials and genuine dials cost too much. Besides that, the date window is offset farther than on a 36mm DJ so you need a date wheel overlay for 41mm DJ or a custom made dial with the date window set inside a mm or so to work with an ETA movement. I bought an oem spec aftmkt 41mmDJ dial and tried it in the case but as I said, the date window was too far from the dial center and my ETA 28xx dates would not line up, much less a regular 36mm rolex spec date wheel. Next, I tried a Bulova Precisionist/Accutron II movement with standard Prec/A II date wheel. The aftmkt DJ 41 dial was a good fit in the case but the date window in the dial did not center over the Prec/A II date. It was close but no cigar. Q...What would be needed to use the Precisionist movement and date wheel? A...A goldtone date window frame slightly larger than the date window in the DJ 41 dial with the window cut out to allow all of the Bulova date to show. Not easy to find a date window the right size, believe me. I finally found a date wheel overlay for a 41mm DJ on the 'net to fit an ETA 2836 etc. but never tried it so that is where it stands today. On another note, I have an Omega cal 565? (iirc) with the correct size dial but almost all the dial refinishers in the USA have closed up and the few that are left will only refinish a dial back to the original name on the dial...no Omegas redialed to rolex. To make matters worse...the case does not have movement mounting stands inside it like a genuine case or a groove inside the case for case clamps/screws so a spacer will have to be rigged somehow. I found a spacer from a past Marathon project that might work but have not tried it because I've not decided on a movement/dial combo yet. It mounts to the movement with case clamps and has a groove on the back side with a rubber O ring in it that presses against the case back and applies pressure to the movement/dial when the back is screwed down. The spacer has to be cut to fit and the O ring groove recut if needed. A goofy arrangement but it might work. Btw...these cases are getting expensive today, going from $1000 to $3000. Here is a pic of my case:

I have been thinking exactly the same thing. But I am not so much worried about what the Chinese government may do. I think this new 'clone' 4130 is putting Rolex in a very difficult spot, which, for the 1st time, is forcing even their established customers to have to redefine what the definition of 'the real thing' is. & I do not see how Rolex can remain profitable (or passive) in such an environment. I would expect to see a SERIOUS crackdown on the entire rep supply chain soon. For that reason, I would recommend that anyone considering 1 of these not delay too long. Is it smart to be forced to wait years & play games to buy 'gens' at crazy prices or is the smart 1 the person who buys a (clone-powered) fake for a fraction of the cost & without any of the wait/games? I think the Asian factories are just a step away from producing entire clones that are the equal of gens. As it is, I consider my franken the 1st diy 'gen' in my collection. In fact, based on look/feel/function, it seems the equal of any of my actual gens. Even my all-gen 6542 (sans insert), fells less genuine 'Swiss' than this Daytona. I could never say that before. These 4130 clones are incredibly good & lack nearly all of the traditional shortcomings & tells of previous generations of movements found in even high-priced fake Rolexes (eg, MBK/MBW, etc). Bottom line -- this watch, as received, is a $5,000 watch that I paid less than $1,000 for. These things are a STEAL. p.s. My little contribution to the Daytona story has been delayed due to fitment issues with the final part. Hopefully, the maker will be able to address their mistake & I will be able to reveal The freddy333 Daytona soon. I think it will be worth the wait. Stay tuned --

"If you are a Daytona fan, appreciate fine craftsmanship & can afford the (high) price tag, you owe it to yourself to get 1 of these." I agree, because they may not be around for long. Why not? Because the replica biz is always in turmoil. It appears (to me) that China's government is always jumping from 'Ban all replicas!" to appear to be against them to "Make as much replica stuff as you can!" to boost gov bribes/kickbacks etc. and keep people working. When the top tier replica makers get shut down again (sooner or later), and (IF) movement producing machinery is destroyed or confiscated...the replica makers may not come back with the 'best of the best' next time around. Or ever. Remember when a replica 16610 with a very good case/dial/bracelet and new swiss ETA 28xx was available for $250/$300? Remember when new MBW/MBK 5513/1680 etc. (many with genuine ETA 28xx) were $400+/- from 'Maria' or 'Narikka'? I do. Now they are gone forever. Regarding 'Top Shelf' Daytonas...get one while you can.

Older '5513'...