docblackrock

Gilt dial under Alaskan light. I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing that glorious combination.

Over here, in need of your 1665's experience...

I think he should take it over to VRF and see what happens

Burning human flesh has an unmistakeable aroma. And we'd smell it from over here.

Exactly...And what would that person do with possibly the ugliest dial I have seen in a while, God forbid they actually wanted to use it in a gen Rolex case.

My recommendation is to hang it on the wall and admire it until all of the tritium crumbles off of the dial....Or better yet save some money and get a moose head for the wall and a nice white 1680 for the wrist.

Quite. I'd be ashamed to put it into a gen watch, as much as I would be wearing it around a friend (local AD and vintage nut). He'd quietly take me aside and say "WTF?"

The 'moose head' comment made me chuckle, particularly as moose is Brit slang for a really ugly woman - seems appropriate here.

Back to the drawing board GSW I'm afraid.

Here is mine. With a FXRandy datewheel and unmodded ingod44 rail dial.

That IS a stunner. How did you age the insert or did you pick it up like that? The grey fade is spot on.

No particular GW love here but these rail dials are gorgeous and totally transform the watch.

Not quite as droolworthy as my favourite of this dial type though, mmmmm...

Pfff, birth year is just the start.

I want my 1655 / 1675 caseback to be engraved with the QUARTER-year I was born.

Fortunately, I arrived on the cusp of III/IV so have more leeway here

I've just read your latest post so that kind of answers (but not completely) my question. I still don't quite know what the point of this enquiry was.

FWIW I said the base dial is likely genuine but there's little doubt amongst those offering their thoughts here, that the rest of it is not. It's simply all wrong visually and citing Rolex's amateurish practices in the 60s doesn't qualify anything.

As for worth, it's what anyone is (stupid enough) prepared to pay for it.

So far these are all opinions. Easy to say its real or its fake but please back up your reasons if you an expert to call it. IF the color is wrong then can you explain why you know that. A poor picture of a watch dial inside a busted crystal hardly is any help.

Do you know how and why the dials turn brown? Do you know what causes the change to happen? Does having it stored or worn slow or speed the process? Are all Trop dials supposed to look the exact same or does the defect very in each dial batch?

To say the color is wrong and to not explain why when the color change is due to a paint defect that can be sped up or slowed down by outside sources is a very gutsy call without knowing the history of the dial.

What exactly is your aim here?

Your OP suggested you were looking for advice on a possible purchase of this dial. Which you've had. Avoid it like the plague.

Strange though how your latter posts seem to devalue and refuse to accept those opinions and ask for further justification. I may be wrong here and it just may be your tone and writing style, but it almost (to me anyway) reads as if you've put together this redial yourself and are seeking QC here?

As BWS says, take it to the gen forums and see what you get. Can assure you it won't be as patient, informed or polite as you've had here.

The more I look at it, the more I think the dial is new/aftermarket, regardless of whether the red was done by the factory or added later.

Have to disagree on it being aftermarket. The problem is as you say yourself "the more you look at it". In other words, because there are some blatant details here that fail the 'smell' test, it almost follows you start to question other aspects of the dial.

That said, I think the recent proliferation of so-called tropical dials like this in almost NOS condition (which itself should scream out given how genuine tropical dials gain their patina) rings alarm bells and I know of at least one major vintage dealer who, without concrete provenance, won't touch them with a bargepole.

Whatever the reality and indeed true value, the fact is it's not a particularly nice dial either way IMO.

Normally I'd PM but my box is dysfunctional...

I'm guessing the cost issue means they're prescribing etanercept?

You might want to ask your daughter's rheum about making enquiries about enrolling on a canakinumab trial. Some very promising clinical data in this area recently published. If she meets the inclusion criteria, not only would her outcomes be potentially improved, it would also negate you having to fund the cost of the medication.

If you want further info, feel free to email me (check out sales threads in watches and parts for details).

Original dial. But touched up with red Sub text without question.

And as Nanuq says, the fade on a tropical dial is almost always less uniform than this. It's been 'baked', probably with a hot halogen lamp.

Walk away...

Renal colic is really not something you want to experience onset of an hour into a 7-hour transatlantic flight.

The combo of excruciating pain and a level of nausea (without vomiting) usually reserved for severe sea-sickness without the option of being rendered unconscious is truly horrific. To this day, I avoid those claustrophobic plane toilets like the plague and consequently, my mile high club membership has been revoked permanently

'Budget' option...

'Black market organ donation' option...

That gorgeous faded/grey insert just caps off what is already a classical beauty.

Oh dear. The horological equivalent of a Stradivarius watercolour.

Not sure I have anything in need (maybe 212 mineral now I think of it) but would be happy to support this initiative, long overdue since Jakub's unfortunate demise as a trusted member.

Do you have a yacht? Do you participate in yacht racing? If so, the watch is practically made for your needs and you can easily forgive its visual shortcomings since it's just so useful.

As a watch, though, it's as ugly as the inside of a hotdog.

Still no excuse to sport this red-haired stepchild when tasteful understated yachtie innovation can be had elsewhere for less than a grand...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSRzBmMZ9Uw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Very nice. And I say that as not exactly a fan of the gen model.

Me, I'd have gone the extra yard and thrown a black '9' datewheel in there

The 240 is all Ti though.

91 is Ti case (and CG lever) but with brushed SS details (bezel, CG) which matches the same two-tone look as the Ti/SS bracelet it sports.

At least with a SS case, you can refinish to a certain extent for closer match.

Oops sorry, dodgy typing skills...

Meant 91 not 90 - hence anthracite dial. I have custom dial and gen Ti/SS bracelet going to waste.

This is ROCKAREP typing.

Dishonestly from the outset you say Docblackrock? This is garbage talk and if you bought from me or knew who I was you would not say this. There will always be some accidental errors made in a listing if someone sells a lot of items even by someone you think is golden. I see ZIGMIESTER commented on your statement about me and this is interesting because I seen him accuse a guy with a gen hamilton movement calling him out saying its a fake when it was not.  This was an honest mistake by him made in the open. Your mistakes Docbackrock maybe have not been made public but you have made some and does that make you trash? The reason there are people coming to my defense is becasue they have dealt with me and you have not. You are entitled to your opinion but I would ask you to go find ONE single cocky remark I made while selling on here please find me ONE from RockaRep. .....I find it intersting that those who have not done a tramsaction with me can speak so sure of themselves.

This could have been handeled better and with more class with a phone call or email to me in private to first get to the bottom of this before wrongly trashing me due to a grudge you have with someone you thought was me. But I guess the power is with you and when you wnat the last laugh you shall have it regaurdless of the bystanders in the way. I am not mad at you Andy but I can only hope the next person would get the benifit of the doubt first.

I truly enjpyed this forum and the people I was lucky to meet on it. I am sure you will alll see me somewhere else. I wish you all nothing but the best.

*I apolgise in advance to the watching/involved mods here for picking at a scab here, but I've just seen this and I can't let this go unanswered I'm afraid, as much as I don't want to waste my time responding*

Dear Rockarep/GSW/brother/associate/whomever (let's not forget there's been the odd member or two with personality disorders, even multiple ones)....

As with others, I don't need to have had transactions with your 'product' to form an impression of you. In fact, in this game, impressions are crucial in deciding who you do decide to do business with. I think most members would agree that when they started out, they were advised to choose their seller carefully, establish a dialogue and go from there. You're right in a sense I can't comment about your interpersonal skills or other sale-srelated behaviour. My point was, as you're still refusing to acknowledge never mind show remorse over, is that you or your associate/alter ego, wilfully engaged in unethical practices that ran contrary to the rules of this forum. That's what you got pulled up over and I'm sorry but simply whining about it isn't doing yourself any favours.

As for "my mistakes", well I've sold a few pieces here and there but don't recall any mistakes. I've certainly never embellished sales for monetary gain that's for sure. But you say I've made them so I'm all ears, please tell me, go on, I can take it. Of course, given you've been here less than 6 months, and until a couple of weeks ago, I've been AWOL for over 2 years with zero posts, I'd be fascinated to see what you're referring to. Mistakes in life maybe you meant? Sure, plenty, but I don't think that's what you were driving at 

Yes, maybe some of us have judged you harshly, but what you have to remember and appreciate is that we've seen it all before. The road to success is paved with good intentions and I and others have said as much in previous posts. It's an all-too-familiar path unfortunately. Clearly, you feel aggrieved, but then what you refuse to see is that you've raised red flags, and instead of showing understanding and seeing it from the other side, saying "hey, I see why you may think that but I'm not like those other guys, and I'll prove it" like a recalcitrant child caught with his hand in the sweetie jar, you're just crying foul and throwing a temper tantrum. I can't speak of course as to the manner in which this was dealt with in terms of personal contact with the mod team, but even if what you say is true, I think your unrepentent and frankly dislikeable attitude in general suggests that any such outreach to try and smooth this over without fuss, would have fallen on deaf ears anyway. You're proving their point in other words.

I'm not even *that* interested in your work, much as I have collected PAMs, both gen and rep, so I don't have any axe to grind there, unlike this Marlin22 guy you have a problem with. You clearly have some ability, but then maybe I'm resistant to your obvious self-regard. See, I've seen ex-marque watchmakers in their 70s strip El Primero's with their eyes closed and fashion/create custom parts for movements with (almost) their bare hands. So, sorry I don't go 'wow', this guy knows people that can source "OEM" parts cheaply and can open shiny new blister packs and install them. Oh, and I don't think I need to expand on the skills of Zig here, so a needless and petty dig at him doesn't win you any brownie points with anyone.

And that's essentially the crux here. You. Your manner. Questions of integrity and character that this place exists only because of. You were asked to clarify. You had the opportunity to apologise and explain. To bridge that gap between commercially-focused seller and passionate hobbyist. You chose another road.

I have no doubt you enjoyed it here, not like most members do in terms of sharing info and advice, but purely in commercial terms. A willing populace I think I called it, and it really was for you...the proverbial fish in a barrel. I'd wish you luck elsewhere, but sadly I don't think you'll need it.

Yours sincerely,

DBR

Crap, Andrew's site won't open here for some reason - on my phone.

Wonder why he lists but not Josh?

Thanks mate - it's really the 220 or 104 (already have tapered bracelet) I want as need brushed case for my 90 anthracite build.

DSN's Firenze looks stunning, wonder if he offers a 104? Hmmm..

Chi, hey why not drop me a link to this thread? Luckily I found it by chance

I'm really happy for you that you've upgraded it to such an extent - it deserved nothing less and likewise thanks for a nice simple transaction.

I'd be interested to see your 1675 build that "didn't satisfy the hunger"

Cheers

DBR

Was just about to post that but Heywood beat me to it (good to see a familiar face by the way )

You got a reclaimed early GMT 'engine' so the only suggestion is you take your Phong hands (what's wrong with them by the way? You don't say) to a watchmaker who may be able to broach them to fit.