jnkay

Aside from the stupidity, the WISses over at TRF ripped the rep apart. Makes for an interesting read. http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=79154

Wondering if another factor may be that the genuine movements came lubricated, whereas the rep movements are dry from the factory.

Interesting theory

Two good choices! Nice setup.

Learned my lesson about poorly fitting screws. My GMT-IIc fell 5 feet onto a concrete sidewalk. Good news: it landed on the bezel insert and spared the rest of the watch. The bezel insert was badly scraped, and since it is not ceramic there was no shattering issue. The crystal didn't chip whatsoever. Had this been a gen, I'd have a shattered bezel insert and possibly more damage to the watch. However, the date is no longer vertically centered within the date window. The various mall watch repair guys said there is nothing they can do about it. One guy tried adjusting the dial feet a bit but it didn't make much of a difference. Any advice on this? Side note: this watch has a gen eta installed and had no alignment issue prior to the drop.

The one thing I would like to see the factories correct on all the Rolex ceramic models is the hour markers. The gen hour markers have barely perceptible metal/WG rings around the lume, whereas the rings encasing the lume in the reps are way too prominent. It really does make a big difference. Anyhow, while almost nobody is ever going to be able to differentiate ss from white gold on your wrist, you will be conscious of the weight difference if you get a chance to try on the gen. Like all full-gold watches, it is very heavy. It's the first thing you think when the AD puts it in your hand

I'm up for some range time one of these days. Don't get a chance to go often, because of two younguns in the house (pun intended) and a wife who detests guns, which would make it hard for me to clean them. I'm near Weston Arms on I-595. Have also used Guns & Knives on SR 7.

I, for one, am truly relieved. Not to have more Rolex watches to lust after, that is. My wife will be so happy!!

I like your screen name. Are you a competitive shooter? I'm also in Ft. Lauderdale.

This information has been covered in previous threads, which I can sum up for you by saying the only major difference is the dial, which is a bit different shade of grey, and a bit courser than the gen.

Welcome, I also live in S. Fla (Broward). I very much like Boca. Recently went to the int'l jeweler's exchange up there. I think Aventura's was a bit better when it comes to watches.

Do more research. There has been quite a bit of attention paid to this issue in the last six months, starting when The Zigmeister commented on the number of clones he'd been seeing, and extensive threads concerning the drying up of the surplus etas, and the increase in prices. Still, I think the reason you don't hear even more about it is that most people don't take their watches to the watchsmith, and most people don't know how to tell the difference anyway. Think about it: how many people take their $200 reps for a $150 service such that a watchsmith disassembles the movement and determines it is a copy, albeit a very convincing one? My watchsmith didn't think they were copies either until he disassembled them. If you think etas come clearner from the factory, you need to do more research. To the extent that anybody is actually getting etas, they are not the fresh from the [eta] factory, lubricated in a sealed bag; rather, they would be assembled in the same dirty factory and would be just as unlubricated as the asian versions. In any event, there is a months long thread on repgeek about this very topic entitled, "Who still believes their reps come with genunie ETAs." Whatever you do, good luck. If you do go the ETA route, you might want to email the dealer first and inform him that you will be taking the watch to a watchsmith for verification, and would he swap the watch or accept a return in the event it is a copy. Most of the dealers dropship, so they don't know what is actually inside the actual watch they send you, so not so sure this will even work.

Be advised, you are in all likelihood NOT going to get a swiss eta no matter what the website says, but you will wind up paying extra for it. It has been posted many times here and on repgeek that the "swiss etas" have turned out to be asian clone movements of same during the last several months. I personally have purchased three watches from the website you reference and I paid for swiss eta. When I took them to my watchsmith, he confirmed that all 3 were asian clones of the eta, built to a lower quality standard (i.e. machining of gear teeth not as fine, softer metal than genuine, etc. Do yourself a favor and opt for the asian movement.

I wasn't aware that there were any GMT IIc versions out there with poor fit at the end links. The two I have, and most of the ones I've seen, even the cheap ones like at Watcheden have no gap whatsoever.

Who'd you get this one from? I like the gen-like hour indices.

Nice catch. Thanks for posting.

Did you ever post pics of your yachtie? If not, pics of the WM9 are always welcome. Ubi's pictures were good, but it's nice to see these in different light, etc. Over at the gen rolex forums, those guys continually post pictures of genuine watches that all look the same, so it won't be overkill here!

Nice, detailed comparison of aspects not covered in previous reviews. Interesting that you thought the rep bracelet was subpar vs. gen. Even compared to my 2006 gen daytona bracelet, it feels like a quality bracelet IMO.

By far my favorite Dewitt is the Hundi Mora Silicium (I think that's how it's spelled). Absolutely gorgeous. I'd buy one in a heartbeat if it was properly repped.

My rlx GMT IIc reps do the same thing, even after professional servicing. I've taken it back to the watchsmith for a look-see. I'll let you know what he finds to be the problem.

Funny, I did have the rotor assembly come off a couple months AFTER it was serviced. I had suspected the guy who serviced it didn't reattach it correctly. He as very surprised to see that it had come loose. Since the watch worked well the few months after servicing, it would make sense that something is working its way loose again and causing the problem. I'll check it out. Thanks for the insight. BTW, not a CHS.

I will, and let me know what your watchsmith finds. I might need to find a new one...

Well, the shop that did it regularly services high-end watches, but that's no guarantee it wasn't a dip job. If I'm the only one having this issue and it's not an issue inherent to the bastardized movement, I'll probably bring it back.

There is no consistency to when this happens, such as the hour and minute hands overlapping. Freddy, one of these watches WAS serviced and still does it. It had ceased this behavior for several weeks after the service, but now it's back to its bad habits again.

This problem has been driving me crazy ever since I got my 2 GMT IIc watches. Both of them will keep perfect time for days, then will stop for a minute, or 5 or 30 before restarting after I tap the watch or a movement of my wrist unsticks it. One of the movements is serviced, the other not but they both do it. It's not a power reserve problem, it's a sticking or hanging up of something in the movement (not caused by the hands hanging up on hour markers either). BTW, the GMT hand on the serviced movement works fine when the watch runs normally. Anyone else experience this? Any ideas why this happens?