alligoat

I don't know if an old style 6mm tube will fit the 24-600-0 crown or not, but I would think it's worth a try. But you have to buy the tube wrench to go w/ the $6 tube. The new tube should fit the 24-603-0 crown w/o any problems and it is basically the same as the 600 crown in looks. The only difference I notice is that older crowns are a little more beveled on the inside edge than the modern crowns which are flatter.

How about a little stain and maybe a clear sealer over it? If you look at 16800's, some of the bezel pearls have really turned almost brown. I'm not one of those that likes the really untouched original brown stuff- but you do see it from time to time. Obviously, Rolex would replace the bezel during routine service, but some people like their watches all original. Here's a 16800 original for $9K! http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1982-Rolex-Sub...ksid=p1638.m122 It's item # 350009721238 if the link doesn't work. Also a nice original matte dial, 6 mil serial

The guys at it again- only this time he got the model right- at least he learns from his mistakes! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...bayphotohosting item # 150199673340 if the link doesn't work. Crown guards are wrong, too big a crown, TW Best of MBW probably

A 24-600-0 is an old part number. You might do better with a newer part# like the 24-602-0 and then you could go to Ofrei and get the case tube for something like $6.00. They have two case tubes- old style 6mm and new style 6mm. Of course, you need the correct wrench for installing the case tube also- new style or old. I wish there was an easier source than ebay, but if you find one, it will more than likely cost you more money. Ebay is hit or miss, but what can you do? This guy, jewelerstools, has a crown and tube: http://cgi.ebay.com/Rolex-Date-or-GMT-Stai...7QQcmdZViewItem If the link doesn't work- it's item 230206442947 Oh and I almost forgot- you need to tap the hole in the case so you'll need a tap for that- ofrei or julesborel. The first time you change out a crown and tube, it's expensive, but the second and third times the price comes down since you already have all of the tools.

Genuine inserts- the black part- are friction fit and they are pressed into the bezel itself. If the bezel itself- the ss (or gold) part came off, it snaps on also- you just need to make sure you don't lose any of the miscellaneous parts that go with it. But if you have a rep and the insert fell off, you're probably going to have to glue it back on to the bezel- a few drops of GS Hypo-cement or epoxy to the metal bezel and press the insert on- just make sure the bezel still turns and you don't glue it to the case.

I've heard it referred to as 'elephant hunting'. You set your price so high that if you ever do happen to make a sale, you have enough 'meat' to live for a year or two. But the trend, as represented by a legitimate auction house like Antiquorum, is definitely up. And of course, I don't see that replica market going away anytime soon- there's just too great a price disparity.

Thanks r11co, an interesting little read.

Clark's Watch Supply- nostalgia2000 on ebay

Ironically, it would stand to reason that they would use a 2834-2 because it is a DD movement similar to the Rolex, but my DD rep has a 2836-2 in it. And the 2836-2 has a day feature, only it is at 3 o'clock next to the date. Another case of the chinese making alterations to the movement- like they do for the 2836-2 GMT's.

My nephew got the SSD this week and we were comparing the crown and tube to the gen crown and aftermarket tube on my noobmariner. The SSD crown matches up beautifully to the gen crown and the tubes are the same large size. Someone here a month or two ago said the gen crown fit the SSD tube and I'm not surprised (haven't tried it myself). So I'm with Jet on this- why go to the trouble of changing out the tube and crown? I think putting a better pearl in (watchmaterial) and trimming the cg's a little are all that's necessary. Not much you can do with the etched crown at 6. They say the noob is the best out of the box, but now I think the SSD is.

I use wet/dry sandpaper from the auto parts places, but the grits that I buy are 320, 400, 600 and 1000. Progress from 320 to 1000 and then I usually put some polishing compound on the 1000 and then like Freddy says, buffing w/ a dremel, or hand polishing w/ a cloth. Cape Cod Cloths are good also for a final polishing.

Fitting a gen Day-Date movement into a rep case probably isn't worth the time and effort. The Silix Day-Date movt is a modified 2836-2, so first of all, you'd have to get the older 3085 movt to even have a chance of the stem/crown lining up w/ the case tube. Next, would it fit the rep dial? I don't know. Would the day and date line up w/ the windows on the rep dial?You'd definitely need new Rolex hands- they're different from the ETA hands. And where do you think you're going to find a Rolex Day Date movement? And don't forget, rep cases are a little bit bigger than gen Rolex cases- how you gonna keep the movement from moving around? If you like your Silix Day-Date, enjoy it and service it for $100 if you have to. If you really want a gen Day-Date, look for a vintage- they're less expensive. IMO, it's just not worth t to put a gen DD movt in a rep case.

A 16233 is a TT Datejust, but there are enough fools out there bidding this watch up thinking it's real. http://cgi.ebay.com/Rolex-Submariner-16233...1QQcmdZViewItem Item # 150197691406 if the link doesn't work. Please report.

I've had my eye on the same watch from the time it came out originally from Tag Heuer and especially now that it is in rep form. I recall that the gen runs $3400 or so retail, maybe less if you shop around. So if you buy from Andrew, look at what a great deal you're getting. If you service the 7750 movt for a couple of hundred dollars, it's an even better deal. As for the gold, well you take your chances. I'd figure that the crown, pushers and bezel will hold up OK, but the mid-links on the bracelet have always been the downfall in the past on TT reps for me. Dont' go in salt water! And if you take the bracelet off and put on a nice dark brown crocodile strap w/ a gold Heuer buckle, I'd still think it's a kick butt good looking watch. And a real TT gold Heuer bracelet might cost $500-700, maybe more, but you'd still have a whole lot less in it than a gen and it's a great looking watch.

Chief and Jet are absolutely right, buy at your own risk. Faisal Ali sells a lot of Rolex replica parts, but most are only so-so. Finding decent vintage inserts isn't easy- especially with a decent pearl. The part # is 315-5513-0 for this insert- if you could get a gen. Ofrei sells the illumes dots for $10, and on some inserts, you can remove the incorrect pearl w/ the ring around it and pop in the all acrylic pearl. I did this on a couple of vintage subs from Paul, a DRSD and a 5513 w/ Explorer dial, and it ain't perfect but it is a vast improvement. Puts you over the 99.9% hump- 99.9% of the people won't know it ain't real.

You might check with some of the 'Down Under' members- isn't Offshore from Austrailia? Ziggy is the master of the asian 7750 and just serviced one of mine, but he is in Canada and currently on vacation. Shipping watches to and from Canada hasn't been a problem- watch for repair and return- gets it thru Customs. He even replaced a couple of defective parts- something most watchnmakers won't have- spare asian 7750 parts. But Ziggy won't be back til January and you have to have a reservation- it could easily push you into Feb or March. And of course, finding a local watchmaker should be a priority regardless, it makes this hobby so much more enjoyable.

The Day-Date bezel pops off, but you need a knife or a razor to slide in there between the case and the bezel and lift the bezel up until it pops off. But you can scratch the case or bezel if you don't know what you're doing. Then you have to repress the bezel back on with a crystal press. A watchmaker could do it for you in a couple of minutes, it's worht say $5-10 maybe.

Sure as I pick up a crown for $20- $10 plus $10 for s&h, the price goes up! http://cgi.ebay.com/ROLEX-SUBMARINER-TRIPL...1QQcmdZViewItem If the link doesn't work, it's item #230204450374 on ebay

Yes, that's a good crown for the Sea-Dweller- 24-703-0 is the part #. The guy, Mark Greenberg, is his name as I recall, is a good seller, but you are paying top dollar for this crown. I bought a gen crown for $20 not too long ago.

You gotta love Antiquorum! I did a search for Rolex 6265 and it looks like the auction prices for this model run in the $30-40K range, some with papers. Gold and Paul Newman dials are considerably more. This watch has good provenance- papers, history, service receipts, but is probably $10-20K overpriced IMO. Of course, I figure that Anahiem Jewelry will probably sell this watch off of ebay and probably for less, unless they're ready to sit on it for awhile. But you gotta admit, ebay is good exposure.

I can't get the link to come up, maybe you could give us the item #.

First of all, it's a Date, not a Datejust. Country code is for a Middle East country, Serial # w/ D prefix is around 2005. Watch looks OK, but until you open the case, who can say. If the seller is reputable, I'd figure you're OK- i.e. buy the seller. The price is OK, new would be about $4,000USD. Plan B is to meet the guy at a watchmakers and open the case and confirm the 3135 movement.

If I had this problem, I'd probably buy an aftermarket sub insert (PN 315-16800) to start, since I believe this case is really a sub case. Watchmaterial, Helfands and Lee Raymond have decent aftermarket inserts. File down the back side and hopefully you could just glue it in- don't use too much glue or you'll glue the bezel to the case. FYI, Rolex actually makes a different insert for the Sea-Dweller, PN 315-16600 or 16660. But I would start with the sub insert first.

Are you saying that someone made a bid and it was cancelled by the seller? Maybe they weren't qualified, overseas, negative feedback...

Rolex dials are made in house these days, and Singer and Beyeler are seen on the vintage dials. But it is my understanding you could see a Rolex stamped on the back. BTW, the six o'clock diamond is crooked!