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I haven't had any luck putting a gen Datejust dial in a rep case. The gen dial was too small, say 28mm vs a rep dial at 29mm. Same thing w/ a 16610 sub, the gen dial is smaller than the rep dial, so no swapping out. It's been my experience that a gen 16610 takes a 295C sapphire crystal (29.5mm), and a rep takes a 30.5mm crystal. So right there you can see that there is a basic 1mm difference. Like Bill, I've found the digital calipers are indispensible, and alot of times, I'm buying parts just to see if they work. There are no guarantees that a gen part will fit a rep case, etc., but most of the time I'm finding that the rep dimensions don't match up with the gen.

Yes, I think you're expecting perfection at rep prices. Buy a genuine insert, file it down on the back and install it, then you'll have a good pearl. Remove the sapphire crystal from the watch (easy), heat it up to melt the uv glue, remove and clean up the cyclops, and reglue it with uv glue where you want it. No big deal. While you're at it, why don't you read Eddie Lee's post today. Do you see yourself in it? Too many people expect too much and they forget Rule No. 1, "A rep is only a rep.

Nice comparison. Yes, the gen has a slightly greater rehaut, but we're almost to the point of splitting hairs! Paul's bezel printing is a little more bold, and of course the cg's and crown are noticeable. But things like the dial printing, and date mag are right on. Even the pearl doesn't look bad next to the gen. Very few people are going to be able to spot Paul's as a rep, and if they do, they either hang out on one of these forums, or they're a Rolex expert! The average Rolex owner won't have a clue.

@ Munk, The TTK sub has the Asian 21j movement. TTk has it checked and regulated, so it keeps good time, right on. Still it's not an eta, I don't know how long it will last. @ bklm1234, The date font on these 2006 subs is the new thinner font and the second hand is supposed to touch the minute markers. I wouldn't be surprised if EL's and Paul's subs come from the same factory- they look just alike!

ebay for rep, type in "Rolex band" in search feature, or jubilee timezone for gen, look in sales section

Try Cousins in the UK for a stem for the 2836. Changing the dial can be a problem. I tried on a GMT and the date window didn't line up. You could buy a cheap donor watch w/ the asian 21j movt, and try the dial, but the dial feet won't be in the right place, and you're still taking a chance on date windows lining up. You could check out the dealer that you got the watch from- see if dials have improved, still no guarantees.

Interesting, your sub looks the same as my TTK (Neil) sub! Same bezel insert w/ smallish pearl, same 4 on the 40 (new font for latest model subs- I've compared to the gen) Same good date mag w/ the new thinner date font Same big crown, the biggest drawback as far as I'm concerned Same crown guards- better but IMO, they could stand to be straightened up on the inside slightly And yes, it looks alot like pics of EL's. I would assume these are all coming from Guangzhou, mainly because that's where Paul is, and it's the watch capitol of the world!

Great post, Rob. But I'm a little confused! You are referring to this as the 7753 and I would have thought that it was just a 7750 with transfer gears. I see what looks like two additional jewels in the bridge, does this bring us up to 27 jewels like the ETA 7753 and is that the same way ETA accomplishes the task on their 7753 movement? BTW, I had read that ETA was going to stop producing the 7753, have you heard that? It is reassuring that the asian 7750/7753 continues to improve, of course, I think all of the reps are continuing to improve. Thanks again Zigmeister! Mac

My watchmaker uses contact cement, so I use it quite often, easy clean-up if it leaks out, etc. Also, GS Hypo-cement is good too. The pin point applicator on the tube is very nice for close work. Try to stay away from Super-glue, if you make a mess, you'll be sorry! BTW, look at the 4's on your two inserts. The insert on your watch has the new 4, the insert you just bought is the old 4. I've noticed that Rolex changed the 4's two to three years ago. So you're putting an old 4 on, FWIW. New 4's are narrow at the top, forming a triangle inside, old 4's are wider at the top w/ a rhomboid/ parrallelogram inside.

OK, I'll agree, they're not official Rolex pics, but they are pics of gens... so like elwopo says, who knows what you'll really get. Thanks, guys.

Close, but in official Rolex pics, the hands are set at 10:10:and 31 seconds. These are just a little off.

Well, I don't consider it a scam, but I think it's interesting because it goes against ebay's policy of counterfeit merchandise. And I was curious if anyone else had run across Burberrylucy, and maybe even purchased from her/him? And I do like those damn cg's- I wish our dealers would take note!

Here's a link to a Sea-Dweller on ebay Taiwan. http://cgi.ebay.com/Rolex-Sea-Dweller-1660...1QQcmdZViewItem This person is selling some decent looking reps at not too bad a price. Has anyone else run across this site? The cg's on the sub and sea-dweller are pretty nice IMO.

One of my reps has been overtightened. thanks for the tip, I'll give it a try.

Last year in Nassau, while my wife was shopping, I stepped into the Rolex store and looked at a 16610- $4000. At the time they were going for $4250 + tax here in the states. So you'd be saving $5-600. If you sent your rep to someone like Joe and had him touch up the cg's, WP it and polish it, maybe it would look better! Reminds me of the surfers who buy the subs w/ the 21j asian movements in them, send them to Joe for the WP treatment, and then go catch a wave! Surfing in style!

www.ofrei.com/ www.julesborel.com/ You still have to swap out the date wheel.

gioarmani makes some good points. It's kinda like this watch was put together from some odds and ends. A gold bezel ring and a two-tone band would go a long way towards pulling it together. Or maybe just swap out the crown for an ss one and leave it at that. Try to ignore the gold hands! The bezel insert is wrong- old style in the green color, not the 50th insert w/ wider triangle and numbers. I got one of these 50th GMTs in ss and now I'm in the process of going from green back to all black- bought an aftermarket bezel insert and now I'm waiting on a black dial from the dealer- I just got tired of the green. I'll still have the green GMT hand and the Rolex writing on the inner rehaut ring (with the now famous serial # F437091), but what the heck- it'll be a test watch- if I get called down, I'll hand it to the person and say, "What's wrong with it?"

Great post, Bazz! We'll have to start referring to you as Ziggy II. The pics are magnificent. Like everyone else who starts working on watches, I, too, have screwed up the keyless works. Luckily, my watchmaker fixed it for $30. And of course, since then I've started using the 1.2mm screwdriver.

I like those cg's on your P series Sub, that's the look I try for on my mods- getting that nice vertical inside edge. As far as I'm concerned, it'll work for your SD also. Good luck and have fun!

Isn't Bestswiss a little more expensive than Wo-mart, even tho they're both Paul's deal?

@ DaveR, Well, I emailed Neil and he said my watch had shipped out on the 5th of Sept. (he said it had to be regulated which can take a day or two) and he gave me a tracking number. It arrived here at work today. and it's running fine. Ironically, it looks very similar to Tribal's MBW 16610, but for a whole lot less. I've ordered from TWG quite a few times and he's definitely faster, but all of the dealers have come thru and some have gone the extra mile. In my case, it's been Silix and Paul who went the extra mile.

Linder's pic is of the old 1680 w/ the blue dial and the blue bezel- note the flat-top three and 660ft=200m. This was made for the Asian market in the 70's. The question is, has Rolex come out w/ an updated version in the 16610?

That certainly is a good looking watch. I especially like the lume, but the other details are good too, like the cg's, etc. These watches just keep getting better!

Well DaveR, it's pretty obvious to me, Neil just doesn't like your avatar as much as he likes NRG's! Seriously, though, I ordered a sub from him 3-1/2 weeks ago, paid for it and haven't seen or heard a thing since. I guess I'm going to have to start rattling his cage, too. You know how these deals go, you gotta be nice to these guys, don't want to [censored] 'em off.

Definitely a cool deal Randy! Can't wait to see more.