Ronin

With the enshittification of the Internet, I have come to the conclusion that "Searching" or even using "AI" to find quality Vintage Rolex Data has become a chore. Anyone else tired of the watered down data from Millenary, Bobs Watches, Brodinkee, Fratello.... They clearly got their SEO right, but the data is generally to high level. Search 6542 Albino and you get trapped in Brodinkee land. You would think in 2024 there would be a killer online Database of EVERY, Rolex Reference, Rolex Bracelet, Rolex Endlink, Rolex Crystal, . . . In 2008 you could search Rolex bracelet reference and get 'usable' spreadsheets. Now you get a $hitty link to Millenary with wrong data. 😠 Try asking an AI about the 6542 and it will conflate the 6543 Milgauss in its answer. Sorry about the rant/vent... Other than RWG, where do you guys go for quality Rolex Reference Materials these days. I am specifically interested in "Parts Interchange" data. Cheers! Edit to add: you also can't show up at TRF/VRF asking about Parts Interchange without raising eyebrows or upsetting the purists either.

What happened to Clean?

Yeah, still here too, but damn I miss the glory days of the late 2000's early 10's. Rep's have moved to Modern nearly 1:1 needing little to no mods (VSF/Clean/etc.). I still have a box of MBW, DW/Spinmaster Daytona parts I need to build out... As I have gotten OLDER, I own Gen's, Rep's, Homage's, Franken Projects. And when it comes to the reps/projects/frankens --- I no longer care about chasing every Correct Detail . I am too old to care about Called Out over crown guard shape, or some random detail. If the overall aesthetic is there, the build quality, I wear it and don't look back. Can it pass the- sitting in a dark bar, or @ the Sushi bar = good enough. 😄 My wife has a saying "Women dress for other women" [men generally don't care, as an attractive woman is attractive regardless the cloths] I think the Rep/WIS crowd are similar "Rep wears sweat every detail, for other Rep wearers" LOL. Keep the frankens coming!

Trusty/Andrew is aligned with Ben/FinerLabels. Not my scene, but I get the emails from both Trusty-Andrew and FinerLabels-Ben. Looks like they rotated URL's, and I don't have the current one...

Interesting and thank you. That new site is running dog slow. I’ll wait until the dust settles. Or use some alternative suppliers for now.

Welcome back!. I actually sort of miss the 2010's in this world. Real talent, builders, knowledge. Now reps seem to follow the Hype-Trends. That said, if you are after modern pieces, there is no shortage.

Shipping has slowed down over the years. This is by design to guarantee you will actually get the watch. My last Andrew shipment took a full month. It's in the hands of couriers most likely. Although I do miss the days of ordering from Andrew on a Monday and having a DHL package on a Saturday. 😞 Those days are gone.

Revisiting this. Looks like the PW changed from ***999. I emailed about a week ago, no response. Even tried 'tumbling' some obvious PW choices. If anyone has the most recent please DM. -or to the OP Is Ruby gone?

That’s awesome.

+1 on VSF. Clean (GMTs) and King’s are not far behind. Forget NOOB these days. (Supposedly closed). NOOB were time bombs with dirty poorly lubed movements and mediocre QC.

Welcome. You’ve come to the right place for extensive vintage Rolex knowledge and Frankens. Pull up a chair and grab a beverage. Lots to learn and see here.

I love these comparison posts. Please keep them coming. Thank you.

It’s an odd place. I had a post locked and was admonished for posting a link to a post on another (reputable) watch forum. As if it was going to steal views and ad revenue. WUS is a must if you want to buy/sell GEN watches without the commissions of eBay/Chrono24 and don’t want to deal with the Reddit $h!+ show.

That makes sense. However if I had to guess, and to your point on “clarity”— they probably underwent additional polishing and buffing. After a month on the wrist, would it really matter? Perhaps, if the underside/dial side maintains this uptick in polishing. But from an economics perspective. $12, $20 vs $300 is not a wise investment for something that will be fouled by the door jamb, underside of your desk, or MacBook. 🤣

Found this cheat sheet on RWI. How to spot the VS (that you really want)... Edit to add DD or Dangdong is the newest kid on the block and is supposedly exclusive to CLEAN Factory. Full 70hr power reserve. So DD and Vx has essentially taken over for SH.

I thought I Sternkruz was Rolex's OEM back in the day... I think I read that HERE on RWG in the The Zigmeister Era... Woah! Just learned something. I thought my AD's watchmaker was crazy when he mentioned a 'bezel stretcher' when I was having issues with a GEN 14060. So, the fact I have a very hard to turn bezel on my Gen Sub is not unheard of and Rolex has/had a solution for this? Is there any DIY improving my tight bezel. I honestly thought it was just dead skin and gunk under the bezel.

Help me out here, my experience with GEN 1675, 1680, 14060, 1016, 5513 run counter to data here: https://millenarywatches.com/rolex-end-link-codes/ Case in point, the claim is 280 fits 1675. I found to this to be the absolute WORST fit, most rattle'y. I ended up with a 501b that fits perfectly.... Anyone out have any better data on fit and measurements here? Even the old "Yellow" spreadsheet that has been floating around the internet for the last 2 decades seems off. Thoughts? Edit to add, seems like 501b "b"? seem to fit darn near everything correctly...

The “V” series clones are where it’s at.

I learned something today. Thank you. I need to check that out. I wonder if the Clone movements allow for this.

Wow wow wow. This photo caught my eye: 2892 to 3135 I have always thought that THIN movement and GMT capability (2893) would be the better base for Rolex mods. That movement also "winds" silky smooth giving a more gen like winding experience. I think the problem is stem height and the need for H3+ wheels. A database of case/spacers might be a fun project. Especially with the amount of GEN cases for sale, or even good VN 1:1'ish clones.

Came across this interesting eBay listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/295892851859 This presumes that calendar "alignment" can be adjusted. I would love to know the details behind such adjustments. I am guessing these are too thick to actually use as a see through dial, but would be fun if you could. Anyone familiar with this and how to tweak alignments? Here is an image grab in case you can't access fleaBay:

This is amazing! Thank you. Something to kick my watchmaking up a notch. 😉

Nice! Did you use a lathe or something more DIY ad hoc like a drill and a file?

Thanks. Keep me posted. I wonder if 3d printers would work for this. 🤔