Ronin

Search for a post by Lanikai.  He had this happen on a few.  Sometimes all it takes is bumping the regulator on the balance a hair. -or if you are inclined get it serviced.  

I find that many people do not realize how big the rep market is. Many of them still think canal street Rolex reps are as far as it goes.

I disagree.  I did a post a few years ago about this.  Between the Replica Forum' s the average number of registered users is in the 25,000 to 30,000 neighborhood.  Even if we assumed 30,000 "active" rep buyers that is nothing.  Add on tourist sales in China, etc.  Rolex produces something like 700,000 genuine watches per year!!! 

New York City has a population of 8.2 million people.  If every forum member lived in New York and bought a rep that would only account for 0.037 % of the population.  Now since we are not all in NYC, spread that out across the world.

You have a better chance of seeing a GEN in the wild than you do a REP.  Statistically speaking. 

Because WE know and deal with reps, we think we see them everywhere.  I call this "Replica Forum Member Syndrome" just like "Medical School Student Syndrome".  :-)

Geography has a lot to do with it also.  It is not uncommon for me to be at my local sushi bar, or bar and see a Panerai, AP, Rolex, Breitling, etc...  ~Most actually genuine.  I see at least one Panerai per week on the street.  Granted, I am in a major metro area that has not been impacted by recent economic events.  If you live in the suburbs or rural area, yeah, you may never see something like a Panerai in your town.

Age as well.  I know many a >40yr old sporting GEN $$,$$$ watches wearing their Levi's 501, and New Balance shoes and T-Shirt from Target.  With age comes a certain wizdom, and confidence that says I can be who am I with no pretense.  I would NEVER assume a REP based on that.

Still.  Seeing a 20 something getting out of a primered 1991 Honda Civic wearing a Rolex Daytona makes me take pause and assume a rep...

Wild... Did you tell him, unless it is a Seiko 7xxx or a few rare autowinding watches-- he can manually wind it...  And, not moving your arm enough?  Seriously, the guy admitted to taking public transportation.  Getting to the pub should have given it enough charge.

Excellent

A few builder questions.

With the 2893, how was the stem alignment?  Did you need a custom mounting ring?  What hands fit the 2893?

Thanks!

The Blue Heritage is great if you are a Denver Bronco's fan.  Team Colors.

Good advise. Do not wear it, the screw that holds the rotor is rolling around inside your case. If it wedges under the hair spring, it can do major damage. Be sure and loctite it when you reinstall it.

Actually, it probably didn't come unscrewed if it is an ETA Clone, modded 2836-GMT.  The most recent failures of this sort, that I have seen, is the rotor coming un-pressed from its bearing housing.  You will need a press to fix it properly. 

Where are you located?  Do you know if it is the 2836-GMT or the Asian 21J (DG-3804) movement.

How old are you?  Us older guys can pull it off usually.

1st Rule of eBay - Do not buy from or sell to Italy (unless you live in Italy).

Edit to add:  The VRF post was something else.  Besides the fact VRF is stuck on Forum Software from 1995, reading that was painful.  I love how VRF can't talk "too much" about the tells, or what makes something fake.  The quote from JP "If I said too much let me know" cracked me up.  Sigh...

Without realizing, I drummed along to the Rush Moving Pictures album the other day wearing my GEN Rolex 1680.  It survived. 45 minutes of playing the drums...

I also ADV Motorcycled with mechanical watches without issue. Dirt bikes, etc.

Finally, my friend split firewood with an Axe for close to an hour wearing a H-Factory PAM111 without issue. 

YMMV

...But I do read/speak/understand Japanese....and this is NOT Japanese. ;-)

 I never considered a 5517 until seeing your build!  E X C E L L E N T ! ! !

...for the record PolexPete, put me down for 2 as well...

Funny thing.  In all the years of Rolex anti-counterfeiting techniques of stickers and rehaut engravings...The ONE thing that they abandoned-> Silver Brushed DW's seem to be the toughest thing to replicate.

Silver under bright light

Even somewhat shaded

I tend to stop at 50% the cost of an actual GEN in doing builds/mods.  However, if the build contains GEN parts that could be parted back out, and resold, if need be, I might go higher.

Count me in as well.  This is the best yet.

Observation:  Most people are hung-up on silver, even though Rolex RSC often replaced them with white.  So far every attempt to duplicate "silver" ends up being a "bigger tell" because it is so hard to match the exact silver and brushing.   The silver usually ends up too dark.  Rolex Silver Datewheels actually look more "White/Bright" under bright lights or from a distance IMO.  Just my .02.

Edit to add, especially under the high magnification of something like a 1680

What is scary, is I can identify that CLOCK/Watch.  It is the IKEA RUSCH Clock.  If I had to guess he just bough it and is carrying it via the shrink wrap around his wrist.

They come in different colors.  http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70098989/