Ronin

OMG Cat cannot unsee the horror...

Very Nice.

1680 Day

I just threw up in mouth. Sorry. (I would expect that 'style' from a Seiko, not Rolex) My AD has a TRANSITIONAL EXP II in the case. It is essentially, the previous model with Orange "regular GMT" hand. I have searched the web for it, but the only place I have seen it was at my AD.

Sea Gull is doing some very good work.

I have found some modification is always necessary in this dept. A Dremel with sanding barrel is probably required if too tight. Someone may be able to comment as to weather any of these are actually to over-sized.

I can not live with out Firefox extensions either. Although Chrome is close, AND Chrome and Safari both use Webkit as their engines -vs- Mozilla engine on FF. Extensions I can not live without: Adblock+ NoScript Ghostery (might be unnecessary in FF 4 with do not track features) Repagination (this makes browsing our Dealers pages much easier, as well as eBay) (no more Next, Next, Next, Next) FireTorrent (for when I need to do a quick, leech of a torrent) Does anyone actually still use Microsoft Internet Explorer other than Grandma?

Not a Rolex, but.... Here is a some recent Rolex Action.

Exactly. Resulting in a future powder keg, of Rolex/Rolex Fanatics -vs- John Doe who simply tried to keep it running, used aftermarket parts, lists it on eBay or elsewhere only to get flamed for their actions. Funny thing is, if you rolled into a Doxa, Ball, Sinn, forum, and said: "My moment blew up. Went to Ofrei and swapped in a regular ETA 28xx.", you would probably be applauded for keeping it running and your skills to do it. Roll into TRF and say your 3135 died, and you cleverly retrofitted and ETA into it, and you would probably be banned... (Which is why RWG is THE BEST watch forum.)

Nice job. DW looks fine to me.

Love this line! Deep down, I do agree, and TJ's quote below mirrors my feelings. I spent a lot of time in automotive hobbies and racing, and seeing the consumer protection that does exist in that arena makes me happy -vs- what is going on with the likes of Rolex, Apple, and Sony. The modern world is creating serious ownership and property rights issues. (I love the watch repair story where ?Breguet? kept a solid gold rotor as part of service - who owned that gold?). Can Apple or Sony "Brick" my property because I installed something they do not approve of? (Yes, because I have no choice but to accept their 60 page TOS, without objections.) +1

Agreed, but if read above, the point I was making for keeping-- the GEN Case, GEN Dial, and GEN Movement. All other parts are 'technically' user serviceable. The issue becomes, OMG! the insert and hands are not Genuine and people flip out and flag down auctions on eBay, ban them from forums, and think the watch if fake and think these items are tells. Rolex however is preventing even "trained professionals" from getting the CORRECT GEN parts to do the service. Let the market speak, the collector would not pay a premium for it because they think it has been molested -vs- someone who would be content saving a couple thousand dollars because the insert, hands and maybe bracelet are not OE.

Exactly to the point of the craziness by both Rolex Corporate and (some) of thier fanatics. Is my vintage Doxa no longer a Doxa or 'real' because it has an aftermarket crown and bracelet? Is a Porsche no longer a Porsche because you changed the turbo, exhaust, chip, cam, wheels? I can think of no other consumer goods that go to such extremes. Although, Apple products are getting close.

(monopoly reference) As far as them tightening down-- all the more reason for an ACCEPTED aftermarket parts business. Rolex is one of the few brands where their fan's, (fanatics), say it can only be a Rolex if contains 100% Rolex parts. IMHO, if the watch has the following three GEN items; case, dial, movement -- It is a Rolex... Crowns, Crystals, Bezel Inserts, Hands, and Bracelets should all be free game... I said it in another post, "muddy the water = good for our hobby".

My hands are off an old Chronotac GMT/Explorer II "Homage" watch.

Tax? My AWCI guy with shop, and parts account (don't ask, he WON'T even sell to me, he is by the book) charges $300 + parts for a Typical Rolex service. So figure $300 + 250 for clasp = $550 for an independent shop... [edit to add: 1 Week turn around] FYI, my AD charges $1100 for a new 93150 complete bracelet...

I very much agree. You can substitute: "Gen", Cars, Computers, etc". Short of the occasional "collectors item" that shows up in any of those categories it is just the way things are. Percentage wise, reps have less depreciation then gens. I have seen newer $5700 Explorer II's sell in the $3600 range, and only have a "trade-in" value at the AD of about $2000.... So think about the 'average' Rolex that after tax is in the $6000 range, and they insult you with a $2000 trade in offer, or you can attempt to do better on eBay or FS Forums.

Initially, I did not get this impression from the OP. Rather a frustration that even I think about from time to time. I think the other posters coming out of the woodwork making the inquiries are a bit premature and in the wrong place... So to the OP. Been there, thought that, agree. However, if you approach this a little more like collecting art work things start to gel. At least to me. There are days I simply like looking at my collection and look at some watches, that see little wrist time, no differently than the painting on the wall.

Hey, I recognize that Doxa bracelet, and back drop.

Need to take new photos, as I am now sporting a GEN 7835 bracelet on this. Older photos.