Ronin

P, nice A.L&S...

No question about comfort. My Exp II is the most comfortable watch I own.

Good observation on Hollow actually being used as a strategy to actually lighten it up in a time of smaller watches. This is especially true when you get into the Gold models as gold adds more weight.

˙uooooooooooooooooos pooƃ ǝq ןןıʍ ʇı ʞuıɥʇ

I agree, I think it will be good soon to.

Has anyone thought that it could just be a disgruntled customer, I speak from first hand experience when I say there are some real wacko's out there who would see this as a justified way to get even.

Yes, this has serious traction. Perhaps a banned scammer, or someone who fell victim to a scam.

Also, I never understood how a lowly $5K Rolex could portray anything about anyone's "lifestyle".

Any working average adult (who's not working at McDonalds) can purchase a $5K watch if he really wants it.

Lots of (relatively) poor people put a lot of money on a new car, like 20K on a boring Toyota Corolla. How come that doesn't raise any eyebrows, especially when you can buy decent, working old cars for 1K?

And besides, you can always get your money back from a Rolex (if you buy a preowned steel Sub/GMT). In 10 years it's worth just as much as when you purchased it. In 10 years that 20K Toyota is worth nothing.

Too True! Hell, a fully loaded Apple Mac Book Pro costs as much as a used Rolex 14060 and other models can be had for LESS than a new MacBook. From a lifestyle perspective, walking around with an iPhone, Ipad, and MacBook Pro (since you still need a "real" computer) costs more than your average SS Rolex.

Finally, to the OP bracelet question-- Rolex Bracelets up until recent years are nothing great. They stretch, endlinks are less than perfect, and most people will think your GEN is a REP because of their light crappy bracelets. They may look cool and are comfortable, but at the end of the day (older) GEN Rolex bracelets are LOW QUALITY when compared to brands as cheap as Seiko. To this day, I am baffled by the prices used POS Rolex bracelets still get on eBay.

I still say these models look more like they came from a Seiko design studio than a Rolex studio. Not for me...

I find it hard to believe a random pimple faced hacker would be behind these attacks 'just for fun'. "Replica" oriented sites by nature operate in the spirit of hacking. Building Frankens, and 'beating the man' by acquiring replicas at 1/10th the cost is right up the average hackers ally.

IMHO, these attacks seem to coincide with Basel. It would not surprise me if someone is either operating rogue to impress the big boys at Basel, or there is some backroom 'see if we can stop them' motive. There are any number of high-rollers at Basel that could fund this attack with their Russian buddies in a matter of minutes.

I would be curious if Imageshack or Imgur does the same thing. Test?

There is a checkbox on imageshack to auto resize / compress. I wonder if the same is true on PB.

If you wish to test further with one of your images here are the hosting sites.

imageshack,us (if you upload 2 or more at a time you won't get nagged to register for direct link)

imgur.com

A good "Objective" review is always helpful, I agree. However, negative reviews will usually be more prevalent than simple satisfied customers. The whole squeaky wheel syndrome. If you take ONE possible mis-understanding / issue as a deal breaker, so be it. Pick YOUR favorite product / watch brand, and I guarantee you there are plenty of dissatisfied customers.

When was the last time you called "Customer Service" to say "how happy you were"?

Short of flat out being scammed, by a scammer, my arm-chair observation of "Negative" reviews within these forums and the watch world usually stem from;

1.) Language Barriers (I think there was some of that in this Doxa issue, and I have run into this dealing with our Asian friends)

2.) Impatience

3.) Unrealistic expectations of the product. (Rep or Gen. Hell I have seen people on Gen forums complaining about their NON-COSC watches running +12 a day)

Singling out a single GEN manufacturer here on a REP forum, in what might be an isolated incident is my concern. Should I post MY HORROR STORIES here about Movado Group or Tag Heuer? Just sayin'

I like your sword-girl - do you have also the "brunette" version?

I have ALL versions. They will rotate in after my infatuation with the Sucker Punch movie girl wears off.

But I think by the seller himself. He contacted me today ( because I contacted him yesterday) and said they purchased it for a substantial amount from a private person. He claimed that tey are in business in over 10 years, and happened once to to them. He will have it checked, and will probably withdraw the item...

So - .....

Good news. I had based my above comment on PAST sales, as he has sold some Gen Omega's and other random watches and such.

I have one of these ordered as well. (I will be lucky to see it by Christmas).

I agree with M3d. There is a lot of hype, but Bill is a QC freak. This watch with its ETA engine, will probably be better than most big name mfg's using ETA. (Bill will have these tuned to the point of COSC, just minus the official cert and $1000 COSC premium) This watch is in Kobold territory at 25% of the price.

Finally, THIS is the watch Rolex should be announcing at Basel as part of a "Heritage" line-up.

Since a GEN or plausible 6538 is out of the question for me as a daily wearer, this watch fills the need/gap with some serious street cred Since Rolex won't make it, someone else has to.

Somewhere in there I think you actually answered you own questions.

It is my understanding, dial diameter on the "late model" BK Noob Exp M-Serial's is the issue.

As you said, if you are planning in removing the "M-Serial" rehaut engraving, you might be able to enlist the talents of a machinist.

Personally, on the "Black Dial" version that you have, I see no reason to swap the dial with gen--- unless converting to a "white". Especially given the handstack. Other than the handstack tell, swap the crown, and remove the M-engraving (if it bothers you) and call it a day. Just my .02 as the previous owner of the watch in question thrice removed.

I'm not really a "maxi-dial" lover myself....but I'm holding out for this one....it'll be my next gen purchase when it's available...

True enough it's a sort of maxi-dial but with the orange 1655 looks meshed with that of the Tudor "snowflake"...I'm DIGGIN' it.

Now that redesign makes sense. See my above comments ^^^.

Rolex seems to be very lazy with their modern tool watch designs. All they did was blow up the dimensions, and basically use the same parts across the line-up. Maxi-Dots, Maxi-Hands. (granted, this has been their MO for a long time). Changing up the hands and markers to something new and different, and even varied across the lineup would make for a more interesting product.

love the new Exp 2, it's not just the orange hand, it's 42mm which I think is great size for modern watches IMHO

Most fashion trends would actually argue the other way right now with a return to understated. However, I do agree 42 is nice for people with larger wrist sizes. (I still a Seiko in the EXPII however.. .)

The designers at Tudor are doing an excellent job however.

Just go silent. Report him to eBay.

It is nice to know "the Military" is enforcing eBay transactions these days...

I hear there is now a No-Fly Zone over your house.

Put down the sword-- (as much as I like them).

This may be an honest mistake by the seller. Looking at past sales this looks like a Pawn Shop or other such business. Their past sales seem to be on the up and up.

Since I don't know 5hit about AP, may I suggest contacting the seller via the eBay message system and pointing out the tells / issues. They may have recourse against whomever they acquired it from.

On the other hand, their after sales service seems to be excellent. I contacted to DOXA USA to inquire about purchasing a replacement dial for a watch, and they sold me one at a very reasonable price.

An incorrect dial was sent from Switzerland (for a similarly named watch). I contacted them, they sent the correct dial, and asked me to mail the wrong one back to the US address.

How many other Swiss brands will let you buy replacement parts like that? Hell, how many rep dealers will let you buy parts?

Very true. They are very liberal in providing replacement parts.

Right now, my two favorite watch manufactures for end-to-end quality and support is DOXA and Ball.

No offense, but I really hate these posts.

Let me counter the above snafu as-- I have had nothing but a GREAT experience with Doxa / Doxausa / Andy. I have done TWO transactions with Doxa, all with great success and TOTAL satisfaction. (Including FedEx from Switzerland, to me, with duty/customs - non-issue)

Lets not let one bad apple spoil the bunch.

If you really want, I can go on about a horrible experience I had with Tag and a Movado and their customer service, but I WON'T....

diameter

Sorry, not feeling the orange handed MAXI-DIAL, MAXI-HAND Explorer II. I don't think the proportions are correct. The orange flared arrow is out of place on the otherwise modern design. The new EXP II is something I would expect from a Japanese company like Seiko or Citizen.

Just say no to Maxi...

With luck, it will drive the value up of my beauty:

IMHO, slim hands, and modest sized markers makes this look more like sports car instead of a SUV. Long, sleek and sexy.

Bezel markers/numbers are now too small in relation to the maxification. Stout, clumsy, confused.

At least these beefy hands work. Rolex should consider moving away from oversized Mercedes hands and start clean if they want maxi.

(Just my opinion) YMMV

Going Mil-Spec Doxa-Spec:

Well done. I am begining to believe this is the only Sub anyone needs.

Bait-Master