watcher

Hopefully King manged to ship mine Monday but not got tracking yet.

This is dissapointing stuff to hear I tried on a real one today at my local IWC dealer and loved it. The orange gives a much more striking appearance than it's earlier version and has given me the bug now. They wanted 3950.00 pounds for it! Is that retail, I guess so.

I will have to think about my dealer options for this one.

I'm just curious, did the WM9 rep crystal measure the 29.5mm like a gen crystal? If it does, that would be a big step in the right direction. Of course, then a gen bezel assembly would have a better chance of fitting.

Yes it does measure that so I think it will fit and the bezel construction is near enough too so I may do it at some point in the future. The bezel set has sold on Ebay but I may still buy the gen crystal to see. I can always sell it on again if not.

No I left it on the watch Should I not have done that!!

No I removed it from the watch first. Areldite's glass bond is very good and dries perfectly clear with no signs of glue at all. I tried removing one I had done on another watch and it took much longer to remove than the rep factory bonding.

I am very tempted to go another step and buy a gen crystal on Ebay and there is also a gen complete bezel assembly currently for sale with insert included. A pricy option I guess but tempting!!

I forgot to add about the crown and tube. I thought I made it clear in the first post but YES they now come with OEM sized tube and a pretty good crown. The new SD is the same.

I have done nothing to the lugs so I guess it is the photo angle and as for the cyclops, I have crued but effective method with a large mallet!!.....................no only joking. I heat the crystal up using tongs to hold the crystal over my gas hob flame until it softens the glue and then it should just pop off after about 20-30 seconds. Clean both items up and then re-apply using masking tape to border the area where the crystal will sit and bond it using Areldite glass epoxy. It sets in around 20 minutes. I clean off the area around the cyclops with a sharp craft knife and heh presto it's done.

This is not a job to be taken lightly though and great care is reqiured but the result is very rewarding.

I guess it has to be my new WM9 Sub.

You guys are making me feel a little better about throwing $499 at this watch!!!

Here are a couple of pics now I have modded it slightly.

Done the following:

Stripped and polished the case inlcuding the rehaut

Opened out the CG's a little

Fitted a better pearl and recessed the insert better

And the best improvement, new cyclops with a better magnificaton and new date wheel with closer fonts

More pics. Forgot to add that is is stamped between the lugs Z891104.

As you all know I decided to be a GuineaPig with this seller and here are pics and thoughts of the whole transaction.

The deal was handled very smoothly by WM9 and I cannot fault that. Price is open to your own views but YES it is overpriced and will no doubt become available from TW dealers in the future.

He was prompt with status emails and when I received an email saying the watch had shipped it had already been sent and arrived the next day. It was shipped from Taiwan and took 3 days to the UK.

The watch.....

The case is well done with hallmark signs that this is a new version of the traditional TW case that has been around for a whle. The rehaut is now a little more shallow and looks very close now to the OEM model. As a result the crown now sits a bit higher in the guards and has also allowed them to fit an OEM sized crown tube(maybe all sport Rollies will have this soon. New SD has this too). The bezel insert clicks into the bezel ring which fits over a shim that holds down the crystal and seals(as per MBW Vintage models). I beleive this is very much like the OEM fitting. On mine the insert popped out slightly but I have now improved that by removing the thick double sided sticky tape underneath and now fits more flush inside the bezel. The bezel has nicely cut teeth and clicks smothly. Also the leading edge of the bezel stands out as per the gen model.

The crown guards are not bad but do need tweaking a little. They extend well from the case around the crown which is a little too fat and will be replaced with a gen crown in the future. The general finsh of the case etc is very nice.

The crystal stands about the right height above the bezel but the cyclops is wonky and the magnification is a bit too strong(I'm currently fixing this issue with another cyclops plus other alterations which I will show later this weekeknd). The rehaut width is not as good as TW's of old(Bytor's gripe of modern reps) but at least the white seal is not visible on this one!

The dial is an older looking MBW/TW type but it's fine for now. The printing is crisp and not over white or thick. The hour markers sparkle well and appear evenly lumed( brightness not too bad either). The date wheel is rubbish and by the middle of the month it is way out of alignment. I have already stripped the movement and replaced it with a better wheel.

The movement is a nice new eta 2836-2 and the seals have been greased before assembly.

The bracelet is a pretty good effort although fitted with solid centre links it does feel more solid than some with 3 peice end links that are well cut and not too humped either. They are slightly too long though as with most reps which means the next link does not fit inside the lugs far enough.

It has the standard crappy sticker on the case back which older rep guys will recognise from the River/EddieLee days of TW watches.

On the whole I think this is the closest 'out of the box' yet in terms of overall dimensions but certainly not 1:1. With a bit of mix and match you can create an exceptional rep with this as the base.

I have stripped it down completely and carried out some small alterations and I will ost updated pics when rebuilt later tonight for you to judge on whether it looks better or not.

Now for some pics.

I received the much anticipated WM9 Sub today. They must have sent it at the end of last although I was only told yesterday about shipping.

It is from what I know of these, a TW best latest edition and is very close to the genuine case. The bezel fits exactly as per Gen and resembles the MBW vintage fitment types with a large rubber gasketed clamping plate that fits around the gasket holding in the crystal. The bezel then fits to this with the OEM style clicker.

The case is very well done. They have made the rehaut slightly more shallow and now looks perfect for depth allowing the crown to sit in the middle of the guards. They are now using an OEM size crown tube as per the new SD too so a fitting of gen crowns will be easy. Generally this is the best out of the box Sub I have seen yet and yes it is overpriced from WM9 and hopefully will be available from other dealers soon. I will post pics later tonight when I get home in a review thread.

Will do Oli. I have one for my new SD when it arrives but a gen insert would be nice.

@Stephane I have had every Sub going over the last 6 years so there is no point stopping now! I'm not looking for 100% perfection but this does have some merits if it ever arrives.

One thing I have noticed on these new generation Rolex reps is the crown tube and crown. The new SD and this WM9 Sub have a gen sized tube and crown so I guess fitting a Gen crown should be a straight swap. I have 2 here waiting for a transplant into these watches so fingers crossed on that point.

I wonder how many views the review post will have in the first 24 hours!!!

Sure did More money than sense but the waiting is fun

Sub day today

Kings site

http://www.cclv.net/

Received an email today from them stating that the watch has shipped and tracking supplied but as with some other dealers it does not yet show up on the website info.

Will keep you posted.

Just ordered the new Sd from her and still cheaper than all the other dealers!

Don't know but the 353 is thicker. I've ordered one from King. Stocks in on the 20th she told me. Mail her for price as I think she has different figures for regular order guys. It's under $300 anyway. comparing pics I have of my gen SD as I soild it earlier this year! the bezel is only marginally thinner. The teeth are not cut quite as low down the sides as the gen which alters the appearance. I expect it will look better in the flesh and. I also have a genuine SD insert which will be interesting as to whether it fits or not. An SD insert is smaller than a Sub so we will see if they have the crystal dimensions correct or not.

The crown on Kings new 2836 version and Josh's 2836 version the crown is stillnot high enough but it does look very good.

On the gen the crown sits flush with the bottom of the guards as hopefully seen this pic of my gen I had ealrier this year(much regretted sale too!!)

Kings 2836 is half the price of the 2892 version and perfeclty acceptalbe really. Perfection is impossible to attain in a rep but it is fun trying I guess

I hear what you are saying and the TW's have been the only reps really to have this correct in my opinion but it will not stop me buying and the price well under $300. The rehaut is actually slightly deeper too than the gen but it is close enough and the crown position although not perfect is close enough to not look obvious to the naked eye.

I doubt they will fix the rehaut thickness but it would be nice if they did.

King is now showing what looks to be the same watch as Josh but her picture angles give a far better impression and the crystal looks superb as does the bezel. It is not quite 100% on the bezel shape but I doubt it will be repped better than this to be honest. One thing I have noticed and I will tell you if and when my WM9 Sub appears is that they have copied the gen crown tube size better. WM9's Sub has the crown and tube and so does the SD in King's pictures.

I would have no hesitation in ordering this SD when available. I have sent an email to King and I'm sure many of you will too!

Wonderful pictures Maciek!

Welcome to York my friend! I was there on Sunday with my wife, very busy down by the River. go to the Kings Arms there, it is an institution in York. The Living Room across the water has a nice atmosphere for a meal too.

We will have to meet up one Saturday soon. Maybe some other guys can come over too.

I have had many many Rolex watches through my hands in the last 10 years and dial print varies very much as do other small details. We as rep men/women look at the very smallest thing and over analyse every time. All genuine watch makers vary slightly whether it be a different dial print to how high the crystal sits above the bezel and how the bezel feels even. It does not make them fake but rather it makes them individual. They are generally hand assembled and that will always lead to differences.

As to the Seadweller, you are right. It is a much more imposing watch on the wrist and the fake will be out in early november so watch this space!