hojosan

One quick update, and I'll drop this topic: I stopped by the local dealership and checked out their genuine Sub, and noted: --mine has a different feel to the winding --the etching on the rehaut on the rep doesn't line up properly at 3 and 9 o'clock I'm sure there are other "tells" that I lack the experience to spot. I'll keep reading and building my knowledge, and hopefully find another fun gadget like this to work on soon!

Thanks for the advice so far--I am going to stop by the local authorized Rolex dealer this afternoon and take a feel of the real thing and see how it compares to my replica in terms of the fit, finish, and (hopefully they'll let me check the) feel of winding it. Since my rep is a stainless steel model (chosen by me so I wouldn't have to worry so much about tarnishing, cheap looking gold, etc.) I will have to pay especially close attention to the bezel, paint (mine's black), and the oysterlock. I do love the mechanical nature of this slick little machine and I'm impressed that it seems to keep amazingly good time. Over the last week, it hasn't run fast or slow by over 2 seconds per day. I'm afraid I'm going to have to get another watch soon since I'm getting a sort of gnawing, yearning sensation when I read this board...

Well, to be honest, I am quite honestly capable of pulling off the image thing; I don't expect anyone to really doubt that *I* would be wearing such an item. I'm just prone to keeping my capital tied up in income producing assets instead of depreciating jewelry, thus my interest in reps. My curiousity is really about what details, tricks, shine characteristics, or whatever, someone might notice that would tell him (without taking it apart) that it's not the real deal. I suppose the literature on this is treated as almost a trade secret by the manufacturers so that their latest mods won't be copied immediately. I can see how they wouldn't want the rep makers to know that (as a hypothetical) there's microprinting etched into the 5 o'clock mark or whatever.

I just found out about this board a few weeks ago and went out and made my first purchase, which I reviewed on here as well. I'm very happy with my replica Submariner, although it appears I have the "Big Mac" of replicas by going with this thing. Oh well. Maybe next time I'll go a bit more esoteric. Anyhow, I have been reading about how to detect the fact that it's a replica, and looking at this thing on my wrist, I seriously can't tell. All the stuff that I've read about o-rings on the stem, micro etched crown on the crystal, hologram sticker, 120 clicks bezel, and so on--well, this thing's got them. I have looked at what Rolex itself puts out on their site and compared every detail I could to my own sample and can't see any difference. Of course, I have no papers, box, etc. I saw this thread: ...where Demsey jokingly gave his method for detecting a rep (Step 1: pull off the back and check the movement). Is that basically where we are? Could I hand this thing (which feels quite substantial and weighty) to virtually anyone without a set of tools and expect it to pass muster? Then again, I'm a novice and neophyte at this hobby, and perhaps I'm missing something that one of you experienced collectors would immediately spot. I thought about getting a copy of The Rolex Report by Brozak, but it sounds like that's about as useful as a buggy whip storage case given the improved state of the rep market. Are there any books worth having, or is RWG the only resource I should require to adequately educate myself? -h