ispytonyv

my summertime, wishing I was at the beach watch

Another great trick is to put the watch in a zip-lock bag with uncooked rice. I first tried this with an iPhone that got completely submerged in water and wouldn't turn on (Apple wouldn't touch it because of the water damage indicator). A couple days in with the rice and the phone worked like new. Same thing for a vintage PBdad sub I owned that wasn't nearly as water resistant as I'd assumed. Into the bag of rice for a day, out nice and dry... didn't even need to open up the caseback.

today

The Daytona was much easier to rep... it's the same watch with different colors. New Explorer II is just that, new. It'll take a little while longer I suspect.

Love that salmon dialed DJ!

I recently picked up a noob GMT just like Cats' that had a busted movement. Serviced by PBdad's watchsmith (that alone ran about $250) and had the insert swapped from black to Pepsi. Thing is, it's not really for me, and I've got too many watches.

Anyone looking is welcomed to PM me, the whole collection is going up for sale as soon as I get ahold of a decent camera

Love the Explorer / jubilee combo LHOOQ, that's still my favorite Rolex bracelet style!

For me today, BK / TW with wm9 dial on NATO

this beauty today

42mm PO on mesh

Here's a boring and controversial rant from a conservative and dull Rolex man. If you strongly disagree with my offensive views, feel free to post just as controversial replies.

Biggest recent design mistakes by Rolex:

1. Super Sea Dweller.

How can they replace the beautiful, attractive classic Dweller with this mumbo-jumbo watch? I tried on the genuine yesterday and it's utterly terrible, with all those cheap gimmics. The only thing missing was a radio antenna suddenly popping up from somewhere. It's been popular replica on the forum though. I gotta wonder why... PloProf is purposefully ugly, but it's ugly in a cool way. DSSD wears awful and is ugly as a mule's butt.

I only somewhat agree. For the SD to be a different model, I think it didn't push the Submariner boundaries enough. I still have to look twice to tell the 2 apart at wrist-length distance. That said, the DSSD went way TOO far. Something in between would have been a more successful design. And while I too think the DSSD to be a top-heavy monstrosity, the PloProf is just as ridiculous.

2. GMT IIc

How can they replace the classic Pepsi with this utterly boring watch? Where is the original GMT tool watch spirit? The best word to describe this model is the color "GREY". Great watch if you're walking around in a rainy Monday afternoon (sic). And polished middle links on a tool watch? Really.

As has been pointed out, The TT addresses the "blah" nature, but add me to the list of wishing for a Pepsi return.

3. ROLEXROLEX rehaut engraving.

Now that was just plain stupid idea. It destroys the smooth and beautiful rehaut shine.

I don't really notice it much, but it was indeed a stupid idea. Funny though, that the rep makers can't quite nail this down, or a proper pearl.

4. Fat lugs on the classic Submariner.

This is like the Porsche 911 -> 996 transformation. Water cooled engine and Boxster headlights. Purists say NO. Porsche quickly moved back to the traditional headlights later. People say how the clasp has been improved and blahblah. The fact is that you can't update perfection.

Agree 100%, like everything else these days, watches are getting fatter. A little beefier would have been OK, but this may have gone over the line.

5. Yacht-Master II.

Maybe the ugliest watch Rolex has ever made. If I didn't know better, I would think that it's directly from Canal Street.

No argument from me here!

The only updates that make any sense are the new Exp, ExpII and perhaps Day-Date/Datejust. Those watches (imho) needed an extra millimeter or two. But they should have left the classics alone, and not made them look like Invictas.

Once again, I agree. The Explorer updates (I and to a lesser but still successful degree II) were well-executed to my eyes. And I love that they're adding AR on the Exp II... that should have been applied to the whole range ages ago. It was asked earlier about popularity of the various models, and I've seen it reported that 4 of 5 Rolex sold are still Datejust variations. In that light I'm not sure they could just "leave the classics alone" since eventually those customers will die off. Much as the Cayenne, for better or worse, ushered in a new era for Porsche, Rolex must take more chances with their line. The purists decried it, but the profits fueled a resurgence.

I'm afraid the current Daytona is next on the chopping block. Be afraid, be very afraid.

I think not. The ceramic bezel signals that they'll be updating the current model, not replacing it wholesale.

Thoughts?

This isn't very rare is it? I think they go in the Day-Date models? Just an ETA with dressed-up rotor? Correct me if I'm wrong...

I'll wait for 'em to release this one (on a proper bracelet)... for now just my Photoshop fantasy

LHOOQ en petites vacances! Une femme, un chien, et l'Explorer:

Dang, first I envy your collection, now I envy your life!

ispytonyv, not sure who RSH is. Care to elaborate?

Jack

He may not be here, but he's on a couple of the other forums... he's new on the scene but is doing (mostly Sub modding) work that is quickly approaching BK or PBdad. Just recently started luming and results look pretty good.

RSH also just started doing lume

I know this goes counter to the consensus opinion, but my advice? Sell or toss 'em and replace w/new. 3 out of 20 sounds like a totally normal/predictable rate of failure, in my own rep experience. When you take cost of service, shipping, etc. into account, it often doesn't seem worth the trouble. The other option would be to learn how to do the service yourself, but I've so far not been inclined to pick up the knowledge/tools necessary.

If those four aren't Photoshopped, I will eat my Explorer frankens, live on the Internet!

Make it a pay-per-view and raise some money for the forum ... seriously though, I so SO want the Pepsi GMT to be true (even if this shot is just a mockup)!

The more I see 'em this way, the more I think a DSSD looks way better on NATO than the original bracelet!

This on DSSD day...

I honestly don't understand all the excitement over the new Explorer II. Other than the retro orange hand that drives people wild, it's a pretty timid evolution from the current model.

...

Stole these from another forum, but looks to me to thematically be the same sort of evolution Rolex is known for (Explorer I and Submariner were both tame, though I know some will disagree w/me on the latter point).

I can't tell if these are real or Photoshopped below....

For you, the living, this mesh was meant, too:

LHOOQ is that a gen mesh bracelet? I've been looking to pick up a rep mesh bracelet but can only find the one with the Ploprof style clasp. Any suggestions?

... seems like for barely over $100 USD, this is a steal

DSSD for a lazy Saturday afternoon....

Bracelet on these always didn't seem right... tapers down to be too narrow. But on the Tropic strap? Awesome!

The Xoom doesn't support Flash either (yet), and Android in general still seems half-baked. Plus, this thing is MORE expensive than an iPad? Seriously, does everyone just drink the Kool Aid that Apple is so expensive? iPad is the price LEADER in the tablet space. I honestly don't get it. Why not buy a cheaper, MUCH better made iPad, which has 17x as many apps (the real figure, didn't just make that up)... or better yet, wait till March 2, when the even cheaper and faster iPad 2 comes out?

I lean towards agreeing about Chanel (I find the J12 attractive but suspect it would be very feminine on the wrist), but disagree with the Cartier statement. They have some nice guy's watches, the Santos is particularly masculine for a dress watch, IMHO.

chanel and men should not be used in the same sentence. i feel the same way about cartier. my $0.02 for what it's worth.