bklm1234

you can get a new wm9 LV case that is coming out in April. That case can take a 3035 movement supposedly. I'd love to see somebody actually successfully do that. -bk

exactly as kenberg said this prevents reps being sold as gen's only. I hope gen makers don't think watch rep'ping is at the same level as money counterfeiting. Smart card is more a marketing gimmick than anti-counterfeiting measure. You don't need a smart card to identify a fake. Come on. Let's hope they don't overdo these measures to make their watches ugly. Rolex's rehaut engraving is cutting it too close already. I still don't think the rep-buying community is gen's customers. Some of us graduate to gens or buy both gens and reps. Gens don't lost revenue to reps. Give me a break. -bk

it's very easy to pop the bezel. Pry a caseback knife between the bezel and the base of it. Use a cloth to sandwich the caseback knife so you don't scratch anything. Then take a triangular needle file and run it over between the teeth to make sure each tooth is sharp, well defined. The thing with these bezels is between the teeth there's leftover metal hanging around. After I ran the file over the teeth, I got lots of bits of the leftover metal off the bezel. If you don't get a tighter feel, at least you get surer clicks. In addition, you definitely won't have the bezel being able to turn both directions. Besides running a file between the teeth, you can bend the click wire to get a tighter feel. Hope this helps. -bk

PM me. I have many these hands. -bk

Glad you like it. Don\'t you just love how the Clark crystal turns out. Perfect date mag especially. My custom crown set is perfect too. Sure beats the fat wm9 crown. The bevel on the crown teeth leaves the same gaps with the case just like how it is on the gen (pic below is a gen): my custom crown set on a wm9 sub: -bk

Guys, I think I'm doing the right thing to let you all know what the Refurbished Z actually is. It's better for you to know what you're getting before going ahead. There's one member who ordered one of these and saw my post and cancelled his order. I wish I have posted about the Refurbished Z earlier because this member has just cost wm9 $30 for the credit card charge cancellation fee. George isn't happy about the fee incurred. But I told him that's better than the member got the watch, saw the flaws and THEN demanded a refund. That would cost even more money to George. So this is a good deal if you're handy. Just don't set the wrong expectation and cost George to lose money pls. Thanks. -bk

@AD: sure thing. that's what I'm here for. As to why wm9 website doesn't say the same thing, remember wm9 website addresses and sells to a different audience. -bk

George told me the refurbished 2007 Z serial actually has a 2008 v2 case. So it's good because the CGs don't need trimming. But there's a catch. The cases are factory rejects. George asked me if the forums would buy them. I turned him down. I said why not dump them to Mr. Lin in Bangkok. He said Mr. Lin still got those v1.5 that are not moving well. So he came up with the idea of "refurbished". I know I'm not supposed to say everything. But I have to give you all a "buyers beware". These refurbished 2007 Z's have problems like uneven crown guard; crooked tube; bumps and scratches on rehaut, etc. Everything else, e.g. dial, insert, crown, etc are all good v2 stuff. It's a good deal if you put in some work yourself. Uneven crown guards can be fixed by shaving them till they are even; crooked tube might be fixable by reinstalling the tube and screwing it in tightly; bumps and scratches on the rehaut can be polished away. -bk

allow me to address ThomasGirgenti's question on euromariner vs wm9 v2. I might seem impartial. You don't have to believe me. But I was in the same journey as most of you. I have considered carrying MBK (=Euromariner) too. MBK/Euromariner has several things going against it in a big way: - insert cannot go in recessed in the bezel. This is an important Rolex signature look. You have to mod the retaining ring (shave the top of it) to get the insert to look properly. I modded 4 or 5 of them myself. I have seen other members with this issue. It could be isolated incidents but why risk it? wm9 v2 sub on the other hand has the recessed look built it. I press the insert in with a crystal press. Bingo, recessed insert look. That is big to me. - MBK/Euromariner often comes with the wrong crystal. It's actually very ridiculous for the MBK factory to try to use up their own crystals. They dare to put in the bottom crystal in the watches, not the middle one. This means you have to buy a replacement crystal. I know Chris is supposed to put Clark crystal in the Euromariner v4. But if you got a MBK (same watch but not sold by Chris), you run the risk of getting the wrong crystal. - datewheel overlay. Noob dw overlay used on the Euromariner is really an outdated and wrong dw overlay. Wrong font, size too large, wrong alignment, e.g. 21, 31 not centered but left-aligned instead. wm9 v2 has a really good 1:1 dw overlay. That is just sweet. - dial. Noob dial on the Euromariner is not correct for M and Z serial. In fact, wm9's dial is perfect for M and Z serial. How the m and the text are tighter on the wm9 v2 dial is exactly how M and Z should be. So is the Rolex coronet. No sans serif style on the minute markers on the wm9 v2 dial is also correct. Most importantly the date window on the wm9 v2 dial has the correct shape and size, unlike the noob dial's dw which isn't elongated enough and big enough. With the noob dw overlay's larger font, you often have the dates hitting the dw frame. - even date wheel on the 2678-2 for the wm9 v2 sub. This just blows away the competition. I have assembled about 30 wm9 v2 subs. Every 2678-2 has good, even date wheels. This is exactly what I wished for. The 2678-2 beats the 2836-2 in this department, so far. I really have fun getting the dates looking better ever than with the noob rollies. - and don't forget the superlume on the wm9 v2 sub. The advantages easily justify the extra cost. But maybe I am biased. LOL. -bk

thx by-tor for the excellent pics and review as always, and the high compliments. It means a lot to me. The Clark crystal doesn't have any etched crown. George promised to fix the cyclop mag. When it's fixed, I will go back to the wm9 crystal and offer the Clark crystal as a paid upgrade. Clark's advantage is it has the top edge rounded like gen. And if you don't like any etched crown on the crystal, Clark has that as an advantage too. wm9's etched crown is so much like gen. I was looking at a gen crystal the other day. I'd say the wm9 can easily pass as a gen as far as the etched crown. Faint and yet visible up close. -bk

the pic doesn't do the wm9 pearl justice. watchmaterial pearl isn't better. It's worse. wm9 isn't perfect but is the best in reps. It's a far cry from the usual rep pearls' simple construction. A clear cover/coat over superlume paste like gen. watchmaterial pearl actually has a better cover which is a sapphire. wm9's is a resin or something like that, definitely not sapphire. But wm9's luminous paste is superlume and much whiter, more even than watchmaterial's. -bk

someone asked me if he could preorder 20 'cause he's looking to make profits from selling them when they are at the normal price. Not a bad idea. LOL -bk

thanks so much francisco. great info and easy read. yes, this should be pinned or sticky'd. -bk

@Dizzy: noob sub crystal is different from noob exp2 crystal. sub is top, exp2 is middle - yes noob exp2 crystal has gen style construction. noob sub crystal does not stay. -bk

just got a gen tropic 127 for my 1680. With stilty's flat top 3 dw overlay, I can finish my 1680 project. -bk

again the term "gen ETA" should be used for the higher grade, higher quality one that costs $100 more. No point wondering something is Swiss made or looking for a Swiss Made ETA. Also all the dealers (except wm9) get their watches from the same factories. It's not like PT has "Swiss Made" ETA while PerfectClone doesn't. BTW, I just received a noob DSSD with a clone ETA day before yesterday. It's bad. It doesn't have any power reserve. You put it down, it stops running quickly. Yikes. My buyer said he tested it and it was ok. Well. This is hardly enough for making a blanket statement. But gen ETA is still worth $100 difference for the peace of mind. -bk

@automatico: Exactly, no reason for him to use chineta ladies' movt. I think the same. I'm giving George the benefit of the doubt. Reasons for using 2678-2 are abundant supply, better quality, better prices. So why not? I know some people can't get over the smaller size. But I'm liking the even date wheels on these little 2678-2's. I hate 2836-2's date wheels. Anyway I'm happy enough that it's gen ETA. Swiss Made? Not important. -bk

@billkuk: I'm not sure about the 2678-2 used in the wm9 v2 sub. Maybe George's right that they are made in Swiss. He even said that to me, his reseller, in the context of comparing it to 2836-2 ebauches that are made in Asia. What's important to me though is gen or not. Swiss made is a dream come true. Gen is expected. Clone is unacceptable. I'll have my watchsmith check one of his 2678-2s for me in March. Maybe there's a village called "Switzerland" in China. LOL. Rep lingo is something else, isn't it? @offshore: I don't know exactly the names of these factories. It's common in China, or maybe anywhere in the world, these factories are formed by ex-ETA factory workers. The rep suppliers mention HangZhou factory, TianJin factory, ShangHai factory which are the main ones supplying the rep industry. Along with Seagull, they are legit, above-ground operations, not underground, fly-by-night. -bk

it's actually a noob exp2 crystal. Wholesaleoutlet999 crystal has cyclop like a D-cup, too much mag. I originally wanted to use it because it's thinner. With the retaining ring shaved so the insert can go in recessed, a Clark crystal or gen crystal will look comically too tall above the insert. I dug up a noob exp2 crystal which has gen construction and it's perfect. It's thinner, has correct mag on the cyclop. Bingo. -bk

There's no Swiss made ETA used on reps, at least no 2836-2, 2824-2. I'm giving George the benefit of the doubt when he said his 2678-2's are Swiss made. The terms should be gen ETA and clone ETA. The gen ETA are commissioned by Swatch Group who owns ETA to be made in Asia. They are largely distributed to GermAsian, or Asian watch makers, not necessarily to the rep makers LOL. It's still a gen ETA 'cause it's from the Swatch Group. It's $100 more than the clone ETA. So from the cost perspective, they are definitely different. I tend to believe the quality is a notch up from the clone version. In the rep world, when the term gen ETA or Swiss ETA is used, it refers to this kind of movement. I always use the term gen ETA, never Swiss ETA which is a misleading or even a scam term to me. Don't get fooled or lured when a dealer say Swiss ETA. It's really gen ETA if he's honest. If he's not, it's probably a clone ETA and he rips you off $100 extra. Don't go looking for a Swiss ETA in a rep. It doesn't exist. Clone ETA is just a clone and it's made by some watch factory in China, unauthorized by the Swatch Group. They are again $100 less than the gen ETA. How good are they? They are good. Just make sure you don't pay extra $100 for it. Its longevity is really unknown. It runs well. I got a couple watches with them for myself. So far so good. I hope they last. When the f***... up, stuck up Swatch Group stops selling the gen ETAs to outside of the Swatch Group later (forgot what year but it's been announced), I'm more than happy to see the clones eat Swatch Group's lunch, dinner, breakfast, afternoon tea...Let's hope the clones last. I think The Zigmeister reviewed one of the clone 2836-2's. I think he said it could use gen parts. My watchsmith in China said the same. So I'm really liking the clones 'cause if it breaks, I can get it fixed just like a gen. I just hate a dealer not telling me it's a clone and charges me for a gen when I buy a watch. Otherwise, I'm rooting for the clone and screw the Swatch Group. -bk

@involt: I can understand your passion. I apologize for calling your study stupid. Don't give up the fight, the need for truth. You might do some harm and some good in the short term but you are helping in the long run. I'm too mellow, practical, and jaded to do the same. BTW, George said he would do a v2 TT sub in about 2 months. He probably will say 18k wrapped gold now, or..........NOT. LOL. But seriously, I'm happy it's back because nobody else does it better. -bk

I'm not here to defend wm9/George. Personally I think there's no excuse for false advertisement. Being as old as I am, I really believe it's not always black and white though. George doesn't deserve to be labeled a scammer or bad guy. Let's not talk about morals here. Simple questions: Where else can you buy his watch? What is a better sub out there? By yelling and screaming "wm9 is a scammer", scaring people from buying from them, what good are you doing for this community? My point is don't use the black and white approach with wm9. Give them a chance. I think they are improving in terms of business practise. Give yourself a chance so you can get the best rollie reps. My communication with him shows he's a nice guy, a fair supplier, and a very serious rep maker. His stuff is good and you can't get it anywhere. Let me tell you a sad truth, maybe some self-righteous bunch will applaud, the wm9 v2 TT sub is indefinitely ON HOLD. To me it's more like KILLED, because of the screaming and yelling. Do wm9 lose or do we TT sub lover lose? Are you happy now? You know when I saw the description of the wm9 tt sub what i did? I said "yeah right, solid gold for this price, haha". I didn't buy the v1 not for the reason of gold used but rather I think it's not good enough on all the things I care. I just assumed it's gold wrapped or gold plated all around and that is good enough for me. I'm being realistic. I don't need to run extensive test to prove or disprove the claim. That was just dumb whoever did it. Maybe some people just enjoy witch-hunting. Let's give this a break already. All I care is wm9 will bring the TT sub back in 18k wrapped gold on some gold color alloy like the noob tt sub. Anybody wants solid-gold, let me tell you, "FORGET IT". -bk

euromariner and wm9 sub have for the most part exact measurements as gen. For example you can fit a gen crystal or an entire gen bezel assembly (retaining ring is a part of the bezel assembly) to them. When it comes to parts that need precise fit (bezel assembly is one of them), you can't mix and match different manufacturer's pieces without mods. -bk

your level of skills, abilities, and attention to details is unmatched, top of the line. Custom-make a pin and that amazing lume job. It's not a sandwich folks. A human can do that? OMG. It's like watching Mozart compose. -bk

Awesome looking watch. I haven't received my stock yet. I knew it would look good. How about some lume shots Ubi? Ubi must have preordered it. Preorder gives a lot of savings. We are going to do preorders for the SD in Jan. The first preorder gets you the watch at $375, 2nd at $425, 3rd at $475, 4th at $525, 5th at $575, 6th at $625. Final price is $675. Preorders are 1 month apart. Target finish date is July. But it's always late. You have to have patience. Sorry to digress on the thread. -bk