freddy333

As I happened to be working online as the minute hand passed the 12am mark, I thought I might as well start the new week's wristies. Currently, wearing my 'Graph

While very few people have the gal/courage/interest (depending on your point of view) to comment on a stranger's (or even a acquaintance's) watch, many more than you think are noticing it. Trust me on this.

Looks gen.

Here is the link. (3rd from left)

With the new pics, I am leaning towards franken. Gen case, rep dial.

Is the date off-center in the date window? Hard to tell without a good, clear full-frontal pic. If it is, then I would say the watch is likely a franken.

In my experience, I have never had a problem with aftermarket springbars bending. However, virtually every aftermarket springbar I have purchased (even those reputed to be gens by less than genuine sellers) have had soft/weak internal springs, which translate to brief lifespans for the pins. Because of the weak springs, I have had a number of springbars simply let go, which results in serious problems. Whenever they are available, I always try to buy gens, which are rarely cheap. If you are offered cheap 'gen' springbars (less than $10/pair), I think it is safe to assume they are genuine aftermarkets. Rolex part number for 62xx Daytonas - 23-9280

Received another handset today, but, unfortunately, I was only able to get the hour hand to fit (due to the watch's polished, non-lume dauphine handset, which is relatively rare on a Rolex, parts sources are limited). A small improvement, to be sure, but I think the new hand does improve the 'Graph's overall appearance & provides a glimpse of the stunner that this watch will become once I locate the remaining 2 hands

Very true. Taking this 1 step further, you should see the looks I get sometimes when I walk past a group of appropriately rigged-out yuppies wearing my rattiest old clothes along with my Mystery as I slide into a M-B roadster & drive off. Talk about double-takes. I would not say schmuck, but there are probably alot of people up there wondering how your rep lasted long enough to look worn (since most 'civilians' have been brain-washed into believing that reps are all cheap, pieces of junk that rarely last long enough to be wound a 2nd time). They do. In fact, M-B just sent me the fall catalog of Mercedes merchandise, which includes watches (all quartz)

Sapphire crystal Subs (modern models) are not my specialty, but it looks gen to me.

Not to worry. If you read some of my early posts on TZ (pre-2001), you would find that my feelings on this subject have done a 180 in recent years. Ultimately, (real world) experience trumped my belief system. Keeping up with the Joneses is a strong drive (if you have not seen it, rent 'The Joneses', which novelizes this effect taken to the extreme).

Exactly. Like you, I have tried to photograph the effect, but it just does not seem to translate well in pictures.

I have to disagree. I wish it were not so, but, in the real world, that is exactly the way it works. And every time I see people quickly turning their heads away (in an obvious (but unsuccessful) attempt at avoiding being seen gawking at my Mystery-dialed DJ), this fact gets reinforced. While few people will actually comment about a stranger's watch, I have come to learn that many (possibly most) people (at least men) do notice what we wear. And what we wear does affect what others think about us. Certainly, some are turned-off by a Rolex. But it is the Rolex-as-metaphor for money (or the display of it) that makes some queasy. And that is exactly the point that I think Rolex & its adherents (like me) want to promote. Now, of course, you can promote success quietly (with a small, understated watch that makes an occasional appearance from under a buttoned shirt sleeve) or loudly (with a BIG hunk of bling that cannot be missed with sleeves that are rolled-up to Mars). Sort of the old money vs Nouveau Riche (new money) thing.

I think this just about says it all, at least for me. While I do appreciate Rolex's history & numerous (& noteworthy) technological accomplishments, at the end of the day, it all comes down to that ROLEX sig on the dial face. Were it otherwise, I would happily wear any number of copycat brands that equal Rolex's aesthetics, form & function for a fraction of what is printed on the Rolex price tag. And, truth be told, I think the same goes for the vast majority of Rolex-branded watch owners (rep or gen). Smart a$$ (I knew 1 of you wise guys would post this ). And that just solidifies the case even further. Before the advent of cheap, reliable quartz-controlled dive computers, 1 could make the case that Rolex was the most reliable & accurate timepiece for diving (& other work-related endeavors where Rolex was widely accepted as THE 'tool' watch by adherents of those pursuits). But, today, no one that buys a SDDS can possibly claim the same thing (that the SDDS is the MOST reliable & accurate timepiece for diving). It is pure high-tech jewelry (with a good dose of technically inconsequential bling added to the mix) that no longer serves any real-world 'tool' purpose. And I think the only thing that keeps a watch like the SDDS from gathering dust on dealers' shelves is that ROLEX lettering on the dial. And, soon, even that may not be enough since the Big Watch fad faded some years ago.

Additionally, I think there are 3 main points to be considered when comparing Asian-made copies/clones of the 775x (I have limited hands-on experience with the 6497) with their ETA-made counterparts. 1st, there is little or no QC involved in the manufacture of rep movements or installation of them into rep watches. 2nd, there are definite qualitative differences in the materials & workmanship that go into the A775x. Some of these may affect the movement's ultimate longevity, some may not. Time will tell. 3rd, there are some design differences between the Asian & Swiss made 775x, which means that some parts are interchangeable & some are not (if you need an itemized listing of differences, you will need to research these on your own). Overall, at least in the case of the A775x, I think most here would say that, properly serviced by a competent watchmaker, the A775x is nearly as reliable as the ETA. And, considering the cost differential, a good & reasonable alternative.

Ending my work week wearing the (nearly complete) 'Graph

Correct. Try ebay or the sale sections of TZ or VRF.

Good point & this thought occurred to me as well. However, having broken my online WIS cherry in the early days of TZ, I was able to find my way into their vintage Rolex forum (from the modern forum) without much ado. So I do not see the segregation as being a potential impediment to anyone. It just makes it easier to satisfy 1's yearnings for a particular horological kink as the need arises.

1 of the more thought-provoking threads to appear on TZ in recent days & Dave 'Mr. Numb-scull' Knoll once again hamhandedly locks the thread because he does not like the tenor of the discussion (instead of simply requesting posters maintain a more cordial/respectful tone). I thought it worth reposting here so the topic can be discussed without repression -

Thanks, Stephane.

Contact DW to see if he is still offering his A7750-powered 62xx Daytonas (I posted a couple of threads detailing my modified DW 6263 a couple of years ago that you can search out)? These have the correct asymmetrical pusher arrangement & case size/shape. Although the subdials are slightly smaller than on the gen watches, they are close enough that I can wear my 6239 & 6263 without feeling like my fly is open. On the other hand, if you want a 62xx Daytona that is (externally) nearly indistinguishable from the gen, you have only 2 choices - buy a gen or build your own V72-powered franken, which is expensive (about $3k+ for parts if you include gen components), frustrating (search out any of the threads detailing the construction of a DW Daytona) & highly recommended (if you are prepared to accept the previous 2 issues).

Gen Rolex crystals tend to be noticeably clearer than most aftermarket crystals. Clark's T39 superdome is the only exception to this (general) rule that I have found. Viewed from the side, the Plexiglas appears clear versus the ever-so slightly milky white translucence of most aftermarkets. Gen Rolex xtals also tend to sparkle very brightly when sunlight hits them in some angles. This is a much less reliable tell, since the differences are subtle. This is similar to the skill many journeyman gemologists develop for being able to gauge a diamond's quality just by looking at it (with the naked eye). Once you develop the sense, you just know a gem when you see it.

Not my style, so I do not really follow pricing trends for this type of dial too closely. But I would guess its value, like most of the more common dials, lies somewhere between $150 & $250. You might check ebay to see what the recent final sale prices were. I think that would be the best/quickest way to gauge its value (what people are willing to pay for it).