freddy333

Do they ever stop?

It (the watch, not my artwork below) may have sold for $140k at auction, but

Actually the other way around. There should be good supplies of parts for older datejusts and manual winds for well into the foreseeable future. However, Valjoux movements, which power vintage Daytonas, have not been manufactured for many years and parts supplies will soon begin drying up.

Thanks and yes, I still have it (and it still runs). Compared to the current crop of reps available from our better collectors (not to mention in contrast to the gen) it is sadly lacking so I no longer wear it. But it represented the state of the art in reps (first with a real Swiss (ETA) movement and (real) gold plating (as opposed to paint)) when I got it 20-something years ago. It was also one of the first reps I modded with gen parts.

Poor Ziggy, lucky you.

I agree completely about the MBW datewheel, but I would not recommend the Watchmeister to anyone with adding a qualification regarding the potential reliability issues that some members have experienced with it in their watches (use the Search feature to read my history with the Watchmeister DW before beginning to search one out if that is the route you plan to take).

AD = Authorized (Rolex) Dealer. ADs, for obvious reasons, have much greater (and freer) access to the Rolex parts distribution network than do gray market dealers or independent parts houses like Ofrei (and I suspect having Bob Frei at the helm does not help their cause). There are also some non-ADs that have some type of agreement with Rolex granting them limited access to the network. Ofrei and other independent houses are just resellers of watch parts & supplies. I do not believe Rolex sees them as being any more deserving of gen parts (or special treatment) than you or I. Contrast this with the Rolex of 20 years ago when anyone (take me for example) could walk into any AD and walk out with either most Rolex parts or a receipt for a special order item not stocked by the AD. That is how I franken'd my first Datejust (gen twotone end links & clasp) Rolex has been increasing their prices almost every year since I have been conscious of them, so I expect this year to be no different.

Just press it out from the backside of the insert with a toothpick or small screwdriver. It will be obvious once you see it. If you have a gen or good quality aftermarket insert, the Ofrei dot will press right in with moderate finger pressure and should remain there. Though I usually put a small dab of GC Crystal cement on the dot before insertion as an extra safety measure (but this is optional). And before you ask, the GC cement can be found on Ofrei as well.

MS did not buy the watch for a story. He bought it for himself and, later, the publisher simply reprinted MS's story in the magazine (according to the publisher's note at the beginning of the article).

I understand the publisher got a little something out of the deal too.

Congratulations & beautiful watch. Love those steel Datejusts.

Is Bush responsible?.........well, yes and no (and if Clinton -- either one -- were in office, the answer would be the same). Sounds like classic Bob Frei-speak and thanks for posting it. I believe this is just a case of one golf buddy (a US trade official or President (and it does not matter who that is, because both parties tend to deal with wealthy corporate campaign contributors the same way)) not wanting to offend another golf buddy (the head of a successful corporation). And without wanting to illicit a long debate into the ethics of politics or the oft-assumed machinations that oil (grease) the free enterprise system, let us just say that -- right or wrong -- this is the reality of the way things are done.

Beautiful. What did Ziggy do to/for it/them?

And using the same logic, she is just $30 worth of paint & canvas I agree with you on the one hand (that the monies being paid for these collectibles are way out of proportion to the value of their parts), but I think someone needs to slap some sense into you (about the way humans value things of beauty (note I italicized the word 'beauty' because I will grant that it lies in the eye of the beholder)) with the other.

Diesel -- Easy. Buy her some land on the Moon, Mars or Venus. Just the thing for the woman who needs more space for her shoes.

If you have any more pictures inside MBK (especially of the watches or watch sellers' stands) please post them.

Awesome watch in psst ('It's Time for the ultimate birthday Present')

Explain to the wife how the gen luxury watch brands are all selfish criminals and if it were not for the rep factories, who give countless numbers of poor people jobs, there would be more people starving on the streets (instead of working in sweat shops making counterfeit watches).

Mark - For what it is worth, I never had any dealings with you, so I cannot take sides. But, under the circumstances, instead of posting a blow-by-blow historical treatise of your past dealings, why not just post a brief apology, offer to clear up or make good on any outstanding issues and leave it at that. I would consider that the honorable thing to do.

Funny how the attraction of Thailand used to be for the sex trade, but now it is for the MBK/rep watch trade. Nice IWC, WT.

Jeff - You make some very good points. For a number of years (prior to building my 1st DW), I was quite happy with my Lemania/Venus-powered 6241 (Josh sells a similar (braceletted) version of the 6263) Although it has some problems (and its inaccuracies are considerably greater than the 775x that is the topic of this thread), it feels like a gen (to wear or operate), is built like a battleship (except for the crummy rep crown/crown tube, which is easily replaceable) & I have never been called out on it in the years I have owned, worn & enjoyed it (and I have received a number of compliments from Rolex owners even though they are not often the best judges of the rep vs gen debate). Still, whenever I wore the watch, the 1 thing I knew was a dead give away was the inaccurate (symmetrical) pusher layout. Anyone who knows even a little about vintage Daytonas can spot it as a 'fake' from 10 feet away because of the pushers. So, being conscious of this, I only ever wore the watch to locales & events where, although there might be some WIS's in attendance, the watch would be kept mostly under cuff and out of the direct gaze of knowledgeable eyes. I think anal is good when it comes to designing, modding or building a watch. But I think it is wrong to gauge any rep (save for the most meticulously crafted V72 DW) based primarily on its ability to fool the sharpest WISs or an AD armed with a loupe and 30 years of Rolex experience. No rep, including the most accurately built DW, can do that. I think what most of us want is to be able to wear one of these higher-end Daytona reps out in the real world in real company and without feeling like you are walking around with a trail of toilet paper streaming from the bottom of your shoe because your Daytona rep contains an error that could be seen from outer space. My threshold is a rep that cannot be identified as a rep by the guy sitting at the next table. To my eye, a watch like this 775x fits that bill handily, which is why I have been wearing it all over town without ever giving it a single thought. And other than my DWs, this is the only other Daytona rep (out of the 15 or 20 I have owned over the years) that I can confidently say that about.

Doubtful. On the other hand, I believe the case containing my 775x will. So for those with misgivings about the dial on the 775x watch, one could probably retrofit a V72 & dial later. I have not verified this, but I am pretty sure it would be an even swap.

Sorry, but the link is in the Supporters Trade area, which is only accessible to RWG Supporters. I just added a note in the previous post.

I do not know if DW's assembled watches were drop-shipped (my understanding is that they were not), but here is a gen 6241 that sold on Antiquorum for close to $60,000 a few years ago next to 1 of those '$2000.00 REPLICA!!!!' watches (built from a DW kit) But you are right about 1 thing -- It helps to have rocks in your head if you are seriously considering the purchase of either one -- gen or rep.