freddy333

Like strapping a laser pointer to ones wrist.....I have found that this one cannot be worn without attracting attention (and that attention usually illicits some form of verbal commentary) And the strange thing is that, during construction, I was sure this would become my stealth Daytona (because it lacked the iconic & easily-identifiable black Daytona bezel). Just goes to show ya that the best laid plans.......... And to preempt the next obvious thread (The watch that receives the least notice) (Patek Philippe Calatrava WG 5107 (at right)) At quick glance, people think it is a Timex or Seiko. I cannot tell you how many times I have had someone do a double-take & then actually grab my wrist and hold it still so they could read the name on the dial. They look at me, look at the watch, look at me again & then their jaw goes slack. Ain't life grand?

I took my new (de-rotored) 7750-powered 6263 out for its first test-drive to a local upscale restaurant last night and, sadly, not a word was spoken. But I know it attracted some eyeballs during its brief public appearances from underneath my shirtcuff. Unfortunately, my camera was not in attendance in the dining room, so I could not snap any pics from the scene of the crime. But here is the guilty party

Thanks, tmg. Nice.

I think you would be surprised at how many people actually notice your watch (why do you think they sell so many watches, both gens & reps). But the vast majority of people are either too shy to talk to a stranger or feel that by complimenting you (without having something of similar complimentary value on their wrist) they would be diminishing their social rank by acknowledging the potential bank account strapped to your wrist. Sociologists have a term for this reduction of status among peers, but it escapes me at the moment (and I know the term for that one -- absent-minded).

tmg - That is an interesting strap. Can you post a picture that shows the entire strap on the watch?

That TZ member's collection is nice, but there are a number of other TZ'ers with considerably larger collections. Zane, for instance, has the most extensive collection of gen Daytonas I have ever seen. Puts the collection at the beginning of this thread to shame.

Defacto - The watch did nothing for me until I saw it on your wrist. I think I get it now.

Still driving around town in this

I would select a more Rolex-like strap, but love the watch. Is that the latest version from Davidsen, and did it come with the solid or see-through back?

No AR on any Rolex to date that I am aware of. If there is, I would guess it is the new Milgauss or YMII.

Alan Furman is both reputable & expensive. But if they have what you seek and you are unable to locate it elsewhere, I would give them a ring.

Sotheby's Falls (video report)

Not sure what it means today, but 20 or so years ago, some dealers were offering 2 levels of gold or twotone Rolexes. The 2nd, higher level were described as having laser etched gold plated bezels. This was one of those I cannot vouch for the quality or thickness of the plating, but I can say, based on my experience, that the extra plating translated into a longer lifespan for the gold. It took more than twice as long as the regular plating (which was used on the middle links of the bracelet) before it began to wear away.

About $900 for mine (including NOS 3035 movement, but I did get quite a deal on it). I should mention that I had alot of the parts in my parts boxes, so most of my time was spent on assembling.

Good idea. They would match the watch. I think I have a picture somewhere of Paul Newman (the man, not the watch) wearing one of his Newmans (the watch, not the man) with a pair of white bells. I will have to see if I can dig it out of the archives.

Unless the US economy does a very quick and decided turn-around, which appears unlikely in the near term, I believe the bottom is about to fall out of the collectible watch market. A similar thing happened just after the stock market crash of October 1987.

The watch is 100% gen. As for judging the perceived value of a gen over a rep, I can only say that is was worth the price in time, effort and money to me. But keep in mind that I built this franken myself. If you factor in the cost of paying someone else to construct it for you, you might as well consider buying a used gen. That way, you can take it to your local AD or RSC for servicing without worry (since the watch will have the correct serial numbers it will not set off any red flags at Rolex). In addition to not having to worry about the accuracy of datewheel fonts or beats or lug hole locations, etc., no steel rep bezel can or will ever sparkle like the white gold on a gen. Of course, some rep cases may accept a gen bezel, but I cannot verify this.

To match the manual And I will be wearing the 6263.

Nice Daytona collection, UB7, and I agree that Daytonas are 1 of the coolest things you can strap around your wrist.

You can pick up a mint condition 16014 like mine in the neighborhood of $2,200 or so.

Would this help? When viewed in the wild or in a less analytical context, I think people would be hard-pressed to identify this watch as anything other than a mint gen 6263. And let us keep in mind that the point here is not to fool people who carry loupes (ADs and TZ cognoscenti), but, instead, to be able to wear your rep out in the real world among the general population without fear of being outted. And I think this watch fits that requirement handily.

At least not before spending an untold fortune on the cheap ones & ultimately coming to the inevitable conclusion that, in the end, you get what you pay for.....

The case used on this watch appears to be the same one DW used for my V72 DWs, so all of the options for retro-fitting gen parts should apply. The only difference between the DW and this watch is the dial & movement. But I remain unconvinced that the downsides of the dial, such as they are, would present any serious shortcomings in the context of the numerous upsides presented by the case and asymmetrical pusher layout. Replace the rep crown/tube, crystal, bracelet/end links with gen parts & the caseback with a DW and I would wager that such a watch would successfully (and easily) pass for a gen almost anywhere short of TZ or an (experienced) AD -- the same as with a DW. In fact, I think I may take this 6263 out for its first test drive this evening (and the watch is still fitted with the original cheap-o domed crystal (not bad, but no where near as striking as the beveled gen T21)).

I agree that the dial has issues, but I still think the asymmetrical pushers trump the dial issues making them almost non-issues. Sure, it would be nice to have the ability to swap the dial for a (better) v72 dial, but, again, that is the difference between a factory-made $800 watch and a home-brewed $2,000+ one..... Keep in mind, also, that no one has a perfect V72 dial either. And I and others here have been searching for years. And since the case appears to be the same one that DW uses in his kits (at least the dimensions appear to be the same), I guess an owner could swap out the 7760 & dial for a V72 & dial if he locates one in the future. Maybe knowing there is that option would make the watch more palatable to more people.

Euno - Thanks for your learned input. Always good to see those works of art (I mean the pictures, not the watches....but the watches are ok I guess ).