RobbieG

Reg, a guy who passes so many watches through his hands has got to have some variety. Looks good on ya. I just wish they would have gone all the way and made the whole watch a cool "deep sea" piece and not just the case. They are definitely on to something...

LOL. Any watch that isn't selling big isn't a hit. It isn't even remotely significant to Rolex. And you are right, the watch doesn't appeal to Rolex collectors. But those collectors simply aren't their principle market. Rolex exists to sell Day Dates to the 50+ crowd who knows nothing of watches at all. They want a comfortable hunk of gold on the wrist with a name they have 'heard of'. Rolex is slow to change because they don't need to. Believe me. Most of the profits go dto the family foundation which is a charitable trust. The brands you mention are "designing to survive". That is the difference my freind. Rolex doesn't need to and that is the only reason they get away with it. If IWC copped out on a design like this they would get f'n lynched brother. Rolex is just poking around in the dark to see if they can make a splash with the youth market. Playing with your mind. It never works, but they don't care. Go to Las Vagas to the hotel shops and what do you see? Nothing but DD's and DJ's. THOUSANDS of them. It will blow your mind. You don't even see hardly any Subs or YM's or GMT's. Funny really. That tells the whole story. Even other brands too. You don't see the sports watches. The sales line in high end watches starts at 20K. That is the price point they all want to sell to. It is more about precious metals than horology. Big markup in gold over steel. Collectors are a gnat on the ear of watch companies sales and forum going collectors are the waste matter of that gnat - insignificant - and of course forum going replica collectors mean even less to the brands. But I digress... One day they will give up and realize that the fact that they don't really compete in the "latest/greatest" chase market of the 20-somethings is what makes them great - and every great manufactory great IMO. Rolex should continue to stick to the design expertise that got them where they are - not that they need to do anything given thier position in the industry. LOL. I sort of see Rolex as more like Patek or VC than like IWC orf Panerai. They simply share nothing with those brands and never will and good for that - we don't need another IWC or Panerai - and we don't need a "new" Rolex... Oh, and make no mistale - I'm no Rolex fanboy. I have just one gen Rolex and an otherwise diverse collection. I just want watch companies to use bigger or smaller dials, bracelets & bezels when they make a watch bigger or smaller - instead of slapping something together to make a quick buck from 20-somethings who must just have a BIG watch - no matter if it is a refined design or not. But they don't seem to notice these things, so I guess they must have known and the joke is on me. LOL. Still a copout any way you slice it though and my comments are of respect to Rolex not the opposite. And if Rolex feels the need to continue to cater to fads, so be it, but they are going to have to do a lot better at it if they want to compete with Panerai and IWC as you mention who are doing a fine job at DESIGNING big watches that occupy their own space as opposed to just making a thick case and calling it a new watch...

Really nice. All I can think of is how great that must smell fully loaded with custom hides...

I'll hang with Siesta today and sport the Aquatimer which hasn't been getting much time lately...

Again, as dluddy mentioned also, if they would just deal with the proportions and make a truly "big" watch to be big from the ground up I would probably love it. It is just with a few of the new designs I can't even get to the point to try and like what they are doing as I feel they have only made new cases and not completely new watches. The cop out makes me think less of the brand and I don't want to. I love Rolex. Maybe not as much as Ubi or Stephane or Bytor, but I have had one or more of them for fifteen or more years and they are kind of like an important part of my life - a right of passgae to manhood - whatever you want to call it. Always there at key points in my life you know? If anyone else did it I couldn't care less and I would just move on. But I think Rolex has a bigger respnsibility than anyone in the sports watch arena to set the bar high, since after all, they put the bar there originally... Thanks for allowing me to voice this opinion. And my comment on the pics was very sincere. Superb photos - and despite pur different design opinions it looks like (and I have heard elsewhere) that they did an excellent job with the replication.

Well as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In my case, I just love Rolex and gave come full circle with the brand. I started with a gen Sub, gen DJ, and gen YM. Then I got into reps and then gens again and tried all the other brands but Rolex, kept a few, then came back to the classic Rolex designs realizing that they had staying power because they needed no refinement. But I swear that being a classic Rolex fan has nothing to do with what I'm about to say... I feel that the Deep Sea, like the Day Date II, and the YM II (...no, I'm not talking about the ugly dial in this case which has nothing to do with it) is more than a bit unrefined. I'm not sure why, but Rolex seems to be making these larger watches without compensating bracelets, lug widths, or dial designs to grow with them. The DDII is the same way. Just the exact same everything as the smaller brother but a bigger case and then they just widen the bezel so they can use the same dial footprint/movements as well. Is that all you have Rolex? I mean we know you are the big daddy but can you at look like you are trying to be a serious player in the industry? I just don't get how anyone could either not notice or not care that Rolex is trying (and succeeding) to get away with something so copped out design wise. The funny thing is that if they really designed any of these to be larger watches from the ground up I'm certain I wouldn't be saying this. Oh well, I know I'm not the only one, but hey, this is an opinion forum and we are all entitled, right? Anyway, for me, all these things make for a sort of clunky and un-refined design. I suspect those who enjoy these designs find a larger watch the most important criteria, but if so, I wonder why not just own something that is supposed to be large and didn't just grow because Rolex decided they needed a bigger watch for the craze. Plus, they are a little late for that, but no matter. The classic designs are still around and always will be so there will always be a Rolex for all of us. Sorry for speaking my mind here, but obviously it is something I'm very passionate about. But before I go, kudos to to the OP. You made the watch look wonderful in your pics. Your photoskills are top notch my friend! .02

Hahaha. Where did you find that?

Now that would be something. Certainly the gen groups do them and they work so no reason why we couldn't. The just need to be planned a year in a advance so those who don't work for themselves can arrange for vacations, etc. I'm in if we can make it work.

Yes, I hope we can eventually get to where we are doing more regular GTG's like the Singapore crew. You guys are pretty tight knit down there!

I thought I was going to do an overnight but as it turns out I came right home since my client had the same nasty virus closing in on him that I'm still not over and everyone else in FLA has had with this cold (50 F) weather. My impressions of the GTG? In a word, blown away. My first after starting this crazy rep right back on TRC years ago. 5 people from totally different walks of life and in minutes I could tell we would be life long friends. My Mother used to say I had a gift of the world's best character meter and that I could judge good people from bad a mile away. I hope she is right, and has been so far, because I feel like I have met some great people First, the people: (I'll use first initials) A - Phoband: He and I are a lot alike in that we don't take life too seriously. We have alot in common with some health related stuff. But most importantly we have kind of an impish, self depricating style that is easy to see by looking in the "mirror" of another why it may be misunderstood on the board sometimes. Then again, like me he would give you the shirt off his back and his last blanket from my first impression. A good man indeed. I had the feeling we will always be friends and possibly even do a work related deal together one day. J - JFreeman420: Another great bond for me. A professional gambler just like me. He plays cards. I play with futures contracts. Anybody who does what we do fro a living knows they are the same thing. We talked about random number generation, probability theory and all kinds of geeky stuff. I don't know why, but I have some weird feeling we are going to do somthing work related together some day just like Pho. The king of bling as we all know him. More Rolex ice in his box than you can shake a rap star at. Another good man for sure. M - Bubu: The wisdom of the bunch. A semi-retired professional and scholar. He has this quiet demeanor and gentle look about him. He sits and listens and observes and takes it all in. He looks like he might know something we don't. And I knew I meant to ask him something else. Maybe he knows the secret to life or something. Just kidding. But again, another good man. Asked a lot of questions watch related and showed a keen interest in learning. Again, a life long bond was struck. This man would give you his last dollar. R - Rxus: I must confess, I didn't interact with R much. He was held over by family and got in late. The real reason though was the table layout. He was kind of on one end and I was on the other so I was closest to Pho and Freeman and he was closet to Pho and Bubu. We exchanged a few words though and my character meter was well into the black. He seemed a nice and kind man with a big love for watches. Now on to the watches: If I miss anything guys forgive me as I'm just going to mention the one standout from each member that grabbed me... 1. The UN Maxi Marine Diver Chronograph of Pho's is AMAZING. As you all know, I'm a big fan of the brand, but if you look at all my posts you will hear me say one thing over and over - It's the FEEL that makes the gen watches what they are. To that end, I already knew the watch is a great replication. What I was looking forward to (and to be honest, what I thought it would fall down on...) was the way the watch felt in hand, fit and finish, small details, etc. I must say I was blown away. Oh, and the AR color isn't even an issue. UN does use blue tinted AR on black colored dial watches I found out BTW. It isn't all colorless. They feel it brings out the richness of the black. Eveything about this rep - the AR, the way the pushers feel, the rubber strap/bracelet is world class as well. Bravo to Josh and the factory for partnering on this and nailing it. A couple quick fixes for v2 and it will be nailed. 2. The Cartier Baloon Bleu on full rose gold bracelet of Bubu's was stunning. A really high quality piece. The quality and feel of the bracelet, dial, and the gold plating was superb. 3. The Rolex GMTIIc of Freeman's is amazing. Of course we all know that by now but why not mention it again? World class replication. We spent some time comparing the construction of the Rolesor clasps on my DJ and the rep and were amazed at how close the construction and replication was done. Again, the solid mid links and sturdier case are what does it for me. My big complaint with Rolex sports watches has always been that flimsy rattly feel and this watch solves that. Feels really substantial and expensive. 4. The Breitling Skyland on full SS bracelet of Rxus was another world class standout replication. The fit and finish is superb. I have owned a coule gen Breitlings over the years and the brand is not really known for it, but the secret is their fit and finish is pretty high up there. The rep nails that aspect to a tee. Everything feels just right and the AR really makes the dial pop nicely. So all in all, our GTG was a great experience. One thing is for sure: We need more of them and hopefully we can encourage more members to join us in teh future. It is an experience worth bragging about in that once again it was proved to me that this membership has BIG class. I hope the others in our group will take the time to give some impressions as well. It will be interesting to see what each of has has taken from the experience. Thanks again guys for a great afternoon. It turned out to be the sole reason for the trip and a lot of driving for one day, but in my mind it was well worth it. I would do it again in a heartbeat. PS: I almost forgot to comment on it. Pho's Homer Tourbillion really is amazing and he ain't just saying it! We decided together and I need to repeat it here that this watch is hands down the best watch IN THE WORLD in terms of quality and coolness that can be bought for $500 or so. And hey - its a gen! (or a rep if you choose to get a fantasy branded dial for yours) But take it from a guy who is really big on feel and minor details and picky to the n'th degree, get one of these and you won't be sorry. Approaching world class - certainly high end gen class at least for half a grand. Wow!

Yup - one of my cars is a Mini - and proud of it. I have had more fun in this car that any sports car I have ever had at any price. The litter bugger is fast too. A few upgrades and you can get 60 in just under 6. Very little turbo lag too and a great transmission. Very refined cars now. I'm even used to the torque steer. I use it as a runabout and in almost 2 years I have only 6K miles on it. You guys must know I never leave this chair. I had fun customizing it and I admit it is a bit pimped out, but I get more compliments at gas stations, eyt. on this one than I do the other. I'm kind of MINI so I thought I needed a MINI...

Agreed, although it grows on you. Isn't it funny how something as subtle as that is perceived so differently on a bunch of watches all the same size. That is what makes this hobby so interesting. It is all in the details. And I know for sure that even with the wider shoulders (watch I mean) and the Oyster, any DJ would probably be a bit too small on you. Smaller dressier watches would look good on you though - you would just have to get used to them (and want to). But for you the line might be at 38MM on those istead of 35-36MM as it is for me. Many people talk too much about wrist size IMO. Physical stature is FAR more important for perception of how one carries a watch don't you think?

Nice watches, but today is Saturday is it not? Otherwise you might say I overslept...

I tried this before but the conversation turned to complications. I am considering which dress watch to get for my wedding: - A Vacheron Partimony Traditionelle @38MM featuring the new handwind caliber 4400 with the prized Hallmark of Geneva designation (If you are not familiar with the process for this I urge you to check it out - fascinating!)... - Or a classic Patek Calatrava 5120 @35MM featuring the automatic caliber 240. I should note that I would prefer a handwind for this kind of piece, but for size reasons I would have to give that up in this case. In other words I would get the handwind 3520 model instead, but it is only 32MM and that is just too small even for and elegant dress watch IMO. 35MM is fine though... I have most of the pros/cons of each in mind and I am leaning one way, but I wanted to get some very specific reasons of what you would choose paying special attention to not just the design, but also history of the brands, movement history and finishing, ownership network benefits etc. This is going to be a big purchase for me not only the money but it is sort of like a right of passage into something. I'm purchasing the only fine dress watch I will ever have. It isn't a watch but an heirloom. Both are the finest of their kind and I realize one cannot give edge to any one other than opinion. There will be no fact to say one is better than the other. But I will be interested to hear your thoughts. Both watches are shown in yellow and rose gold, but I will be choosing a white gold version so disregard that...

Thanks guys I did see that comparison. Still, something bugs me about it. The CG's and the red in the dial. I really love the new Rolex case and bracelet. Finally feels like a real luxury item. I just didn't care for the 24 hour bezel and never really have - plus I had two other GMT's at the time, including the UN which I feel is superior to everything complication-wise. So that is why I sold it but when I did I always said I should just wait for the Sub. Maybe that is what I'll do after all. But the chrono is interesting as the pushers kind of solve the CG issue... I have always had a soft spot for Rolex anyway, and with the crowd I run in and area I live in, nobody I know would ever think it was a fake. That is one thing about being around rich people all the time. They are so high in their towers they never even think that anybody might not be a rich as them so as to not own a genuine watch. Silly little arrogant aloof multi millionaires. Fu*k em'... And to be honest if they did I wouldn't care. I'm the one who has to love my watches and I never give thought to that phenomenon - although I do concede that it is real...

300 degrees C is all it takes to blue steel. I don't know of any watch makers who use anything but heat. There isn't much margin for error there either which is why you don't really see a whole lot of variance in blue steel parts between watch brands. It is what it is as it were. But watch out for fun surprises. 270 degrees C and it turns the color of red wine... He may have done the right thing though after all. Most rep "blued" steel isn'y flame blued at all but rather painted and it looks very convincing many times until you see it start to chip and then you are sort of surprised that you got suckered into thinking it was blued steel. I'm not sure what the process is, but they get it to look pretty realistic. If it doesn't chip the dead givaway is after about 4 years it turns the color of lilacs. My girl has a Chronoswiss Kairos rep that suffered that fate. We just embrace it though. Ahhh replicas. What can you do? What can you say?...

Just do it then. Give in to your wishes - you only live once. You will love it...

Hi guys. I have made a descision that for comfort reasons I really prefer to not fit my genuine 42MM PO on its original steel bracelet. Since getting the OEM rubber I have been very happy with it and it has become my princliple casual and sports watch (no, not a tool watch - I don't believe in those. If I'm using tools I don't have a watch on...). That said, I realized that now I have to open up a new category as I will always need two dive type bezeled watches - one with a black bezel and dial (Sub-esq) and one with a silvery dial and bezel (YM-esq) as you all know. Of course the MMD fills the latter, dressier shoes and I thought that the PO would be filling the whole former. But in light of this new revelation I'm going to be needing a blk/blk dive watch that lives on an SS bracelet. So I kind of have it narrowed down pretty quickly. Either get a modern Sub which is fine but not really exciting me. What I really wish was that I had the choice now to get the new black bezeled ceramic Sub, but of course the best guess is 2010 (unless Rolex puts it out earlier to spark sales in a soft market). Since that is unlikely, I can only think of one more watch that is growing on me. A perfect 42MM. Amazing in house caliber. Substatial, remarkably comfortable. AMAZING bracelet which is a big deal for me ever since being spoiled by UN bracelets. Contrasting brushed and polished surfaces (which is a must for this category for me) in a sort of different configuration. I also am pleased with the in house movement and I can kill two birds with one stone and own a German timepiece which would be cool. I did have a GO Panomaticreserve for a short time but I got rid of it for two reasons. First, smaller strapped dress watches in a non-precious metal feel cheap to me. Second, I got that particular watch as a substitute of sorts for a Lange 1 and it really isn't one. I also never wore it since I rarely wear dress watches. Anyway, I'm thinking of giving GO another go. Do you think I should - or should I wait for the new Sub? I'm not going to do another regualr Sub as I have had one already, plus many reps, and to be honest, I just can't fade the bracelets anymore. I'm just spoiled now with luxury bracelets and I can't go back. So what do you guys think of these. The one thing though is I wish it had double AR front and back but I believe it has none. If anyone knows otherwise let me know. I do love Big Dates though - always have. Sorry but I couldn't find better pics of it. Looks much better in person. Don't know if I love the CG's though...

Small on a power lifter maybe, but not on a skinny, gaunt racoon eyed little trader fu*ker like me. Seriously though, with a long sleeve the watch doesn't look small at all on me with 7.5" wrists. I'm also really getting into the subtlety of smaller watches. Almost everything I'm into lately is in the 35-38MM range. Less is more. I'm just getting into dress watches and "getting" the size thing on a different level. Shirts are a bigger factor than some think. You can wear a WAY smaller watch with long sleeves than short. Food for thought... Another factor is that the DD's are pretty blingy even with no ice. It's the metals. The things just shine more than anything in my box. So I find that the reduced size helps counteract the bling in a really cool way. The watch pops because of the shine but not so much it is obnoxious which is great. Two final observations on that: First, to the last point my MMD is right on the borderline. It almost pops too much and I have tried on the 40MM version and it does counteract it in the same way. Second, I would never want an all brushed DJ, because without the "pop" from the contrast of the polished and brushed surfaces, the watch does look smaller even with the same case - much smaller. I should also point out that the DD case is smaller than the new DJ cases. Still 36MM but the lugs are wider on the new DJ's giving it a bigger more square shouldered appearance. Oh and the DDII is just horrible - don't bother. It would solve your size issue but the watch is just a complete failure for them and the sales are proving it. Two good AD's I know that do huge biz say they can't sell them to save their lives. It is a huge copout for them. All they did is blow up the case without changing the proportions of anything. The dial is the same size! The indices, hands, everything - just longer hands! Even the bracelet is the same as from the 36MM watch. They didn't even up the lug size. Can you imagine? The whole watch is just totally unbalanced and top heavy just like another certain watch that I know you can't stand from them they just put out. Why they would make significantly bigger watches and not refine proportions is beyond me. Meanwhile, I think the new ceramics are home runs. It changed everything in terms of making their sports line feel less flimsy. Nice solid bracelets and clasps. It was always a quandry for me. I always loved the comfort of the hollow link brushed bracelets on some of my favorite watches, but they always felt cheap to me. The only reason I sold the ceramic GMT is because of the look of the numbers on the bezel. I'm holding out for the black Sub and looking forward to it. But I digress (again)... Back to the DJ. Check out this pic I always refer to. To me, having a 7.5" wrist the watch doesn't look small on me at all and note how subtle the square shoulders add to the perceived size...

Alternating between the two UN's all weekend. I have double trouble with the South Florida GTG followed by a client meeting in Boca who is a total watch freak/big time collector who's brother just happens to work at the UN headquarters in Boca as well. So I have to fly the colors this weekend. He told me once if he ever sees me wearing a Rolex he will pull his group's capital. No problem then. Rolex? What Rolex. Never heard of them... Dual Time 42MM Maxi Marine Diver

Hard to really tell. Quality of optics/images have too many variables. My first observation is it isn't a fair fight since the macro pics aren't really close enough. One thing is for sure and that is an extension tube saves you a lot of money. A funny thing about macro lenses is more isn't always more. For flowers I always want the 200 but for watches I seem to always want the 105 or even the 60. The bottom line is sharp focus at distances and framing of subjects you tend to like creatively are going to make HUGE differences in choosing the lens because the slightest changes (closer or farther) can make for nearly unreachable results. With the exception of maybe the crown pic, there is nothing here that you would want the 200 for and as you can see with focus, DOF challenge when you snapped these quick ones it makes those tougher to get right.

I believe the Rolex is a model 3745. How did you aquire that one? Clean original examples bring close to $3K (usd) or so last I recall. Does the movement look like this?

What is that a 60's 3745 with the 17 jewel handwind?

Fantastic. The 60's stuff is great. Have you ever done much with any 1940's stuff? I don't know why but lately I have really been into the look of 40's dials - especially Vacheron stuff...