panerai153

Wearing the latest arrival, DSSD 2010. Excuse the lint and dust in this poor shot!

In my previous short review of the DSSD 2010 model from ETZ, one of the respondents asked if this was the new "316F" stainless steel? I don't know to be honest. I didn't ask, and there was nothing on the ETZ website to indicate the steel used. It seems like in a recent very comprehensive review, one of our fellow members did a series of metallurgical tests on a watch that claimed to be 316F, and his conclusion was that the steel was not 316F. No matter what the steel number is, I believe that most members want the steel to look and feel as close to the genuine Rolex steel as possible. What I did here was do a side by side comparison of the DSSD with two genuine Rolex watches with genuine bracelets. I was pressed for time, so I took these outside in direct sunlight. If I have time this weekend I will try using my light tent to see what they look like using artificial light. These photos were not "photoshopped" except to reduce the image size. No color enhancements color corrections, etc. Just as they came from the camera. Here are the side by sides. Bright direct sunlight. The bracelet on the Tudor is at a different angle, so reflectivity is different, but if you look at the cases and the end links on the bracelets on the lower side of the photo, they all look pretty close to me. Bracelets and cases in direct sunlight Watches in the shade. It looks as though the Tudor steel is darker than the other two, but slight differences. What do you think? IMO, the steel is similar enough in appearance that no one would be able to tell whether or not this was a replica or genuine, just seeing the watch alone on your wrist, based on steel color alone.

ASCI, No sure as to the steel number. comparing it to my genuine Tudor 9411, it looks very close. It definitely has more shine and brightness than my previous Rolex reps. i will try to do a side by side of the DSSD, and my genuine Tudor 9411 and my 16750. Putting them together should show differences and similarities between the rep steel and the genuine steel. plaifender, Your right, it looks much nicer than the ETZ V5, and has a better bezel than the others. My only gripes which are pretty universal with reps is the sorry lume. How much more would it cost to do a really nice lume job from the factory. What they are doing is forcing us to spend more money trying to correct a problem that should be done at the source.

Well fellow hive dwellers, the long awaited ETZ 2010 model finally arrived at my doorstep yesterday. I have to say, it was super fast shipping from Bangkok to the USA. It went out last Monday the 19th and arrived at my door one week later Monday the 26Th. All in all, this is a much nicer and more true to the genuine model than the V5. I'm going to let the photos do most of the talking. You can make your own judgment from them. I do have to say, this is one serious chunk of stainless. If your looking for a "petite" watch, the DSSD is definitely not the watch for you. This is a head on photo, primarily to show the alignment of the Original Gas Escape Valve Ring (OGEVR) It is fairly well aligned, the font spacing is still not absolutely correct, as it should extend from right past the 10 marker to almost the 2 marker, but it's better than before.As an aside, I have seen several genuine DSSSD's that have a misaligned OGEVR, so it's not just the reps! The date window is tapered as it is supposed to be, the lettering looks OK,and the alignment is straight. The bezel insert looks OK, the spacing of the 10 is correct, and although the spacing is correct, I believe the genuine has a tiny bit fatter fonts.It looks like the date wheel is a little off in this photo, but it's not, it's dead center of the opening. Side view, primarily to show the bezel, bracelet and SEL's. The crystal on this one is exactly as it should be it is almost flush with the bezel insert, actually when you run your finger across the crystal, the bezel insert is a little "proud" of the crystal. I would like the SEL's to be a little tighter, but they are acceptable to me.Makes it easier to get the bracelet off! The pearl is raised and rounded like the genuine. Another side view from the other side. Same thing with this SEL. Bracelet is very nice, comfortable and keeps this big chunk of steel centered on my wrist. Side view of the HEV. believe that the proper HEV is slightly indented, which this one is. Crown side, side view. Looking at the crown, CG's and case profile, looks pretty good. Case back view. The inner case back is the correct taper, and the lettering is very nice, correct fonts and spacing. Clasp is better than the previous, snaps closed, and the fit of the parts are much nicer.I haven't seemn a genuine clasp opened up, so I cannot comment on the correctness of the lettering on the clasp. This shows the Glidelock opened up. this one works really nice. The inner piece slides easily and the Glidelock snaps down into place securely. This is much improved over the V5 version. This is and attempt to show the Rehault engraving. It's very hard to photograph, as there is quite a bit of crystal distortion, and the engraving (laser etching) is very small. I don't have a clue as to the correctness of the Rehault, but the engraving is there, just very hard to see. my eyesight is not the best, nd even in bright sunlight, I could barely make out the Rehault engraving. The obligatory Wrist shot. Even though the DSSD is a massive watch, it doesn't wear as big as it looks. It balances well on the wrist, and although it doesn't "disappear" on my wrist like my 16750 GMT, it certainly is comfortable. What could be done to improve this watch? Well, for the money, it's a very nice watch.Mine is the ETA version, and so far it's running about 15 seconds fast in 24 hours. If you notice there weren't any lume shots. Well, frankly, the lume like almost all rep lumes, sucks! I had the watch out in bright direct sunlight for at least and hour yesterday. Lume lasted about 15 minutes,and it was gone. It's a nice uniform blue color, which is very impressive, but it fades so fast you hardly know it's there. I can't understand why rep manufacturers selling 400+ USD watches can't put a decent coat of lume on the hands and dial indicies. All in all I really like this watch, my plans are to eventually send it off and have the ETA movement serviced and regulated, the dial,hands relumed and have it pressure tested, not that I'm going to dive with it, but i would like to know if it's safe to wear at the Beach, fishing, swimming and in the rain.

That's a very nice Tudor Sub. Enjoy it.

I can't say which is the most reliable, but if you look at the mid range genuine watches from 500-2000 USD, almost every one I have owned or read about uses the ETA 2824-2 movement. I don't know of any dive watches from companies like MKII, Ocean 7, Doxa, etc. that use the 2836-2.they all use the 2824-2.Even WM9 is using 2824-2's in the new Seadweller project. Possibly some of the more experienced modders and/or watch makers on our forum could give you better and more accurate information.

Ubi That is a beautiful watch and with the correct hands, it will be a knockout!! I too vote for the Oyster bracelet. I never was a big fan of NATO's. Down here in the South, they get pretty nasty, pretty quickly with all the sweat,I had one on a MKII Stingray and I had to wash it almost every day.I don't enjoy wearing a watch that smells like a 14 year old's tennis shoe!

Very nice. Those are serious tool watches.

Unfortunately, if they will lie about numbers, which in my opinion is totally inconsequential, they will lie about other things as well. I don't see what this accomplishes, except as someone stated above it's a "mine is bigger than yours" attitude, which is pretty sophomoric, to say the least. To me, it's all about the community, how it works together, and the quality of the content posted. this forum amazes me every day with new and interesting posts by members here. that's why I stay here and don't jump from forum to forum. I don't see the need. I commend our esteemed admin. for bringing this little tidbit of information to our attention. thanks from one of the hive members.

Saturday looks like a Tudor kind of Day

Very nice, who did the lume work?

That's a great looking Tudor. I would just let the case vintagize with wear. It may take a little while, but it's always more realistic from my viewpoint.I think the "skunk" NATO looks really nice on this watch. Here is my "naturally vintagized 9411, one of my favorite watches.

Very,very nice review. much appreciated.

I'm with ubi on this, unless you can do most of the work yourself,and have access to folks who have parts and or know where to find them, this could turn into a pretty frustrating project. Every so often incomplete Tudor "project' watches show up on the sales page. Usually the sellers either give up in frustration, or find that the project is costing too much. I would seriously consider investing in a genuine 9411. If you are patient, you can often pick up one in very nice condition at a reasonable price. The other reason, the Tudor subs are the next 1680's and 1665's. the prices have probably doubled in the past few years, and will continue to go up. you can wear one for years,and if you keep it in good condition, you can get your moneu back and more should you decide to sell.

I have to agree, the Seiko is the way to go. I gave one to my son several years ago, and he wears it every day (he's a farmer) and it has been a great watch. Pretty bomb proof!

That's interesting and encouraging. where are you on the list? I'm sure the folks who have been waiting for over a year are pretty close to getting their watches. I ordered in early November 2009, so I would guess I'm pretty far down the list.

Interesting, I posted the above before I saw your post about the MBK DSSD. i'm wondering if that's where ETZ is sourcing the 2010 version. the reason I say this, I got an email from Neo yestersday, and he was talking about the problems in Bankok. He said my watch would ship Monday when the post offices reopen. I thought they were in China? If they are shipping the DSSD from Thailand, it possibly is the MBK version.

This one looks very close to the photos I received from ETZ for the DSSD they were sending me. The Original Gas Escape Valve looks like it is positioned like mine.Hard to tell from the other photos, but the pearl sitting up sort of looks like mine as well.The bezel font looks similar as well. Am I close? If it is a ETZ, I didn't realize they had shipped out any. Mine is supposed to ship on Monday. The only difference this one has the crystal a little "proud" above the bezel, mine is actually slightly recessed below the bezel edge. From the photos, mine looks pretty good. Certainly it isn't perfect, but it's better than the last attempt.

Andy, I think the problem is,the customs laws vary from country to country as well as the degree of enforcement. I believe traveling to the EU with a Daytona on your wrist is safe. I know quite a few guys who bought Rolex watches in the Caribbean. Also in Hong Kong. This was years ago. What they did was mail the box and paperwork back to their address in the USA and wore the watch on their arm. I have never seen a US customs inspector ask about the watch you are wearing. Wearing the Double Red in and out of the country should also not be a problem, however if you did have some paperwork to substantiate that it was yours and had been for years, It probably wouldn't hurt to have a copy of something that proves it's yours. Traveling with the suitcase full of watches, that is the one that only a customs expert could answer. If they are Rolex, bringing them into the USA is a risk, as Rolex USA has some very specific criteria about bringing in Rolex watches.

I agree with the members above, your expectations are not realistic. You are expecting 6 thousand dollar quality from a 300-500 dollar watch. It isn't going to happen. I can assure you none of the reps, no matter who they come from, are submitted to the quality control that Rolex carries out. I would say that the closest that you will come to what you want would be a WM9/BK Submariner, and unfortunately, they don't make the model you want. They haven't come out with a Ceramic Bezel Submariner, and at the rate of their current projects, it may not happen in your lifetime!! Someone suggested that you build your own. I believe that that approach is very feasible with older Rolex models, but to build a 2010 Sub is going to be impossible. Rolex is really cracking down on their "parts only" accounts. Some of the new stuff is impossible to source. I tried to source a genuine crystal for my Ceramic GMT II, Impossible. The source I have used couldn't get one and all his colleagues he tried told him the same thing, Rolex has it on "Backorder", but they suggested the watchmakers send the watch to a RSC (Rolex Service Center) for the new crystal. Polite way of telling them, we aren't going to sell you these new parts.If you have a watch that needs a part, it's going to have to go to a RSC for repair. So my advice to you would be either buy a genuine Rolex, or ratchet back your expectations for a replica.

this is really crazy, and I'm sorry about your watch being confiscated, but you are taking a huge risk flying from country to country with that many watches. Actually the French have been doing this for quite some time. I was warned of this by a friend, several years ago, who is a very serious Pen collector. He was traveling to a Pen show in Europe and had to transit through Paris. They checked his carry-on bags and found all his pens, I believe he had 40 or 50 mostly vintage pens. They pulled the same thing with him, however he was able to get out of it after calling his wife in the USA and having her fax over copies of most of the receipts for the pen purchases, along with some documentation that he was a member of several pen collectors societies.His warning to me was to either have a receipt for anything valuable or don't risk it.On the trip tp Paris, I was taking two watches with me, a genuine and a rep. I made an invoice for the rep and a copy of the invoice for the genuine. I wasn't checked however it made me feel a little better to have the documentation.Actually, I think it is a good idea to have some sort of proof of purchase for anything that is valuable.France is not the only country that has been known to occasionally ask for receipts at customs.

Absolutely, the GMT function is real and accurate and works as it is designed. Every GMT watch (Genuine or rep) that uses the 2893-2 movement works the same way. You set the GMT hand to the second time zone and read it directly off the hour markers on the dial. The 2836-2 movements work the same as well. they utilize a settable GMT hand. If you are in the USA in the Central time zone, and you want to know the time in London, you would set the GMT hand forward 6 hours. So if it's 8 AM in New Orleans, it's 2 PM in London. While many folks tout the utility of the newer genuine Rolex GMT's with settable hour hands, I find that the settable GMT works very well for me. I suppose if you were moving around a lot and moving from time zone to time zone, setting the hour hand to local time and leaving the GMT hand set for time at home would be nice. This option is not available in reps except for the correct hand stack Rolex GMT II movement which as By-Tor stated, is very unreliable. The older genuine Rolex GMT's i.e. the 1675's and 16750's use a non settable tracking GMT hand. with these watches you turn the bezel forward or backward to read the second time zone. This may sound confusing, but with a GMT in your hand it's pretty easy to set the watch to read two time zones

I wore this all weekend and today. Maybe tomorrow too!! 16750

Happy Belated birthday wishes. I hope that you enjoyed your day, and have many more happy birthdays.

Looks like the only problem with this one is the bezel insert. the 10 is not correctly spaced.This looks pretty similar to the DSSD's that Josh and others are selling. If you replace the bezel insert with the correct one, it will be a really nice one.