By-Tor

Nobody reads the review forums? Here's an excellent review of the Explorer I by sd4k. You could bump the thread too (if you like the article).

I think the stainless steel Breguet isn't that nice, I think the Ebel BTR is much more "my style". But the full gold Type XX is quite amazing looker... if you want to wear a rep of a $40K watch, of course.

The bracelet version is already out and it looks really good. I'm also debating with myself about buying this one. See here. Flaws or not, it's really sharp looking watch.

Not a PAM fan, but that strap looks cool Lani! This feels like a good watch for Tuesday.

This today.

No, the MBK version is a different watch. See it here.

May it rest in peace.

Picture credit to Jocke (Rolex forums).

He's banned from all replica forums, because he posted pics of his reps to the Paneristi forum.

I know absolutely nothing about PAMs, but that looks like very impressive collection!

Yeah, asad should know better. He's banned now. Good riddance.

Thanks Jet. It seems that even the GMT 2836-2 (wrong stack) GMT hands aren't interchangeable (from the different models). I received a spare GMT hand of the "Retro" GMT Master II from Joshua (thanks btw). The watch uses the same 2836-2 movement as the wrong hand stack Noob GMT... but the hand didn't fit (Pugwash tried his best). Weird. I seriously doubt the 2893-2 hand will fit the 2836-2. My new correct hand stack GMT has perfect GMT hand. I wonder why they use the thick and ugly hand on the wrong stack versions.

Patek, JLC, Ebel, AP, Glashutte, etc. Who really cares if they're fantasy if the watch is something you really like? The only place where you could get "called out" is a Timezone or Antiquorum meeting. Buy it if you like it, that's always my advice. PS: The only thing I don't like about that Patek is the crown (which looks rather cheap).

This for the whole weekend:

LOL. That's all I can say.

Thanks guys. @Jetsons: Have you managed to source a good, thin GMT hand for a wrong stack ETA model? I also have one wrong stack "Noob" model, and the only thing that bothers me on that watch is the hand rim, which is too thick. Let me know if you know a source.

Beauty, beauty!! Very high quality photos too... thanks for sharing man!

When I'm doing ANY hard work, have a workout, or work at my summer cottage I wear this one. Very robust rep and a few scratches here and there only makes it more handsome.

I love them Dave (well I think you guessed that, right?). Definitely get the better dial for your GMT (if you can find one). You're lucky to own the correct hand stack version, they have become very collectable. Thanks for sharing mate... that black ExpII is a fantastic rep (as it is).

Great, moderately sized collection. That's how I like it too. I've always been much happier with just a few watches in my collection. Thanks for sharing!

Very nice "triplets". I'm far from a vintage Daytona expert, but they look good to me.

Seriously: Get the wrong stack version (as long as it's still available) and wait for the new movement. I'm sure it's possible (and even relatively easy) to build one of these when the new movement batch is out. Both Andrew and Angus say it's coming.

Thanks man, the pleasure is all mine. I was really, really glad to finally get this rep. The wrong stack models of the Noob GMT should be available. Happy hunting!

Stephane, Jetsons and Tribal have their Subs, Q has his McQueen, Freddy and Ubi have their Daytonas, Kenberg has his Mickey Mouse watch... but when it comes to Rolex I have always been a "Pepsi" man... just like Magnum before me. 16710 GMT Master II has become my obsession. I have written many, many reviews of it. Too many. I'd love to promise you that this is my very last 16710 writeup, but you never know... The newest of my many GMT rep reviews is the "GMT buying Guide". This watch is the exact same "Noob factory" GMT which was compared to Joshua's very nice "Retro" version. What makes this one special then? Well this watch has the excellent dial AND correct hand stack. The only other member in the community, who owns this rare bird (as far as I know), is bklm1234. This rep with good dial was only very briefly available. bk bought his copy from Paul long time ago. My friend Stephane also owns this same correct hand stack model. Actually his rep is even more harcore... it's a franken with genuine dial. See it HERE. The wrong stack "Noob" GMT 16710 is an excellent replica, and I never really thought the stack was such a big deal. I just recently traded my other "wrong stack" rep away, but I still have one left (and I'm planning to keep it too). Pugwash installed a genuine crown on it (special thanks to JustAsGood for providing the crown). So where did I get yet another GMT, and where did this watch suddenly come from? Our new dealer, Eurotimez, sold me this one. He said it was the absolutely LAST one in the factory, and he especially wanted to grab it for me, because he knew I had been looking for one. When he told me, I was quite amazed. It's pretty funny how some replica models become collector items, just like the gens. bklm didn't want to sell his version (no matter what I offered) so I already had given up all hope finding this. Actually I had already put away $5K for a gen, which I was going to buy later this year. The Noob GMT dial is the best rep Rolex dial I've seen. Photo is of my wrong stack version (genuine on the right). I already have the correct stack Franken-Explorer II, and this watch is a great addition. The big excitement of this hobby is the searching and waiting, adjusting, modding... and occasionally finding something great. I doubt I could get the same excitement from the gens. Yeah, being an Ultimate Geek is a bit embarrassing, but not that much when I'm among the people who understand. Here's my other "prized rep possession", the franken Explorer II, from the same factory. Once again, this particular watch, "Noob" GMT needs some modifications before use. bklm1234 offers them at the RepGeeks. Read about them HERE. The original bezel looks very bad (it has dull teeth) and it has to be replaced. It's very, very tightly installed on the watch, and there's only one advice when removing it: Use the Force Luke, and May The Yoda Be With You! Replacement bezel is easy to install, and personally I modify the crown guards myself. It's a piece of cake, you don't even have to take off the crown and the tube. If you're afraid of this, you can pay some extra and let bk to take care of it. I use THIS kind of very thin hand file for the cg's. As you can see from THIS picture, there's enough space between the crown stem and guards, so you can "straighten" them out. Of course you can't do that properly when the bezel is installed, the pic is just for demonstration. You also need a new bezel insert. Personally, I have used the Jewelryoutlet Pepsi insert, which is good enough, and the Pepsi version has perfect colors. My watch also needs a smaller crown, and Q promised to change one for my watch later. Okay, quick mods have been done and it's ready to be worn. Let's cut the crap and put it on the wrist! Deep rehaut, correct hand stack and excellent SELs. My new watch also has better GMT hand, which is a little bit too thick on the wrong stack version. Life is good, which proves that even Klink is sometimes right! Special thanks again to ***Eurotimez*** for finding this watch & bklm1234 for another replacement bezel. Also big thanks to my friends JustAsGood and Pugwash for working on my other "Noob GMT". PS: This old correct hand stack ETA modification is known to be potentially problematic, but I've been rather lucky with them. Once again, rumor has it that the factories are working on a NEW correct hand stack ETA movement for the upcoming ceramic version. That is good news, and let's hope they make a "reissue" of this "Noob" 16710 too. Even if they don't, with a movement swap you can probably build a correct hand stack 16710 later (if you have one of these base watches laying around). If you're a classic 16710 fan, I highly recommend buying this replica model. Wrong or correct stack, it's a real catch... and might not be available forever.

Here's the current status of this thread. When the debate/thread reaches certain point it doesn't even matter who was wrong, and who was right. Nobody has died. It's just time to move on and shake hands. Are you men enough to do it? Closed.