Bardamu

Hi, Few days ago, I received my first rep from a trusted dealer, very well known on this forum. It's a Rolex Explorer I (14270). The watch looks really nice : case, dial, hands, I'm fully satisfied with it, out of the box. The band looks nice also when you just have a look at it, BUT... there is something strange. The band is very light, because it is built with hollow links, and when I first took the watch in hand, it looked very cheap because of this lightness. So cheap, so fake ! I told it to the trusted dealer, and he answered that band is made with hollow links on the gen. Is it true ? I know that Rolex used hollow links few years ago, but I'm surprised that they don't use solid links for more recent production. Could anybody confirm that point ? Picture of the watch : Thanks in advance for your comments, Paul

I'm not sure that we can define a formula that could calculate accurately if the size of the watch will fit with our wrist. Your formula is a good start, but you cannot be sure before you try it on. Other points, more difficult to estimate, have to be taken into account. I have two points in mind : - Do you use to wear large watches or not ? This will be important to decide if you feel comfortable or not with it. - What is the weight and thickness of the watch ? This point can be important. A large and flat watch can be wore easily. But if the same case is very thick and heavy (diver watch like DSSD, for instance), you will feel it very different. Each time you move your hand, the watch move much more than a flat one. So, at the end of the story, I would say that my personal formula would be "you like it ? take it ! " Paul PS : I just see that this is my 69th post. Coooooooooooooool !

Congratulations ! And I must say that I personaly understand why so many people love patina on their watch. It looks like a wrinkled face, you can see its past life. Anyway, obviously old or like brand new, both are very nice. And in this case, as you spent time to gather all parts and make the assembly, I can imagine it makes this watch so personal, so unique. Enjoy ! Paul

IMHO, this kind of watch is not made for sales, it's made for communication. Just a kind of advertising, to create buzz (this topi proves that it works ! lol) and make people speak about the brand. And after all, they will buy the "normal" collection. Like Superlative said, it gives me a headache. I don't like watches were I have to spend 10 minutes before I can find the hands to know what time it is. Anyway, thanks for sharing. Even when we don't like the product, it's interesting to know what is produced. Paul

I don't like them so much. Too much information (for instance, you don't only see the date for today but also for yesterday and tomorrow) which, in my opinion, has nothing to do with a pilot watch. This should be clear and simple, for immediate access to the information when you look at your watch. I prefer previous versions. But maybe I just need time to become familiar with the design ? Anyway, I'll never buy a watch whose diameter is more than 42 mm, because of my chicken wrist... Paul

And if you have children, you can even extend your wishlist ! Don't look for me, I'm far away already...

Hypnotic ! Paul

I'm right handed, and cannot wear a watch on right wrist.

Gasp ! Looks like a review with details "which parts are gen, and which parts are reps". Going through this kind of problems make realize that health and family are the only real important things in life. Hope you'll feel better in 2012. Happy new year from a noob ! Paul

Waouh ! What a beautiful vintage ! That's really great, congratulations for the job done on it. Enjoy ! Paul

It was another one this morning, but this afternoon I choose this one : Paul

I have the same Speedmaster rep, that I bought when traveling in China (paid 30 €). Of course it's not a real chronograph movement. Large seconds hands is moving permanently. Sub dials have calendar functions : day @ 9 ; date @ 3 ; and day/night function @ 6. Cheap price, cheap movement, but really good looking ! Now, I think I will maybe buy a rep with hand winding chronograph movement, and try to change the case back to put in place the metal engraved case back above, instead of the window case back.

I just discovered these videos. I love that ! Even if I missed few sentences because my English is not perfect, it was a great moment of fun. And I'm afraid this is almost daily real for trusted dealers. Sometimes, your customers are so stupid you wish you could them after long and painful tortures... Paul

Thanks for this nice review. But I'm afraid I will not save money with your comments, because it only confirms that I want this watch ! And it could come quite soon... Paul

I try sometimes to wear a second watch on my right wrist. But I cannot keep it more than two minutes. I don't feel comfortable at all. Paul

Beautiful pic, and the watch seems to be really nice ! I hope you'll soon give us additional details. As said before, this watch in in my wish list and I wonder how is the dial. My personal opinion is that I can accept a small difference with the gen, like exact size or font of the date, or this kind of stuff. Nobody will never notice it. But the important point is the finishing of the dial. If it looks cheap, everybody will guess it's a fake with no need to compare with a gen. So, when you have the watch in hand, what is the global feeling ? Paul

+1 Lug at 5 was the first thing I saw. The finishing of the brushed surface is really bad.

Bonaventura, thanks for the advice. I know I have to be very carefull with shipment to EU, and check this point with the dealer. Paul

Adeodatus, I have exactly the same approach than yours. I love the design of chronographs, but I NEVER use them. No need, in my kitchen for cooking I have a timer. And for sports, I have a digital watch : light, water resistant, big digits easy to read even whilst running. Paul

LHOOQ, for sure I will not say that you're nuts ! Thanks a lot for this complete and detailed answer. The choice is very clear for me now. All trusted dealers have the same production, not perfect but not so bad. I'm not looking for a real 1:1 that couldn't be detected by an expert. I just want a good looking watch out of the box, and with the right beat which is very important for me (so : ETA). At the moment, it's ok. But maybe, after few more months on this forum, I will have higher expectations and begin to looks for some improvements and try to make a franken...

Thanks for your answers. Paul

Thanks for your answer. I read this also and I'm sure that in most of the case, watches come from the same factories, whoever is the seller. But sometimes, it seems that there are some differences. For instance, I've been checking a Submariner 14060. I saw on one website that the font for "oyster perpetual" is wrong, and it is right on another one. So... if pictures actually show the product for sale, it means that sometimes there are differences.

Hello guys, I've been there for only few weeks now, and it's incredible all information I got from all of you. Thanks a lot for sharing. At the moment, I only have poor quality replicas that I bought in the street, in China or HK. I'm now looking for better quality, and thanks to this forum I'm confident because I found good dealers. My first watch will be an Explorer I 37 mm (the old model). I used the "search" function to try to get a feed back from buyers, but I didn't find clear information (maybe I made a wrong search ?). I cannot really see difference on the pictures on the different trusted dealers websites. Do you know if there is big differences from one trusted dealer to another ? I have to say that I don't plan to make a franken. My intention is just to use it "out of the box", and I'm not looking for the ultimate 1:1 gen, with ZERO difference from the gen (it probably doesn't exist). I just want a nice rep, really good looking with swiss movement (don't need a clone movement, as it will not be open). I'm sure all trusted dealers propose good reps of this model. But is there a difference between them (I don't care about few $ less or more) ? Thanks for your help. Paul

Congratulations, it's a beautiful pair. I specially love the vintage bezel. Nice job, du beau boulot !

You say that this watch was built in the 70s. So it's been used (almost every day, I presume) almost 40 years, and never serviced. Well... I would say that taking this into account, this watch was in pretty good condition. How many watches from how many brands could have survived in such conditions ? Not so many, I'm sure. Once more, evidence of reliability of Rolex watches. And now, with the nice job done on it, it's ready to face the next 40 years.