TeeJay

Fantastic vintaging work

It would also help to know what functions you require in a watch, and the kind of conditions it will be subjected to, as these are crucial factors as to what might be the best watch for you

I get what u mean TJ.. its a separate issue though, if a dealer ships a asian clone although you paid for an ETA vs what he's saying the dealers never ship ETA at all to begin with.

Personally, I just consider it all part of the same problem: Person pays for X, dealer deliberately sends them Y.

I appreciate that sometimes a mistake in order packing could happen, afterall, human error is always a possibility, so it should always be considered, but anything other than human error, it is not acceptable. As above, there have not been many reported instances of this in the last 12-18 months, so that is a positive thing

What you're saying carries alot of backlash which i hope you have adequate evidence for. Basing everything on the announcement by ETA and not much more is not really enough for me. I say this because many guys here and other forums place a premium on ETA mvmts and price their reps accordingly when it comes to selling. Are you insinuating that these guys are being dishonest selling seagull movements disguised as ETA? It is a common fact ( i have no evidence though ) that most ETAs supplied by our dealers come either used, NOS and often unoiled etc maybe due to storage. Just wondering cos i'm one of these gullible ones. Hope you can enlighten me with any evidence. So far my ETAs have never had a problem fitting in ETA parts from cousins or Ofrei ... unless they're selling seagull parts as well

There have been several threads in the past about dealers claiming to be selling ETA movements, but there being something quite different 'under the hood'. I got sick of wasting my time trying to discuss the issue, as at the end of the day, no-one wanted to hear that their favorite dealers were pulling their pants down. To be fair, there have been less complaints of this happening in the last 12-18 months

Should be fairly easy to repair... If there's any damage to the movement or stem, then they might need replacing, if the crown came unscrewed, it could be a sign that the threads in the crown and tube have worn, so it might be necessary to replace the crown and tube. Best of luck

I kind of like the PP Nautilus, but never liked it enough to actually buy a rep. At the end of the day, I guess I just don't like Genta's designs. APs don't do anything for me either. There are one or two models I like, but mostly, I just think they're really ugly and overly cluttered dials. Likewise, the Hublot Big Bang has never appealed to me either...

If you come in France with a modern Rolex at your wrist, wear long sleeve shirts, don't expect people looking at you with admiration in a party, don't expect girls and success, you will just look like a has been poser

I've heard a similar thing said about that's how Rolexes are viewed in Spain as well.

It looks fantastic

I use to hate the date magnifiers, but I got use to it. If it's made to provide a good magnification, I can live with it. If it does not, then it's a bit annoying. What bothers me the most is no matter if you buy a gen or a super rep, people's first impression always it's probably a fake.

The things I don't like about them, are that they mar the line of the crystal, and unless you're looking at the watch at the right angle, they can often obscure the date window rather than magnifying it

Omega Water Resistance..

We occasionally get questions about "How deep can I go with my Omega ?"

Never had a problem with any Omega rep, (or any other reps, for that matter) in conditions from showering/bathing, to swimming against a wave machine. I've read that a watch is more likely to leak under slight immersion, such as under a faucet or bathing, than it is under greater pressure such as diving, as if there are any 'micro leaks', the increased pressure closes them. I've found that if it doesn't fog up from holding under a running faucet, it's not going to leak under other circumstances (not tried diving/scuba with a rep yet or had one pressure tested...) Only ever had one Panerai which leaked, I sent it back for replacement, and the replacement was fine. All this "don't get reps wet" rhetoric is mostly BS. As long as the watch is well made, and well maintained, there shouldn't be an issue

Cyclopses. Absolutely hate them

Given the comments Freddy has made about Kent Parks, ie delays in communications and the necessity to remind him of the particular requirements for the commission, (or incorrect work can occur) I would not feel comfortable considering him for any of my projects...

Very nice There's definitely something about YMs, very versatile watches I predict the 1655 will be the first to leave Interesting that the Cartel boys have put a movement with an independently adjustable GMT hand in it, but hey, it's increased functionality, tracking two timezones is better than one

8th day in a row w/1603

Once you find that perfect combo, there's no need to swap to something else

In the case of wire wheels, these were offered as options by Triumph for the Spitfire, so they are not custom modifications. The items added to the OP's watch were never offered by Rolex for that watch.

TeeJay - I am sure those wheels, like the bits added to the OP's Rolex, ARE attractive to the owner. But when you dabble with a classic design (& most Rolex watches are classic designs), you run the risk of cartooning the design in the eyes of those who do not share the owner's vision. And, worse yet, when you customize a Rolex, it just ends up looking like a 'fake Rolex.

Just my 2 cents, for whatever they are worth.

I quite agree with what you mean, with regards the customization of a known item. What I was meaning, using the GT as an example, is that while the owner might indeed like the wheels they put on (and at the end of the day, that is all that matters, as they're the one driving/wearing the item) there are other styles of wheels, if they had to have custom, which could have been fitted, which would have been 'more complimentary' to the original design What I was meaning, is that there is the fantasy project which is still 'in the style of', and the fantasy project which is less congruent to the original design

[Edit to add]

Here is an example of how 'customization' can be positive:

If someone were to build a project of this watch, someone might think that it was 'just a fantasy model', where it would in fact be a recreation of an existing custom piece. I suspect this piece to be 'the missing link' of design evolution between the 1655 and the modern Explorer II, so that in itself, is an illustration of customer feedback and requests, being made into company policy, such as how the Submariner and Sea-Dweller lines have evolved

I, for 1, would love to see some 100% original designs from members, but customizing/personalizing a Rolex is akin to urbanizing a 'Benz, which is not my cup of tea.

I can see what you mean, and of course, to each his own I think the Abyss might be a 'less controversial' project if it was simply a case of 'future-aging' the case and components, rather than modifying and replacing them with other parts.

I know this isn't going to be everyones cup of tea. I thought long and hard on this one. Here's a bit of the back story of my thought process when kicking this concept around with PBdad. Though I think much of the work here is amazing it does baffle me a bit in the same way this project baffles you. The effort and expense of trying to recreate something that already exists was not what I was after. I think the biggest tell is usually the person wearing the watch but that's another discussion entirely. My hobby is not watches but car customization. Stock anything never really did it for me. Having something that everyone else has is not something I'd be attracted to so this would be a very natural progression for me. I wanted something different, unique, larger than 40mm, vintage and custom at the same time. Again as in cars what's one of the first things you do? mod the engine, so we dropped the super charger in there that was the reason for the gen movement. I know this kind of thinking is not what is usually presented here but I can't help to wonder what fantastic work could come out of the amazingly talented people here if they stopped following the pattern of what already exists and just let their talent and imagination take them where it will.

+1

I agree with everything you've said (and am very much the same in that I prefer 'custom' over 'stock') but I think that boldened part really says it all, and I think that by simply 'building to an established design', people are not fully utilizing their creativity to the maximum.

In my experience, a vintage car (which we built) that exactly matches the original sales brochure

Is preferable to a customized car like this

I would agree that the bottom car is probably not the best suited for that model of wheels, however, if it was to have a set of these wheels instead...

...while still custom, I think it would be more 'in keeping' with the overall aesthetic of the car than what is currently fitted

But you miss out on the chance to meet Kamal in person! (He's a real sweetheart.)

So its better to buy the pro hunter gen. But if rolex still accept warranty or if they willing to service it in the future. Because i saw a picture even jennifer aniston got the rolex pvd on her wrist.

Not really better to buy the pro hunter gen at all, as Rolex will not accept it as a Rolex watch or offer it any kind of warranty, so you might just as well buy the rep, and save yourself the cash difference

Hi guys,

I just find out that rolex actually made a pvd/ dlc version. And it hv a pro hunter on the dial.

Even the milgauss have the same casing. Any history of it?

How is the rep conpare to gen?

The gen Pro-Hunter watches are aftermarket modifications, not Rolex approved...

I'd suggest getting the back off the watch, taking some photos, then posting them so people can advise you about what you definitely have Easy (relatively) way to get the back off a Rolex, is to put on a pair of dishwashing gloves (must be the 'grippy', rather than the 'smooth-feel' kind) and then with thumbs at the top and bottom, keep applying pressure in a counter-clockwise direction until the back starts to loosen, then unscrew. To replace the caseback, just reverse the procedure. Keep applying pressure till the caseback will not turn any further, and it will be sealed

Explorer I doesn't have the date wheel though... oh wow ok, i did that it worked! lol thanks, at least i dont have to get that fixed.

Correction, the dial does not have a date window, but I'm sure the movement being used, will still have a datewheel If it's quiet enough, and you listen carefully, when the hands pass midnight (or noon, depending on how you set the watch) you should be able to hear the muted flik of the datewheel rolling onto the next day

Thanks TJ! I may have to hit you up on that offer if its cheap

Cheap?? Considering the circumstances, this would be pro bono

I also think this watch has a problem of not winding manually since day 1. I'm not sure if i'm doing it wrong or something... I'm fairly sure I unscrew the crown, then pull it 1/2 way then wind it, because 2/2 way is adjusting the time...

Pulling the crown to the first stop is for changing the date-wheel, the second stop is for changing the time. All you need to do to handwind is unscrew the crown till it 'pops' off the tube, then gently wind the crown away from you a few times, then push it back to screw back onto the tube

Five hundred million bucks? That's a lot of dough to play around with, but I know precisely what I'd go for...

A VW camper van

Yes, that's right, a VeeDub bus I'd then use some 'pocket change' ( ) to seriously modify it I'm talking totally new modern interior, GPS, X Box, sound system, microwave etc. but the fun wouldn't stop there, oh no, I'd then transplant a more powerful engine, something like in a Ford Galaxy, into the rear, and install some 'hood scoops' vertically on the rear side panals (with relevant interior modifications) to act as air intakes to prevent the air-cooled engine from overheating Might have to install a NoS system as well, just to help with overtaking maneuvres I'd top it all off with a custom paint job, and a set of Chip Foose wheels I think that would get me anywhere I'd need to go in a comfortable manner

[Edit to add]

Something a bit like this (but better )