TeeJay

I'm still 'field testing' this for my bro Being 2000 vintage, I figured it needed a little gentle aging just so it wasn't looking pristine

I agree. I'm not too keen on strap deployants which have the surplus strap on the inside of the strap, as I feel it holds the watch too firmly in place on the wrist, but that's just my preference to not have a watch too tight

Thanks, bro, it's certainly been a while I decided not to rate the watch, as it has a few flaws which, if put as a score, might give a false impression of the watch, which is actually really nice, and I think good value for money

Absolutely fantastic work, bro, that really is a first class example of how a home build can come out with the right skills and tools

No worries, I hope you found it useful There're certainly better examples of the GMT out there, but I think this is acceptable for the price (and would probably be in the $108 bracket on many sites) and could certainly be nicely modified Thanks, J Yes, it was from CQout, and indeed, those parts are correct for this model, I guess I just think that all bracelets should have an extension on them The color of the insert is definitely something I'm pleased with, the colors are really rich. Looking at a review of a gen GMT, I'd say the blue is pretty much spot on, the red, I'm not 100% sure of, but I think without side by side comparisons, it's impossible to truly compare, although I'd certainly say the color is acceptable When the watch is 'modified' for my friend, I'll be keeping the insert

I will preface this review by noting that this is a far from flawless replication of the GMT Master II. Anyone who wants a 100% accurate watch, this is not the watch for you. If you want something which represents the overall aesthetic of the GMT Master II, it might be suitable... Apologies for the poor quality photos, the dust is on the exterior of the crystal, not the interior or dial, and yes, the laser-etched coronet is offset... Unlike some of my previous reviews, which have 'graded' the various components of the watch, in this instance, I just want to present some photos, and my observations on the watch. I would be the first to admit that I am no expert when it comes to the GMT Master, although I know the basics of the watch's origins via a collaboration between Rolex and Pan-Am. Also, this is not a watch purchased for my own collection, but a belated birthday gift for one of my best friends. This particular variant of the GMT Master II, having solid end links, I believe would make this an early 2000s era, and the case should have drilled lug holes. Oh well... First Impressions: When I unwrapped the watch, I had some conflicting feelings. Appreciation for the rich colors of the bezel insert, disappointment (in design) at the Twin Lock crown and bracelet clasp which is sans diver's extension. Of course, both of these features are correct for the GMT Master II, but those other details are things which I personally like on a watch of this size. The dial printing is of good quality, and as far as I can tell, accurately spaced and formatted as per the genuine watch. The quality of the dial, however, is immediately let down by the quality of the hands... The Y in the Mercedes hour hand is too narrow (although paradoxically, this does result in larger lume area...) and the red paint on the GMT hand does not extend to the base of the triangle. Fixable flaws for those with the inclination or skill to do so, possible deal-breakers for those who demand out of the box perfection. As compensation, both hands and dial markers display excellent (for rep factory issue) luminous qualities. Oyster case and bracelet are as comfortable as usual. The bracelet had a few stiff links, but a thorough oiling has eliminated that issue, as well as muting any 'clankiness'. While I prefer the versatility that a diver's extension allows, the clasp is the correct issue for this model watch, and it operates smoothly and securely. The coronet marking could be better executed, but it is visible. Unlike many cheap reps, the letting on the leaves is (almost) correctly spelled, rather than the usual SNSAWABE STEBLHOX gibberish... This one is at least SWSS MADE, with the other lettering correctly spelled, if somewhat lightly applied. Not perfect, but certainly better than on some clasps... The Twin Lock crown operates smoothly and recesses nicely between the crown guards (which would benefit from a little re-shaping) The highlight of the watch, in my opinion, is the iconic Pepsi bezel insert. This is the first time I have seen such an insert in person, and I must admit, I was expecting the colors to be somewhat garish, but in this instance the colors are deep and rich, and much more subtle and subdued than I expected. I would not like to comment on their accuracy, given lack of comparable examples. The caseback features a holographic sticker On the wrist, the watch is as comfortable as I have found any other Rolex watch, and, as mentioned by others, 'disappears' on the wrist when worn. The uni-directional bezel allows for the setting of a second timezone, due to the asian movement not having an independently settable GMT hand... As before, this is certainly not a rep for a perfectionist who will nitpick the details and bemoan the lack of accuracy to a genuine GMT Master II, but I believe it is certainly 'acceptable' for those with reasonable expectations or plans to modify the watch as a project (which will be happening with this watch before it goes off to its new home ) and not too bad for

I'd go for the Longines as well, simply because the dial, although having 'more detail' than the Tag, would be easier to read clearly and precisely

That's very true. Of course, the original Submariner was lacking in crownguards, as is the VC Overseas (and that was the point I raised about the VCO when I reviewed it) This was ultimately what my question related to, as if the Nautilus was ever actually seen as a diver's watch, or simply a 'nice watch which could get wet'

The style of the case is not really what I was referring to with that comparison, but rather that the Nautilus and the DateJust feature hour, minute, second hands, a date window, and nothing else... Why do you say that about the DateJust? Does it not have a comparable depth rating? I suspect that the sleeve of the 'wetsuit' was probably the thinnest available at the time, if not even something rigged up just for the purpose of the advertising photos, much like how there were rumors of Sony demonstrating the 'pocket friendliness' of the Walkman, by having them demonstrated by guys wearing shirts which had larger than average pockets I quite agree, a Nautilus could go under the sleeve of a wetsuit, and most dive watches are too bulky to do that, but that's surely because on a dive, it is essential to be able to easily see the watch unobstructed, rather than having to push back the sleeve

Sadly, it takes situations like EuroTimez to make people actually take notice of when a dealer is on the decline. The occasional negative feedback here or there, all the time there are still primarily positive feedbacks, doesn't really influence the buyers who are here solely for a watch, go as soon as it arrives, and play no further part in the community. They're less likely to realize when a dealer is getting sloppy, and as long as they still have vocal support, they'll still consider them a reliable source, which is a shame, as that's then when the stories of "I spent $$$ with Dealer X and got a load of DOA watches..." start appearing, rather than the folks who keep their finger on the pulse, stay abreast of who's doing good business, and buying accordingly... By the same token, a seasoned buyer is likely to not start screaming about a speck of dust on a dial, as they have come to appreciate the nature of the game, so they're more likely to fix a small issue themselves, rather than sending the watch back and starting a post flaming the dealer... Swings and roundabouts...

Yeah

Of couse, it'd be like going to a sci-fi convention dressed as your favorite character Joking aside, what an awesome event, if I lived in the US, that's the kind of event I would make every effort to attend I hope everyone attending has a great time

Thanks for all the feedback, guys, I'd hoped this might be an interesting discussion I guess the Nautilus is more of a comparison in function to a DateJust, rather than a Submariner This was the feeling I'd had about the watch previously, but I remembered seeing an old advert, where someone was wearing a Nautilus over the sleeve of a wetsuit, and that was what made me wonder if it had indeed been intended as a dive watch, rather than just a 'smart all-rounder'

I agree completely I wouldn't say that a Submariner was intended as a cocktail party dress watch (although decades of James Bond have given that impression) but they do look sharp... The Nautilus, as sharp as it looks, and, as tough as I suspect the watch to be, is lacking two things which I would consider crucial to a diver's watch, so that makes me wonder if it was ever viewed as a diver's watch back in the day

Just something I was wondering about yesterday, and never got round to writing, but I was just wondering if the PP Nautilus was ever considered as a serious diver's watch back in the day, or was it just looked upon as the watch of a 'corporate master'? I only ask, as, while I really like the design aesthetic of the Nautilus, the fact that it lacks a timing bezel and a diver's extension on the clasp, puts it out of the divewatch catagory in my book... Sure, it's a nice watch, obviously waterproof, but lacking in those fairly essential qualifying features... Can anyone shed any light on how the watch was viewed 30 years ago?

That looks fantastic While the bracelet link might not be as wide as the original, I think it looks quite okay I think once it gets finished and polished up, it's going to look really tasty

Very tasty, something like that would be good for a custom project

Looking sharp, R The coronet alignment has already been mentioned, so the only thing I would say, would be to bolden the font of the depth rating. Other than that, it looks the business

Glad to be wearing this favorite

That's a real beauty, congratulations on acquiring it

I agree with what FxrAndy said, sometimes, a modification post is of such skill or complexity, people might be so intimidated by the complexity, they may feel their only comment, if they even 'feel worthy' of forwarding an opinion on the subject, is 'nice work ' Something else to bear in mind, is the the APROO is not one of the most 'regularly seen' watches. Sure, they are popular, and really nice watches (I often contemplate getting one myself) but I don't see many of them regularly in the wristshots. I think had the same post been about modifying a Rolex Daytona, an IWC 3717 or an Omega Moonwatch, I'm sure you would have received much more feedback Don't let it get you down, you did an excellent piece of work, and have well and truly proven your skills

Looks good, it'd definitely be interesting to see how it looks in the flesh

That's looking pretty sharp

The pearl looks awesome, your bro does good work Is the pearl at all luminous? I think something like that might be a suitable solution for my Tudor subs, as it would prevent them getting knocked out of the insert