TeeJay

No change for me...

Hurry back, bro, here's hoping it's nothing sinister keeping you away

That's fantastic news Congrats

That sounds absolutely fantastic, I can't wait to see the results

Many thanks

Thanks for the feedback, that's very true, and I had considered the decal method to get dial printing, but, I'm hoping to go for a really 3-D effect on the next dial by indenting over the 'grain' with a pin, and I think a decal might 'flatten' that too much...

I think I only managed to get away with it because of the cost of the vinyl

I'm liking that finish What other finishes did you have in mind?

Thanks, and thanks for the link At the moment, I don't have access to the necessary tools to properly shape a dial, and then put in the holes for the markers to fit into, but a pocket knife, a pair of sharp scissors and a nappy pin are all I used to get the above result

Thanks, Freddy I don't think I'm going to be able to get dial printing onto the dial, but I have plans to use a budget Milgauss or even maybe a Date Just for Phase Two, as that would enable me to keep a coronet marker at 12, which will at least allude to Rolex I'm going to experiment with varnishing, and maybe using a pin to try and get a more 3-D effect (by following the 'grain' and indenting it slightly), than the untreated vinyl which is all the dial suface is at the moment

This is not a final product, but an experiment to see if the project was worth pursuing... Personally, I'm happy with the results, so Phase Two of the project is now green-lighted, pending funds

I am liking the look of this, it's going to be an awesome project

Depending on price (and my spare cash situation) I could do with a set of those...

I'm not too sure of the actual legislation, but I would hope, it would go something like this... Guy orders a load of 100% gen parts off the Bay/some Rolex service center yard sale etc and builds himself a watch... The Polizia get a tip that he's wearing a fake watch, so start the legal process (whoever tipped them off needs teaching a lesson in manners... ) Guy goes through his papers, and gets his receipts which prove that the parts are genuine and paid for. Polizia return his watch to him as being made from legally purchased parts. Of course, it would not surprize me if the Polizia do not return the watch, but instead charge the guy with 'forgery', and infringement of trademark (even though he only wears the watch and never had the intent to sell it) In a country where the mere ownership of a rep is considered a crime, then I really wouldn't like to say how the courts would deal with a 100% gen-parts franken... I suspect, they'd come down with the letter of the law, just to that in the future, any other cases of copyright infringement cannot try and use it to cite precedent for someone getting away with it... Thanks for sparking such a thought-provoking discussion

Just to point out, the above comment about Faisal Ali, is sarcasm. They don't call him 'Mr Slimeball' for nothing

The fact that the watch is gen, is completely and utterly irrelevant, to the point that the owner wants it coated... It's the same as people who modify cars, or who build fantasy reps (or even fantasy gens, if their pockets are deep enough ) It's all about making something custom and unique. The fact the watch is gen, or its price tag probably never even crossed the owner's mind On topic, I think that leaving the insert un-coated would make for a really nice contrast/key detail I can't wait to see the results

Yes, I see what you mean, and yes, I personally would consider it a real Rolex as well, because as you say, all the components are there, and the person assembling it doesn't not make those parts any more or less 'real', so yes, it would be a real Rolex, but, I would accept that the world or ADs and Rolex Service Centers would never accept it as 'official'

Absolutely I would say that if it was a 100% gen shop-bought Rolex, which had then (for whatever reason) had to have a generic ETA fitted, that it would still be a real Rolex, but, I think there would then always be the answer, to "Is it real?" "Yes, but the movement is a replacement, not the original..." Where on the other hand, if it was built with all gen parts, but not by Rolex Manufacturing, then I don't think it could every truly be considered a gen, just, custom built with gen parts...

Does it 'wear big'? 42mm isn't too large really, but if it sits quite high on the wrist, I might give it a miss Sounds like you've got a good vacation planned, bro, plenty of photos for sure

I can quite understand that from that perspective, but what I was meaning, was that, regardless of Rolex opinion that aftermarket modification renders the watch fake (in their eyes) the owner paid to have said parts (be it a crystal, or maybe a new bracelet...) and those parts, (as the watch is not being sold, but only serviced) are not being used to defraud someone, and the owner should have those parts returned to them. The same as how Rolex will update worn out parts on vintage watches with 'clean' parts... What gives them as a company, the right to say that the owner cannot have their watch looking a certain way (vintage) or if necessary, effect repairs with aftermarket sources? Of course, I quite agree, the warranty is broken, so they can always refuse to service it, but on a personal level, I would rather they decline the service to begin with (on the grounds of invalid warranty), rather than get hit by a bill for additional costs for them replacing parts which, by definition, void the warranty, and then keep the parts which I had paid for myself... Do you think? Not to be argumentative, but if I was an industrial diver, I'd buy a watch which could meet the requirements of my job (and most likely use dive computers for timing, rather than a rotating bezel and a mechanical movement which could have the potential to fail, with potentially fatal results) but given the kind of money industrial divers make, I'd probably view the price tag as "Well, if that's what it costs, that's what it costs... "... That's very true... I have to admit the DSSD comes across as 'trying too hard', which may be why I'm not so keen on it as a watch for 'civilian use'. Sure, a Sub or SD is a tool watch, but they're pretty unassuming, but the DSSD... That's a different kettle of fish entirely I quite agree, but would say that with the DSSD, they've made all the effort to make it a technically viable watch. For me, it is what I would class as a tool watch, if it was owned by someone who actually works on the ocean floor, but as an affectation for any 'land-lubbers' who would never actually put it through its paces... But that would be a case of actually buying one as a genuinely collectible item, rather than simply buying one as it's 'flavor of the month'

I've managed to find a 'budget Safari' for 50 Eur. I know the details aren't perfect, but for that price, to see how I like it, I could just use a black marker pen to ink over the hour markers and hands to get the right color, and no big loss I'll see how much cash I get for my birthday... I've only got the three decent watches now: One dress watch, and my two Submariners. Other than that, I'd be reduced to wearing my digital Suunto-clones

Not in terms of which one to buy, but I think my favorite SeaDweller, is the modern 16600. My reasoning for this, and as much as I love the look of the vintage models like the Great White, I feel that other than the HE valve, lack of cyclops, and the dial print, they are very similar to the vintage Submariners like the 1680, where the 16600 (while equally as similar to the 16610) when compared to something like the 1680, definitely looks like an 'improved upon re-working'... (at least, I think so )

I think the vintaging I've put into the vintage case is probably beyond my means to truly remove, (and to be honest, one of the things I like most about that watch) but also, the problem I found when I test-fit them, was the dial just looked 'too new' for the vintage case... I think it's just an instance where I must choose function over form, and clarity and visibility of the dial, definitely outweighs the more comfortable case and bracelet That's not to say that the Tudor sub is uncomfortable to wear in its current configuration, it's just that the vintage sub is more so