TeeJay

The rep of the Tudor Heritage doesn't have a screw down crown, but it's still water resistant. With my plastic submariner, although that doesn't have a screw down crown, it is also waterproof, but having taken it apart, I know that the crown has two small o-rings on the cuff which screws onto the stem, and I wonder if the Heritage (and possibly your Tag) might employ a similar system Only way to know for sure, is to either strip it down to see what's in place, or, run a faucet full force, hold the watch under the flow, and see what happens - Just be ready to strip it down quickly if it does flood

Waterproofing is not an issue for two reasons:

1. The watch has a leather strap, so I would avoid getting it wet anyway, so as to protect the strap.

2. If the caseback unscrews for a dial swap (if the dial was to fit) then the caseback can be screwed back down again tightly enough to ensure water resistance. Just wear a pair of dishwashing gloves, and use both thumbs to screw the back round, and it will remain water resistant. Chances are even the rep will be water resistant. I've had five different chrono reps, none of which had an issue with submersion...

My budget 16610, £32 shipped, a quick check to make sure the crystal was seated properly, the caseback was fully screwed closed, and that the crown was fully closed after adjusting the time, and guess what happened after it went through the shower and a faucet on full force... That's right, it carried on telling the time without a hint of condensation or fogging. I remember reading several years ago about someone paying dealer extras for waterproofing, only to receive something which leaked like a seive, but I must admit, my own experiences in this matter have been a good 90+% positive, it really is not the issue it used to be

As above though, I would agree, and either buy the rep, or keep the Rotary in out of the box condition

Apologies for the abysmal photo 12 hours left in the shakedown, and then it'll be going in the watch case until I can begin the 16800 conversion project, and the 1655 will be back on my wrist in honor of Hike's expedition Not exactly what I ordered (didn't want Maxi markers or hands ) but it's water resistant, running at +10 seconds, and the 21j movement sweeps smooth as silk, zero stutter or skipping, so not worth sending back, and still ideal for my conversion plans

Apples and Oranges debate...

Richemont have more expensive products, Swatch has more accessible products, but I doubt any is actually 'stronger' than the other, other than maybe by the balance of their bank account A billionaire might have more money than a homeless man, but that doesn't stop him beating his wife and drink driving, so the size of his bank balance doesn't really make him 'a better man'...

You're not the only one, bro, I think it's a monstrosity of a watch. Only place and time I would ever cosider wearing such a watch was if I was on the floor of the trench, hunting Nemo (the terrorist, not the fish) Awesome video though

That's a true masterpiece, absolutely fantastic in capturing the essence of the black bay

I honestly couldn't care less about being called out, most of the time if I am, I will say a rep is a gen and a gen is a rep....that usually confuses them. Honestly most people don't care enough about watches to have any interest, if you are wearing a rolex rep and dressed in 'chav' clothing then you are probably asking for it. I have a few friends who are semi into watches, and they get the whole rep thing and have even bought a few they were so impressed with the quality.

I do have one 'friend' well he is more a friend of a friend and one day a couple of years ago at a party he drunkenly tried to shiit on me and the rep game and 'Chinese' crap watches in a lame attention seeking attempt. I drew attention to his pride and joy Armani watch and told him that my piece of crap Chinese watch is much better made than his Chinese made Armani piece of crap bling fashion watch...that shut him up.

:tu:

I think the real issues at stake, are not so much the watches themselves, but the media-forced stigma towards 'counterfeit goods', and the mentality of douchebag's who can ony succeed by trying to bring others down. Sure, there is a sliding scale of quality, but it depends at what point a person is, and wants to be, on that scale. For example, some people are happy to stick a poster of the Mona Lisa on their wall. Others might want something on a canvas, other still, might want a painted reproduction. No one is going to believe that the poster is the original, but likewise, that might still give someone pleasure to look at, and only a real fucknut would try taking a poster into an art gallery and trying to sell it as the original Like the budget 16610 I have just acquired, given that it has Maxi dial and hands (would make a great LV ) and the leaves of the bracelet are stamped STEBLHOX, there's no way I could try and sell it as a gen. But, I don't want to try and sell it as a gen... I want to modify it into something else (which still wouldn't pass as gen) It makes me laugh at how the gen forum snoots slag off rep owners as if every rep owner is out to sell on their reps to some unsuspecting schmoe, rather than, like the guy with the Mona Lisa poster on the wall, simply enjoying for what they are Equally, that painted reproduction is still a work of art in its own right, and even more a test of skill that the original, because while Maestro Leonardo simply painted as he always had, the forger has to not only recreate the image, but over-ride their own painting habits by imitating the brushwork of someone else, so the result is by no means something which deserves to be belittled by being called 'a fake'

The closest I've come to being 'called out', was while wearing my EuroFakes 16610 (Still the best quality Sub I've bought, but still a rip off on the price ) I was in a bar with some of wifey's co-workers, so not really people I knew, but equally not total strangers, and one guy (younger than me) first said that I was wearing a nice watch, and when I then showed it to him (at this point, I hadn't found the forum) he then asked if it was real or not (because it was a Rolex) and I explained that it was a rep, but he was still impressed, and said he'd ask his parents to get him one for his 21st (rep, not gen) He wasn't trying to call me out at all, simply trying to get information on a potential purchase For a while, I was uncomfortable weaing Rolex at under 30 years old, but having hit that mark, I now don't have an issue wearing them, and while I would happily tell someone that I was wearing a rep, no one quesions what I wear at all (mostly because the people I see most don't really know anything about watches) Ironically, I feel more self-conscious wearing my latest 16610 (budget a21j and only being worn for it's test period, before going back to the 1655) than I feel wearing the 1655, which if gen, would be worth considerably more I find this mindset helps: It's YOUR watch, it is supposed to be on YOUR wrist Don't let the watch 'wear you', and only the most attention-seeking douchebags would think of calling you out

As promised, in honor of Hike's expedition, I'm wearing my 1655 I normally wear mine on a leather fat stap, like Orlando Bloom's, but due to my desire to keep the watch on 24/7, as I would any other beater, I took it off the strap and put it on a DateJust Oyster bracelet. Unlike the factory-installed 16610 Oyster bracelet which I couldn't stand the watch on, this is nearly identical to Rolex's original factory bracelet (but without the folded links) and I'm finding it pretty tolerable Strange how changing a small detail like an end link can make such a difference to the overall perception of the watch No pic, as y'all know what a 1655 looks like, without a blurry iPhoto

Absolutely fantastic work, my friend, you've well and truly captured the essence of the black bay

That's a fantastic piece, I'm sure he'll love it

If it was labeled Trusted Dealers, the admin could be accused of endorsing such businesses, and of course, this forum is purely for educational purposes

Welcome to the party

And the credibility for this cause now goes down the toilet

I consider the issue itself one of the Prime Directive

Heres to your Summit Hike

Wearing my Explorer in your honor until you reach the top

There's an idea, I'm going to do the same

Fantastic piece, a job well done With regards the build/purchase price point, sure, a purchase would be 100% gen, but it would never have that "I built that..." satisfaction

I would say the brand or model of the watch is irrelevant, the key questions are what do you want out of a watch (must it be a divers watch, a chronograph, or even a custom build?) what are the availability of the parts and pieces, and what is your budget? I've just swapped the dial over in my DateJust, probably going from one model number to another, but it was a pretty simple procedure to do. Another project I have on the drawing board is for a completely custom piece, which will require having a bezel ring modified to accept a different insert, and modifying the dial to fit over a GMT movement, so a bit more challenging I would definitely suggest undertaking as much of the project yourself as possible, as nothing beats the feeling of looking down, and thinking "I made that..." Best of luck with your project, whatever route you decide to go down

Be epic and live deliberately, bro

Interesting news indeed, thanks for the heads up

I've waiting on a budget 16610 Submariner to arrive, which I am going to convert into a 16800 Submariner

Last wristie for awhile...............

but this one is not going to Everest!

Travel safe, brother

@TeeJay. Very interesting project. I'm not a Rolex fan, but I'd love to see more of this piece.

When I have proper computer access, I'll get some better photos with my camera, but this is about the best I can manage with the iPhone and an editing app Sadly it doesn't come close to capturing how the dial looks to the naked eye, the black printing just pops off the shifting tones of the platinum

Don't vintagize it by tossing it out in the driveway and driving over it...

Elaboration...?

Fantastic read, thanks for taking the time to make it so