LifeTrekker

Thanks! But dammit! You guys are pulling me deeper and deeper into the rep world. I hope you're happy with yourselves. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

As far as I know, the JF 16610 is only offered with the SH3135. The 2824 is not even an option, although it does sound like it should for just fine stem height wise. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Very nicely done! Now, one quick question for you. Where can you purchase the Silix case? Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Very interesting research. Thanks for sharing. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

And since I'm pretty new here, would someone mind sharing the URL for Phong's site? I'd like to take a look around there myself. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

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Can my 5512 come and play? Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Thanks! I'm gonna have to give that a try. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Very cool! Thanks for sharing. And it's too bad all those great parts are no longer available. I'd really like to build one of these for myself. BTW, the patina on the dial and hands looks great. Do you mind if I ask what technique or techniques you used to achieve it? Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

That looks absolutely delicious! The 5517 is one of my favorite watches. Great pics, BTW! Since I'm relatively new here, would you mind giving a little more detail of your build, such as case used, dial, hands, crystal, movement, etc.? I'd love to know more. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

This makes me smile. [emoji41] Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

My first Rolex rep... A Phong 5512. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

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Thanks for the link jimcon11. That was an interesting article, although, as you pointed out, a bit difficult to read. While reading the article, the thought came to mind that while undoubtedly some of the dials he proclaims as "FAKE" truely are, I'll also bet that some of his supposedly "Fake" dials are actually real. As you pointed out, when these watches were originally made, no one expected they would be scrutinized to the degree that they are today. In addition, I think that people in general, and the Rolex collectors more specifically, have an overinflated idea of just how "perfect" a Rolex watch is, or was, when it was originally made. We're talking the '50's and '60's for when most of these watches were made, and the manufacturing processes and quality control were just not up the standards we hold today. Besides, back in the day, a Rolex was just a watch. A very good watch, to be certain, even a premium watch, but they were not a luxury product like they are today. They were sold with the intention of being worn, and used as a tool, especially a model like the Submariner. They were not as "perfect" as the Rolex collectors like to think they were. Thus my conclusion that some of the article writer's proclaimed "FAKES", are actually probably real. So, as he recommended, the collector of vintage Rolex watches would be best to arm themselves with a Giger Counter to help ensure they don't get scammed. That is, unless and until the "FAKE" dial makers get themselves a supply of radium to dope onto their "FAKE" dials. Then they're kinda screwed. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Very nice! Thanks for sharing all the pics. I now have quite a few to look at in greater detail, especially the vintage models, which are my current obsession. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Your watches look great Yllekp! And if you wanted, I'll bet you could post them to IG and no one would be able to tell that they are not made of 100% gen Rolex parts. And that's kinda my question. Is there really no way to tell a well done rep from a gen when all you have to go on are a few IG pics? From what I can tell, and you have confirmed, there doesn't seem to be. Now if it's not well done, that's another question all together. And I would also venture to say that most rep "craftsmen" like the folks found here in the fora know more about the gens than most gen collectors do. In order to pull off a convincing "tribute", almost by default they have to. On a slightly related note, a friend of mine is a gen collector, and wears a 1680 daily that he picked up from the original owner over a decade ago for about $1000.00. This same friend was helping his boss buy a used Submariner, and found what he thought was a suitable 16610 for him. He took it to his watchmaker and gen Rolex "expert", who after an hour of inspection inside and out declared his doubt as to its authenticity. His determination apparently had something to do with the absence of some "secret marks" that gens have and that only the Rolex Factory and Authorized Service Centers know about. Now, I have no idea if it was actually a gen or a rep, but it it was a rep, my guess is that is was a "Super Franken" with maybe a rep midcase and the rest gen parts, including the movement. Or it could have been a gen, and the "expert" was not as well informed on the subject as he though he was. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Yeah, "too perfect" has crossed my mind many times when looking at vintage Rolex watches on IG. But then again, I have looked at 55XX series watches offered for sale on Bob's Watches, (which I assume are all gens) and a lot of them mention in their descriptions that the "hands have been relumed to match the dial", etc. So even if all of them on IG are gen, (which I seriously doubt), one could assume that the reason so many of them look "too perfect" is because they have been touched up and restored in one way or another. Or, they could be reps. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

So let me ask the question a little differently. Have any of you seen a photo of a 5512/5513/5517 on IG and said to yourself, "You know, this looks like a gen, but I'm just not sure. There just seems to be something off about It. It doesn't feel quite right to me for some reason. It might be rep." Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

True, the IG users with lots of followers will be more closely scrutinized. But with some of the reps I see around here, especially the very well done Frankens with lots of gen parts, how would anyone be able to tell the difference between a gen and a rep in a photo on IG? Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Yup. IG is Instagram. I use the IG app on my phone, but if you search for the hashtag #rolex5512 , #rolex5513 , and #rolex5517 , all the photos I'm talking about will come up. Anyway, here is a sample screenshot for the 5517. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

I've been looking at pictures of the Rolex 55XX series of Submariners on IG, and I'm having a hard time believing that all these watches are genuine, especially the 5517s, since they were truely used as tool watches by military personnel, and would have likely been pretty beat up as a result. So serious question here; what percentage of the 5517s specifically, and the 55XX series of watches in general posted on IG would you guess are genuine versus tribute (rep) watches? Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Beautiful work Bart! These are two of my favorite vintage Rolex references as well, and I can certainly take inspiration from your work. If I ever get to your artistic watch modding skill level, I will be very pleased. Again, great work. And keep the pics coming. [emoji41] Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Subscribed. I'm definitely interested in seeing how this build turns out, as you are doing almost exactly what I plan to do when I order one. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Ditto. I have always found HR great to work with. One of the best. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Taking the ZF Tudor Black Bay Blue out for an autumn stroll today. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk