southcoast68

From one tea lover to another, all the best to you Freddy. And to all, a happy upcomming holiday season, and hopes that all are well and happy in '09.

I thought the green color is used to denote anniversary or limited edition models since green is Rolex's official company color.

Oww, that is painful to look at . I remember about a couple of years ago, there was some talk on one of the forums that work was being done to replicate the Rolex Day-Date movement exactly. It was also mentioned that progress was down to a fully operational prototype and that is was left up to testing to figure out how to mass produce, maybe that was one of them?? Gee, I gotta search to see if I can find that thread . Either way, if that was a copy movement, wow, it would have fooled me. Stuff like that really makes you doubt everything you see on the web, which in a way, can improve Rolex's buisiness ("the only way to ensure you are getting the real thing, is to buy directly at a Rolex AD"). Interesting stuff

Cool!!!!!!! Don't touch a thing, I like it the way it is.

Cool pictures, thanks for sharing.

The genuine Milgauss green crystal has NO coronet etching at 6:00, only the clear crystal version has the etching. Apparently, Rolex had troubles with the etching vs. the green coating on the crystal. So the rep is inaccurate in that its not supposed to have an etching if it is a green crystal. Picture below from timezone, used without permission. Other than that, its a nice piece, and a great review. Thanks D4M.

Wow, if 'ol Ronald is acting like this, someone better call the po-lice!!! @Dr.TuB, congrats on your new Sub, wear it well and welcome to the forum. But beware, this watch collecting thing is a slippery slope, pretty soon you will have a house full!!

I still do not understand why WM9 insists on putting a "grading" of AAAAAA+++ or whatever on his site. His products appear to be high quality and acceptable to rep community where it is known that such a grading system is hogwash. Seeing stuff like that only makes him appear to be a scam site. WM9, if you are reading this, please drop the "rating" or "grading" from your site, it does you no good at all.

Hublot was founded in 1980 by Carlo Crocco Yeah, they have loads of history and tradition in watch making behind them . Sorry to the Hublot faithful, but I do not see the point in considering them a high end brand. Even though the HBB has grown somewhat on me (black polished ceramic versions especially), it seems as though there are more special editions of this watch appearing week by week, I myself am waiting for the "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" special edition to come out soon.

Congrats, looks great!! Those cookies were a nice touch yeah. I still have to get the back off of mine yet to see what killed it. Still, its a neat peice well worthy of a permanent spot in my watch box.

Fantastic work Freddy (as always), this is going to be a real looker with the gilt dial. Of course, if it were me, I'd be tempted to get a custom made white GMT dial made for this and have a "GMT a la Pan-Am" . Thanks so much for sharing these photos. Cheers

I agree with this. I have often felt that if the rep makers could come up with some of the super reps we have now, why not a good and reliable Daytona. I think the short answer is that they know that they really don't have to, whatever they produce now will sell just fine with out any effort in improving it. However, I think we are seeing a change here in the rep world recently. Just a short time ago, everyone was searching for the best Sub they could find, and it seemed that it would always be a "unicorn" for us. One model had a great case but a crappy dial and bad bezel assembly while another model had a good overall build quality and a horrible dial and date wheel. Seemed like the industry got us close, but we still had to combine the best attributes from multiple watches to build one good one. Now we have watches like the Euromariner and the WM9 Subs, watches that have been reviewed by some of the best folks we have here to be nearly perfect in construction, build quality and looks. So as we go, we are seeing it possible to get the perfect Sub almost out of the box. Add to this the Deep Sea reps that are comming out that are not only approaching the correct case size (a case proprietory to the Deep Sea), but even having a decent looking glide lock clasp, and these are apparently not even the "Super" editions we may see at the end of the year. All of this replicating a new model that most have not even had a chance to see for real yet. We are also well aquainted with the HBB's and AP ROOs', watches with complicated dials and different subdial arrangements being made available which are almost dead ringers for the real deal, and the Skyland...need I say more? So what is the deal with the Daytona? I have often said that if they could do a faux chrono seconds a 9 version, with more correct looking subdial spacing, a thinner case, and built solid with quality parts, I would be the first in line. As By-Tor said, the current seconds at 6 model is scary close when looking at it straight on, but the case is way too thick and that is something that is un-fixible since the A7750 (or ETA 7750) is a thick movement that needs that size case to fit. I think it may have been Ubi who built a thinner case seconds at 6 rep, but I would assume that it took a lot of fine works and planning to make it a success, but I suppose if any one could do it, it would be Ubi. Of couse case thickness, while being important to me, would take a back seat to the issue of the movement itself and its historic problems. A lot of folks here have just about had complete success in solving those problems with servicing, graphite treatments, and still more of those problems could be solved if the movements were properly jeweled from the factory to begin with. So I don't get it either, maybe we will somday see the production of a real good Daytona rep, but since it is a modified chronograph, maybe not. If the rep makers are reading this, they need to realize that if a solid performing, well made and accurate looking Daytona was produced, many of us would probably be eager to throw the old models in the trash and spend more $$ on the new and improved (if it is indeed improved). After all, it has been proven that many are willing to spend as much as a grand on a super rep (no, I am not one of those folks), I am sure that a dependable, accurate looking Daytona would be a slam dunk for lets say $500 US. What do the rest of you think??

I feel like sharing too...

Well, I have an update. As of this morning the watch has stopped. A little hand winding and a little gentle agitation will not start it, so as of now, my good deal has lost some of its luster. I will elect not to return it since there is no guarantee that what I will get back (if anything) will be any better. So for now, I am stuck . As I am yet to be good enough at taking apart a movement, I would have to send it to someone, which is tough because I need someone to trust. Someone who can fix what it has and not just replace the movement with another one. Based on his knowledge and track record, The Zigmeister would be my first choice, and he has a long waiting list. So for the time being, this one will sit off to the side. So much for that trip to their watchmaker

Well, I got my Tudor Sub in on Friday, and am pleased with what I got. It has been running great, not losing or gaining and sets well. The bezel insert I do not like and I will probably be looking for one with a better pearl. Other than that, I have nothing I want to change at this time. So, here are the pics of the one I got, gentlemen - start your comparison. This is how I got it, with a brand new Hadley Roma band which I do not intend on using with it. The crystal has a nice dome to it, it also has a scratch at 5:00 (or maybe its a smudge of glue ). The movement appears clean and runs real good. Its a slow beat non-hacking movement, like the others. Notice the micro-stella adjustment screws on the balance wheel. Here is another shot of the movement. The caseback is very well done, has what I call "the moat" around the case wrench teeth, correct Oyster case wording, nice engraving on the inside with the same "IV 68" as the others, and as Freddy said, it screws down on the case like no other rep caseback can. The case also has the machined lip on the back making the mating surface for the caseback about a millimeter (or a little less) below the back of the lugs. Case number is the same - 7016/0 The serial number is - 737738, about the case numbers, they are engraved - not etched in Ah, the bezel assembly, it features a thick crystal retaining ring (with no groove underneath) and a thin metal retaining washer. No wavy, paper clip like retaining wire. The dial is the same as the others with the "SWISS - T<25" at 6:00 and is nicely printed. The lume dots have a nice cream color as do the hands (dial and hands match nicely). The watch was pretty clean, but the crystal appears glued on, so I may replace the crystal altogether with one that better fits. All in all, I could have done way worse for $275. Here it is with a gen folded link Oyster bracelet. Here is what I think. Genuine movement (taken from another not as sought after Tudor model), Viet case, Viet dial, good quality (but aftermarket) crown and tube. After tracking down a gen bezel insert (which may cost me much more than what I paid for the watch itself) and replacing the crystal, I'll have another keeper for the collection. A BIG THANK YOU to Chris5264 for originally bringing this deal to light. Cheers

Well, I just got mine in today and it looks pretty much the same as everyone elses so far. Hopefully I can get some pictures of it tonight to share. BTW - did anyone else get a small bag of chocolate chip cookies with their Tudor??

Ahh yes, the "Twist-O-Flex", I forgot the name, but thats it. I swear everytime I see one of those, my arm hair hurts.

I was thinking of putting mine on one of those Spidel expansion bands, you know, one of those arm hair stripping bands , just kidding. IMO, nothing but a folded end link oyster style bracelet would look right. There are several manufacturers of these types of bracelets, so getting a quality one should not be a major deal. I am fortunate enough to have a gen Rolex folded link oyster, so I think I will use it on mine when it arrives. I should be getting mine by the end of the week.

What is advertised as a Lemania is really a Seagull ST-19, manual wind, full chronograph (sometimes refered to as a Venus copy). They are known to be very robust and reliable. They work great and reset smooth, so they are a good choice for a rep Daytona, if you don't mind having to give it a wind up manually every other day or so. I have two of them, and they are great. Happy Hunting

Thats what I was told last week and that a couple more were to come in Friday, but would not ship until this week. If they were going to a watchsmith for repair and/or inspection and adjustment I guess that would make sense, but the one Chris received had issues with the case tube and the crystal/bezel assembly being held on with glue and the caseback gasket was so old that it cracked. I guess I really don't care as long as I get one similar to Freddy's in case design and movement type, most everything else I can deal with on my own. Depending on what arrives, I already am planning on a tube/crown replacement, crystal replacement and a bezel insert switch. Once again, just commentary.

In my automatically generated order e-mail it says that if they did not confirm the order within 12 hours, to e-mail them back. So I did, so I guess I'll find out where I stand. So if anyone else out there sent an order for one of these and has not heard anything, maybe give them an e-mail to follow up. After this, I won't bug them anymore, I'll just do the waiting game. BTW - I still wonder about the source for these. If they had say 8 of these, wouldn't have they been shipped out as sold instead of people being put in a cue for one? Almost sounds as if they are having them done up as they go, ah well, the best of luck to those of us still waiting.

My order for this was supposed to go out this week. Did any one else get a confirmation of it being shipped, or just a confirmation of the order? I am now really curious of what I will get if I get one. (keeping fingers crossed)

Freddy, have I ever thanked you for your wealth of information, well allow me to do it now, Thank You!! That is a great link. Cheers

I am curious to see what I will get with mine. I have to think that if all of these were made up, there are probably differences in the parts used. Either way, for $275 I'll still think it will be good. After all, thats about the price of most reps people buy, and the problems listed above are not any more serious than the normal reps we see.

Well, I am in on this (hopefully), I was told in e-mail that they are expecting a couple more back from watchsmith next week. I asked them to hold one for me, that was at about 5:30 EST. If anyone else wants in on these, you may want to hurry as it seems like there are not a lot of these left.