rolexer Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 (edited) Hi all, I introduced myself in May with pics of a rather crappy SD rep bought from China. At the same time I ordered an SSD v2, ie. a Sea Dweller, but through mr. BKLM1234 whom everyone interested in Rolexes should know. BK introduced some basic mods to the watch such as trimming the Crown Guards, changing stock pearl to WM pearl, recessing the bezel insert nicely and fitting a GEN ETA 2834-2 movement to the watch. Well, I have the watch now and love it! Comparing to the Gen pics on WM9 site there is very little to be seen that differs between these watches, besides the price of course . I just applied WD40 to the bracelet to make it perfect, and now it feels just like what a Rolex bracelet should feel like. To cut the crap, here be the pics: Overall view from the front Showing the SEL, bezel height and "cuts" Nicely recessed bezel insert, and the slightly pronounced LEC (can hardly be seen in real life, photos exaggerate it always) WM pearl beats the hell out of the stock plastic button Nicely trimmed CGs A little overall detail with the bracelet locked The bracelet attachment to the case is very good, with the locking pins near the surface and the adjoining metal parts look clean and good Showing a little bit of the backside of the watch with bracelet open Exposing the HEV, bezel form and height, and crystal shape and height. Nearly impossible to tell from this photo that it's not a gen. Showing the caseback with nice clean, black and crisp lettering Bracelet details #1 Bracelet details #2 (notice the crown on the clasp, nice!) Bracelet details #3 Bezel and insert details from another angle Looks very nice from the sideview, doesn't it! And your obligatory crappy lume shot. Lume itself is OK, with the WM pearl shining a bit brighter than the dial markers. rgds, Rolexer Edited July 30, 2009 by rolexer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnDorian Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 Is the HEV sealed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnDorian Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 Btw, what's the pricing on this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbh Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 Is the HEV sealed? HE valve is functional on these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolexer Posted July 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 Guys, This is not the WM9 SD (someone asked in PM). It is the old SSD v2, just modified by BK (whom I highly recommend). These are the flaws of this watch, when compared to GEN (that I have discovered, through serious pic comparisons). As you all can see, the flaws mentioned here are very small, and will require a lot of attention to the watch, and even then a comparison photo next to it, to be able to see the differences. To bare, untrained (or even trained) eye, I find these small flaws nearly impossible to catch. The watch is that good: - Bezel form below the carvings/cuts is wrong. GEN bezel has less space between the lower tip of the cut and the folding point that turns the bezel to inside. In SSDv2 the bezel folding point is too low, and thus leaves too much space below the carvings. Overall I would say the bezel is just a tine wee bit too thick as well. So GEN bezel is just a little bit thinner and folds at a different point below the cuts. This is visible from the side view only. - The laser etched crown (LEC) is too easily visible on the crystal. In GEN you need a very specific light and angle to be able to see it with bare eye, and even then it is very very faint. Not so on the SSDv2, however it's OK. - The rehaut needs to be even more straight up-down, since it's just a little too "wokky" in shape. Also the point between the crystal and the rehaut is different in GEN, you can see a more clear "step" in the GEN, than what you see in SSDv2 (probably meaning that the GEN rehaut is thicker on its ring). However, again, it's pretty good. The rehaut material also has a little too much of a processed metal look in the SSDv2 as opposed to it being nearly "clear" metal in GEN. - The flip-lock of the bracelet leaves a tiny scratch mark on the outside of its counterpart. This does not happen in GEN. - WM pearl is very very nice, but the GEN pearl is just little different. - The Rolex crown on the bracelet is very good, but there is a little bit of "protrusion" on the tip of the crown, that is not there in GEN. I do know the overall construction of this watch is not similar to GEN construction, but since that is not visible from the watch per se, I don't count it as a real flaw. In GEN some of the shapes of the watch are also more "rounded-out", and those parts that are processed more, do not have markings on the surface to indicate any processing, so GEN must have a more detailed finishing touch to the metal parts as well (as expected). Then what I would consider WINNER things on this watch are: - Super Dial, absolutely beautiful. - Great bezel insert, can't tell from GEN - Crystal height top notch with bezel insert recessed properly - HEV color and appearance very good - CGs after trimmed very good - Overall bracelet quality very good - Rotating bezel, the sound is similar to GEN (more plasticky knicks rather than metallic knacks ) - Case thickness and overall appearance very good - WRIST PRESENCE SUPERB AND DAMN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL FROM GEN WITHOUT GOOD EXPERTISE! rgds, Rolexer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_Diddy Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 +1 Btw, what's the pricing on this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 Very Nice! Thanks for the very informative pictorial! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yaron Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 The rehaut is still a problem in this watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elepaolo Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 There's another, big, immediate tell on the SSD (which I have and love, however): the dial is missing the thicker markers at 5, 10, 15... on the outer ring. Compare with a gen (or even your ordinary Sub rep, that has the proper markers) and you'll see what I mean. Great watch you have, however! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_Diddy Posted August 1, 2009 Report Share Posted August 1, 2009 can you elaborate, are you referring to the maxi dial? There's another, big, immediate tell on the SSD (which I have and love, however): the dial is missing the thicker markers at 5, 10, 15... on the outer ring. Compare with a gen (or even your ordinary Sub rep, that has the proper markers) and you'll see what I mean. Great watch you have, however! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yaron Posted August 1, 2009 Report Share Posted August 1, 2009 There's another, big, immediate tell on the SSD (which I have and love, however): the dial is missing the thicker markers at 5, 10, 15... on the outer ring. Compare with a gen (or even your ordinary Sub rep, that has the proper markers) and you'll see what I mean. Great watch you have, however! You are right, I also have a slightly modded SSD (WM pearl and trimmed CG's) which I like, but this is quite an obvious tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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