Newbie: my experience

[Rolex5512]

Hello RWG,

I probably mentioned this when I first joined but I came to this forum in a weird way. I was looking for a bezel insert to put on my gen 5512.  I had been searching for a red triangle insert but had a hard time figuring out what would fit and which was best. A genuine insert was out of the question as the price is a complete joke in my eyes. When I stumbled into here at first I will admit I was a bit skeptical. I had contemplated buying a replica Rolex many times but never brought myself to the check out page because I didn't want to waste money on a bad rep. 

When I started browsing and reading here I became thoroughly impressed with the wealth of knowledge some of the members here have around watch making and Rolex history.  As my obsession with watches is centered around vintage Rolex I actually once again became interested in checking out some reps. I became totally obsessed when I saw a JMB 1016 for sale. I hesitated on the purchase and of course the for sale thread didn't last very long.  I then like a psycho began to stalk members here via PM (I'm sorry if it was you  ). I messaged anyone I could find that I believed may have a JMB 1016 and I offered them to buy it, obviously no one showed any enthusiasm to sell me theirs, how can I blame them?  So I set off to do my research as a few of the members suggested. As I began to read I also contacted JMB himself and asked if he could help, he said he could.  This made me even more impatient and I promised myself that the next one that popped up for sale would be mine. I spent countless hours reading, researching and waiting. When a watch finally did pop up I was first to contact the seller and it was finally mine.

At that same time I had ordered some more parts for the build JMB is going to do.  I bought a glossy gilt Yuki 1016 dial, some bracelets, and a 6mm brevet+ crown. (I wanted to see how the crown looked even though its not period correct for the 1016, unfortunately its too thick.)  

When my 1016 came I was a bit underwhelmed. Not because of the watch itself but because it was a replica and I had never owned a rep.  It was more of mind game I was playing with myself.  I bought it because I like the way the 1016 looks but I don't like all $9000 of it.  At the same time I did not want people to think that I bought a replica to show off, I was a bit perplexed.  I put it on my favorite gray NATO and wore it around. It took me a few days over the Thanksgiving weekend to get used to it and I did. It is my go to watch now and I wear it daily. On Wednesday night I pulled out my 5512 to go to dinner, I put it on for less than a minute and then it went right back in the safe.  

I have now come to appreciate not that it is a rep of the 1016 but I appreciate what has gone in to making it. The amount of time, effort, and energy that go into some of these Rolex reps by the members of RWG is beyond amazing to me. Now I can't wait to get the second one from JMB even more. In the meantime I am also patiently waiting on a BigDazza 6538 to get here from the other side of the pond.

I want to thank everyone here for sharing their knowledge and being so kind when I asked them questions that were totally remedial. This forum is awesome and I haven't visited the gen forum in almost two months. I find the members here are much more down to earth and much more inviting even though some of you probably have more Gens of all types than some of the guys at the gen forums.  

Hope this wasn't totally a bore for you but I thought I'd share! happy Friday to all and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Cheers,

Dmitry

[Revere]

The amount of knowledge across the users of this board is impressive. I'm sure you've only scratched the tip of the iceberg, I learn new stuff every time I load up the page.

[508-Fanatic]

 

Really glad the watch is settling in on you, and the new sticker on the new JMB will make it perfect