Jump to content
When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

  • Current Donation Goals

Who makes the best Submariner Rep for the price?

Justasgood

By Justasgood
in The Rolex Area

 Share

Recommended Posts

Mendota Explorer Newbie

Mendota Explorer

Posted
Posted (edited)

Go vintage, and I'll tell you why.  There is so much less scrutiny AND there is so much more interest in "old stuff" when you encounter a regular civilian.  What I mean by that is if you are wearing a brand new, flashy, and shiny modern Rolex this is going to draw more comments of "hey, nice watch."  Then you are left with the dilemma of how to respond.  Do you just say "thanks" and leave it at that, or do they continue asking questions about it and share how they have always wanted one, or whatever the case may be.  The lingering and nagging reality, no matter how freaking awesome the rep may be (50th anniversary SD43 or the latest Cameron Deep Sea) many of the general public will always have a gut feeling about "cheap Chinese knockoffs."

 

With vintage, it flies under the radar with the average civilian, but with other watch enthusiasts it can draw the right kind of attention.  You can talk about the build, you can talk about the history of the piece and what drew you to that particular one.  Then you can share details about your build with them.  How you tinkered with it yourself, or how you worked with a really cool watch builder wherever, or how you sourced parts for months (or years) to make this build.  Honestly, every watch person I have ever talked to and every civilian I have talked to about vintage pieces has always responded VERY favorably when I share that I love vintage watches and I am building up the courage to assemble and build my own vintage watches.  I use the vintage auto restoration analogy all the time because I think it is the perfect comparison.  Not one person on the planet (besides maybe a hardcore auto show collector guy) would ever fault someone who restored and built a classic Vette using a mix of aftermarket OEM spec parts.  They would all say "awesome Vette" and talk about it fondly.  I think vintage watches are the same way with everyone except the most hardcore of the collectors.  It's for personal enjoyment.

 

Good luck!  If you decide to go vintage, there is no better place to be than right here.  The most brilliant minds in the horology world reside here on this forum and they are willing and happy to help in any way they can. I love this place.😀👍

Edited by Mendota Explorer
  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Justasgood Newbie

Justasgood

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Go vintage, and I'll tell you why.  There is so much less scrutiny AND there is so much more interest in "old stuff" when you encounter a regular civilian.  What I mean by that is if you are wearing a brand new, flashy, and shiny modern Rolex this is going to draw more comments of "hey, nice watch."  Then you are left with the dilemma of how to respond.  Do you just say "thanks" and leave it at that, or do they continue asking questions about it and share how they have always wanted one, or whatever the case may be.  The lingering and nagging reality, no matter how freaking awesome the rep may be (50th anniversary SD43 or the latest Cameron Deep Sea) many of the general public will always have a gut feeling about "cheap Chinese knockoffs."
 
With vintage, it flies under the radar with the average civilian, but with other watch enthusiasts it can draw the right kind of attention.  You can talk about the build, you can talk about the history of the piece and what drew you to that particular one.  Then you can share details about your build with them.  How you tinkered with it yourself, or how you worked with a really cool watch builder wherever, or how you sourced parts for months (or years) to make this build.  Honestly, every watch person I have ever talked to and every civilian I have talked to about vintage pieces has always responded VERY favorably when I share that I love vintage watches and I am building up the courage to assemble and build my own vintage watches.  I use the vintage auto restoration analogy all the time because I think it is the perfect comparison.  Not one person on the planet (besides maybe a hardcore auto show collector guy) would ever fault someone who restored and built a classic Vette using a mix of aftermarket OEM spec parts.  They would all say "awesome Vette" and talk about it fondly.  I think vintage watches are the same way with everyone except the most hardcore of the collectors.  It's for personal enjoyment.
 
Good luck!  If you decide to go vintage, there is no better place to be than right here.  The most brilliant minds in the horology world reside here on this forum and they are willing and happy to help in any way they can. I love this place.



Thank you for that well thought out and insightful response.

I’m just afraid that I am gonna get taken and waste my money.

Nanuq, what day you?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Nanuq Mentor

Nanuq

Posted
Posted

I’m just afraid that I am gonna get taken and waste my money.

Nanuq, what day you?


How about a little reminder? Do you remember working on this one? You're the reason this case is so perfect!

sf1.jpg
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
JoeyB Collaborator

JoeyB

Posted
Posted
12 hours ago, Mendota Explorer said:

Go vintage...

If you decide to go vintage, there is no better place to be than right here.  The most brilliant minds in the horology world reside here on this forum and they are willing and happy to help in any way they can. I love this place.

 

I wear my 6542 or 6204 daily. I've had pawn shops, jewelers and even the owner himself of a Rolex store compliment my watch and not question it at all. It all depends on you. What do you like? What 'fits' you, your age, your person? I'm 68 years old and drive a Mercedes. People don't question rep or gen. My son is 30, drives a Toyota. He gets questioned about his 116710 GMT or his 16160 Submariner all the time. 

 

As mentioned, I am old and  reps are getting too expensive for my tastes. As a young man a gen Sub was around $600 new. For me, building a watch is the 'best'. But that's why this place is so great. You do what you choose to do, what's best for you, and it's all right here.  

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Justasgood Newbie

Justasgood

Posted
  • Author
Posted
 
I wear my 6542 or 6204 daily. I've had pawn shops, jewelers and even the owner himself of a Rolex store compliment my watch and not question it at all. It all depends on you. What do you like? What 'fits' you, your age, your person? I'm 68 years old and drive a Mercedes. People don't question rep or gen. My son is 30, drives a Toyota. He gets questioned about his 116710 GMT or his 16160 Submariner all the time. 
 
As mentioned, I am old and  reps are getting too expensive for my tastes. As a young man a gen Sub was around $600 new. For me, building a watch is the 'best'. But that's why this place is so great. You do what you choose to do, what's best for you, and it's all right here.  


Don’t know if I would be comfortable “Building” a watch.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Link to comment
Share on other sites
JoeyB Collaborator

JoeyB

Posted
Posted

I doubt anyone was comfortable contemplating their first build. My first was the 6542, a really complicated build at the time, only Freddy333 had done one. I've rebuilt/improved it 6 or 7 times now, and wear it daily. The thing is that if you choose to build one, the knowledge, information and help/guidance here is astounding. Bottom line is that your watch should be what you want.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites
DeLoMan Newbie

DeLoMan

Posted
Posted
I doubt anyone was comfortable contemplating their first build. My first was the 6542, a really complicated build at the time, only Freddy333 had done one. I've rebuilt/improved it 6 or 7 times now, and wear it daily. The thing is that if you choose to build one, the knowledge, information and help/guidance here is astounding. Bottom line is that your watch should be what you want.

This is so true. I bought a 5512 from Andrew 3 years ago and it was my first good rep. I ended up shaping the crown guards to PCGs, drilling the lug holes, installing an Athaya crown and tube, Ofrei Tropic 19, etc, etc over time. Most recently I just installed a Vietnam 5513 dial and Miyota movement after I dropped the DG2813 while working on it. All in all, it’s been a great education and there’s something to be said about wearing a watch you worked on yourself.

 

9-B45-A818-D59-E-40-EB-81-CB-66388-FC6-E56-A.jpg

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
508-Fanatic Enthusiast

508-Fanatic

Posted
Posted

I built a 5513 - PCG with gilt dial, sold it to a member here, thought I saw it floating around in a pic-thread or FS a while back... it was quite a piece and had a gen movement, dial, hands, bezel, crown, etc. The only non-gen piece was the mid-case and Joe had taken care of the engravings on that, and I had sent it out to one of our best casemen for shaping. I'm sad I parted with it. 

On 3/22/2019 at 2:16 PM, cib0rgman said:

Reps are getting pricey $500 plus for a replica. WTF

 

 I know ... I know  🙈

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Nanuq Mentor

Nanuq

Posted
Posted
I love and built vintage rolexes, but always feel strange wearing watches that make me look older than I am (37). 


Hah, none of my vintage Rolex are less than 37 years old!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Nanuq Mentor

Nanuq

Posted
Posted
I am older than my vintage Rolex watches

 

I got lucky, my favorite vintage was "born" the same month and year as me. Then 56 years old, then 51 years, then 47 years. Oops there's also one 98 years old, and the one sitting in a box in Seattle, 68 years old. Sure wish I could get my hands on that one again.

 

 

Dragging this topic back on topic, I'd have to say the ARF SD43 Anniversary Sea Dweller is the nicest out-of-the-box rep I've seen in a loooooong time. If it wasn't against forum rules, I wouldn't hesitate to wear mine into a Rolex dealer. It's that good.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
bobandshawn Newbie

bobandshawn

Posted
Posted
On 3/22/2019 at 7:42 PM, Mendota Explorer said:

With vintage, it flies under the radar with the average civilian, but with other watch enthusiasts it can draw the right kind of attention.  You can talk about the build, you can talk about the history of the piece and what drew you to that particular one.  Then you can share details about your build with them.  How you tinkered with it yourself, or how you worked with a really cool watch builder wherever, or how you sourced parts for months (or years) to make this build.  

 

^^Exactly. 

I am down to only three watches - but they are all Superfrankens I've built myself!

1976-1986

Link to comment
Share on other sites
fischyyy Newbie

fischyyy

Posted
Posted (edited)
13 hours ago, Nanuq said:

 

Dragging this topic back on topic, I'd have to say the ARF SD43 Anniversary Sea Dweller is the nicest out-of-the-box rep I've seen in a loooooong time. If it wasn't against forum rules, I wouldn't hesitate to wear mine into a Rolex dealer. It's that good.

http://www.trustytime.club/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_8&products_id=19626

Do you mean this one? Is it really better than the ARF/VRF/Noob Submariner reps or is it just rarer so less people can compare to a gen?

Also I'm a bit unsure about the size it seems really big on some wrist shots.

On a related topic, would you get the ETA or the Clone movement? Setting the time in the wrong direction kinda bothers me, but the clone movement worries me too 🙄

From what I read I would definitely avoid the Noob 3135, but ARF/VRF 3135 seem a bit better.

 

Edited by fischyyy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...
Please Sign In or Sign Up