symbebekos Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Thanks to all the help, information and advice I've received on RWG, I've decided to build a franken V72-based 6263. Freddy's pointed out the bad "O" in ROLEX most Daytona rep dials have, and since then, it's hard for me to look at dials with that problem without wincing. So who has the best rep dial? DW? Andy/Timeman? Is there a more expensive super-rep out there? Tell me your opinion! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 All aftermarket dials contain inaccuracies & many of the inaccuracies tend to shift or vary (in their location, severity, etc) over time and/or from version to version, so it is difficult to say whose dial is best. But, given that, DW's generally tend to contain the least objectionable compromises to MY eyes. Someone recently posted a picture of DW's 626x dial selection elsewhere in this forum (use the Search function). You might scope out some of DW's more salient competitors - NDTrading, Andy & Phong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
llsteve80 Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Anyone ever think of having a singer base dial refinished by kirk rich? apparently they do the refinishing for the RSC's..... They might not wanna do it but if you had a singer V72 dial, and removed all the paint and stuff on top they can't say it's NOT rolex..... Or maybe some of the rep dials for V72 are good enough that the company would just refinish it w/o question? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmt Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Anyone ever think of having a singer base dial refinished by kirk rich? apparently they do the refinishing for the RSC's..... They might not wanna do it but if you had a singer V72 dial, and removed all the paint and stuff on top they can't say it's NOT rolex..... Or maybe some of the rep dials for V72 are good enough that the company would just refinish it w/o question? Sounds like a solid idea. Give it a try, Steve! Love to see how it came out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
llsteve80 Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Sounds like a solid idea. Give it a try, Steve! Love to see how it came out. I'm out of the game right now bro.....college and all. Sold all my V72 daytona stuff. But anyone else is welcome to try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
symbebekos Posted October 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Thanks Freddy! Your Daytonas are an inspiration. Steve, I like that idea about Kirk Rich - but where do you think one could find a base V72 Singer dial? Also, does anyone have an image of a Timeman Daytona dial? Andy doesn't have any on his site, and I emailed him but he seems to be away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 I seem to recall that Andy's Daytona dials were the same 1s that Phong sells, so you might look his over & then check with Andy to see if he can get it for you at a more sane price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avitt Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Thanks Freddy! Your Daytonas are an inspiration. Steve, I like that idea about Kirk Rich - but where do you think one could find a base V72 Singer dial? Also, does anyone have an image of a Timeman Daytona dial? Andy doesn't have any on his site, and I emailed him but he seems to be away... My two Daytonas both have Timeman dials. The coronets were not too good, so I transplanted two nice ones from DW dials (coronets on DW dial are hit-or-miss). There are a few pictures around here somewhere... That Kirk Rich idea sounds interesting. It will really depend on how "legitimate" they are. If they're really straight, there is the risk that they have worked on enough genuine dials to easily recognize the fake Singer stamp on our pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
symbebekos Posted October 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 I seem to recall that Andy's Daytona dials were the same 1s that Phong sells, so you might look his over & then check with Andy to see if he can get it for you at a more sane price. I think I prefer DW's to Phong's...Phong's coronet just looks wrong to me, and a few other little things bug me. I don't know if anything but a gen dial would satisfy me, but they're so freaking expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avitt Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 If you decide on a DW, I've still got a few available Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
symbebekos Posted October 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 If you decide on a DW, I've still got a few available Jeez Avitt! You have PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avitt Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Jeez Avitt! You have PM Looks like I do have a few parts in the box...I'm only missing hands: Now you have PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
symbebekos Posted October 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 You're the man Avitt! Can't wait to get my package Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrandazzo Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Looks like I do have a few parts in the box...I'm only missing hands: God....this dial.... I can't wait to see the finished product! I wish I could build one of these (with V72) one day... Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flex Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 yes,,, this is exactly what I am going to do.. i have a gen dial lying around in the tool box back home.. Ariana (Universal watch) quoted me $400 for the complete refinishing job. Rlex Anyone ever think of having a singer base dial refinished by kirk rich? apparently they do the refinishing for the RSC's..... They might not wanna do it but if you had a singer V72 dial, and removed all the paint and stuff on top they can't say it's NOT rolex..... Or maybe some of the rep dials for V72 are good enough that the company would just refinish it w/o question? Gen bracelet, NOS hands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flex Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 deleted..double post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest avitt Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Wow, flex! That's a nice collection of parts Are you sure that dial needs to be refinished? Maybe just cleaned? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
symbebekos Posted October 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 I agree - Flex, that dial looks amazing, I don't know that it really needs to be refinished... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Flex - Universal has done 2 of my gen dials & they do outstanding work. Unlike NDTrading & other purveyors of 'professionally refinished' dials (which are, in fact, nothing more than 100% newly made, aftermarket parts), Universal is the real deal. Their professionally restored dials actually do look like the original & without the usual telltale (aftermarket) mistakes. However, I would give some serious thought to leaving the dial as-is, since it does not look to be in very bad shape in the picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flex Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 in fact the dial was fitted for 3 minutes and i had it taken out from the watch ( i know it is not what I am going to wear).. see better pics in here the dial and hands do cost me fair bit of money.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flex Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Freddy, avitt, symbebekos - i am still deciding as to which company I should be sending my dial for refinishing. Just for reference, when i showed these companies with the pic of my watch. Universal quoted me $400 (very reasonable I think) whereas Kirk quoted me $350. Michael Young just advised me to get a service dial from RSC Hong Kong as he believes it will bring down the value of my vintage rolex. regards Flex Flex - Universal has done 2 of my gen dials & they do outstanding work. Unlike NDTrading & other purveyors of 'professionally refinished' dials (which are, in fact, nothing more than 100% newly made, aftermarket parts), Universal is the real deal. Their professionally restored dials actually do look like the original & without the usual telltale (aftermarket) mistakes. However, I would give some serious thought to leaving the dial as-is, since it does not look to be in very bad shape in the picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Flex - Any non-original part (including Rolex service parts, if they differ from the OEM part) in a Rolex watch will (negatively) affect its ultimate value to serious collectors. But so can a damaged dial. It is a balancing game & you have to make an executive decision. Were the watch mine, having seen the new picture, I would have Universal refinish the dial. However, & I think this is your goal too, for non-tool watches, I prefer a watch that looks like it just came back from Rolex service, as opposed to a vintage watch that 'looks its age'. The dial you receive back from Universal will look, for all intents & purposes, almost exactly like 1 of those NOS dials you see popping up on TZ every once in awhile that makes people (like me) pant & drool. Still, on the other-other hand -- If you use the dial as-is (unrefinished), no one who looks at the finished watch will ever believe it is anything other than (a freshly-serviced) gen. The age & patina on that dial is unmistakably genuine, which adds alot of credibility to your watch. So, you really cannot go wrong whichever way you decide to go. Just make absolutely sure you go with a gen (& age/model correct) bracelet or strap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eunomians Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Don't refinish the dial. People pay big $$$ for genuine patina on Rolex dials & hands. Trust me, as a veteran lonnng-time OEM vintage Rolex collector, I know. The worth of a rep or franken is relative (???) but a nice franken with a vintage dial such as yours remains unique. Keep it as is! LOL, differing opinions can make a man go insane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Ahoy, Euno. We missed you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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