Interesting to see the many varied opinions of what constitutes a gen. One thing no one mentioned is that Rolex has a record of all serial numbers they manufacture so even if you build a gen the serial on the case would be known to be a replacement case, or proveably non-gen if aftermarket. This is a potential issue if the watch ever needed to be sent to Rolex for service since the case would not be on file as belonging to an original genuine watch. Also, I talked to my AD watchmaker recently when I had my gen GMT serviced, and he told me they are required to report the servicing to Rolex USA by serial number so that Rolex USA records are accurately updated. If I were considering the purchase of a home-buit gen, it would matter greatly to me to know the truth about its origin. This doesn't mean an all gen parts home built isn't gen, just that IMO Rolex would not view it that way. I have seen
occb2 post about getting a serial registered with Rolex USA, so apparently there is a way to make it entirely legit.
Built-Sub So you are the reason I got kicked out of TRF. LOL. Last week I got banned and they give no reason. I never spoke of fakes there. About 4 years ago I got in an argument with an idiot because I build my own watches.
The truth is if every part is Rolex it is a Rolex. If you put a fake part in it it is no longer a Rolex. That is it. Your 2813 is what makes it fake.
2fake said it the best. Go by that guideline you will be great.
I have been to Rolex in Manhattan a lot in my life. Between looking at watches and buying and inspecting watches. Service is on the 5th floor of the building.
Understand that my intention was NOT to register my watch. I only had 7 Rolexes registerer to me in my life. My first sub that I got at Rolex in 2000. I traded it for the 16613 in 2003 and that was registered. Been in for service 3 times. I also brought a 16610LN 2000 that my AD knew I was looking for, for nostalgic reasons. So that is registered too me. Then I have my wife date just and non-date. They did register my 116710LN because I went down there with the all real 116710LN that I made because Therealgoat needed a serial number to verify his band. So when we met I thought it was going too be a $160 charge and they were going to say I was right and the half of the band was fake. But they didn't. They took my watch and told me too come back. I went to get something too eat and when I returned it was all good. They said the band was real and my watch was in good condition. They mentioned the scratches on the band and case and that the movement did not need service and too return when it needed it. In the computer system now, that watch is registered too me. I have since sold it to a friend. So he will have zero issues going into rolex and getting it serviced.
Now over the years, and I mean now almost 20 years, RSS have changed drastically. See as a detective I was very lucky. I would sometimes help our Robbery/Burglary detective and I would do pawn shop visits. They would have rolexes sometimes. About 50% were fake. Or bling out. I am odd. I like sports line only! I like Subs, then GMT's, then daytona, then YM. That is it. I dont like other Rolex or watches in general. When it came to Rolex I like subs and loved my first brand new store brought 16610LN in 2000. It was just the 16610 then. The LV wasn't out yet.
So the point was, there were times I would go do a pawn shop visit and the owner would tell me, hey I got a submariner in. I would get excited. I would ask if it was real. He would say he knows the movement is. He had had his jeweler look at it. They all would let me take it too rolex. I would go down there and most of the time they were stolen. But there were times where they came out and would say that the crystal isn't real, the bezel isn't real the bracelet isn't real. Out of every time I went down there I probably got 3 to 5 that were legit and good.
If I was in the hobby like I am now. I would had taken each of them. Stripped them and used the movement and cases. One I got my money back on ebay was a guy with great feedback. Now as a builder I know the watch is mostly real and was worth every penny. It was a 16613 I brought. I owned a black one at the time and wanted the blue. I found one on ebay. Vetted the guy. I mean for a month with phone calls and messages. He knew I was a detective. Well after weeks I knew something was different. It felt different than my 16613. So I take it too rolex USA. I am about to go on vacation so I thought while I am gone they will service it. So the lady comes back and tells me its a hack job. That the case is a stainless steel submariner, the movement is from a date just, the bracelet was fake and they would not service the watch. (Understand I use to go in when I was working. So I had my badge on my belt and my gun in a holster next too it and the radio on the other side in a shirt and tie. I alway left my suit jacket in the car unless winter.). So I felt like crap.
I contacted ebay told them what they said and faxed them all paperwork. Back then PayPal and Ebay were the same company. The credited me ASAP. The kicked the jeweler out of ebay and he called and bitched and complained. In hind site, it was a good deal. Movement real, case real but 16610 not 16613. Bezel real 18k dial hands too. Probably a WM9 bracelet. The clasp said rolex. But it was fake. Maybe star time? Who knows. I sent it back too him. But the watch was $2800 back then. I brought my 16613 a few years before for $4200 brand new, That was $1000 under retail because we brought 3 watches from the AD. I brokered the deal and I paid $4200 and they paid $4500.
Bottom line. I have built a real 16610LN, 16800, 16613, 16700, 116710LN,116610LV, Out of all these one has been registered too me. I haven't taken any other because there is no reason too. The only reason the one was, was because I had a reason too go to Rolex and that was to verify the bracelet of a member. Out of all those watches I only own 2. My 16700 and my 116610LV. Yea I can go and get it register probably. The LV was done identical too the 116710LN. I got a brand new replacement movement. It came with test dial and all as did the 3186. The case was brand new with plastic still on it. It had a mark on the bottom. It is unregistered. The bracelet was new. The dial was new. hands, crystal, bezel, new. I did crack my pearl! I am ticked. I have a new bezel but I hear it is a nightmare too change and I risk cracking the bezel itself.
I know this is a book. But there is good info here.
A Startime case is a replacement case. A TC case is actually legal too as a replacement case. As long as there is no marking on the cases Rolex cant say crap. They won't work on it but there is no fraud. It is made for replacing a case. They are sterile. No marking. You can get phong too do the same thing for you. Period! So that isn't fake either. But you need too tell the buyers this if you ever sale it and your value will decrease.
So if you find a Rolex 16610 case. You put a new rolex 3135 never installed in rolexes system. New dial, hands, crystal, bezel, crown and tube and bracelet. You have a real rolex built by you.
If you have a star time case with all other parts rolex, you have a rolex with a replacement case.
If you have a wm9 or a JF with all rolex parts you have a all Rolex minus replica case.
Punch in all the other scenarios that you can think. All real minus band all real but winding bridge on the real 3135. They dont care. If Rolex finds one thing not rolex they will return it too you and not work on it.
I did hear one thing. It is a friend of mine and he isn't a lier. He was looking for an old 1680. He found one. He was one, and it killed me, too bring it too new specs. So he brought it and took it too his AD in Maryland and told him to bring it to new. They called him saying that the movement had aftermarket parts. He said he told them too replace them with real parts and anything aftermarket just replace with real.
If he had taken that too Rolex USA in 5th ave, they would had turned him down with fake parts.
Hope this helps. Also I am ticked off that TRF banned me. LMAO. I have more real rolexes than most of them and most of them are us here too. I find it a hoot. I should throw in a PayPal claim on my dues but not that kind of guy. They can go F themselves.
Funny thing was the guy that I got in an argument all those years back had a LV insert he was selling. I wanted it. I think he wanted $600 for it. For $600 I found a sealed bezel kit with the LV insert and tension ring. So I told him sorry I found one. He started going off on me and calling me names and how rich he was and his most expensive watch was worth more than my house. Now mind it. He gave me all his info like phone number and full name and account number at bank. He wanted a money transfer not PayPal. So I gave a call to a buddy in financial crime and he sent me a PDF of the guys credit history. LOL. He had started a tread on me. I told him to Google me. I am occb2 in all forums I dont hide. He started dogging me on the forum. LOL. He attacked my character. So I PM'ed him his financial info and how much he made a year that was declared and his debt. LOL. He told me he was going too sue me that I am not allowed too look at his finances. I told him I am retired. I did nothing. I just found this on the internet. LOL. He shut up quick. A man preaching how rich he was was making ok money around $75,000 a year but owed over $350,000 between cars and mortgage and CC's. So if he did have a Patak watch it was either pass down too him or fake. Doesn't matter. He was a tool.
We are in the best hobby. We make our watches. Some just replace a crystal. Or put a services sh3135 in their watches. Some just want the look of a watch. Doesn't matter. Period. We are all the same. From the guy who got his watch for $100 or spent more than what a real one is worth. It is just we are in the same hobby. This is why I don't bash people. Enjoy it. Best, best hobby.
Sorry for the rant. LOL. Been awhile since I vented. But that is your answer on if you build a rolex with all rolex parts is it a Rolex.
