*** Disclaimer: All photos, names and links mentioned in this post are with permission ***
Making a Super-Rep into a Super-Duper-Rep:
My project, which I took upon myself, will consist of:
Obtaining a "Daytona 116506 SS Brown Ceramic Bezel Noob 1:1 (best edition) Ice Blue Dial on SS Bracelet SA4130" and modding it to become as nice as the gen as possible.
I will follow this process of modding a Noob Platinum Daytona and upgrading it right here.
This consists of some very experimental mods, and the outcome of which may be a Hail or a Fail - Hopefully it will be successful.
The first stages of this process will be explained below, I will edit this post and add photos as I go along:
1. Rolex Daytona - ARF or NOOB?
I don't really want to dig into the debate whether ARF looks better than NOOB or NOOB has the best mechanism and which is better - Both are very good replicas each in it's own way.
I'll just state that when I buy a watch, I don't like to pretend something is working when it's not, but that's just me - I want a functioning chrono in my Daytona.
ARF chrono is not working so it looks better but it's out. Noob has working cloned mechanics, almost 1:1.
So of course my decision to go with Noob was after I read a lot about both leading brands of replicas:
If I went with a model such as the Rolex 116610 Submariner, then I'd go with ARF, it looks more like the gen:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/forum/rolex-tudor-replicas/7072192-best-submariner-arf-or-noob
Since I chose to go with a Daytona, and a particular one at that, I need a functional watch and chrono, and since my technical knowledge about the mechanics of Rolex watches is zero to none -
when I read that Noob is the only factory that produces mechanical clones of Daytona, SA4130 being almost an exact clone of the mechanics and movement, I was sold.
I will be modding the appearance, and not the mechanics.
For the entire Daytona Noob or ARF interesting debates, I recommend these threads (very good read):
https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...5-arf-vs-noob-sa4130-final-battle-d-some-pics
https://forum.replica-watch.info/forum/rolex-tudor-replicas/6715572-arf-or-noob-daytona
2. Obtaining a high quality super-rep of this magnificent piece.
Maybe it sounds easy to some of you out there, but for me it is a huge headache.
First I read many reviews about all the TDs, those who didn't have a site with photos were dismissed.
Some of the TDs sites are not working, or were closed, those were dismissed as well.
Some didn't have all the watch brands, some didn't disclose the type of mechanism I'm buying, didn't state if the watch was 4130, or 7750, or SA4130, which version it was or even brand.
Finally I had 3 TDs I needed to select from: Either PureTime, InTimeWatch or ChazingTime. I chose to get my piece from ChazingTime.
PureTime: https://puretime.io/daytona-116506-...tion-ice-blue-dial-on-ss-bracelet-sa4130.html
InTimeWatch: https://www.intime03.co/rollie/4636...tion-ice-blue-dial-on-ss-bracelet-sa4130.html
ChazingTime: https://chazingtime04.co/products/d...best-edition-ice-blue-dial-ss-bracelet-sa4130
Notice the piece is mislabeled on the ChazingTime site, classifying it as 116509 instead of 116506, but that means absolutely nothing to me - Except for a *sign that I need to order from them*.
After making my order, I communicated with Ken and he was very nice and patient - Very professional.
After the payment was made via Western Union, he agreed to send me QC photos, allowed me to share them with all of you and even to mention that I got the piece from him.
Once I'll have the QC photos, I'll then add them to this post.
My order:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...zingtime-first-time-ordering-from-this-dealer
3. Molotow or Sharpie Bezel, maybe PPM(?) - Modding the bezel to gen standards.
As I read in many of the threads here, the first main issue with Noob is that the Bezel is off, but I also found a few solutions here on the forums!
A. Molotow/Sharpie - Looks nice.
By simple and easy modding, you can actually make the Noob bezel look very close to the gen one at home.
All you need is a good acrylic metallic silver pen or marker, free time and no talent.
As I understand, you can color-in the Bezel with the waterproof metallic silver acrylic, wipe the outside with an alcoholic tissue.
Repeat the process a few times and you have a very good looking bezel:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...otow-paint-mod-first-try-by-soloist-pic-heavy
B. PPM (Platinum Painting Mod)
This can not be done at home. You need to take it to the jeweler to have the bezel platinum coated, or send it to this guy:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...-platinum-plating-mod-noob-ceramic-insert-sub
4. The 116506 SEL
Just mentioning this since I saw a lot of people debating about the precious metal Daytona SEL comparisons between ARF and Noob.
In my opinion, in any other Daytona, ARF SEL wins - Unless you are looking for Gold or Platinum Daytonas, then the Noob wins.
Noob SEL has a better angle, but also has a small 0.5mm gap - both Noob and ARF are not recessed on the edge.
It won't really matter once I take it to the jeweler, since the gap will be filled by coating and the edge will be coated as well, so - fixed.
Note that precious metal gens have different SELs than steel gens, which seem more like the Noob.
5. Taking it apart, going to the jewelers, and then reassembling:
Daytona 116506 gen model is made entirely out of platinum, hence the price of $70,000!
a gram of platinum costs $30 (check me). The 116506 weighs 286 grams, so it should cost 286X30 = $8,580 more than a regular Daytona, not $50,000 - $60,000 more!
I have a watchmaker friend and a jeweler friend who are nice enough to help me with this part.
For those of you who lack the knowledge as I did, the coating process is a special process where you de-ionize the steel, and then paint the steel with precious metals:
Platinum coating a ring example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9kfswSo9aY
The same process can be made with Yellow gold, Rose Gold, White gold (which you actually see an outer coating of rhodium).
Gold coating a stainless steel knife example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3hvbtwE3Ho
Since the piece comes in SS and not in platinum, no matter how much you polish it, you will see a difference.
In my opinion, this particular Daytona is a jewel and not only a timepiece. It should shine as bright as a diamond bracelet and weigh heavy.
Have you ever had a white gold ring? Compare it to a steel polished ring. That's the difference I am talking about. But there is a solution:
A. My plan is to disassemble the piece and safe-keep the inner parts.
B. Take the case, bracelet and bezel, and have them platinum coated for 8-10 minutes (Platinum cost of approximately 200 Euros).
C. Then reassemble the piece.
If you have any suggestions, I will gladly take into advise, but please don't be a hater.
Making a Super-Rep into a Super-Duper-Rep:
My project, which I took upon myself, will consist of:
Obtaining a "Daytona 116506 SS Brown Ceramic Bezel Noob 1:1 (best edition) Ice Blue Dial on SS Bracelet SA4130" and modding it to become as nice as the gen as possible.
I will follow this process of modding a Noob Platinum Daytona and upgrading it right here.
This consists of some very experimental mods, and the outcome of which may be a Hail or a Fail - Hopefully it will be successful.
The first stages of this process will be explained below, I will edit this post and add photos as I go along:
1. Rolex Daytona - ARF or NOOB?
I don't really want to dig into the debate whether ARF looks better than NOOB or NOOB has the best mechanism and which is better - Both are very good replicas each in it's own way.
I'll just state that when I buy a watch, I don't like to pretend something is working when it's not, but that's just me - I want a functioning chrono in my Daytona.
ARF chrono is not working so it looks better but it's out. Noob has working cloned mechanics, almost 1:1.
So of course my decision to go with Noob was after I read a lot about both leading brands of replicas:
If I went with a model such as the Rolex 116610 Submariner, then I'd go with ARF, it looks more like the gen:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/forum/rolex-tudor-replicas/7072192-best-submariner-arf-or-noob
Since I chose to go with a Daytona, and a particular one at that, I need a functional watch and chrono, and since my technical knowledge about the mechanics of Rolex watches is zero to none -
when I read that Noob is the only factory that produces mechanical clones of Daytona, SA4130 being almost an exact clone of the mechanics and movement, I was sold.
I will be modding the appearance, and not the mechanics.
For the entire Daytona Noob or ARF interesting debates, I recommend these threads (very good read):
https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...5-arf-vs-noob-sa4130-final-battle-d-some-pics
https://forum.replica-watch.info/forum/rolex-tudor-replicas/6715572-arf-or-noob-daytona
2. Obtaining a high quality super-rep of this magnificent piece.
Maybe it sounds easy to some of you out there, but for me it is a huge headache.
First I read many reviews about all the TDs, those who didn't have a site with photos were dismissed.
Some of the TDs sites are not working, or were closed, those were dismissed as well.
Some didn't have all the watch brands, some didn't disclose the type of mechanism I'm buying, didn't state if the watch was 4130, or 7750, or SA4130, which version it was or even brand.
Finally I had 3 TDs I needed to select from: Either PureTime, InTimeWatch or ChazingTime. I chose to get my piece from ChazingTime.
PureTime: https://puretime.io/daytona-116506-...tion-ice-blue-dial-on-ss-bracelet-sa4130.html
InTimeWatch: https://www.intime03.co/rollie/4636...tion-ice-blue-dial-on-ss-bracelet-sa4130.html
ChazingTime: https://chazingtime04.co/products/d...best-edition-ice-blue-dial-ss-bracelet-sa4130
Notice the piece is mislabeled on the ChazingTime site, classifying it as 116509 instead of 116506, but that means absolutely nothing to me - Except for a *sign that I need to order from them*.
After making my order, I communicated with Ken and he was very nice and patient - Very professional.
After the payment was made via Western Union, he agreed to send me QC photos, allowed me to share them with all of you and even to mention that I got the piece from him.
Once I'll have the QC photos, I'll then add them to this post.
My order:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...zingtime-first-time-ordering-from-this-dealer
3. Molotow or Sharpie Bezel, maybe PPM(?) - Modding the bezel to gen standards.
As I read in many of the threads here, the first main issue with Noob is that the Bezel is off, but I also found a few solutions here on the forums!
A. Molotow/Sharpie - Looks nice.
By simple and easy modding, you can actually make the Noob bezel look very close to the gen one at home.
All you need is a good acrylic metallic silver pen or marker, free time and no talent.
As I understand, you can color-in the Bezel with the waterproof metallic silver acrylic, wipe the outside with an alcoholic tissue.
Repeat the process a few times and you have a very good looking bezel:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...otow-paint-mod-first-try-by-soloist-pic-heavy
B. PPM (Platinum Painting Mod)
This can not be done at home. You need to take it to the jeweler to have the bezel platinum coated, or send it to this guy:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...-platinum-plating-mod-noob-ceramic-insert-sub
4. The 116506 SEL
Just mentioning this since I saw a lot of people debating about the precious metal Daytona SEL comparisons between ARF and Noob.
In my opinion, in any other Daytona, ARF SEL wins - Unless you are looking for Gold or Platinum Daytonas, then the Noob wins.
Noob SEL has a better angle, but also has a small 0.5mm gap - both Noob and ARF are not recessed on the edge.
It won't really matter once I take it to the jeweler, since the gap will be filled by coating and the edge will be coated as well, so - fixed.
Note that precious metal gens have different SELs than steel gens, which seem more like the Noob.
5. Taking it apart, going to the jewelers, and then reassembling:
Daytona 116506 gen model is made entirely out of platinum, hence the price of $70,000!
a gram of platinum costs $30 (check me). The 116506 weighs 286 grams, so it should cost 286X30 = $8,580 more than a regular Daytona, not $50,000 - $60,000 more!
I have a watchmaker friend and a jeweler friend who are nice enough to help me with this part.
For those of you who lack the knowledge as I did, the coating process is a special process where you de-ionize the steel, and then paint the steel with precious metals:
Platinum coating a ring example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9kfswSo9aY
The same process can be made with Yellow gold, Rose Gold, White gold (which you actually see an outer coating of rhodium).
Gold coating a stainless steel knife example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3hvbtwE3Ho
Since the piece comes in SS and not in platinum, no matter how much you polish it, you will see a difference.
In my opinion, this particular Daytona is a jewel and not only a timepiece. It should shine as bright as a diamond bracelet and weigh heavy.
Have you ever had a white gold ring? Compare it to a steel polished ring. That's the difference I am talking about. But there is a solution:
A. My plan is to disassemble the piece and safe-keep the inner parts.
B. Take the case, bracelet and bezel, and have them platinum coated for 8-10 minutes (Platinum cost of approximately 200 Euros).
C. Then reassemble the piece.
If you have any suggestions, I will gladly take into advise, but please don't be a hater.
