A brief tale of two Frankens, both right at $1000 (or just under) ... The first, a modern 6-digit sub with some well-invested gen additions. The second, a 5-digit sub from a builder at the top of his game. Which one reigns victorious?
Well, I was curious how the two would stack up, despite their model differences, so thought I'd share some observations. Of course, nobody will ever be able to answer "Who has the best sub?" but hopefully this mini-review will serve as one more data point for those trying to decide -- in particular between an "old school" 5-digit and a "modern" 6-digit submariner. Is style preference the only real difference, or does one clearly outshine the other?
A few caveats: I own several gen pieces, and have owned more than my share of gen Rolexes over the years. You could say I have experience wearing, but not inspecting. I am certainly not a professional flaw-spotter. I also took pics with my phone, and would not be accused of being a photographer even on my best day. If I missed an angle or you're curious to see other shots, I'm happy to add. And finally, these are used watches that I've been wearing. I didn't even wipe them down for the pics.
To get started, a few side-by-side pics:
And first up, a Rolex 114060 No-Date Ceramic with specs:
* Noob V5 Base with Swiss ETA movement
* Gen bezel assembly (insert, ring, springs, retainer)
* Gen 704 crown
* Noob v6s bracelet
* Gen crystal gasket
* TC crystal
When I opened the package for the 114060, my immediate first thought was, "Wow, this is literally identical to the gen." The gen bezel assembly really makes the watch, and the SEL fitment on the bracelet is as spot-on as I could imagine. Everything appears in alignment. The lume caught a glimpse of the sun through the window and gently glowed blue when I stepped away. After moments in the sun, the blue looks very crisp, but nowhere near the gen. The brushed steel did not raise any flags at all. The gen bezel assembly is absolutely killer, and really makes this watch. I wouldn't have known if the crystal was gen or not, but it looks great.
Upon closer inspection, and after wearing for a bit, some things I noted: the glidelock works but is extremely rough, the bracelet doesn't quite have the same feel as gen, the winding does not even remotely compare to gen (obviously), the rehaut seems a tad "reflective" and "noticeable" (although the engravings are relatively well-done), and with super-deep inspection and just the right light, the hands don't "pop" like gen hands.
I really can't imagine anyone but the most critical observer spotting issues with this watch (aside from the reverse-winding). One thing I absolutely love about the No-Date is the clean, balanced dial. It's also super easy and quick to set and go.
Next up, a Rolex 16610 Sub with specs:
* TC v6 Base with TC 2824 movement
* Gen insert
* Gen crown
* Gen crystal with AR cyclops
This TC arrived a few days after shipping, and was still ticking with the correct date and time. Very encouraging. Initial thoughts out of the box were, "I see why this is considered a (the?) premium submariner in our hobby." I am absoutely baffled at how clean and precise this watch is, and how well it wears. I've owned several older-style gen Subs and Seadwellers, and God's honest truth, if I put this in a pile with 5-6 others, I don't think I'd be able to re-hunt it down.
Are there tells? I'm sure, as they've been well-documented. But I just can't find anything to complain about. The watch is dynamite. Lume is soft and warm, but doesn't "catch" light like the newer lume. With direct sunlight, however, it glows a nice, beautiful green -- better than any older sub I've owned, but not so much that it's out of place. SEL fitment on this is also really awesome. Without the glidelock, it took some dialing in to get to my size, but zero complaints on the bracelet -- other than a tad on the chintzy side. The rehaut is a non-factor without the engraving, which is actually quite comforting. The crown guard looks great to me, and looks killer with the gen crown. I have not tested the movement, but I'm confident it hits/surpasses 40 hours given my experience with it in shipping.
So which is better? It's really impossible to say, but I do know which one I prefer. Before I spill the beans, a few more thoughts:
Thanks for reading!
Well, I was curious how the two would stack up, despite their model differences, so thought I'd share some observations. Of course, nobody will ever be able to answer "Who has the best sub?" but hopefully this mini-review will serve as one more data point for those trying to decide -- in particular between an "old school" 5-digit and a "modern" 6-digit submariner. Is style preference the only real difference, or does one clearly outshine the other?
A few caveats: I own several gen pieces, and have owned more than my share of gen Rolexes over the years. You could say I have experience wearing, but not inspecting. I am certainly not a professional flaw-spotter. I also took pics with my phone, and would not be accused of being a photographer even on my best day. If I missed an angle or you're curious to see other shots, I'm happy to add. And finally, these are used watches that I've been wearing. I didn't even wipe them down for the pics.
To get started, a few side-by-side pics:
And first up, a Rolex 114060 No-Date Ceramic with specs:
* Noob V5 Base with Swiss ETA movement
* Gen bezel assembly (insert, ring, springs, retainer)
* Gen 704 crown
* Noob v6s bracelet
* Gen crystal gasket
* TC crystal
When I opened the package for the 114060, my immediate first thought was, "Wow, this is literally identical to the gen." The gen bezel assembly really makes the watch, and the SEL fitment on the bracelet is as spot-on as I could imagine. Everything appears in alignment. The lume caught a glimpse of the sun through the window and gently glowed blue when I stepped away. After moments in the sun, the blue looks very crisp, but nowhere near the gen. The brushed steel did not raise any flags at all. The gen bezel assembly is absolutely killer, and really makes this watch. I wouldn't have known if the crystal was gen or not, but it looks great.
Upon closer inspection, and after wearing for a bit, some things I noted: the glidelock works but is extremely rough, the bracelet doesn't quite have the same feel as gen, the winding does not even remotely compare to gen (obviously), the rehaut seems a tad "reflective" and "noticeable" (although the engravings are relatively well-done), and with super-deep inspection and just the right light, the hands don't "pop" like gen hands.
I really can't imagine anyone but the most critical observer spotting issues with this watch (aside from the reverse-winding). One thing I absolutely love about the No-Date is the clean, balanced dial. It's also super easy and quick to set and go.
Next up, a Rolex 16610 Sub with specs:
* TC v6 Base with TC 2824 movement
* Gen insert
* Gen crown
* Gen crystal with AR cyclops
This TC arrived a few days after shipping, and was still ticking with the correct date and time. Very encouraging. Initial thoughts out of the box were, "I see why this is considered a (the?) premium submariner in our hobby." I am absoutely baffled at how clean and precise this watch is, and how well it wears. I've owned several older-style gen Subs and Seadwellers, and God's honest truth, if I put this in a pile with 5-6 others, I don't think I'd be able to re-hunt it down.
Are there tells? I'm sure, as they've been well-documented. But I just can't find anything to complain about. The watch is dynamite. Lume is soft and warm, but doesn't "catch" light like the newer lume. With direct sunlight, however, it glows a nice, beautiful green -- better than any older sub I've owned, but not so much that it's out of place. SEL fitment on this is also really awesome. Without the glidelock, it took some dialing in to get to my size, but zero complaints on the bracelet -- other than a tad on the chintzy side. The rehaut is a non-factor without the engraving, which is actually quite comforting. The crown guard looks great to me, and looks killer with the gen crown. I have not tested the movement, but I'm confident it hits/surpasses 40 hours given my experience with it in shipping.
So which is better? It's really impossible to say, but I do know which one I prefer. Before I spill the beans, a few more thoughts:
- I have noticed that the Ceramic gets more "compliments." Friends and family are used to seeing me wear nice watches, so it's a rare occasion I receive feedback. For some reason, however, the Ceramic just draws attention unlike the aluminum. It really "feels" like a new watch, and "glistens" a tad more on the wrist, which I guess warrants more comments.
- The 5-Digit TC feels much more like a "tool" watch, and doesn't give me the feeling that it needs to be babied like the Ceramic. In fact, it almost feels like it's missing some character without scratches and dings. I get that they're basically the same, but I guess if these were gens, I'd be much more careful with a newer version as I walked through doorways, and that somehow translates into my perception of each.
- In general, I'm not a fan of the cyclops at all, and I do gravitate towards the new blue lume over the older green.
Thanks for reading!