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NOOB Pepsi GMT 126710 BLRO mini review

thrillofhunt

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So apparently there are 2 types of DW font on the Noob BLRO from the batch yesterday. Could be something to look out for.
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JDM180

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cant really see much from those low res pics, Is one a bit thicker and off center ?
 

Neo_7

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Here are the side by sides of my two Rolex GMT Master II. My NOob 126710 BLRO and my Gen Rolex 116710 BLNR.

I am no expert. However I spend hundreds of hours looking at these (amongst other) watches, as a hobbyist, and if I can’t spot a difference (on these zoomed pictures) then I can promise you that no one is going to spot it IRL.

I want to discuss the good and the not so good. Overall I think nOob have done an outstanding job and I’m so pleased to have this GMT Master ii BLRO in my collection. Please feel free to comment, advise and enjoy the pics.

I’ve scored every category out of 10, with 1 being lowest and 10 being perfect.

Date wheel - 7.5 / 10
This was my initial concern - However N Factory have got this as close as possible without going gen. the only reason I didn’t score this a 8 - 9 is that on my specimen the numbers are left justified. Straight but shifted to the left. It’s not blatantly obvious on the wrist but in dead on pictures of the cyclops its obvious. Does it justify buying a GEN Date Wheel and overlaying it onto the REP DW… IMO yes, but not a priority.
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Rehaut - 10 / 10
OMG Noob SMASHED it out the park on the rehaut engravings they are truly 1:1 with the GEN…
Crown alignment at 12 is off on my NOOB… but guess what so is it also off to the right on my Gen. (it would be great to see members stop mentioning the “Boo hoo… the crown at 12 isn’t dead centre on my Rep Well, its not dead centre on most Gens too).
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Crown Guards - 8.5 / 10
Well beside of the fraction of a millimetre or so thicker on the rep vs the GEN, Noob done an outstanding job on the CG too. They lugs are also slightly meatier one the rep, but again unless you’re looking at pictures of the two side by side - you’re not picking this up. smoke could you with in and give your analysis?
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Clasp - 10 / 10 (I would give its 11 / 10 if that was possible)
Noob have made a clasp that looks identical to the GEN, functions identical to the GEN and FEELS identical to the gen. However the extension clip is BETTER ON THYE REP. it feels more substantial and the “click” is far more satisfying on the Noob than the GEN! Take my word for it, its far better than the GEN.
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Insert - 8 / 10
On my BLRO, The red to me is a bit on the Maroon side. However I don’t know enough about the GEN MK3 to know if it is accurate or not. People have said it’s almost identical the the GEN MK3 in real life. Could some one in the know kindly advise on this point.

Insert markers 9.5/10
The font, shape, depth are al perfect. Look at the shadow on the “12” in the pictures below on both, it’s identical. The platinum on the insert is PERFECT. In the same light they are grey / silver and in a different lighting condition they are BOTH WHITE. They play identically with light on both the REP and the GEN.
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Dial 8 / 10
Black gloss is identical. Writing is embossed and to my eye perfect on both. The only difference (and again you will not see this in real life unless your closely examining both side by side, is the rectangular hour markers at 6 and 9 are a fraction thicker on the Noob, when compare to the gen. Worth swopping it for a GEN dial? DON T BE STUPID spend a your grand on something better.
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Crystal 3 / 10
NOOB, NOOB, NOOB… you can laser etch a crown at 6 o’clock but you can double AR your cyclops properly - WTF? The rep crystal and cyclops are chalk and cheese when compared against the GEN crystal setup, and this is the first thing to get ripped out for a GEN part! $500 bucks well spent in my opinion.

Crystal height, this is the noticeable difference and tell on this watch vs the GEN. it’s almost 1mm taller than the GEN. KJ2020 could you let me know if the GEN crystal would fit on a lower gasket in this case? To make it more flush and GEN like? Or maybe a good 1.5mm crystal with amazing AR as opposed t the GEN 1.8mm on the same gasket. Please advise.
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Conclusion.

Noob have honestly produced the BEST GMT REP to-date. Given my feeling on the insert colours, I can’t wait to see what they do with the 126710 BLNR - I recon with a GEN crystal and DW that will be indistinguishable from the GEN, given that they do the same with the insert markers and rehaut.

A side not is that the jubilee on this noob is great build, smooth and feels great to hold and manipulate.

Would I cough up for the GEN 126710 BLRO (Pepsi)… absolutely, but that’s just because I like gen shit. Will I do it now… No it’s not a £15k watch in my opinion, and the bubble WILL burst and prices will drop, at which point I will snap one up.

Last pic of lume. It’s a lighthouse
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Peace


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is one of the best review so far!! Thanks for sharing your opinion! I believe now I will make my order...
 

thrillofhunt

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cant really see much from those low res pics, Is one a bit thicker and off center ?
Yea thickness is the issue there. Sorry the pics are from a video and that's the best I could do already.

Off centeredness has always been an issue for Noob CHS movements. Its mostly a hair off to the left.
 
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Cheesemonger

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Yea thickness is the issue there. Sorry the pics are from a video and that's the best I could do already.

Off centeredness has always been an issue for Noob CHS movements. Its mostly a hair off to the left.

I wonder if they are on a new batch of inserts as well as newer ones look different from the early versions. Could be my eyes though as coffee ain’t yet made and it’s way too early.
:)
 
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pcardoza

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Yes, it is well aligned. HOWEVER, I woke up this morning to find the hour hand stuck @ 10pm. :mad:

I reset it to the correct time, following the correct procedure and we'll see what happens tonite. Is there a forum member who can work on the 3186, if needed?

Spectacular piece....Cyclops is well aligned?
 

thrillofhunt

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Yes, it is well aligned. HOWEVER, I woke up this morning to find the hour hand stuck @ 10pm. :mad:

I reset it to the correct time, following the correct procedure and we'll see what happens tonite. Is there a forum member who can work on the 3186, if needed?
Sucks to hear that. Although personally I would avoid using the hour hand independent.
 
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1675Fanboy

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Well, mine I arrived today and looks very good but looks like the movement is fecked. I followed the sticky from KJ2020 and whilst adjusting the date (by moving the Mercedes hour hand whilst rotating the crown counter clockwise) the hour hand stopped indexing (jumping to the next hour) and just started moving smoothly. When I pull the crown to position 4 all hands move apart from the mercedes hour hand

Anyone want a great looking broken watch?


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Pietros

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Well, mine I arrived today and looks very good but looks like the movement is fecked. I followed the sticky from KJ2020 and whilst adjusting the date (by moving the Mercedes hour hand whilst rotating the crown counter clockwise) the hour hand stopped indexing (jumping to the next hour) and just started moving smoothly. When I pull the crown to position 4 all hands move apart from the mercedes hour hand

Anyone want a great looking broken watch?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow-2 fucked movements in 24 hours, so sorry to hear that.
Mine is waiting at home now so I’ll check it out tonight when I get back.
I’m not jumping anything, I’ll just cycle through the full hours/minutes to set the date.
Annoying that the problem with this movement has been known for so long but noob has not made a simple modification to that steel spring!


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kennygconspiracy

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Well, mine I arrived today and looks very good but looks like the movement is fecked. I followed the sticky from KJ2020 and whilst adjusting the date (by moving the Mercedes hour hand whilst rotating the crown counter clockwise) the hour hand stopped indexing (jumping to the next hour) and just started moving smoothly. When I pull the crown to position 4 all hands move apart from the mercedes hour hand

Anyone want a great looking broken watch?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Don't worry, KJ2020 also has a thread on an easy and cheap conversion to ICHS. Don't give up on your watch :)

(https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/to...&share_fid=16787&share_type=t&link_source=app)

"I hope this will be the first of many and we can start returning our paperweights to their former glory!

A new DG3804 movement is about $40, hands about $20. Easily found on ebay or Startime.
A new 2836 ICHS can be gotten for around $110, hands about $30. Look on ebay or ask your TD" - KJ2020 (Badass mofo)

Sent from my 116710 BLNR Paperweight using Tapatalk
 
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1675Fanboy

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Don't worry, KJ2020 also has a thread on an easy and cheap conversion to ICHS. Don't give up on your watch :)

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk

Thanks man. I’m kicking myself because I always vowed I wouldn’t get one of these shitty movements but with this latest release I was hoping things had improved. Will look at how to convert the movement to ICHS and then let it go. The ICHS is why I’ve never gone for the GMT II and preferred the 1675.

Hey ho, expensive lesson learnt....


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kennygconspiracy

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Thanks man. I’m kicking myself because I always vowed I wouldn’t get one of these shitty movements but with this latest release I was hoping things had improved. Will look at how to convert the movement to ICHS and then let it go. The ICHS is why I’ve never gone for the GMT II and preferred the 1675.

Hey ho, expensive lesson learnt....


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Don't worry brother, we're all in this together. I also have a messed up CHS watch and will work on an ICHS conversion. You have a great support system at RWI, we're here for you!

Sent from my 11671 BLNR Paperweight using Tapatalk
 
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1675Fanboy

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Don't worry brother, we're all in this together. I also have a messed up CHS watch and will work on an ICHS conversion. You have a great support system at RWI, we're here for you!

Sent from my 11671 BLNR Paperweight using Tapatalk

Cheers fella. Just kicking myself as I was going to buy the latest Squale homage of this model (for nearly the same money as this piece). I’ve emailed my TD to see if they’ll sell me a new movement before I go down the ICHS conversion.

I really would like to do this repair myself but due to lack of space (living in central London), I’m going to need to find someone in the UK or EU who can help me on this. Any advice?


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RiffRalf

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Sucks to hear that. Although personally I would avoid using the hour hand independent.

Isn't that the whole point of having a GMT II?
And isn't the point of a CHS that you can move the hour hand independently just like on the gen Rolex, Tudor and Omega? Otherwise might as well get a ICHS with the ETA independent 24 hour hand .... ?

I am stating this as someone who deliberately bought a GMT II rep so I can monitor three time zones, and chose the ICHS for reliability sake, and when travellling found that an indepedent hour hand would have been more convenient
 

thrillofhunt

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Isn't that the whole point of having a GMT II?
And isn't the point of a CHS that you can move the hour hand independently just like on the gen Rolex, Tudor and Omega? Otherwise might as well get a ICHS with the ETA independent 24 hour hand .... ?

I am stating this as someone who deliberately bought a GMT II rep so I can monitor three time zones, and chose the ICHS for reliability sake, and when travellling found that an indepedent hour hand would have been more convenient
For me, I only need to monitor one time zone which is 8 hours behind mine, so I just set the GMT hand as that and be done with it. If my watch ever runs out of power, I just adjust the time to the correct time and the gmt hand will still be 8 hours behind. So to me, CHS or ICHS is the same, I chose CHS for aesthetics, not function.
 

Vvvlllooo

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Ok thought I was getting out of the rep game but this post had me going and I had to get one. Got it from Trusty from Andrew! I know he is not a TD here but damn, he was good. Here's my 2 cents! This could be considered a super rep. Wow. I am amazed by the quality and build of the Noob GMT pepsi. I shot a video comparing it to Gen Batman!!! The color on the insert is still iffy to me but looking at the MK3 picts on TRF..they are close as people are complaining about darker colors. Of course today is cloudy outside, cmon man, its Florida, the sunshine state! Conclusion if you didn't want to wait. Buy it, get a gen crystal and maybe a GMF dial ( I ordered one on the side, incoming, will compare later). Or take out the Noob 6 and 9 Markers and replace them with another dial as they are just a little wider then gen look. Otherwise, very good watch.

Case..spot on, gen like. A tad taller on the CG but you can't tell.

Insert...it is maroon, but in light I see a lot of red. Will take picts once the sun starts to come out. The color of the numbers are very good..very close to gen colors..creamy white with hint of sprinkled silver flakes

Dial..wow, from the pictures it does not look good but in person and in video...very good. Matches very well except for the markers, need a be smaller. On the wrist can't tell.

Hands. Very good no need to replace

Crystal.. Good, out of the box has blue hue, crown etched, and black hole effect. I'm pretty anal and if you see a gen crystal...you may want a gen to replace the stock. If not, it is very good. It is only a micro hair taller! (P.S. I have a gen on hand and will install)

Crown..good..who looks at that?

Bracelet...feels light..but looks good. No sharp edges and finishing is good.

Clasp..good..hard to open in and out but probably needs an oil bath. Overall the looks of it is very good.

Here's the video:

https://youtu.be/2sEfMrd_eoM