Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Explorer II NOOB Factory Review + Watch Buying Tutorial

[ninjapig123]

Hello Everyone,

I'm a first time replica watch buyer. I started coming on these forums about a month ago and was quite intimidated by the whole process. With so many scam websites out there, trying to find a good replica watch can be very scary. Even the whole Western Union payment is very scary coming from someone who uses PayPal with everything he buys. I ended up purchasing my Explorer II from the watch dealer Trevor. If you want to buy from Trevor you need to click the Dealers tab on the top left of the forum page, and find the Trevor Watch subforum. I was very confused when I first came on the forums because everyone kept mentioning buy from a TD (which means Trusted Dealer). DO NOT buy from random websites online. Only buy from dealers on this forum that is very important. Websites will scam you. Either buy from a TD or buy from a watch dealer in person or on the streets that way you can hold the actual watch in your hands before you buy it. They were also talking about various factories like NOOB and BP. I can't really recommend what factory to buy from, but I would recommend looking to see what replicas dealers have in stock, and what factory options there are then going about picking the watch with the highest quality. There are also different movements of watches which was completely new to me. Inside of this watch, I have the Asian ETA 2836-2 25 Jewel 28,000 BPM. Essentially that means that the second hand beats 8 times per second. There are other movements like Swiss but tend to be more expensive. I would recommend against any watch that is under 28,000 BPM since it won't look like a genuine Rolex movement.

Also keep this in mind, any dealer that says their watch is Sapphire Crystal, it's bullshit. No replica watch has Sapphire Crystal. I brought this watch into an experienced watch repairman and we had a fun conversation. Since I'm only 20 years old, he started to take off the bands and said "Your quite young to be wearing this nice of a watch" and I was like "Yeah I know haha" and he said "How much did you pay?" kind of hinting like he knew it was fake. I said $300 and he was relieved and told me "You paid to much, I could have gotten you this for $150". I started talking to him about the movements and about the different reps and he was super happy I knew my stuff and he said he could instantly tell it's a rep. First key giveaway is the weight. Real Rolex's use White Gold and a special kind stainless steel on their watches which is much heavier than any other kind of stainless steel. Even though this replica watch is VERY HEAVY, it's still not as heavy as a genuine Rolex. Also he mentioned that the actual glass on the watch is a key giveaway and is sloppy on replica watches since real watches use Sapphire Crystal. He then went in the back, and pulled out a bunch of replicas and offered me some really good sub's for only $250. If anyone want's his info, feel free to private message me. You can also visit his location for repairs if you live in the South California, LA/Riverside area. His shop is located in Moreno Valley but I don't want to give out the address publicly on the internet. Basically I want to stress to anyone looking to buy, this isn't a real Rolex, don't expect the same quality though I am very very happy with my rep.

Here's the time frame that Trevor shipped my watch in:

Oct 9th 2014 I paid via Western Union (or WU for short). Total price was $333 since I paid with a credit card incase I got scammed ( I had a hard time trusting this forum)
Oct 10th 2014 He picked up payment in China
Oct 11th 2014 He sent me pictures of the watch. View the album of pictures he sent me here: http://imgur.com/a/8BkB0
Oct 18th 2014 I received the watch in California via USPS and EMS

Below are the pictures of my watch and how they were shipped. Enjoy:

Here is an HD url of all of my watch photos: http://imgur.com/a/2bKs0

The only bummer about the watch is in order for the lum to work, it seems to need direct light. Could only get it really bright with a flashlight. Still I don't mind since I don't plan on using this in the dark anyways. With reps you just don't get the highest quality materials. The Explorer II retails at $8,995 so for this watch to only cost me $333, I'm pretty happy with it It feels more solid on my wrist than even Nixon's.

Here is a video of my watch so you can see what the 25 jewel movement looks like on my Explorer II:

[YOUTUBE]http://youtu.be/NrN7oCbIbl8[/YOUTUBE]

If the about embedded player doesn't work click here: http://youtu.be/NrN7oCbIbl8

Anyways I hope this helps new buyers and even experienced buyers. Let me know if you have any questions also feel free to talk good things about my watch below lol

Regards,
Jordan

 

[DWatchMan]

Awesome guide on your first purchase. Im still in the research phase and will be in the buying phase shortly, still trying narrow the watch I want to just one for now

 

[airking]

Hi, great post and good advice.
I have to respectfully disagree with your watchmaker though.

1. Reps do have sapphire crystals. Compare them with genuine watches in the 100-400 range and you will notice the difference (ie invicta, seiko, citizen, bulova use plastic and mineral and the rep watches are better quality). Granted the sapphire crystals may not be the best in quality and clarity like genuine rolex crystals but they are good for what was paid.

2. Rolex does use a different steel but the weight is not noticeable. Its only noticeable if your rep is supposed to be a rep of a gold model. Ive compared my bp no date sub to a genuine and it wasnt easy to distinguish by casually looking or holding the watches.

 

[gbxx]

Nice post and an interesting story with your watchsmith.

I think the biggest tell for the watchsmith (on the watch alone, external factors excluded) would be the lume white color mismatch on the hands vs the hour indices. Rolex would nail that before they shipped a watch...

From photos and in comparison with the gens, these Explorer IIs are very good replicas. And the gen explorer ii's are fairly light... I was surprised when I held one myself. I wonder what Cwazy could do on these with a relume. Matching white lume would be dope.

 

[J___]

Nice post and an interesting story with your watchsmith.

I think the biggest tell for the watchsmith (on the watch alone, external factors excluded) would be the lume white color mismatch on the hands vs the hour indices. Rolex would nail that before they shipped a watch...

From photos and in comparison with the gens, these Explorer IIs are very good replicas. And the gen explorer ii's are fairly light... I was surprised when I held one myself. I wonder what Cwazy could do on these with a relume. Matching white lume would be dope.

I've spoken to Cwazy about that a while back. He's unable to do it because of the way it was designed by Noob Factory.

 

[d4m.test]

Very nice intro and watchsmith story to go with the pics. Congrats on Your modern Explorer. Now what I´d really like to see, was one of those $250 subs (as he quoted this rep as being a $150 one). If I was anywhere near and not an ocean away I would just drop in his shop and see what he could get.

Than You hit the jackpot by having a rep-friendly watchsmith in the neighbourhood, who seems to know his ways. Gives You carte blanche for purchases, if something goes wrong You´ll get a service or movement swap or dial alignment, whatever. Very nice

 

[gbxx]

I've spoken to Cwazy about that a while back. He's unable to do it because of the way it was designed by Noob Factory.

The black of the indices must always show through on the lume .... bummer!

 

[gbxx]

Very nice intro and watchsmith story to go with the pics. Congrats on Your modern Explorer. Now what I´d really like to see, was one of those $250 subs (as he quoted this rep as being a $150 one). If I was anywhere near and not an ocean away I would just drop in his shop and see what he could get.

Than You hit the jackpot by having a rep-friendly watchsmith in the neighbourhood, who seems to know his ways. Gives You carte blanche for purchases, if something goes wrong You´ll get a service or movement swap or dial alignment, whatever. Very nice

This is a good point... my local watchsmith told me to take a gen leap. reps are too expensive and unpredictable for them to work on apparently.... lucky this guy has a rep-friendly smith.

 

[bc1221]

I'm no watchsmiths but I'm pretty sure that exp comes with a sapphire crystal.
That exp also is made with stainless steel so I don't know why he seems to think it should be made of precious metals.

It it should also have a pretty decent clone in it.
I don't think $300 is a lot for that rep.
The weight difference between a gen exp ii and a rep is non existent. Not enough to be able to tell without weighing them.

Id love to see one of his $250 subs. If they're canal st reps, then I honestly wouldn't come back because he just tried to rip you off.

Im not tryin to say your watchsmith is talking out of his ass but I've found that most seem to think all reps are canal st junk because that's what they're used to seeing.

I can tell you for certain that almost all my reps have sapphire crystal on them.

Take a TC to him and see what he says.


Anyways, congrats on your purchase.

Why did did your new watch need to go to a shop?

 

[ninjapig123]

Hi guys,

So I ordered the watch from Trevor, and brought the watch into the shop to get the bands removed because it was too big for my wrist. I didn't have the tools to remove the bands, so I just paid $7. I know for a fact that there is a weight difference because I've went to a Rolex shop before and have held this exact same model. This model is lighter and has a much different feel, most reps do. The guy at the watch shop said that the first give away was the weight/density. The second giveaway is the crystal because of the way it lays on the watch. Other than that, he said everything else looks very gen. I can call him tomorrow and ask him to email me pictures of his blue sub that he had in the back of his shop.

Trust me guys, I am super super happy with this rep from NOOB factory. Its just certain features are easy for an expert watch smith to spot. When you work with the real thing for 20+ years, it's easy to spot fakes almost instantly.

 

[omegaplanet]

I think the most critical giveaway in this trade is what you ninjapig123 actually mentioned "Your quite young to be wearing this nice of a watch" .
In other words it's one's lifestyle. It's quite uncommon (at least where I live) that a young guy wears an 8 grand watch, unless he steps out of a Porsche or better Ferrari and is dressed from top to bottom in Prada (or similar).
This is to me the most crucial giveaway, not the sapphire crystal. And this is the reason I'm personally very cautious about buying a Rollie.
Almost everybody knowing me would instantly tell that it's a fake (even if it were gen bought 2nd hand after a couple of years of saving) because they would know the job I'm in and my lifestyle.
So much for the sapphire crystal...

HOWEVER .... buying and wearing reps is nevertheless the hell of a fun LOL LOL

 

[ninjapig123]

Yeah it probably was a dead giveaway but he told me he has seen reps like mine for years and he can just tell. Probably is my age, but I'm sure if I brought him a real one he could tell it was real instantly.

 

[egroegart]

absolutely incorrect. The noob version weighs exactly the same weight as the genuine. You can look at my "Real" reviews of the explorer II in my profile. The only tell visually on this version 2 is the lume differences between the lume on the hands and the hour marker indices. Period. Hold it side by side with a gen and you willl not be able to tell once difference. Now, using a loupe, you will notice that the rehaut is not etched exactly the same but less than a foot away and it is not noticeable. Your watchsmith is completely wrong. and yes, the saphire is saphire just like genuine watches use. There are three types of crystals basically used, and this is the saphhire. Welcome to the site. As you start to read and do more research you will learn more. generally most local watchsmiths know Jack about gen vs. rep watches. They have some knowledge, but as a whole the collective on this site know a thousand times more than your watchsmith does. I've done the comparisons, so I know. Especially this watch. I've disected every square milllimeter of this watch compared to the gen, so I do know about it. Once the lume issue is fixed on the v3 there will be no tells whatsoever except a super macro of the rehaut.

 

[rockstardc]

egroegart, is the handstack incorrect as well?

 

[egroegart]

and as far as a Rolex AD, I can attest that they cannot tell the difference visually with the explorer II until it is opened up. One of my good friends works at my AD, knows completely well that I have reps and examining my watch had no clue at first until I pointed out the differences. He along with all Rolex AD's have to go to at least 2 classes per year specifically on the identification of reps because the rep world is ever changing and upgrading. So I can verify that even an AD will have trouble identifying certain reps, especially the explorer II. It's not a good idea to wear your reps into an AD. I don't recommend that. I know this AD outside of work as he is my friend. so there is no trouble there.

 

[d4m.test]

Hope to see those blue sub pics soon

As for the tells, the watchsmith got it in his hands to resize the bracelet, fresh as it was from the China factory and without any previous oilbath, wear and scratches, etc. Suppose it was superdry with sharp edges and rattling as they usually come - unlike any gen, so by feel only he would be able to tell instantly - and started scrutinizing the rest. The glass may not be pressed in 100% on this specific sample as well, also happens often.

 

[ninjapig123]

Turns out the blue sub is gone. Someone came a picked it up from his shop already. He said he would give me a call when he get's more reps into his shop. I guess he was working on it for one of his customers.

 

[edm911]

Great experience write up. Good info. I am also trying to put together my first purchase.

 

[egroegart]

yes, the handstack is incorrect. but I can guarantee you that on the explorer II most AD's will not know the difference at first glance until they get out the loupe. the polishing is perfect. as well as the brushing. the best rep bracelet made. The lume on the v1 was perfect. although it is a mismatch on the v2, but not even something my AD noticed. no rough edges whatsoever on the exp II. No way they can tell most of he time. until they see the lume and the rehaut, and the handstack, which the handstack you have to be close, and even closer with the rehaut. so, being so hard for an AD to tell, a general watchsmith is going to have no idea. My dad brought his gen datejust in to a local watchsmith several years ago before he sold it and the watchsmith thought it was a fake. lol. A $20,000 dollar watch. They have no clue. These reps are that good sometimes. that's why Rolex AD employees are required to attend 2 classes per year now on the improvements on our reps, and what to look for, because they just can't tell a lot of the times just by eyeing it without opening it up. This comes straight from my friend at Gasser's Jeweler's in Canton, Ohio. not my words.

 

[freddiedaman]

Interesting stuff egro, makes the wait even harder