If only I had found RWI - GMT IIc purchase

[advuk]

ok, so "ggld" it..

so the earlier models had Tritium, which is mildly radioactive and therefore has a half-life and will degrade over time

around 1998 they introduced Super-Luminova which can be re-charged indefinitely, but can degrade if it comes in contact with moisture.

Also, Tritium produces a constant brightness, whereas Luminova will fade gradually after being charged.

Generally the dials used to say T<25 for Tritium and changed to Swiss Made for Super-Luminova, and there will have been a transitional period while this crossed over.

 

[advuk]

Hi all,

my "expensive" GMT IIc has arrived, so I thought I would post up pictures as promised.

I've been browsing the forum for a few weeks, so happy to take pointers or requests for better photos of specifics if it helps anyone. I've just taken general pictures for now.

For the keen eye's around, the difference in time is not from me taking a long time to take photos, but just me setting the correct time half way through.

The watch feels and looks pretty nice, the first thing I notice (I suspect same as the majority of fakes) is the feel/ slight noise of the rotor compared to my gen GMT. If it was handed to me I would know straight away - but as I've said previously, this watch is to get me by while my GMT goes for service and possibly as a daily watch as my gen has been worn daily without fail for 12 years.

The hands, dial and bezel all look good and I cant see any flaws in terms of quality, that’s not to say that its correct compared to a gen.

The rotational bezel is very easy to turn and has play in it, enough to rotate it by 1 minute from its current position without clicking to its next notch.

The hand stack looks right compared to my GMT and from what I've read about the various reps, but the operation is nothing like mine (not sure what the latest GMT's functions are).
Pulling out the crown 1 notch allows the GMT hand to be changed in 1 hour notches (I'm sure this is the normal function of the hour hand) and turning the opposite direction changes the date (again, on mine the date is changed by jumping the hour round past the midnight point). This watch is also supposed to change date in the same way as the gen i.e. a quick change at midnight.

Pulling the crown out another notch changes the minute hand, the direction of travel of the hand compared to the direction of rotation of the crown feels unnatural. Without checking against mine I suspect it turns the opposite direction I'd expect.

In terms of CG's, etc, I'm open to you guys to comment from photos or ask any questions - I've seen plenty of comments, reviews and tutorials about modding CG's but I can never tell exactly what shape is being filed.

For my purposes the watch seems nice, and it should be for the money, but we live and learn. The rotor noise may be a bit annoying on the wrist and I've no idea what movement is in there, but as per page 1, its supposed to be a "swiss ETA" although that seems very doubtful after reading threads here.

I could take the back off, the watch has supposed to have been waterproofed to 3atm as an extra, so that may not help this process (could just have silicon grease on the seals) and as there is a sticker on the back, taking the back off would void any claim/ issues. A catch 22 in terms of checking what the movement is. The seller was very efficient and had great communication, which I guess I would if I was making as much profit as he is.

I've tried to take a close up of the laser etched logo on the crystal, which is actually really hard to see (hopefully a good thing) and really hard to try and photograph. I tried to get a lume shot, but need to get the settings right as it came out under exposed.

I’ve left the plastic wrap on, so I can give the dial, etc a closer look for any issues, before wearing it and giving feedback to the seller.

Any comments appreciated

 

[advuk]

Well, no replies since I posted pics, not sure if the forum is quiet this time of year, or people just aren't interested as I unfortunately bought outside of the dealers here - purely due to lack of knowledge.

I've been reading about DSSD's and I'm looking into stripping down some old reps I have, so I'm constantly reading this forum, and although I've paid over the odds for the rep GMT IIc, reading more and more on here, I'm actually really happy with my purchase.

It's sat on my desk in front of me at work and I just cant flaw it (watches are to be worn, but after 12 years of never taking my gen off for anything but a clean, I'm starting to change my way of thinking, I realise that just sat here at my computer I was rubbing my watch up and down on the desk and I'm now feeling that it's shown its worth and robust"ness" for over a decade and now is the time to treat it with respect. Once I get it off for service and it comes back it will get star treatment, and I'm doing the same with my rep.)

I'm happy for anyone to point out any flaws in the watch, but the QC issues people mention about things such as:
-Lume Marker Filling, ...........(does it overfill the metallic outline of the marker?)
-Bezel Insert.....................(Is it cracked? )
-Scratches/marks..............(Self explanatory)

seem to be spot on, I actually cant find any faults with the watch at all, other than slight rotational play in the bezel.

Even the infill in the bezel under magnification is an almost metallic rough (microscopic) finish, that looks light grey/ sliver/ white in different situations.

The one thing with the lume is that the hands are slightly brighter than the markers, but I really dont care about that at this stage.

Theres been no significant variance in timekeeping against my gen so far and its been a few days - I will check this to the second sometime this weekend.

The dealer assured me he put this through extra "waterproofing", and has once again guaranteed me the movement is 100% Swiss ETA - the watch came from Singapore and I've no idea what QC it has gone through, but I suspect this has been checked over more than just straight off the line and drop shipped - I may just be lucky, but this genuinely feels like a good quality rep.

If this is the quality of reps that the dealers on here are sending out (and I will find out soon), then all credit to their efforts. For what these reps are being provided on here for, theres some excellent quality out there. Definitely compared to the odd rep I had half a decade ago, which were flawed in almost every way. although I did have a Daytona that a friend compared to his while he had a genuine on at the same time, and he really couldnt be certain - the only thing he commented was when he held it up to his ear, it sounded slightly louder than his - yes, it died after 12 months - I sent it ofF to be fixed, but doesnt hold charge if off the wrist - I will use it as a learning movement at some stage.

 

[avenger007]

Congrats on your new GMT, Advuk. It's a real beauty. I enjoyed your review and perspective as a relative newcomer like myself. For a gen Rolex owner to praise a rep so highly really says a lot about the overall quality of the pieces we are getting, even if we analyze and critique them to the nth degree ourselves. I have a friend who recently bought a gen Submariner, and I got a chance this past weekend to show him my rep Submariner built by Fake Master. He was blown away. We compared them side by side and he couldn't believe how close the resemblance was. He kept saying "Wow, I can't tell a difference" while holding both in his hands. I had to point out some of the tells on the rep, CG's, pearl, etc. When you consider what I paid and what he paid, I have NO complaints whatsoever.

 

[butterfly]

Hello Alex

You have found the best site!! congradulations, very informative if your willing to do the searches.

Happy New Year

 

[pcsam]

welcome mate ...its a nice gmt you have ...even the rep is ok .i would get it opened up to see the movement in it ...... then you can tell if they have greased the o rings properly (as that is the waterproof test) ......

i can see you getting a few more reps (well lots more ) its can be addictive but great to do ..... i enjoyed your review...... get that back off and lets see the movement ??

 

[advuk]

thanks for the comments.

I agree, I've definitely found a great forum, I can definitely see me getting more reps and I have no regrets about the rep GMT.

I've had a go at getting the back off quickly with no joy, so need to do it with some assistance (ball of gaffer tape I've heard) and when I've got 10 mins spare otherwise I'll probably mess something up.

For now I need to concentrate on getting out for New Years Eve... so have a great time everybody (if midnight hasnt already passed) and all the best for 2010!!!!

 

[hk45ca]

i have just now had time to sit down with my gen and a magnifying glass to look at your pics. honestly i don't see any major accuracy problems. obviously it is the incorrect hand stack but that is the only way to buy this watch for reliability and is almost impossible to spot on the wrist. the rehaut engraving is off but it is so hard to see i don't consider it to be a problem. i like your bezel insert as well as anything i have seen. i would like to see the bracelet and clasp but from what i can see it is one of the best gmt2c reps i have seen. can you post some pictures of the bracelet and clasp?

 

[alvinado]

yes it is a good rep, btw, the seller is from singapore and the rep is from china, the same we get from our dealers here..

Yes the handstack is wrong, but hey it is a rep.

if this is an advertised swiss movement, you should not pay more than $250 for it.

so how much did you pay?

and here, can you recommend this dealer to me, i stay in singapore too... if it is inconviene for you, please pm me.

 

[advuk]

I will post some more pics of the bracelet and clasp later today.

I thought it was the right hand stack when I compared against my gen GMT, but I dont mind either way as the incorrect hand stack movement is supposed to be better.

As per the beginning of this post, I paid way over the odds, as I hadnt found RWI at the time I ordered. Without checking the GBP/UK fx rate is at this moment, I reckon you need to add another 80 dollars to that as I fell into the add waterproof to 3atm trap :crying:

I'd considered contacting the seller and seeing if he would be more realistic with his prices if there could be some interest from from rep collectors on here, but I've no idea how many he sells and whether this would be worth him considering.

 

[advuk]

here's the pics requested:

 

[alvinado]

that the lastest with the engraved clasp... great quality...nothing to complain about!!

wear it well...

 

[hk45ca]

it looks pretty good to me!

 

[jmb]

This looks identical to the version I got from Josh (right down to the clasp) except mine came with the "decorated Rolex" movement and was advertised to use 316F steel. I think I remember it listed for $338 so if you paid in that neighborhood it was about the right price IF you got the GEN ETA movement. This is what I received:

 

[advuk]

ive just shocked myself, the FX rate I was using was a bit out to say the least, just stuck it in XE.com and its come out at $445 :arghh:

I stupidly paid extra for "waterproofing"

BUT, looks the same to me too, although the bezel numbers look thinner in my hand, and the deal is done, so I am happy with it...

... now, if I can get quality like that at a slightly lower price from trusted dealers here, then I think I could get even more hooked on this :notworthy:

Is this exactly the same as most dealers on here can get hold of?

Theres some great looking watches out there, I'm liking the IWC's and Omegas, the Pams also, but I think too big for my wrists. At this stage I'm a little more familiar with GMT's, but still find it hard to spot the exact differences.

.. and, I know theyve been done to death, the movementsare a problem, but I have always loved the Daytona, even before they went mad on prices - I remember being offered a SS white dial one in Bratislava at the AD in the main hotel there at list, and that was only 4 years ago, but not something I can afford as a gen. I would still love one if and when the movement gets sorted, or maybe if I get skilled enough to graphite one.

the final chapter in this, is getting a look at the movement, all the "tricks" havent worked and I suspect thats because its been torqued down by the dealer in the waterproofing process.

 

[alvinado]

yes this is exactly what you get from the dealers here, as for the price, we got to look at the movement first..

 

[advuk]

I'll need to find a case back opener then.

I'm working outside of the UK so will probably need to wait until I'm next back, as ebay may be the cheapest option, but there isnt one for Czech Republic, unless I look at the German version.

so, quick search on ebay.. is the GMT rep likely to be one of these case back collet sizes:
No 0 - 18.5mm
No 1 - 20.20mm
No 2 - 22.50mm
No 3 - 26.50mm
No 4 - 28.30mm
No 5 - 29.50mm

 

[advuk]

just had another look at Offshore's toolkit and it includes a caseback opener, so I'll go for his kit.

 

[advuk]

GMT - Movement Pics added

Ok, so I finally bought a toolkit from offshore - great transaction, great value and arrived to EU in a few days!

So, here's a couple of pics of the movement in my GTM IIc, one is out of focus, but I can take more if necessary.

I opened it quickly and have the case back straight on finger tight.

Any ideas what the movement is or is it not that easy to tell?

thanks

just noticed Ive put a finger print on the rotor, so need to clean that, i suspect these can tarnish if left?

 

[advuk]

Ive just found this thread:

http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/how-tell-if-its-swiss-35133

suspect it will be hard to tell.

Ive put the caseback on properly now - not sure if the big wheel is polished or brushed.. looks more polished, but with rotation marks, rather than brushed as such.

Id have to take the rotor of to see the holes in the 2 small gears.