BKSub: To engrave or not to engrave, That is the question!

[kitersoze]

I'm excitedly in line for one of BK's super Subs, and there's the choice of having it with or without the rehaut ROLEX engraving.

I initially was thinking M serial instead of Z because it seems like all the most updated Sub versions from every dealer have this "innovation" and, since i was getting a 'new' sub, i thought this would be the most current and 'accurate' model. but i personally am not particularly wild about the engraving. i actually find it, to my eye, visually distracting and detracting from the overall aesthetics of this classic and legendary watch.

yet when i look up the gen versions of this watch for sale online and at one AD, NONE thus far have this engraving. in fact, the official Rolex site doesn't even have it on their pics for the Black and LV models (they only show it for the Blue and TT models). so what's the story with this engraving? is it simply a matter of preference, readily available to buyers in either version?

bk's sub is a work of art, and i imagine it will be my super'mariner for quite some time. i'd like to know where to qualify this rehaut engraving in terms of "accuracy" vs. my own personal taste.

sorry if this is a noob question; i searched quite a bit but couldn't find a specific reference. thanks in advance, all.
:mrgreen:

 

[Spirit]

Although not on the Rolex site pics for the Black and Green bezel Submariners, they DO come with the rehaut engraved, as ALL the watches bought (manufactured) in 2008 and so on have.

It´s a security feature, and is not up to choices..all the watches have the engraving and the serial number engraved on the rehaut, as well as a codebar engraved on the side of the case for the newest models too.

Here you can see 2 GEN Submariners for reference:

Black Bezel standard 16610 Submariner:
- Engraved rehaut
- Engraved barcode on the side of the case (notice the little black groove just at the 9 ´o clock position, on the side of the case)

Green Bezel LV Submariner [16610LV]:
- Engraved rehaut showing...

I particularlly love the engraving AND the barcode (barcode that I lovely call "atari engraving") ...and would go for it if I found one that had the correct engraving.
...I can´t tell if BK´s WM9 have it correctly engraved, but if it has, go for it =)

The correct engrave must be ligned up with the minute markers EXACTLY, ... the ROLEXROLEXROLEX must start at 7 ´o clock, go round the dial with the little coronet @ 12 ´o clock, and continue until the 5 ´o clock, where it stops. THEN, with a 1 minute marker spacing, the serial number will be engraved, exactly lined up with the minute markers too, starting exactly at the 27min marker, and stopping at the 33min. marker.
...It will leave a blank space between the serial and the ROLEXROLEXROLEX engraving...

The only reps I´ve seen with PERFECTLY repped rehaut engravings, were the DateJusts and Day-Dates...(but now it seems that the v3 Sea-Dweller DEEPSEA comes with a nicely done too)

I hope BK´s WM9s come with a good one...

Cheers,
Spirit.

 

[fakemaster]

Since there's a 1,000,000 to 1 ratio of non engraved vs. engraved in circulation it somes down to your personal preference.

 

[kitersoze]

thanks, fakemaster and spirit. Spirit, wow. i truly appreciate you taking the time to school a noob. That was very thorough and very kind of you.

 

[Spirit]

No problem mate =)
...That´s what this community is all about. You will find alot of members here willing to help for any questions that you might have, if they´re able to do so


Welcome aboard!

Cheers,
Spirit.

 

[fakemaster]

Ditto

 

[Spirit]

...i actually find it, to my eye, visually distracting and detracting from the overall aesthetics of this classic and legendary watch.

Ah...

...Just to point this out, I own 4 Rolex with the engraved rehaut, and I can assure you that they´re pretty much invisible while on your wrist. You won´t even notice then thru the shine of the rehaut depending on the lightning and angle that you look at your watch on the wrist. So, it really doesn´t distract you from any of the aspects of the watch, in whatever model you choose. :wink:

Keep in mind that when you´re looking at these (or any pictures) you´re seeing OVERSIZED zoomed watches, and they are not even near scaled to the real watch , not to say when the watch is on your wrist. So I guess you don´t walk around with the watch facing your nose from a 2 inch distance too much, do you? :lol:

Cheers,
Spirit.

 

[d4m.test]

Spirit thnks for bringing up the "code bar", I was wondering about whether they were a new part of the gens. Will "it" become a part of reps now, do you ( &, or our other experts ) think? I think they're ugly as hell! I wonder if any people that buy a gen watch will ever remove them? Anyway, thanks for the info.

 

[Spirit]

Spirit thnks for bringing up the "code bar", I was wondering about whether they were a new part of the gens. Will "it" become a part of reps now, do you ( &, or our other experts ) think? I think they're ugly as hell! I wonder if any people that buy a gen watch will ever remove them? Anyway, thanks for the info.

I don´t believe any owner of a new model would ever remove them, it´s a security for them about the genuinity(sp?) of their watches. and most Rolex owners - as I have seen - are up to show the genuine features of their Rolexes. Plus, it´s so small while on the wrist, you wouldn´t even bother about it.

I particularlly love those... LOL! ...and would like so much to see a rep with this small engraving on the side of the case! :mrgreen:
...But I don´t think we will see it anytime soon on reps.

Man, I gotta say, this engraving is so tiny that you have no idea...and being it black engraved, it just mix with the shadows/reflections on the side of the case and turns out invisible...
I´ve tried a Rolex Explorer II (GEN - 2008 model) that had the little engraving on the side of the case and the engraved rehaut too, and both features went unnoticed to the eye. It only grabs my attention because I was really looking for them, as I like both!

Here are the engravings in question on a Z serial GMT-Master II "Ceramic":

If this engraving ever come as option for reps (WELL DONE, PLZ) I´m definitely up for it!

Cheers,
Spirit.

 

[seventhexile]

I tried as hard as I could to get a pic of my MBK M-serial num.
engraving. - but unfortunately my camera's not good enough.

However - the engraving is perfectly centered.
I am extremely impressed by it!

So my thought would be go w/ the engraving as evidence by the mbk I have
the engraving has gotten good enough to make it worth while to have.

 

[kitersoze]

...i actually find it, to my eye, visually distracting and detracting from the overall aesthetics of this classic and legendary watch.

Ah...

...Just to point this out, I own 4 Rolex with the engraved rehaut, and I can assure you that they´re pretty much invisible while on your wrist. You won´t even notice then thru the shine of the rehaut depending on the lightning and angle that you look at your watch on the wrist. So, it really doesn´t distract you from any of the aspects of the watch, in whatever model you choose. :wink:

Keep in mind that when you´re looking at these (or any pictures) you´re seeing OVERSIZED zoomed watches, and they are not even near scaled to the real watch , not to say when the watch is on your wrist. So I guess you don´t walk around with the watch facing your nose from a 2 inch distance too much, do you? :lol:

Cheers,
Spirit.

ah, spirit... that was an astute observation and helpful insight. that was my primary objection to the rehaut engraving: from the pics, i felt the lettering was distracting and that it detracted from the overall clean, simple, and uncluttered aesthetic of the watch. but my noob eye didn't consider the fact these are zoomed, oversized pics of what remains a relatively small item on my wrist. i appreciate you relating your personal experience with your 4 rollies; if you don't notice it, then i highly doubt i would. as for my nose, the only thing i try to walk around 2 inches from at every opportunity is my gf's delectable breasts. [smilie=sex.gif]

that barcode thing is funny; i've never heard mention of it on any forum or thread before you. what info is on it to be scanned and read?

 

[Dizzy]

isnt that "bar code" just something printed on the protective sticker on the side of this new watch? Its not engraved into the case...

 

[Spirit]

isnt that "bar code" just something printed on the protective sticker on the side of this new watch? Its not engraved into the case...

Nope Dizzy, it´s really engraved. I have seen it, and it´s not on the protective sticker...
...on some pics, you can even see the depth of the engraving thru the sticker, it´s done in the same way the ROLEXROLEXROLEX engraving is done.

On another point, what would be the meaning of having a new feature as a security barcode that can be easily removed as a protective sticker? ...It would be useless then.
believe me, it´s really engraved on the side of the watch. and each watch comes with a different engraving, a different pattern..as a barcode is..

Cheers,
Spirit.

 

[R2D4]

You could easily do that etched barcode with a chemical etching set. They run about 80.00 to 150.00 though. But if you have an ambitious mind you could make some cash.

http://www.etch-o-matic.com/stencils.htm

 

[kitersoze]

isnt that "bar code" just something printed on the protective sticker on the side of this new watch? Its not engraved into the case...

Nope Dizzy, it´s really engraved. I have seen it, and it´s not on the protective sticker...
...on some pics, you can even see the depth of the engraving thru the sticker, it´s done in the same way the ROLEXROLEXROLEX engraving is done.

On another point, what would be the meaning of having a new feature as a security barcode that can be easily removed as a protective sticker? ...It would be useless then.
believe me, it´s really engraved on the side of the watch. and each watch comes with a different engraving, a different pattern..as a barcode is..

Cheers,
Spirit.

so wait... are you saying that THAT then would be an instantaneous tell? if you have a sub model with rehaut engraving but WITHOUT the accompanying engraved barcode, then that's an obvious flaw? if so, then a sub without engraved barcode should NOT have rehaut engraving to be accurate, right?

 

[carnut]

I chose the non engraved (Z series) so I would not have to be dissappointed with what should be the best out of the box Sub (LV) rep due to the engraving being off/ barcode not right, etc.

 

[Spirit]

You could easily do that etched barcode with a chemical etching set. They run about 80.00 to 150.00 though. But if you have an ambitious mind you could make some cash.

http://www.etch-o-matic.com/stencils.htm

R2D4, mate...

if it´s ever possible, I´d be IN for some atari engraving for sure :lol:

ATARI ghost FTW!!! This would be a hommage ROFL

Now seriously, if it would be possible to make a perfect little barcode engraving, I´d like to see that, and would even be up later on to get a Rollie with that feature for me.

so wait... are you saying that THAT then would be an instantaneous tell? if you have a sub model with rehaut engraving but WITHOUT the accompanying engraved barcode, then that's an obvious flaw? if so, then a sub without engraved barcode should NOT have rehaut engraving to be accurate, right?

@ Kitersoze:
...No, there are rehaut engraved rollies before the barcode being introduced. the engraved rehaut was on the 2007 Rolex already, and the barcode is from late 2008 models only coming for the 2009 lineup of Rolexes.
So, it´s not a instantaneous tell as you think...

Cheers,
Spirit.

 

[fakemaster]

Really? we're obsessing over barcodes now?

 

[nebraska]

Okay, here's my input.

Ive just ordered an LV and a TT Sub from BK. I agonised for days over the engraving or not. whether you like the look of the engraving we are all trying (?) to get 1.1 on our reps so anything that can damage this should not be considered.(?).

On the basis that the rehalt engraving could be a pretty big tell tale if its not damn good, and you could have a pre 2007/ 2008 watch then I chose not to have it. Also, as my wife pointed out, the possibility of me finding £10,000 for two watches is pretty remote, the possibility of me buying two second hand watches is far more plausible. I guess my wife knows I'm cheap!.

barcode?, well i didnt even get that far!.

 

[Spirit]

barcode?, well i didnt even get that far!.

ATARI Pac-Man Ghost engraving is all that you need!
:lol:

Cheers,
Spirit.