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BP Factory Rolex 16710 GMT Full Review VS Gen

KJ2020

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Thank you for this! Really well done and extremely thorough review. Have you done a review comparing the Noob 16710 to either the BP or GEN? If so, what can you share about the overall rating Noob to BP on this GMT II? I'm planning to purchase one (black/red bezel) in the next couple months.

thanks again!

Noob doesn't make a 16710 (any longer). If you have a link to the watch you're referring to I'll take a look.
 
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ChetnLisa

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12/9/19
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Thanks for the reply. That's a bummer, that they discontinued the 16710. In that case, I'm going to look into the ceramic version of this watch. Can you shed some light on two of the modern versions of the GMT II. Apparently they are from different factories. My preference is the jubilee band and blue dial. The Noob specifies that the hour hand ("swiss clone" movement) can be independently adjusted. I'm less concerned about the movement than I am about the finish and general appearance to the GEN.

https://chazingtime06.co/products/g...s-noob-11-best-edition-bracelet-a3285-correct

https://chazingtime06.co/products/g...4l-ss-gmf-11-best-edition-black-dial-bracelet
 

KJ2020

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Thanks for the reply. That's a bummer, that they discontinued the 16710. In that case, I'm going to look into the ceramic version of this watch. Can you shed some light on two of the modern versions of the GMT II. Apparently they are from different factories. My preference is the jubilee band and blue dial. The Noob specifies that the hour hand ("swiss clone" movement) can be independently adjusted. I'm less concerned about the movement than I am about the finish and general appearance to the GEN.

https://chazingtime06.co/products/g...s-noob-11-best-edition-bracelet-a3285-correct

https://chazingtime06.co/products/g...4l-ss-gmf-11-best-edition-black-dial-bracelet

Those are both correct hand stack movements (CHS).
If you aren't sure what that is or what it's risks are, you have some reading to do! Here are some links.

https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...e-time-on-the-gmt-ii-chs-a3186-movement/page7

https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...-why-the-chs-gmt-movements-are-failing/page11

https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...noob-pepsi-gmt-126710-blro-mini-review/page27

FYI, there are no clone 3185/6/7 or 3285 movements. All the GMT CHS movements are clone 2824s with various fake engravings on them.
 
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ChetnLisa

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Thanks again for the links. I did lots of reading as required to follow these lengthy threads. I'm (obviously) a novice in the game but a quick learner and, more aptly, I take an empirical approach to all things learned. With that said, I still appreciate the guidance. I've lost track of all the GMT II available but hoping you might know where to find one with a blue dial with (Pepsi insert) and/or if Noob can do a customized one.

Back to my pursuit of the 16710. It's been 20 years ago this week that I purchased my first Rolex in Belgium and lament to this day having sold it. It was a black/red "coke" insert that I paid $2.3K. Having lost the keepsake value, it's not a watch that I am interested in buying a GEN for $12K+. Do you know why Noob discontinued it?
 

KJ2020

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Thanks again for the links. I did lots of reading as required to follow these lengthy threads. I'm (obviously) a novice in the game but a quick learner and, more aptly, I take an empirical approach to all things learned. With that said, I still appreciate the guidance. I've lost track of all the GMT II available but hoping you might know where to find one with a blue dial with (Pepsi insert) and/or if Noob can do a customized one.

Back to my pursuit of the 16710. It's been 20 years ago this week that I purchased my first Rolex in Belgium and lament to this day having sold it. It was a black/red "coke" insert that I paid $2.3K. Having lost the keepsake value, it's not a watch that I am interested in buying a GEN for $12K+. Do you know why Noob discontinued it?

Factories like to stay in the current market, where most buying interest is. 5 digit Rolex reps are increasingly hard to acquire and many people resort to cobbling one together piecemeal, sometimes with gen parts. I greatly lament the unavailability of a lot of my favorite vintage watches as a ready to wear purchase. Frankening has become an art in this hobby and there are some true masters here making pieces that look better than many gens. I've dabbled in it a bit but really prefer just to pay and wear. Unfortunately many reps have flaws that more or less require you to become a junior "modder" and fix or change things that you just can't live with.

My gen 16710 coke (subject of this thread) is 30 years old, one owner. I paid $1.3K for it and $35 a year later for a black insert. It's been worn plenty and been around the world many times. I've turned down $10K for it, doubt I would ever sell it. I had a gen 18238 Daydate FG and had no problem parting with it (though they always increase in value). This one though, will go to someone in the family.

15610703415900.jpg


No TDs or factories will customize anything usually, often I end up buying two watches to make one and then flip the other at a discount.

I search for watches a lot at two non-TD sites, Trustytime and TSWatch. They both have endless choices, though Trusty does not update often and you can find many discontinued items there.

You will find all the GMTs currently available at either place. I highly recommend sticking with an ICHS movement for all your GMT reps. I trust you read enough to appreciate why. Here's a couple links, remember these are not TDs so send a link of the watch you want to an RWI TD.

http://www.trustytime01.cc/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1&zenid=f2b2b3e6bc10232f76d0c09dcb2371b8

https://www.ts-station.cn/mobile/products_list.php?CateId=75
 

ChetnLisa

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Great information. I'm going to go with a Noob (ceramic) after seeing the review but don't see how to obtain it with the ICHS which means it doesn't exist. I can live and learn on this first endeavor. Would you recommend that i pursue someone (if you know anyone even better) that would be able to take that watch and change the dial to blue. I see the exact watch I want here (but not from Noob):

https://puretimewatch.io/watch-bran...ial-on-bracelet-a3186-correct-hand-stack.html
 

KJ2020

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Any watchmaker, forum or local can do it. Look in the forum vendor area for someone near you, or start a new thread to ask around as we are long off topic here. I thought about the new Noob with a blue dial also!
Have a look here. Blue dial ICHS. DJF is good and no movement issues to worry about.

https://www.ts-station.cn/mobile/goods.php?ProId=25155

Cheers
 
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ChetnLisa

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BTW, are you trying to rub it in with those pics of that perfect 16710 :) I'm amazed how flawless it is after 30 yrs. You're stoked!
 

KJ2020

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BTW, are you trying to rub it in with those pics of that perfect 16710 :) I'm amazed how flawless it is after 30 yrs. You're stoked!

Haha, I know. It's condition is about 9.8/10. When I wear it, it gets an invisible protective bubble around it that nothing penetrates. I've done that for so long that it's effortless now, instinctive. I took a pic of it one night with a blue insert installed and wearing a blue shirt that the light caught reflected on the crystal. Check this out. I'm a bit of a fantasy design nut, in case you hadn't noticed the gif in my signature. I have or had all of those combos within the last 2 years of repping.

15338768093690.jpg


15338768575242.jpg


https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...antasy-watch-thread-show-us-your-design-chops
 

ChetnLisa

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Yeah, I meant to ask you about that. That's a really cool effect. How many different times did you swap out the dial/insert on your 16710? How many of those watches reps? I am fascinated by how this hobby has taken shape to produce so many enthusiasts that (are brave enough) take their GENs apart to customize them. I can't imagine taking a GEN Rolex apart and expecting to put it back together and have it work properly. Do you think a GEN dial would fit on the Noob GMT? Also, how big a deal is it that the wind is CHS?
 

KJ2020

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I swap inserts willy nilly on my gen and reps alike. I can't get the caseback off my gen, even with a high quality hand tool with Rolex sockets. It needs a pro bench tool. Last time it was serviced it was put on mega tight. Probably a good thing, as I really have no business poking around in there anyway. I swap dials, bezels. movements, hands, crystals on reps to suit my current fancy. I just ordered about 8 inserts over the weekend for some upcoming mods, haha.

A gen dial can fit in a rep if the rehaut aperture is not too large. Gen dials (GMT, Sub, YM) are usually ~27.3mm. Rep dials are often larger so the rehaut has a larger diameter, sometimes too large to accommodate a gen dial. If the rep has an ETA movement, the gen dial feet need to be clipped and new feet glued or soldered on. This devalues the gen dial, even if the process is reversed. For that reason ppl choose reps with clone 3135 movements for Frankens.
 
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KJ2020

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It looks OK. I would source a rep dial before doing that though. Most TDs will source a dial and hand set for you. However there's not much profit in that so it helps a lot to make a parts request in conjunction with a watch order. Dials and hand sets run about $35 each. Also helps to have an established relationship with a TD.

Pic compares DJF dial to custom. The custom font looks soft to me (not crisp) like the rep. Plus it will have gen feet positions, needing to be clipped for ETA movement. Custom font also looks bold, I'd have to look at a gen again. Custom dial size may also be an issue.

3WA0J.jpg


Some fantasy design ideas I had with custom dials but gave up on because of custom dial sizes being too small. Custom dial makers have to use a gen dial plate to "refurbish" them legally, even though they are sandblasted to blanks. That's why they are all gen size. Whether or not they actually used to be a gen dial is questionable, I'm sure there's plenty of fudging going on.

Although these all show Sub dials, the custom maker is able to make them as GMTs


Compare-4-WS.jpg
 
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KJ2020

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TheKnight

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amazing review! are they still making these? will there be a v2?? i really can't get past the dial! everything else is acceptable to me.
 

Neon

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Those are both correct hand stack movements (CHS).
If you aren't sure what that is or what it's risks are, you have some reading to do! Here are some links.

https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...e-time-on-the-gmt-ii-chs-a3186-movement/page7

https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...-why-the-chs-gmt-movements-are-failing/page11

https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...noob-pepsi-gmt-126710-blro-mini-review/page27

FYI, there are no clone 3185/6/7 or 3285 movements. All the GMT CHS movements are clone 2824s with various fake engravings on them.
What is the recommended movement for a BP 16710 right now? I don’t need CHS. I see a CHS 2813 and a lie 3186 clone. Are there more options out of the box?