The wife wanted a quartz watch since she could not handle keeping her Submariner running. Since I was getting a Tag she decided she wanted one too and picked the ladies Link with the black dial. I don't know if this is a fantasy watch or if it's a rep of an older version of the watch. The current black dial Link has a bezel with etched numbers. This version is plain polished silver, similar to the versions that have diamonds as the hour markers. The pink, blue or white dial versions also have the polished plain bezel.
The watch looked great when I unwrapped it. The first problem was when I tried to open the clasp. I nearly tore off my thumb nail it was so tight. Once that was open I immediately noticed the band was VERY stiff. Several of the links were just jammed together and would not move without considerable motivation. I oiled the band but that didn't help. I applied some oil with an abrasive powder in it and worked the stiff links for what seemed like hours. This eventually loosened them up. They are still not as loose as they should be but at least they move now. From what I can tell the band is not correct to the gen though. On the gen every other link is polished and this one is all brushed stainless. Again this might be correct for an older version but not the current model.
The clasp was a whole other issue. I nearly sent the watch back because of it. There was no way to open it without jamming a screwdriver or something into it. I filed, sanded and bent the the thing until I finally got it working in some sort of reasonable manor. I can't believe this left the factory like this. My advice if you are considering one of these is to ask the seller to check the operation of the clasp. That will mean they must peel of all that protective plastic but it will be worth it to get a clasp that actually works. I'm also not sure how the hell you would adjust this thing. There is no adjustment on the clasp and I don't see any way to remove a link.
Of course she does not know I spent 4 hours in the garage dicking with this thing. She just knows it looks great. We saw a nearly identical watch at Costco yesterday (with a pink dial), I think it was around $1200, so she is happy as a pig in mud. It's a nice looking watch on her wrist and if the clasp and band issues were solved I'd buy her another one.
The watch looked great when I unwrapped it. The first problem was when I tried to open the clasp. I nearly tore off my thumb nail it was so tight. Once that was open I immediately noticed the band was VERY stiff. Several of the links were just jammed together and would not move without considerable motivation. I oiled the band but that didn't help. I applied some oil with an abrasive powder in it and worked the stiff links for what seemed like hours. This eventually loosened them up. They are still not as loose as they should be but at least they move now. From what I can tell the band is not correct to the gen though. On the gen every other link is polished and this one is all brushed stainless. Again this might be correct for an older version but not the current model.
The clasp was a whole other issue. I nearly sent the watch back because of it. There was no way to open it without jamming a screwdriver or something into it. I filed, sanded and bent the the thing until I finally got it working in some sort of reasonable manor. I can't believe this left the factory like this. My advice if you are considering one of these is to ask the seller to check the operation of the clasp. That will mean they must peel of all that protective plastic but it will be worth it to get a clasp that actually works. I'm also not sure how the hell you would adjust this thing. There is no adjustment on the clasp and I don't see any way to remove a link.
Of course she does not know I spent 4 hours in the garage dicking with this thing. She just knows it looks great. We saw a nearly identical watch at Costco yesterday (with a pink dial), I think it was around $1200, so she is happy as a pig in mud. It's a nice looking watch on her wrist and if the clasp and band issues were solved I'd buy her another one.
