Mini review of Rolex 116710BLNR aka Batman– ARF Rep vs Gen
Hi folks
This is meant as a mini review of the ARF Rolex 116710 BLNR aka the Batman. I have always been looking out for a good rep of this watch since I joined the forum and when the ARF released this version, I can’t help but bought one immediately simply because of the insert and the correct hand stack movement.
As a mini review, I don’t intend to go deep down in terms of comparing the minuscule details but only intend to highlight some of the major or obvious (to the eyes) differences of this ARF rep as compared to the gen.
That said, I think this is definitely the best Batman rep thusfar and I also think it is a honestly very good rep despite the flaws. The opinions expressed here are solely those of mine and I don’t professed to be an expert nor do I possess an eye for details like those with OCD.
Now, with all the caveats in place, here are the major differences that I can observe:
notes: Gen is always the one with the green tag and on the bottom or on the right. The time shown on the Gen is also in advance as compared to that on the rep.
Crown Guards
The biggest difference, in my honest opinion, are the crown guards. As you can see from the comparison pictures, it is very obvious (and I am not even a rolex expert nor am I very obsessed with details) that the crown guards on the gen are much thicker when seen from the side.
In addition, the profile of the crown guards, when view from the back, is very different for the gen as compared to that of the rep. I don’t know how to describe the difference (protrude more?) but it is very obvious from the pictures below.
Gen is on the bottom. Rep is on top.
As clearly shown, the CG on the rep is thinner from this view.
CG on the gen is thicker from this view.
From the back, the profile of the CG on the rep seems to be "short".
From this view, the CG on the gen seems to be longer. Profile is also quite obviously different from that of the rep.
Insert
Honestly, the insert is very well done in terms of the font and the thickness of the font, as well as the coatings on the engraved numerals. Most importantly, you do NOT have those speed bumps anymore! This is the significant breakthrough for a Batman rep insert. None of the current aftermarket rep inserts has such smooth transition. And the blue-black transition, to my eyes, are roughly at the right place.
That said, under certain light condition, the blue color on the rep is just a tab lighter than that on the gen as show in the picture.
But, I am honestly impressed because this is hands down the best rep insert in the market right now.
The rep insert is very good. Under certain lighting conditions, the blue ceramic portion appears obviously to be of a lighter shade as compared to the gen.
Gen insert.
Cyclops AR
First of all, the rep cyclops is good. Really good. That said, from the reflection of the cyclops, I can vaguely see that the AR color is different between that of the gen and the rep. Basically, the AR on the gen cyclops has a more obvious blue tint than that on the rep cyclop. The rep cyclops still has a light blue tint but just not as blue as that on the gen. This can be seen if you look carefully at the reflection of the circular lamp on the cyclops in all the pics (basically, I had switched on an overhead circular table lamp while taking the photos and it is reflected on the cyclops). The circular lamp reflection on the gen cyclops is clearly more blue than that on the rep cyclops.
Dial Font (Top Line Rolex)
Ok, I have to admit that this is the hardest part. To me, there are some differences on the dial fonts but I really had to look hard. In other words, it is not so obvious to me. The biggest difference is the font size on the top row text “ROLEX”.
That row of text seems to be thicker on the rep dial as compared to the gen dial.
The rest of the dial font differences is less obvious and you really need to look hard with both watches side by side. Looking for differences based on the pics alone is not going to be easy.
Rep dial
Gen dial (sorry for all the fingerprints on the sapphire glass)
Summary
So in summary, the above are some of the key differences that I can see. There could be more but in all honesty some of these differences are really really very minor or minute.
I hope I have not dampened your appetite to buy one because I honestly believe this is a good rep and obviously the best Batman rep in the market now.
So, instead of looking at this mini review as a review to show how bad this ARF batman is, my point is that this review should be taken as a review to endorse the current ARF batman. The final judgement is still up to each and every one of you out there but yes, I will definitely recommend all batman fans out there to buy one of these ARF batmans.
Cheers
Hi folks
This is meant as a mini review of the ARF Rolex 116710 BLNR aka the Batman. I have always been looking out for a good rep of this watch since I joined the forum and when the ARF released this version, I can’t help but bought one immediately simply because of the insert and the correct hand stack movement.
As a mini review, I don’t intend to go deep down in terms of comparing the minuscule details but only intend to highlight some of the major or obvious (to the eyes) differences of this ARF rep as compared to the gen.
That said, I think this is definitely the best Batman rep thusfar and I also think it is a honestly very good rep despite the flaws. The opinions expressed here are solely those of mine and I don’t professed to be an expert nor do I possess an eye for details like those with OCD.
Now, with all the caveats in place, here are the major differences that I can observe:
notes: Gen is always the one with the green tag and on the bottom or on the right. The time shown on the Gen is also in advance as compared to that on the rep.
Crown Guards
The biggest difference, in my honest opinion, are the crown guards. As you can see from the comparison pictures, it is very obvious (and I am not even a rolex expert nor am I very obsessed with details) that the crown guards on the gen are much thicker when seen from the side.
In addition, the profile of the crown guards, when view from the back, is very different for the gen as compared to that of the rep. I don’t know how to describe the difference (protrude more?) but it is very obvious from the pictures below.
Gen is on the bottom. Rep is on top.
As clearly shown, the CG on the rep is thinner from this view.
CG on the gen is thicker from this view.
From the back, the profile of the CG on the rep seems to be "short".
From this view, the CG on the gen seems to be longer. Profile is also quite obviously different from that of the rep.
Insert
Honestly, the insert is very well done in terms of the font and the thickness of the font, as well as the coatings on the engraved numerals. Most importantly, you do NOT have those speed bumps anymore! This is the significant breakthrough for a Batman rep insert. None of the current aftermarket rep inserts has such smooth transition. And the blue-black transition, to my eyes, are roughly at the right place.
That said, under certain light condition, the blue color on the rep is just a tab lighter than that on the gen as show in the picture.
But, I am honestly impressed because this is hands down the best rep insert in the market right now.
The rep insert is very good. Under certain lighting conditions, the blue ceramic portion appears obviously to be of a lighter shade as compared to the gen.
Gen insert.
Cyclops AR
First of all, the rep cyclops is good. Really good. That said, from the reflection of the cyclops, I can vaguely see that the AR color is different between that of the gen and the rep. Basically, the AR on the gen cyclops has a more obvious blue tint than that on the rep cyclop. The rep cyclops still has a light blue tint but just not as blue as that on the gen. This can be seen if you look carefully at the reflection of the circular lamp on the cyclops in all the pics (basically, I had switched on an overhead circular table lamp while taking the photos and it is reflected on the cyclops). The circular lamp reflection on the gen cyclops is clearly more blue than that on the rep cyclops.
Dial Font (Top Line Rolex)
Ok, I have to admit that this is the hardest part. To me, there are some differences on the dial fonts but I really had to look hard. In other words, it is not so obvious to me. The biggest difference is the font size on the top row text “ROLEX”.
That row of text seems to be thicker on the rep dial as compared to the gen dial.
The rest of the dial font differences is less obvious and you really need to look hard with both watches side by side. Looking for differences based on the pics alone is not going to be easy.
Rep dial
Gen dial (sorry for all the fingerprints on the sapphire glass)
Summary
So in summary, the above are some of the key differences that I can see. There could be more but in all honesty some of these differences are really really very minor or minute.
I hope I have not dampened your appetite to buy one because I honestly believe this is a good rep and obviously the best Batman rep in the market now.
So, instead of looking at this mini review as a review to show how bad this ARF batman is, my point is that this review should be taken as a review to endorse the current ARF batman. The final judgement is still up to each and every one of you out there but yes, I will definitely recommend all batman fans out there to buy one of these ARF batmans.
Cheers
