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My Reps Journal (Daytona, Subs, SD43, PP, Explorer I and so on)
- Thread starter MaximillianGT
- Start date
The Clean you're showing doesn't look like the V3, subdials are too thick. Take a look at the Clean V3 dial I posted last page, it is the best OTB dial available, the only flaw is the big mouth coronet.Or VSF
Make yer own minds up, just IMHO
CF :-
VSF :-
Gen :-
It was a random google screen grab, not an RWI TD, so may not be V3, despite it being advertised as such
But yeah, Crown @12 deffo, possibly hands slightly short too but as I say that's just IMHO
I'll be going VSF on the next one, they are both extremely good, but the CF is also silly dear, again IMHO
I am interested in the VSF too, if you get one, share your photos with us!It was a random google screen grab, not an RWI TD, so may not be V3, despite it being advertised as such
But yeah, Crown @12 deffo, possibly hands slightly short too but as I say that's just IMHO
I'll be going VSF on the next one, they are both extremely good, but the CF is also silly dear, again IMHO
You guys on RWI see more of my watches than I do
I will be buying one soon, and of course I'll post pics in my blog thread here called "Little Steps", which has all my purchases and antics in it
Thank you for suggesting. For AP I prefer 15400, and it still needs some modifications. VC 4500v is one of my many targets, but a bit difficult to find within our TDs these days.
Here’s a quick update on my Pikachu Explorer journey. After picking up a Nato strap, I decided it was time to hunt down a "nice strap" for it. By "nice," I mean I have absolutely no clue what I'm looking for. Despite owning more watches than I'd care to admit, only a handful have ever had straps – and those were the stock ones. So, when it comes to straps, especially leather ones, let’s just say I’m a newbie.
Naturally, I turned to Google, and the first thing that caught my eye was a shop on Etsy. Now, I’ve bought a few leather goods from Etsy before, like bags and weekenders (mainly from Ukrainian sellers), and they’ve always been top-notch. So, when I stumbled upon this shop, I thought, why not?
Yes, it was a bit on the pricier side, but the craftsmanship looked solid. So, I took the plunge and ordered an alligator strap. Fast forward 2 to 3 weeks (shipping included), and voilà – it arrived today.
Now, I’ll admit, I’m no strap connoisseur, so I’m not sure how to properly critique it. But here’s what stood out to me: it’s thicker than I expected, but it’s not flat. The stitching and design give it this curved shape, so when I first put it on, it didn’t feel like I was strapping a stiff, chunky Panerai band to my wrist. Instead, it felt comfortable and like it was made to fit. Quite a pleasant surprise!
Naturally, I turned to Google, and the first thing that caught my eye was a shop on Etsy. Now, I’ve bought a few leather goods from Etsy before, like bags and weekenders (mainly from Ukrainian sellers), and they’ve always been top-notch. So, when I stumbled upon this shop, I thought, why not?
Yes, it was a bit on the pricier side, but the craftsmanship looked solid. So, I took the plunge and ordered an alligator strap. Fast forward 2 to 3 weeks (shipping included), and voilà – it arrived today.
Now, I’ll admit, I’m no strap connoisseur, so I’m not sure how to properly critique it. But here’s what stood out to me: it’s thicker than I expected, but it’s not flat. The stitching and design give it this curved shape, so when I first put it on, it didn’t feel like I was strapping a stiff, chunky Panerai band to my wrist. Instead, it felt comfortable and like it was made to fit. Quite a pleasant surprise!
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Indeed. Now this is more like a watch goes with suits.It really suits that watch
And I have a slight sense that I might start hunting straps for my watches...
So, here’s another update - unfortunately, not a happy one. Last week, I finally got my hands on an ARF 126600 MKI from the M2M section. I’d been hunting for months, and when someone finally listed it for sale, I was beyond thrilled! I snapped it up, and the seller shipped it within the hour - what an amazing member!
Here’s the link for reference:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/arf-sea-dweller-mk-l-126600-rare-bird.10990904/
Now, on October 15, I received the DHL delivery at 10:55 AM. As usual, the Deutsche Post courier left the package in the public corridor of my apartment building, tucked safely behind a locked front door. Two of my neighbours even confirmed they saw the DHL package chilling on the bay window in the corridor.
This is where things get weird. My doorbell camera (which is useful, but not exactly Sherlock Holmes) didn’t capture anything suspicious because of the angle. Fast forward to 2:15 PM - the Amazon delivery person arrives, rings my neighbour’s bell to get in, and places two Amazon parcels on the same bay window where my DHL package had been sitting all morning. By the time I went to collect everything at 2:42 PM, the Amazon packages were there, but my DHL package had mysteriously vanished.
BTW, I've lived in this apartment for over 15 years, 0 incidents happened, and my neighbours are trustworthy people.
I didn’t pick up my parcels earlier because I was in the middle of a real-time interpretation session that kept me working all day, with only a 30-minute break around 2ish.
Now, I’m not accusing anyone, but it’s worth mentioning that the Amazon delivery person was the last one to place packages in the vicinity of where the DHL one disappeared. While I don’t have direct proof they took it, I’ve already reported the incident to the local police as a precaution. I’d appreciate it if Amazon could investigate further, as their delivery person was the last known individual in the area.
Losing €350 is one thing, but losing this rare rep, which I may never find again, is a much bigger heartbreak. I almost pulled the trigger on buying an SW200-1 Top Grade movement for it, but luckily I held off and told myself, "Wait until the rep arrives." Otherwise, this would’ve been an even bigger disaster...
Here’s the link for reference:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/arf-sea-dweller-mk-l-126600-rare-bird.10990904/
Now, on October 15, I received the DHL delivery at 10:55 AM. As usual, the Deutsche Post courier left the package in the public corridor of my apartment building, tucked safely behind a locked front door. Two of my neighbours even confirmed they saw the DHL package chilling on the bay window in the corridor.
This is where things get weird. My doorbell camera (which is useful, but not exactly Sherlock Holmes) didn’t capture anything suspicious because of the angle. Fast forward to 2:15 PM - the Amazon delivery person arrives, rings my neighbour’s bell to get in, and places two Amazon parcels on the same bay window where my DHL package had been sitting all morning. By the time I went to collect everything at 2:42 PM, the Amazon packages were there, but my DHL package had mysteriously vanished.
BTW, I've lived in this apartment for over 15 years, 0 incidents happened, and my neighbours are trustworthy people.
I didn’t pick up my parcels earlier because I was in the middle of a real-time interpretation session that kept me working all day, with only a 30-minute break around 2ish.
Now, I’m not accusing anyone, but it’s worth mentioning that the Amazon delivery person was the last one to place packages in the vicinity of where the DHL one disappeared. While I don’t have direct proof they took it, I’ve already reported the incident to the local police as a precaution. I’d appreciate it if Amazon could investigate further, as their delivery person was the last known individual in the area.
Losing €350 is one thing, but losing this rare rep, which I may never find again, is a much bigger heartbreak. I almost pulled the trigger on buying an SW200-1 Top Grade movement for it, but luckily I held off and told myself, "Wait until the rep arrives." Otherwise, this would’ve been an even bigger disaster...
I am very sorry to hear this, such a shame for the rarity and the fact that the scum who took it almost certainly don't know what it is worth to guys like us
Thanks.I am very sorry to hear this, such a shame for the rarity and the fact that the scum who took it almost certainly don't know what it is worth to guys like us
The most unbearable part of all this? That idiot will probably take the rep to a pawn shop, only to have the guy tell him it’s a fake. Then my precious ARF 126600 will either end up in the trash, or worse - on that moron’s wrist as his everyday beater...
I agree with everything you say there, its typical of this kind of scum, they don't give a F
I think the first thing I'd do is see if anyone else has CCTV footage, i.e. from outside the building facing the door, if so get a screenshot pic and hopefully it will clearly ID the driver.
After that I'd make a few cheap Amazon orders, and when he turned up I'd carefully follow him all day to find out where he lived then deal with it "in house", but I'm definitely not suggesting you try that unless it's your thing.
So if you do get a clear picture of the geezers moosh then contact the local Amazon delivery company and ask for the name of the driver that day, because you want to give it to the cops.
Cops and Amazon delivery co do not need to know it was a replica
It's a wrist watch that had just come back from specialist repair.
Reality is you'll likely never find out, but at this stage while the iron is hot it's gotta be worth spending a little time, if nothing else it would hopefully give you some consolation that at least you tried
It’s been a while since my last write-up — November kept me on my toes.
After the not-so-pleasant incident, I decided to treat myself to another SD43 from the M2M section. This time, it’s the newly updated Clean 126600 with a functioning HEV I might never need. It’s been ages since I last owned a Sea Dweller. Back in the day, I had a gen 16600 but sold it about a decade ago. At the time, the SD felt like just another Submariner, albeit with a nicer crystal (I’m not a big fan of cyclops crystals). My first impression of this new SD43? This thing is a unit!
Now, I’ve worn larger watches before — an IWC chronograph and a Pam 299 come to mind. Both are hefty, but somehow, this SD43 feels like it could bench-press them. It's massive, muscular, and weighty — so big that it feels even larger than my IWC.
Here’s the twist, though: on the wrist, it doesn’t wear as large as it looks. Somehow, Rolex nailed the proportions so well that even those with slimmer wrists could pull this off, I think it is because they shaved down the lug size of a maxi case like the 124060. I actually prefer its size over any Daytona or Submariner I’ve owned. Go figure.
The VR3235 movement has also exceeded my expectations. It’s running at -5 to -8 seconds per day, which is great for a rep. I’ve got a VS3235 sitting on hand — a slightly better clone of the 3235 — and since I’m loving this SD43 so much, I’m toying with the idea of swapping the VR for the VS and maybe throwing in a gen balance. That might just be my first project of 2025.
And finally, some photos! @Reaps , I’ve included the side-by-side shot with the IWC 377717 you asked for earlier. Apologies for the delay — better late than never, right?
Last but not least: you don’t truly appreciate the thickness until you try photographing it in a dimly lit environment! At 1.7 EV, my camera struggled to find a solid focus between the 114060 and the 126600. The heft of the SD, especially that caseback, really makes its presence known.
After the not-so-pleasant incident, I decided to treat myself to another SD43 from the M2M section. This time, it’s the newly updated Clean 126600 with a functioning HEV I might never need. It’s been ages since I last owned a Sea Dweller. Back in the day, I had a gen 16600 but sold it about a decade ago. At the time, the SD felt like just another Submariner, albeit with a nicer crystal (I’m not a big fan of cyclops crystals). My first impression of this new SD43? This thing is a unit!
Now, I’ve worn larger watches before — an IWC chronograph and a Pam 299 come to mind. Both are hefty, but somehow, this SD43 feels like it could bench-press them. It's massive, muscular, and weighty — so big that it feels even larger than my IWC.
Here’s the twist, though: on the wrist, it doesn’t wear as large as it looks. Somehow, Rolex nailed the proportions so well that even those with slimmer wrists could pull this off, I think it is because they shaved down the lug size of a maxi case like the 124060. I actually prefer its size over any Daytona or Submariner I’ve owned. Go figure.
The VR3235 movement has also exceeded my expectations. It’s running at -5 to -8 seconds per day, which is great for a rep. I’ve got a VS3235 sitting on hand — a slightly better clone of the 3235 — and since I’m loving this SD43 so much, I’m toying with the idea of swapping the VR for the VS and maybe throwing in a gen balance. That might just be my first project of 2025.
And finally, some photos! @Reaps , I’ve included the side-by-side shot with the IWC 377717 you asked for earlier. Apologies for the delay — better late than never, right?
Last but not least: you don’t truly appreciate the thickness until you try photographing it in a dimly lit environment! At 1.7 EV, my camera struggled to find a solid focus between the 114060 and the 126600. The heft of the SD, especially that caseback, really makes its presence known.
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To borrow a phrase from the car-tuning/car collecting scene "built, not bought!"
For real, this is why the rep watch scene to me is more interesting than the Gen scene...most Gen owners don't know how their watches really work and would never open a watch.
The quest to build and mod things is so much more interesting than the endless "Got The Call!!!" posts in the Gen forums.
Cheers + viel Spass
For real, this is why the rep watch scene to me is more interesting than the Gen scene...most Gen owners don't know how their watches really work and would never open a watch.
The quest to build and mod things is so much more interesting than the endless "Got The Call!!!" posts in the Gen forums.
Cheers + viel Spass
To borrow a phrase from the car-tuning/car collecting scene "built, not bought!"
For real, this is why the rep watch scene to me is more interesting than the Gen scene...most Gen owners don't know how their watches really work and would never open a watch.
The quest to build and mod things is so much more interesting than the endless "Got The Call!!!" posts in the Gen forums.
Cheers + viel Spass
You can do both
Another myth to bust: We’ve all seen those eBay listings where someone tries to convince potential buyers that their "exceptional quality" aftermarket crystals are so amazing they can "pass" a diamond tester. Let me tell you, that’s complete BS.
Two weeks ago, I bought a 6497 movement from AliExpress for practice, and while browsing, I stumbled upon this little gadget:
It cost less than 10 Euros, so I thought, why not? When it arrived, I decided to test it on some watch crystals. Now, let’s be clear — this device isn’t designed to test watch crystals, and since crystals are much larger than diamonds, you can’t use the same standard. It can’t tell real diamonds from fake ones when it comes to watch crystals. But I decided to use it as a clarity comparison tool.
I set the tester to the same strength and tested both the gen crystal on my Daytona and the Clean crystal on my SD43. And the results?
Under identical conditions, the tester claimed that the infamous, supposedly "sub-par" Clean crystal outperformed the gen Rolex crystal.
Of course, my little experiment isn’t professional, nor does it prove anything close to the truth about crystal quality. But one thing’s for sure — I can confidently call out those diamond tester photos on eBay for what they are: pure bluff.
Two weeks ago, I bought a 6497 movement from AliExpress for practice, and while browsing, I stumbled upon this little gadget:
It cost less than 10 Euros, so I thought, why not? When it arrived, I decided to test it on some watch crystals. Now, let’s be clear — this device isn’t designed to test watch crystals, and since crystals are much larger than diamonds, you can’t use the same standard. It can’t tell real diamonds from fake ones when it comes to watch crystals. But I decided to use it as a clarity comparison tool.
I set the tester to the same strength and tested both the gen crystal on my Daytona and the Clean crystal on my SD43. And the results?
Under identical conditions, the tester claimed that the infamous, supposedly "sub-par" Clean crystal outperformed the gen Rolex crystal.
Of course, my little experiment isn’t professional, nor does it prove anything close to the truth about crystal quality. But one thing’s for sure — I can confidently call out those diamond tester photos on eBay for what they are: pure bluff.
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Another two months have flown by, and I find myself wondering — am I just too busy these days, or have I moved past the "fast-buying reps" phase? You know, that stage where you’re grabbing everything you really want. Now, it seems I only decide on something if it randomly catches my attention. Probably a bit of both.
During December, I had this sudden urge to treat myself to a new rep for Christmas. Naturally, I decided to check off the top of my wishlist: a 39mm or 40mm Explorer I. So, off I went to Sead. To my surprise, he told me he couldn’t ship at the moment — "doesn’t look good now." I have no idea what’s going on with him (of course, I hope he’s okay), but I knew I needed to look elsewhere for my Christmas shopping spree.
Speaking of the Explorer I, did I mention I grew up in Hong Kong and Seoul before moving to LA at 11? In both my childhood cities, Rolex was the thing. And among all Rolex models, the Explorer I — especially the 14270 — was practically a holy grail. Why? Because the Japanese star Takuya Kimura rocked one in the 1997 J-drama Love Generation. For the next couple of years, a 14270 in Hong Kong or other parts of Asia could fetch a higher price than a 16610.
I never actually owned an Explorer I until I got my 1016 here, which I showed earlier in this thread. The reason? Its 36mm size. It always felt a little too small for my taste. So, when Rolex finally launched the 224270, I thought, Finally, something for me!
Here on RWI, members occasionally comment on the 224270, with the most common complaints being, "too big" or "the dial looks oversized." While I get those points, they’re not deal breakers for me. That said, I’ll admit the proportions and balance of the dial do feel off compared to the classic 14270. It’s just... different.
And yes, the dial is big. Take a look at the comparison shot — it’s even bigger than a Daytona’s dial! I blame the minimal bezel for this optical illusion. It’s like the watch version of a “penis enlargement pill.”
I went with VSF mainly because of their VS movement. For me, the movement always comes first, and I still prefer VS over VR. That said, I had to accept the watch’s most glaring flaw: the undersized crown, which measures barely 6mm compared to the gen’s 7mm. Personally, I don’t mind the smaller crown — in some ways, I think it suits the watch better proportionally. But facts are facts, and the gen is 7mm. So, you have to ask yourself: do you really care about a flaw only a handful of people, standing uncomfortably close to you, will even notice?
Clearly, this wasn’t my concern.
And so, here’s my thoroughly unprofessional and completely useless write-up of my new 224270. Stay tuned — the next one shouldn’t take as long because I’ve got a Pam Fiddy heading my way soon.
During December, I had this sudden urge to treat myself to a new rep for Christmas. Naturally, I decided to check off the top of my wishlist: a 39mm or 40mm Explorer I. So, off I went to Sead. To my surprise, he told me he couldn’t ship at the moment — "doesn’t look good now." I have no idea what’s going on with him (of course, I hope he’s okay), but I knew I needed to look elsewhere for my Christmas shopping spree.
Speaking of the Explorer I, did I mention I grew up in Hong Kong and Seoul before moving to LA at 11? In both my childhood cities, Rolex was the thing. And among all Rolex models, the Explorer I — especially the 14270 — was practically a holy grail. Why? Because the Japanese star Takuya Kimura rocked one in the 1997 J-drama Love Generation. For the next couple of years, a 14270 in Hong Kong or other parts of Asia could fetch a higher price than a 16610.
I never actually owned an Explorer I until I got my 1016 here, which I showed earlier in this thread. The reason? Its 36mm size. It always felt a little too small for my taste. So, when Rolex finally launched the 224270, I thought, Finally, something for me!
Here on RWI, members occasionally comment on the 224270, with the most common complaints being, "too big" or "the dial looks oversized." While I get those points, they’re not deal breakers for me. That said, I’ll admit the proportions and balance of the dial do feel off compared to the classic 14270. It’s just... different.
And yes, the dial is big. Take a look at the comparison shot — it’s even bigger than a Daytona’s dial! I blame the minimal bezel for this optical illusion. It’s like the watch version of a “penis enlargement pill.”
I went with VSF mainly because of their VS movement. For me, the movement always comes first, and I still prefer VS over VR. That said, I had to accept the watch’s most glaring flaw: the undersized crown, which measures barely 6mm compared to the gen’s 7mm. Personally, I don’t mind the smaller crown — in some ways, I think it suits the watch better proportionally. But facts are facts, and the gen is 7mm. So, you have to ask yourself: do you really care about a flaw only a handful of people, standing uncomfortably close to you, will even notice?
Clearly, this wasn’t my concern.
And so, here’s my thoroughly unprofessional and completely useless write-up of my new 224270. Stay tuned — the next one shouldn’t take as long because I’ve got a Pam Fiddy heading my way soon.
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