Off-catalogue Rolex franken builds - confessions of a Daytonaholic

[Tommygunzzzz]

Hi Guys, Below is my new Tungsten WG Platona Daytona with moissanite baguettes from xing.david along with 2 Daytonas (in s/s) I brought from intime over the years.
1. The new one weighs 224 grams and "in the hand" you can tell the weight difference but on it's own i.e. not having a watch in each hand it is VERY hard to tell.
2. pushers on the new one are stiff compared to my older ones.
3. I'm guessing my 2 older watches cost about $US800 each whereas the new one was $US2805 AND I had to wait about 3 months for it to me made.
4. Whether it's a good copy or not I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO COMMENT??
5. For me, for about 3 times the price of a s/s one, I don't know, yes it's heavier, yes the links feel a little "chunkier", DEFINITELY the dial with the Moissanites looks WAY better, so if you are like me, and trying to get it as close as possible, THEN YES I WOULD GET IT. A Gen is about $US140,000 and this one is definitely good enough - I'd rather have the extra money in the bank!
6. Sorry about the photos, I tried my best.
7. As for Xing.david he was good (but like all of them is slow - I mean this is NOT Amazon you are dealing with so keep that in mind!)






So guys, I would REALLY appreciate your comments on the watch - but not on my photographic ability!!

When you say WG Platona do you mean it’s tungsten case/bracelet and white gold plated?

For me the dial is nice and I assume the added weight feels good but the SEL’s don’t protrude as far as they would on a gen - which is the biggest tell for me.

That alone would make me go for an OOTB CF/BTF (which have the correct SELs) version as the aesthetic is more important to me than the weight.

At the end of the day, as long as you like it - wear the shit out of it!!

 

[g00n]

At the end of the day, as long as you like it - wear the shit out of it!!

 

[KJ2020]

Hi Guys, Below is my new Tungsten WG Platona Daytona with moissanite baguettes from xing.david along with 2 Daytonas (in s/s) I brought from intime over the years.
1. The new one weighs 224 grams and "in the hand" you can tell the weight difference but on it's own i.e. not having a watch in each hand it is VERY hard to tell.
2. pushers on the new one are stiff compared to my older ones.
3. I'm guessing my 2 older watches cost about $US800 each whereas the new one was $US2805 AND I had to wait about 3 months for it to me made.
4. Whether it's a good copy or not I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO COMMENT??
5. For me, for about 3 times the price of a s/s one, I don't know, yes it's heavier, yes the links feel a little "chunkier", DEFINITELY the dial with the Moissanites looks WAY better, so if you are like me, and trying to get it as close as possible, THEN YES I WOULD GET IT. A Gen is about $US140,000 and this one is definitely good enough - I'd rather have the extra money in the bank!
6. Sorry about the photos, I tried my best.
7. As for Xing.david he was good (but like all of them is slow - I mean this is NOT Amazon you are dealing with so keep that in mind!)






So guys, I would REALLY appreciate your comments on the watch - but not on my photographic ability!!

Yes I had the same impression - looks are much more important than weight to me. In fact I don't prefer extra weight beyond SS regardless of what a gen might weigh. I never hand my watches over to anyone. But ofc if that's your goal then it's great to be able to achieve it so invisibly.

The thing I noticed immediately after the beautiful dial was the CGs and how much they angle back over the crown. What base model is this rep?

Actual 116506 on left

And as mentioned the SEL protrusion on 116x Platonas

The SEL protrusion went away with the new 126x but then you could add the new bezel easily enough and you would need non- black stripe hands but no big deal with either of those adds. But then the 126x no longer has ice blue subdial rings so heh.

In any event it's a gorgeous piece that would be a centerpiece of any collection. Enjoy it without reservation!

 

[BlossomboofyBoofystewie2]

When you say WG Platona do you mean it’s tungsten case/bracelet and white gold plated?

For me the dial is nice and I assume the added weight feels good but the SEL’s don’t protrude as far as they would on a gen - which is the biggest tell for me.

That alone would make me go for an OOTB CF/BTF (which have the correct SELs) version as the aesthetic is more important to me than the weight.

At the end of the day, as long as you like it - wear the shit out of it!!

1. Yes it's ALL TUNGSTEN and then white gold plated
2. Because xing.david is one of the, if not the, leaders in making Tungsten stuff, he /they are breaking "new ground" and I really didn't expect this Platona to be so good compared to the REPS in s/s. Hopefully, these "pioneers" will continue and we might be able to get really close Reps in either s/s or if the Gen is made in gold or platinum get it in Tungsten to get the weight up. Then I believe Reps will be even at a HIGHER LEVEL then they are now!

THANK YOU GUYS for your comments!

 

[BlossomboofyBoofystewie2]

BTW, I have ordered a Moissanite (Diamond) bezel for this watch from JJplating .com which should be coming in about 2 weeks (postage to Australia takes about 2 weeks). It cost around $US800 and so far their service has been excellent. I will post it up here as soon as I get it.
I went into the quality and grades of the Moissanites I wanted (grades are the equivalent/ very close to what Rolex use in their real diamonds) so hopefully, it will look great?

 

[KJ2020]

 

[Prizon]

BTW, I have ordered a Moissanite (Diamond) bezel for this watch from JJplating .com which should be coming in about 2 weeks (postage to Australia takes about 2 weeks). It cost around $US800 and so far their service has been excellent. I will post it up here as soon as I get it.
I went into the quality and grades of the Moissanites I wanted (grades are the equivalent/ very close to what Rolex use in their real diamonds) so hopefully, it will look great?

you overpaid for that. moissanite bezels are 400-450 max.

 

[cjt202020]

This is winning 2024 so far

 

[Storm.]

you overpaid for that. moissanite bezels are 400-450 max.

Depends on the quality of stones.

IF and true white are extremely expensive here in Germany. Almost VS diamond price level.

 

[VixLa3]

and I'm sorry but I want this too!!!

BTF dial?

 

[deadaglev]

This is just simply epic. For me the best Daytona dial i have seen so far. Any gen included. Those black meteorite subdials are just so minimalistic and so down to the essence of the whole meteorite idea. It totaly makes sense to me. Why has Rolex not come up with this?
To further strengthen that look i would change the indices to something more minimalistic as well. Let the meteorite do the talking.
I am in love…

 

[KJ2020]

This is just simply epic. For me the best Daytona dial i have seen so far. Any gen included. Those black meteorite subdials are just so minimalistic and so down to the essence of the whole meteorite idea. It totaly makes sense to me. Why has Rolex not come up with this?
To further strengthen that look i would change the indices to something more minimalistic as well. Let the meteorite do the talking.
I am in love…

Thanks bro. I thought about swapping the markers too but the holes are drilled through the dial in odd places. I even thought about filling them somehow and touching them up but in the end I didn't want to risk it.

Some subdial eye candy. I simply stripped the print off these with acetone then hand painted them with Testor's enamel. Gloss and flat black, some pewter, and then some brushed thinner to mix and randomly lighten. Finally some sparse light sanding on a few high ridges to create a worn look.

 

[Temple]

Thanks bro. I thought about swapping the markers too but the holes are drilled through the dial in odd places. I even thought about filling them somehow and touching them up but in the end I didn't want to risk it.

Some subdial eye candy. I simply stripped the print off these with acetone then hand painted them with Testor's enamel. Gloss and flat black, some pewter, and then some brushed thinner to mix and randomly lighten. Finally some sparse light sanding on a few high ridges to create a worn look.

Make another….sell it to me

Great work. Has got 2024 off to a flyer!

 

[KruisingKhaos95]

Not a lot of updates lately as several of my builds have been delayed, due to my dealer rejecting a number of base watches at QC stage, due to movement issues (apparently this has become more prevalent in the past few weeks/months with both CF and BTF daytonas).

I have, however, just received this stunning Meteorite 116509 build, courtesy of the Meteorite King himself (@oceaon) which whilst technically not on the original list, I think it deserves its spot in the thread

Specs:

BTF 116509 base
Buff Meteorite dial
Full WG plating

Note: pics do not do this dial justice!!!

 

[VixLa3]

Not a lot of updates lately as several of my builds have been delayed, due to my dealer rejecting a number of base watches at QC stage, due to movement issues (apparently this has become more prevalent in the past few weeks/months with both CF and BTF daytonas).

I have, however, just received this stunning Meteorite 116509 build, courtesy of the Meteorite King himself (@oceaon) which whilst technically not on the original list, I think it deserves its spot in the thread

Specs:

BTF 116509 base
Buff Meteorite dial
Full WG plating

Note: pics do not do this dial justice!!!

A true beauty! congrats!

@KruisingKhaos95 , What problems specifically have there been with the latest CF and BTF?

Just today I received some CF ordered in November (I would have liked to sell two Daytona to change the project and finance it, but since the 116 will no longer be produced I will sell something else, and in any case they are beautiful) and I'm waiting for more BTF Daytona, I don't want to have any nasty surprises.

Thanks!

 

[KruisingKhaos95]

A true beauty! congrats!

@KruisingKhaos95 , What problems specifically have there been with the latest CF and BTF?

Just today I received some CF ordered in November (I would have liked to sell two Daytona to change the project and finance it, but since the 116 will no longer be produced I will sell something else, and in any case they are beautiful) and I'm waiting for more BTF Daytona, I don't want to have any nasty surprises.

Thanks!

My dealer told me that as we approach the holidays in China, there are fewer and fewer workers available which has led to more errors and QC issues, specifically with the 4130 movement used by CF and BTF.

This has led to my dealer rejecting several watches already for the multiple ongoing builds he is completing for me. Most TDs do check the movement using a Timegrapher (the pics of the results are often included in the QC pics you are sent), so it'll be worth checking for that!

 

[VixLa3]

My dealer told me that as we approach the holidays in China, there are fewer and fewer workers available which has led to more errors and QC issues, specifically with the 4130 movement used by CF and BTF.

This has led to my dealer rejecting several watches already for the multiple ongoing builds he is completing for me. Most TDs do check the movement using a Timegrapher (the pics of the results are often included in the QC pics you are sent), so it'll be worth checking for that!

Many thanks @KruisingKhaos95 you were very clear...that being said, I can't wait to post something in this thread!

 

[KruisingKhaos95]

Many thanks @KruisingKhaos95 you were very clear...that being said, I can't wait to post something in this thread!

You're very welcome mate and likewise, I look forward to seeing your future builds here!

 

[farnzy85]

 

[KruisingKhaos95]

My first "proper" daytona build, built for me by @Nikz19 last year, and still one of my favourites: