Very interesting comparison, thanks for this thread OP!
Looking at this, as a non specialist, the easiest tell is the SEL finish, even without the GEN next to it, that would allow me to identify it as a rep.
For the rest I would mostly need the GEN to be next to it to be able to tell, the bezel paint may seem obvious but I suppose it could be mistaken for a dirty gen color.
The window date being the wrong shape seems like an "obvious" tell but you would have to remember the shape of the gen which I didn't.
Along with the SEL finish the other "easy" (relatively) tell that is on most Rolex reps is the hour markers that are not beveled enough, but you have to take a really close look to see that. Same thing with the finish of the hands but you have to look even closer.
There are plenty of other small differences but they are very hard to tell without magnification and very good knowledge of the gen.
All in all ARF did a great job and it would fool me if someone was wearing if it wasn't for the SEL gap that is noticeably not as good as gen (not bad though!).
To be honest
Pope, on your wrist, no one is really ever going to be able to spot any flaw. They look obvious and significant in the pics but on a watch, they’re small details. Like the bezel marker? Sure an easy tell from a pic but on a watch the markers are like 3.5mm tall and you’re looking at 1/10 of that to see the markings on a wrist 3 to 10 feet away.
Even with the naked eye it is difficult. Half of the details that I obsess over and that drive me nuts on my watches, I can’t even see with the naked eye while sitting and staring at the watch. I need magnification or a macro shot. Same for the date. It is one of the most obvious features but if you change it, it’s just for you. We’re always are own harshest critics.
Oh, and for what it’s worth, you could be holding a gen and find enough flaws that will convince you it’s a rep without a doubt. Everyone things Rolex is “perfect and flawless” but they’re not. Spend some time on on forums about gen watches and you’ll see people posting some crazy things.
I’ve handed people gens before and said “this is a replica” and they’ll look it over closely and pick out a few random details and then say “oh yeah I can 100% totally tell. Pfft please”.
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