Some Pictures & Thoughts Rolex Gen 126660 D-Blue vs BP 126660

[Warrcraft]

Hi, I just received my gen Rolex 126660 DEEPSEA James Cameron D-Blue. first, I love it! The dial and workmanship of the gen, is, of course, amazing! What I'm kind of aggravated about is my two BP Maker 126660 are close in many ways! This makes me feel more confident when I eventually let one go. Anyway, as some of you that may have read my prior posts. I've had and Arf and Noob 116660, & while I liked the quality of the watches, the Blue-to-Black dial was a killer for me, as I felt the blue dial was just too dark. So, I searched until I stumbled upon the BP. Anyway, I'm not going to get into EVERY "tell" but I'm going to make a few quick points, & let my pictures do the rest of the talking. I'm not a pro pict taker so sorry if they are not the best. Regarding the pictures, the gen will always be on the left of the screen when side-by-side, & the gen will always be on top of the screen, when doing top-to-bottom shots.. I have not removed some of the plastic wrapping from either watches, so some picts may look a little funky because of this.

PRO
1. The dial. On my Arf & noob 116660 I felt the blue was too dark. As you can see in the pictures, the dial color gradient on the BP is pretty damn close! The "DEEEPSEA" color on the BP is slightly lighter. The printing clarity on the BP of course does not compare to the gen, but it is not bad at all, & unless side-by-side, nobody is going to know the difference.
2. The side lugs are very similar in thinning up the shape for the 126660.
3. The escape valve looks damn close.
4. The case width looks pretty spot on.
5. Not sure if this is a "pro or a "con," The band width length is good at top, but does taper a bit too narrow at bottom.
6. Gen weight after removing three links is 7.70oz. Rep weight after removing 3 links is 6.90oz.
7. Glide lock clasp on rep work almost exactly like gen, & markings look very close to gen. Some font difference, but minor, & again most people would have to put next to each other to tell the difference.
8. Crown tube looks pretty close.
CON:
1. Crystal height is slightly too tall.
2. Pearl is still that of 116660.
3. Bezel inserts slightly too thin & a bit too lite compared to gen.
5. Hands do not reach to the minute markers like they now do on the 126660.
6. Ring Lock font a bit more crisper. But, again, not too bad.

The BP has the 316L steel. I know this may irritate some people, but the color really is very close. The 904L Rolex may have a slightly more "golden-silvery" color. Again, unless you compare side-by-side, & look closely, I really don't see anybody being able to call you out on this.

These are my initial impressions, & I'm sure there is more others can add pro or con. But just wanted to get this out real quick. In looking at the Noob 126660, if they fixed the dial (not too dark) as it APPEARS they have, it might not be a bad choice!

 

[tommikeson]

Good review, but pics aren't showing up.

 

[Hazing]

I see the pics fine. In the browser. Congrats on the new watch. Both of them. They’re beautiful.

it’s funny how the silhouette of the BP is so much different than gen. I’m sure many of the specs are spot on, but it’s still so different. When you get a chance, I’d love to see them both on wrist to see how they both wear. Which one will you wear? Lol

 

[Warrcraft]

That’s funny that you think the silhouette of the BP looks completely different from the gen. In person they are somewhat hard to tell any difference. I'm talking about the actual case. However, the bezel and crystal height, side-by-side are noticeable if you know what to look for. I think if you don't have a gen next to you, most people would not be able to tell, or at least know the difference. So, perhaps you are right. I just have a hard time telling without a gen next to a rep on many "tells." I’ll get some better pics up, it was just something I threw up real quick while I had a chance. I am torn between the gen as a daily wearer as I want to keep it mint. So, my thought process is to keep one of my BP’s and use that as a daily wearer. And, the gen on special occasions or when I feel like it. I will eventually end up selling the other BP.

 

[Hazing]

Its in those first few pics that they look slightly difference. And it’s mainly in the lugs I think. I’ve had reps of the Black deep sea before like 18 months ago, and also had the red line sea dweller after it first came out and it’s like the stats all match. When you measure the weight and thickness and diameter and describe it, it’s like it meets those specs and you could be describing either one and they’re both meet that description but it just looks like the BP might be a little too beefy or too thick in the lugs. But maybe it’s just the angle too.

I think id do the same thing - wear the rep most of the time and keep the gen as a safe queen. That’s definitely the way to go.

 

[Warrcraft]

I’ve been around awhile, and never have been as sharped eyed as some, that I can tell you. So, I'm slowly learning to live with small 'tells" most folks (except for around here) would never know. So, not perfect of course, but very reasonably close to be able to wear out in public. Sometimes though, my watch OCD addiction still kicks in, like on this D-blue. In the past, I have "over-frankened" and spent too much on fixing those "tells." So now, I sometimes figure it is just best to get the gen and save me the never ending mods that can be fun, but I take it too far! I guess I could never really strike that fine balance (cost-vs-tell-fix) when I'm "hyped" on a certain model! Lol

Yeah, l agree, enjoy the gen, wear it when the need hits, but wear my rep more often, as I like to keep my watches as mint as possible. Funny, it’s like a rare car, you want to drive the thing, but are afraid of scratching her up! Pride of ownership l guess! Lol

 

[Warrcraft]

Good review, but pics aren't showing up.

I used the RWI picture posting system, so I see them. Perhaps, if you are looking at this post with your phone, that may be the problem?

 

[Warrcraft]

Hi, I was responding to a pm, and somehow lost it. The question was something akin on "how does the 126660 wear to the 116660?" It is similar, but the minor changes to the case lugs and width to the band, actually makes the watch a bit more stable on the wrist, a bit more comfortable, and overall more cosmetically appealing. Plus, having the new 3235 Rolex movement is nice in so far as the new tech improvements. The sweep really does seem smoother, easier to wind, and just "feels better" changing time, along with the new 70 hour power reserve! I'm pretty sure, this is all "just not in my head" observations.

 

[EZGoatRider]

That’s funny that you think the silhouette of the BP looks completely different from the gen. In person they are somewhat hard to tell any difference. I'm talking about the actual case. However, the bezel and crystal height, side-by-side are noticeable if you know what to look for. I think if you don't have a gen next to you, most people would not be able to tell, or at least know the difference. So, perhaps you are right. I just have a hard time telling without a gen next to a rep on many "tells." I’ll get some better pics up, it was just something I threw up real quick while I had a chance. I am torn between the gen as a daily wearer as I want to keep it mint. So, my thought process is to keep one of my BP’s and use that as a daily wearer. And, the gen on special occasions or when I feel like it. I will eventually end up selling the other BP.

I hope you are well. Where did you get the BP 126660? I can't find it on any of the TDs I checked. Thank you.

 

[p0pperini]

I love this thread! I had the BP and thought it was a great rep (I also had a Noob, which I sold very quickly because the dial was way too dark). I never got to do this side by side comparison with a gen, but when looking at pics of the gen I was convinced that BP had done a really good job with the dial colour. So thanks for confirming my conviction! I still sort of regret selling the BP, but I find the size of the watch impractical and top-heavy to wear. I still have a black dial ARF DSSD but, for the same reason, it seldom gets worn.

EZGoatRider I got my BP from Trusty Time, about a year ago.