Your opinion on the SEA-DWELLER 126660 'D-BLUE' ARF 1:1 BEST EDITION 904L SS CASE AND BRACELET A2824

[peter4103]

I am in the process of ordering a Deepsea and noticed various manufacturers. I ended up with the ARF D-blue and wonder about the opinions of the experts!

The ARF dial is 1:1 to the genuine. Also the bracelet and clasp should be 1:1. I hope I am allowed to post TD pictures (if not please remove RWI.) as comparison to the gen.

ARF:


Gen:


The ARF bezel looks slightly misaligned, but this might just be the picture angle (which I think it is.) I could not really spot much else different. The light conditions are different obviously, which makes it hard to judge the brightness of the green letters and the flow of blue into black….

 

[p0pperini]

No rep is "1:1 to the genuine", but ARF makes a very nice D-Blue. No one would ever spot it's a rep - what are they going to compare it to? You'll never bump into someone wearing a gen (and even if you did - which you won't - they'd also probably be unable to tell).

I've got the 116660 and I'm totally happy with it... although I wish I'd kept my BP, which through the rose-tinted specs of my terrible memory had the best D-Blue dial (IMO and based on nothing more than looking at photo comparisons with the gen).

 

[Spitfire63]

What most people don’t realise is that manufacturers pictures of their products used for promotions are 90% of the time computer generated 3D renderings and not actual pictures of the watches and those that are would be highly photoshopped anyway, so comparing to these images is a bit pointless

 

[peter4103]

What most people don’t realise is that manufacturers pictures of their products used for promotions are 90% of the time computer generated 3D renderings and not actual pictures of the watches and those that are would be highly photoshopped anyway, so comparing to these images is a bit pointless

True, for color, lighting etc its hard to compare. But a misalignment of bezel, different fonts used, positioning, hands etc should be as the product is right?

 

[p0pperini]

True, for color, lighting etc its hard to compare. But a misalignment of bezel, different fonts used, positioning, hands etc should be as the product is right?

Yes, a good rep will be hard to distinguish from the genuine article. But no rep is perfect - although some come close.

And there's no need to be fixating on misalignment of the bezel insert. This isn't something that's going to be consistent from one watch to the next, and 99% of the time when someone posts a QC pic asking "is my insert misaligned?", the response is, "No - the picture isn't 100% square to the camera."

Plus, if everything else is good with the rep, a misaligned insert is a poor reason to reject a rep. They aren't welded in, and can be realigned.

What you really need to watch out for is a detached rehaut or bent lugs.

 

[TESLA760]

True, for color, lighting etc its hard to compare. But a misalignment of bezel, different fonts used, positioning, hands etc should be as the product is right?

Have you never seen a misaligned Rolex in person ?

 

[peter4103]

Have you never seen a misaligned Rolex in person ?

True….

 

[TESLA760]

Don't expect the rep to be better than gen. Once you have realistic expectations, you'll be much happier. Buy the watch and enjoy wearing it.

 

[heska]

I have seen a friends batgirl with a (very) slightly misaligned dial.

Plus, if everything else is good with the rep, a misaligned insert is a poor reason to reject a rep. They aren't welded in, and can be realigned.

What you really need to watch out for is a detached rehaut or bent lugs.

I agree for >5 digit Rolex but ceramic insert are not that easy to realign. It is very to break it so I’ll advice to hire someone to do it. So an added expense

On the other let’s not forget that a picture is flat but that we also have two eyes, meaning if the misalignment is subtle on a picture it will barely be noticeable IRL

 

[Hesekiel]

In 2020, I bought a used 116660 via M2M. The watch dates back to 2017 and the manufacturer had no name. The seller inquired to Puretime, and after I bought the watch, I did inquire as well, and the response we got is that there was no know manufacturer name attached to it, but that it was a "top quality" replica from a manufacturer which only later might have become Noob. That watch is indeed top notch and I've worn it more than any other of my replicas, which means something because I'm a Panerai man, not a Rolex man.

Truth is, I liked that watch so much that in 2021 I bought an ARF 126660 from BK, fully worked over and with Swiss ETA, for over $1K. That is today my primary watch to wear every day, and I can tell you that several very wealthy watch collectors with whom I deal on a professional level have seen it and make very positive comments on.

Comparing the 116660 and the 126660 reveals very, very little difference. The blue on the 116660 is a bit more intense, that's the main thing, but, again, I have no way to compare it to a GEN, and neither will anybody else. Fit and finish of both watches are absolutely insane, and that's just the level today's replicas have reached. The weakest spot is the Asian movement, but that can be fixed should yours every need work.
For what it's worth, I'll put my 116660 up for sale here soon, asking less than 1/3rd. what I have paid for my new 126660.
Here's a low quality "box photo of both Deapsea watches:"



And here's a "size matters" photo showing the 44mm 116660 in the middle, next to my wife's GEN 26mm Rolex and my 60mm GEN Zlatoust:

 

[peter4103]

Don't expect the rep to be better than gen. Once you have realistic expectations, you'll be much happier. Buy the watch and enjoy wearing it.

Logically not. That’s quite obvious. I’ve had gen and rep, so know the difference. ;-)

 

[peter4103]

In 2020, I bought a used 116660 via M2M. The watch dates back to 2017 and the manufacturer had no name. The seller inquired to Puretime, and after I bought the watch, I did inquire as well, and the response we got is that there was no know manufacturer name attached to it, but that it was a "top quality" replica from a manufacturer which only later might have become Noob. That watch is indeed top notch and I've worn it more than any other of my replicas, which means something because I'm a Panerai man, not a Rolex man.

Truth is, I liked that watch so much that in 2021 I bought an ARF 126660 from BK, fully worked over and with Swiss ETA, for over $1K. That is today my primary watch to wear every day, and I can tell you that several very wealthy watch collectors with whom I deal on a professional level have seen it and make very positive comments on.

Comparing the 116660 and the 126660 reveals very, very little difference. The blue on the 116660 is a bit more intense, that's the main thing, but, again, I have no way to compare it to a GEN, and neither will anybody else. Fit and finish of both watches are absolutely insane, and that's just the level today's replicas have reached. The weakest spot is the Asian movement, but that can be fixed should yours every need work.
For what it's worth, I'll put my 116660 up for sale here soon, asking less than 1/3rd. what I have paid for my new 126660.
Here's a low quality "box photo of both Deapsea watches:"



And here's a "size matters" photo showing the 44mm 116660 in the middle, next to my wife's GEN 26mm Rolex and my 60mm GEN Zlatoust:

Look amazing indeed! I had originally ordered a breitling, but TD informed me after three weeks it was out of stock. Then I ordered another model Breitling….well, after three weeks the TD informed me it was out of stock, and that none of the GF Breitlings were to be delivered anytime soon. Hence the Deepsea. I do have a “bad” rep of the Deepsea from about 15 years ago. It stilll keeps time very, very well, but its not the best version rep (see picture below. Hence i am looking forward to this Deepsea. Love the 60mm by the way too! Must have wrists the size of a wrestler to wear it i guess.

 

[StreetFighter]

Crown guards look terrible on the ARF rep.

 

[SeniorChief]

In 2020, I bought a used 116660 via M2M. The watch dates back to 2017 and the manufacturer had no name. The seller inquired to Puretime, and after I bought the watch, I did inquire as well, and the response we got is that there was no know manufacturer name attached to it, but that it was a "top quality" replica from a manufacturer which only later might have become Noob. That watch is indeed top notch and I've worn it more than any other of my replicas, which means something because I'm a Panerai man, not a Rolex man.

Truth is, I liked that watch so much that in 2021 I bought an ARF 126660 from BK, fully worked over and with Swiss ETA, for over $1K. That is today my primary watch to wear every day, and I can tell you that several very wealthy watch collectors with whom I deal on a professional level have seen it and make very positive comments on.

Comparing the 116660 and the 126660 reveals very, very little difference. The blue on the 116660 is a bit more intense, that's the main thing, but, again, I have no way to compare it to a GEN, and neither will anybody else. Fit and finish of both watches are absolutely insane, and that's just the level today's replicas have reached. The weakest spot is the Asian movement, but that can be fixed should yours every need work.
For what it's worth, I'll put my 116660 up for sale here soon, asking less than 1/3rd. what I have paid for my new 126660.
Here's a low quality "box photo of both Deapsea watches:"



And here's a "size matters" photo showing the 44mm 116660 in the middle, next to my wife's GEN 26mm Rolex and my 60mm GEN Zlatoust:

Zlatoust

 

[SeniorChief]

In 2020, I bought a used 116660 via M2M. The watch dates back to 2017 and the manufacturer had no name. The seller inquired to Puretime, and after I bought the watch, I did inquire as well, and the response we got is that there was no know manufacturer name attached to it, but that it was a "top quality" replica from a manufacturer which only later might have become Noob. That watch is indeed top notch and I've worn it more than any other of my replicas, which means something because I'm a Panerai man, not a Rolex man.

Truth is, I liked that watch so much that in 2021 I bought an ARF 126660 from BK, fully worked over and with Swiss ETA, for over $1K. That is today my primary watch to wear every day, and I can tell you that several very wealthy watch collectors with whom I deal on a professional level have seen it and make very positive comments on.

Comparing the 116660 and the 126660 reveals very, very little difference. The blue on the 116660 is a bit more intense, that's the main thing, but, again, I have no way to compare it to a GEN, and neither will anybody else. Fit and finish of both watches are absolutely insane, and that's just the level today's replicas have reached. The weakest spot is the Asian movement, but that can be fixed should yours every need work.
For what it's worth, I'll put my 116660 up for sale here soon, asking less than 1/3rd. what I have paid for my new 126660.
Here's a low quality "box photo of both Deapsea watches:"



And here's a "size matters" photo showing the 44mm 116660 in the middle, next to my wife's GEN 26mm Rolex and my 60mm GEN Zlatoust:

The vintage Zlatoust is a beast!