donkeyhot 1 Posted October 13, 2019 (edited) It's a bit of unfair comparison, but still hopefully helpful for those interested in yellow gold Rolex Day Dates and their replica's flaws/misses. For the context: I own couple gen watches (Rolex, Panerai), owned like good two dozen in last few years (from AP ROO to PPs and IWCs) but always was interested in reps. To be honest, not for the value/price, mostly because I really love watches, but getting gen, then trading it for another when I get tired (which is pretty quick at times :-) is getting *very* expensive. Watches aren't an investment unless you have a crystal ball and know when they go up, but also sell them at the same time when you are ready for the next one, at the peak of their value. So with reps I get to try them before I really ready to get gen. So this is what we have here. My wife's Rolex Day Date 36mm 118238 with champaigne/gold dial - it's a gen. The rep I've got was from Trusty Time (http://www.trustytime01.cc/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_452&products_id=18095) it's 40mm 228206 with roman/white dial. I didn't have high expectations, but just wanted to try and wear it to see if I can pull off yellow gold. I usually wear stainless steel or white gold in jewelry and watches, so it was a new thing for me. This is the gen: https://www.dropbox.com/s/prvkrbngxcmc3jl/IMG_1711.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/b00r9hczkg7mjcr/IMG_1712.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/67p1i54ak4v3lk6/IMG_1713.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/7rpvojt89ukqp9d/IMG_1717.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/wibo2jhk3uhot35/IMG_1718.jpg?dl=0 And here is the rep: https://www.dropbox.com/s/luka4nua2v8fsg8/IMG_1704.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/ujjq60ljylt47yo/IMG_1705.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/y509n2lcmkhettj/IMG_1706.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/dj44o131ph3q0ea/IMG_1707.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/y589w365okq8qhk/IMG_1720.jpg?dl=0 You definitely can see color difference when you have them side by side: https://www.dropbox.com/s/uhe2ad503b4dcye/IMG_1721.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/6j454fmwokbc52l/IMG_1722.jpg?dl=0 It's not terrible, but you can see it if you compare to the gen. Keep in mind, both probably will change color a bit with age, and I saw some abused and vintage gold watches where color is WTF.. but they were absolutely gen watches. Dial font is meh. You do have to really know how gen looks like or have them side by side to spot it, but for normal people.. they'll not be able to tell. Weight is absolutely a giveaway, and you don't have to have the scales to feel the difference: https://www.dropbox.com/s/usdya86umxpqxio/IMG_1726.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/ljne2h7k7jqbz5z/IMG_1727.jpg?dl=0 Side by side they are not too bad: https://www.dropbox.com/s/q76kxx6yadqscts/IMG_1723.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/tb1byk6rxc0jfvz/IMG_1708.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/axhyfiq7d2vsvap/IMG_1714.jpg?dl=0 However on the rep links seem to be smaller? narrower? thinner? not sure how to describe it the best.. It's nit picking tho here. Bracelet is really sharp on rep. I wasn't sure what was that, it looked similar, but then I realized that sides of bracelt links on gen probably shaved just a tiny-tiny-tiny bit, which makes it less sharp, but it's hard to see unless you touch it and trying to figure out why is it so sharp when moving finger side ways on links.. Bracelet clasp is another immediate giveaway -- gen has this small tiny thing which has angle how it moves with Rolex logo which is crisp af: https://www.dropbox.com/s/oxhh8187nvpdg2z/IMG_1716.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/ruc4zha0xg6j3mr/IMG_1715.jpg?dl=0 But rep doesn't... https://www.dropbox.com/s/ltx6fw9y7t8d7n3/IMG_1710.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ali71qipus9kxx/IMG_1719.jpg?dl=0 I like wrist presence. Is it worth the money? To each his own, for me, yes, it's a nice toy. It's loud, ticking, you can hear how it sounds when move your wrist, and lume is non-existent pretty much. I do wear it though more than my gen Rolex Two Tone Sub with diamonds ;-) What gives?! ;-) And little story - I did take it to the pool with kids for an hour or a bit more. Got out of the water and little mf stopped. I shrugged and thought well what did I expect ;-) In couple days after laying in the drawer it's working again, just had to wind it. Not sure how long will it work, but it's still working. It was worth it for me, because I am pretty sure I do not want real Rolex Day Date. It doesn't suit me really well, too pretentious for my taste. Mostly because of the gold tbh, because it's not the price range of the gen (like I can pull off and be happy with PP 5711 ;-) but that one is stainless steel. I am glad I tried before I bought in this case. Would I collect rep watches? Me personally -- no, why? I'd wear them again for the change or get the feeling of what I really like, or as a motivation for the holy grail watch. And while I appreciate and love gens, I am not a snob, and sometimes even shitteiest watch has a lot sentimental value, if it is a rep (like rep which was in Drive movie which Ryan Gosling took back home as a memory). Edited October 13, 2019 by donkeyhot Links and details on sharpness of the bracelet. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deju 1,857 Posted October 13, 2019 Change Dropbox links from //www. To //dl. To have them embed in the post Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
