Member X 91 Posted August 6, 2010 What can I say but WOW... I was lucky enough to be awarded a reseller number in Robert's recent promotion (thank you very much, Robert!) and I wanted to make good use of it, despite being poverty stricken :P lol I had been seriously fancying the 21j Explorer 1 that Robert recently listed: http://www.replica-watches-guide.com/forum...?showtopic=6410 but being afflicted with perfectionist tendencies :P what I really wanted was one with the correct sweep. Well, blow me down - the day I was going to PM Robert to ask, he lists the 2836 version in his forum! http://www.replica-watches-guide.com/forum...?showtopic=6838 So, the plastic was duly braced for impact I ideally needed someone else to come in on the deal so I didn't bankrupt myself lol, otherwise I was just going to have to buy the $99 PAM 183 Black Seal and the $99 PAM 1950 'Fiddy' he lists in his forum too... but fate brought me glad tidings in the form of 'inverness', a 'noob' who was looking to start his collection with some of Robert's bargains! In the end we ordered the 2836 Explorer 1 for me, and the 21j Explorer 1 and the Tag 1887 Chrono ( http://www.replica-watches-guide.com/forum...?showtopic=6411 ) for inverness. After working through the costs and options on shipping from Robert and onwards shipping from me, the order was duly placed and funds dispatched. A week later, I had a card through the door on my arrival home from work... What did it contain? These I will let inverness review the Tag in a separate thread as I don't want to steal his thunder but the Rollies are AMAZING :o They are exactly the same bar the movement, and they feel so well built that I think they would be good value at $250 for the 2836, nevermind the $127 they're listed as under the Reseller price!! Crown is a little bit 'grindy' while unscrewing it and doing it up again, but once it's 'broken in' a bit it will be a good, secure fit. Crystal is flawless, and the etched crown is virtually invisible in all but the exact lighting conditions! Bracelet is a great weight. Little bit sharp on the edges but it's not a problem, and it has a tight clasp. Brushed finish is the first brushed finish I have, and it's a refreshing change to not have to worry about scratching polished midlinks! Screws between the links are a good fit and not too loose but not too stiff to do up. Endlink fit is TIGHT - no movement here at all. Rehaut engraving is virtually spot on - if the engraving was rotated literally 1 degree anticlockwise (have a word with the factory, Robert ) it would line up 99.9% perfectly! :o Lume is average rep lume, unfortunately, but then you can't have everything lol So, apart from the rehaut being the tiniest of tiny amounts out, I would definitely call this a super rep in the 2836 version. I just handed it to a colleague and he said it felt and looked like a gen! Anyway, you want to see some pictures, don't you! :( Here you go I think it's stunning, and will definitely be on my regular wearing list But... what about the movement difference?? I hear you ask... Well, the blue-wrapping one is the 21j, the one with no wrapping round the head is the 2836: Can you count the beats? :P 2836 is smoooooth as you like, completely gen-like. 21j is still good - obviously won't be as close as the 2836 but, seriously, it was $58.40 - for that price, this watch is the bargain of the century!!! I managed to get a short video of them next to each other as I figured not many other people will buy both and it's therefore a great opportunity for a comparison. I'm hoping it will work - on my phone it was a bit jerky, but I can't tell if it's the phone or the stupid network... See what you think! http://yfrog.com/jn20100806006z Overall, this watch in 2836 is an utter bargain at the full price, and even more so at the Reseller price of $127. At $99 for the 21j it's probably one of the best value watches out there. And at $58.40 Reseller prices, I think Robert needs his head examined... LoL 9.9 out of 10!! I must thank inverness for coming in on this deal with me - he has been a great 'noob', communicative and understanding and a really great bloke B) Apologies for stealing your thunder on the Rollie! lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingle 57 Posted August 6, 2010 :( pics are amazing as well Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
inverness 0 Posted August 6, 2010 i cant wait to get mine now!!! looks fantastic Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
debian 0 Posted August 6, 2010 Clever pics where you can count the beats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted August 7, 2010 Ok, day two of wearing it... Thoughts after extended wearing? Super comfortable, you forget you're wearing it! Seems dressy but understated, something you can wear for formal or casual. I have noticed the rotor being slightly noisy when it gets a big movement of the arm, and you can kind of feel the weight in it moving slightly, but it's not bad at all Rehaut, upon closer inspection, could do with slightly better polishing up before assembly, and I think maybe the crystal is a fraction of a degree rotated as the crown etching is a tiny bit off, but apart from that it's all good B) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
barkingtoad 2 Posted August 7, 2010 Good review Great pics Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AustinTech 0 Posted August 7, 2010 That's a well balanced, understated beauty. Looks great, and a good review to boot! Looks at home on your wrist, X. The Tag doesn't look 1/2 bad either. Whats thesize on these? 36mm? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted August 8, 2010 Not sure on the Tag but the gen rollies are 39mm according to someone on my cross post on RWG2, and I measured mine about 39.5 so I reckon they're pretty accurate Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baldrick 1 Posted August 8, 2010 Not sure on the Tag but the gen rollies are 39mm according to someone on my cross post on RWG2, and I measured mine about 39.5 so I reckon they're pretty accurate Wrong! Explorer ( 114270 ) is 36mm Explorer II ( 16570 ) is 40mm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
P_Diddy 0 Posted August 8, 2010 how come the new rep is noticeably bigger, I was expecting it look tiny on Member X's tree trunk but it looks ok Not sure on the Tag but the gen rollies are 39mm according to someone on my cross post on RWG2, and I measured mine about 39.5 so I reckon they're pretty accurate Wrong! Explorer ( 114270 ) is 36mm Explorer II ( 16570 ) is 40mm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted August 8, 2010 Not sure on the Tag but the gen rollies are 39mm according to someone on my cross post on RWG2, and I measured mine about 39.5 so I reckon they're pretty accurate Wrong! Explorer ( 114270 ) is 36mm New Explorer ( 214270 ) is 39mm Explorer II ( 16570 ) is 40mm http://precisiontime.blogspot.com/2010/03/...explorer-i.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted August 8, 2010 I'll have to do a comparison between the gen and the rep when I'm not on a phone! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedzmaster 0 Posted August 8, 2010 Not sure on the Tag but the gen rollies are 39mm according to someone on my cross post on RWG2, and I measured mine about 39.5 so I reckon they're pretty accurate Wrong! Explorer ( 114270 ) is 36mm Explorer II ( 16570 ) is 40mm WRONGER! Explorer I (with case 5500/1002) = 34mm Explorer I (with case 1016/11427) = 36mm Explorer I (with case 21427) = 39mm The rep is based on www.rolex.com/en#/rolex-watches/basel2010/new-explorer/explorer-39mm-steel-214270 (copy-paste this url to get to the site) Explorer II (all) = 40mm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ska 11 Posted August 8, 2010 Great review X - really interested in the reseller promotion now. How does it work?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted August 8, 2010 Check Robert's thread in his section for the reseller info I think all the numbers are now allocated so you'll have to wait until he removes someone and lets others apply again! Or join with someone with a number to do a mini-group buy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted August 8, 2010 uOh, and I will just add - after a day of work behind a busy bar, getting some substantial arm movements in pretty often, I'm having movement problems I think it might just be a loose rotor that's not winding it properly so am going to attempt a handwind later to see if it gets it going. If it does, problem diagnosed - then I just have to fix it... lol If it doesn't, I will have to consider my options. Reseller prrices exclude after sales problem resolution (I think?) so I may have to price up a new movement and fitting. At which point I may as well consider a relume if it's in for work... lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AustinTech 0 Posted August 9, 2010 Sounds like a rotor problem for sure. No big deal there. I actually thought that when you mentioned the noise in your earlier post. Keep us in the loop! Otherwise - you still diggin' it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted August 9, 2010 Will do! Just wish my parcel from Col would turn up..., dammit! lol I farkin' LOVE this watch, way more than I thought. I think I would actually buy the gen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted September 1, 2010 Ok, to update this thread, BrightLight was kind enough to take on looking at this although he couldn't get the caseback off because it was so tight and had to order a new die to do it! Upon removal, he found that a screw was missing and one of the screws for the reversing bridge was really loose: I've agreed to a full service as I think this will be a long-term keeper so will update with further info as BL progresses! Big thanks to BL for taking it on! :( Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KBH 7 Posted September 1, 2010 Great looking watch. Glad it was a simple fix. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brightlight 0 Posted September 1, 2010 As a matter of interest for anyone who has one of those crap Rolex caseback tools from ebay where the 29.5 die doesn't fit, you can buy just the Bergeon die from the link below. The bar handle from the set fits fine by the way and the die is a pleasure to use, like a glove - http://www.watch-tool.de/html/rlx_special.php?id=0041 Reasonable price too with shipping. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted September 1, 2010 As a matter of interest for anyone who has one of those crap Rolex caseback tools from ebay where the 29.5 die doesn't fit, you can buy just the Bergeon die from the link below. The bar handle from the set fits fine by the way and the die is a pleasure to use, like a glove - http://www.watch-tool.de/html/rlx_special.php?id=0041 Reasonable price too with shipping. Available from the RWG Shop. TSSSSSSSSK!!!!! :( https://shop.homage-watches-guide.com/index...mp;productId=44 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
P_Diddy 0 Posted September 1, 2010 RWG shop is way cheaper, even if its slowboat from China eh Member X? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted September 1, 2010 lol Yeah, shipping is slow but gets there in the end I believe BL spoke to TB in the shoutbox about shipping times and decided to buy local to save time! I'm not complaining if it gets my babies back to me quicker... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted September 7, 2010 A further update from BL, as he's kindly provided pictures! The movement partially reassembled Dial pics The dial is glossy - I'm not sure if the gen was and tbh I'm not sure if I care - you really can't tell when it's under the crystal as that gives far bigger reflections face on, the only time you can really tell is at a 45 degree angle when you can see the reflection of the hands in the dial when you hold it close up, but it looks so good anyway that I don't care when it's on the wrist! I can't wait to get it back Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
