u/Kayone73

Chilling with my therapy 🦎 at a family gathering BBQ and a morning pool swim on July 4th 🇺🇸

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⌚Longines Hydroconquest 39mm Commonwealth Games LE⌚

So earlier this month I dipped my toes into the 62MAS diver world with the pickup of a preowned SPB143, the most plentiful and affordable version recreation of the original 1960s 62MAS reference. Shortly after getting that watch, I really started going down the rabbit hole and started looking at used listings for the GS Hi Beat movement powered SLA037 and SLA043.

Long story short, I started browsing complete set SLA043 listings online (I think the baby blue secs hand and blue dial looks cool, came across one of the lower priced listings on eBay, which happened to have a Make an offer option. I put in a pretty lowball offer on a $3k list price, thinking the seller would likely reject it and move on. But a few days later I got the notification he actually took the offer and I was like 'oops, time to sell some watches I don't wear' 😲🤔🤣

So flash forward to the present and the SLA043 finally arrived. It's a really handsome piece and despite some of its chunky dimensions (like 14mm thickness) it wears surprisingly well and comfortable thanks to the case design. After wearing this a couple days, the 8L35 movement has been bang on accurate 👍🏽

Not everything is perfect, this watch was listed cheaper for a few reasons, made transparent on the listing, including some damage on one of the lugs by someone who had no idea how to use a strap change tool, and a sticky bezel. The scratches matched what was described, but the bezel turned out to be WAY stickier than I event expected, so I'm thinking of either hitting up local reputable watchmakers or sending it to Seiko USA service center to see if they can fix the stiff bezel action.

Aside from that the watch works great and I'm hoping this piece will scratch my itch for an Ushio Diver 300 until those drop in price in the Grey market 👍🏽

Sometimes part of the fun of owning a diverse and varied watch collection: you can build 2-3 watch 'mini collections' that share some kind of theme.

In this case I created this mini duo to wear for the day: both modern Seikos but inspired by classic 1960s vintage models, both priced around $1k.

I think this pairing alone could cover 99% of watch wearing needs of someone who's budget is limited to a couple pieces in their price range 👍🏽

L: Seiko SPB143 (reimagining of the classic 62MAS diver)

R: King Seiko SBP365 Kameido (based on the King Seiko KSK)

Picked up this preowned SPB143 a few months ago but had been letting it sit in the box for a while before finally trying it on.

Have always been curious about the 62MAS recreations, reissues and 'reimaginings' like this model. I saw one listed for a price I couldn't pass up and purchased it.

My initial impressions: very handsome, classic design, decent wearing size and proportions if a bit thicker than I expected. The watch with the included bracelet was significantly heavier than I expected, but watching some reviews confirmed this is something nearly every hands on review commented on.

The one real downside: I didn't care for the included oyster style bracelet at all. It didn't look necessarily bad but it had pretty huge links, felt bulky and added quite a bit to the overall weight. Plus I hated that bulky clasp with the awkward dive extension mechanism built in.

I picked up a 'President style' bracelet from Uncle Straps and swapped that in which vastly improved the wearing feel, comfort, weight and even overall looks IMHO. 👍🏽

I know some people love the original bracelet and think nothing else properly matches the case in terms of fit and color. That's great for you, I don't agree, but you do you 👍🏽

Saw this posted on FB, this piece is truly a special kind of shitter 💩

Saw this posted on FB, this piece is truly a special kind of shitter 💩

I ordered the standard 20mm H link bracelet for my Hydroconquest as soon as I found a local Longines AD near my home (Ben Bridges at my local mall). The SA put in the order and it took about 6 wks to arrive. Not bad considering I thought it would take closer to 2-3 months.

Got it sized and of course I think it looks pretty great. Very comfy and the on the fly microadjust is fine, altho a clasp that size could have room for a little more adjustment.

My only real nitpick is this H link doesn't have as many removable full size links compared to a modern Rolex oyster bracelet (and many of my other watch bracelets including, Tag, Omega, Seiko, etc...) so I have a little less room to fine adjust the bracelet size and have the clasp properly centered underneath my wrist.

That aside, it looks great and I'll probably wear it this way for a while before putting it back on the factory rubber strap 👍🏽

Sharing my first Tudor purchase, a late 2000s production year Prince Date Day linen dial two tone 👑

Ever since I found out about these largely 'Asian market only' models, I was searching for one until Ai came across this solid example from a seller in Asia.

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At 36mm is a great companion piece to my 36mm ref 16220 Datejust and will be a fun 'going out' watch when I'm in the mood to sport a little gold bling on the wrist 👍🏽

I've found myself stuck in yet another bizarre collecting lane: 24 hr steel bezel GMTs inspired by the original Explorer II (possibly as a reaction to the overwhelming popularity of GMT Master II style colored bezels).

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Started off with a couple Miyota 9075 microbrand GMTs by Vaer and Erebus, but now capped off by acquisition of an actual 40mm Explorer II ref 16570 😁

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L to R:

Vaer G5 GMT 39mm, 200m WR

Rolex Explorer II 40mm, 100m WR

Erebus Ascent GMT 40mm, 100 WR

So I've started researching and window shopping what is likely my next future Rolex purchase, a ref 16613 Sub Bluesy.

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I've got to handle a couple examples at one grey market dealer in my area, those particular watches were too old/incomplete set/worn for the price they were asking, but it was good to try one on and get a feel on the wrist 👍🏽

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I was running errands at a local mall which has another great marker luxury watch seller (they have a rose gold Daytona LeMans selling for the bargain asking price of $270K 😂) and this shop happened to have a pretty immaculate looking black & gold 16613 complete set, so I asked to try it on and he said it was OK to pop out the crown and try it out.

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I wound it up, felt pretty good. Apparently this was was a safe queen from the previous owner. I set the time, that worked OK. But when I pulled the crown out to the quick set date position... the date change function wasn't working, and before I even had a chance to ask the guy at the store was like 'oh... You can't do a quick change date on that watch, gotta set the date by advancing the time'. I just kind of stared at him thinking 'this has a 3135 movement, what the hell are you talking about there's no quick date change?'

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I think someone tried to change the date with the time set in that no man's zone between 9pm and 3am and broke the damn date wheel gear and the guy running the store knows this but was trying to feed me this line how ' that's how its supposed to work '

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Yeah I'll never buy anything from that particular store 🤔🤣

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Came across this post on another Rolex/luxury watch group in FB today where this guy is excited to share his new Panda and then shares the rest of his collection he's acquired since 2018.

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So you decide: all reps or mix of Gen and Reps? 🤔

So I recently pulled the trigger on a two tone Tudor Prince Date Day from a seller in Asia.

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Been doing more research on the Tudor DD 76213 references and every source I read say it shares the same case as the Datejust 1601.

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I assume that any bracelet meant for the 1601 should fit on the Tudor Prince 76213 without issue?

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Thanks to GenReps1755 once again for this stunning ref 16710 Coke Bezel GMT rep by BPF.

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The included Oyster bracelet is a fairly accurate reproduction of the somewhat dated 5 digit Rolex oyster bracelet with the hollow center links and crappy stamped clasp (I have a Gen 5 digit Explorer II with the same bracelet to compare with).

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So I found this aftermarket Jubilee 5 link made by Forstner, comes with custom end kinks meant for the Gen 16710 GMT Master II. Fits perfect on the BP Coke GMT and while it doesn't look 100% OEM appearance. It fits great, wears very comfortable and has a modern clasp with its own copy of the Glidelock system which also works perfectly fine. Plus the fully solid links gives the bracelet a little more heft on my wrist which I like with a steel sports watch 👍🏽

Local summer weather is finally starting to heat up enough to enjoy the pool. Taking the HC for its inaugural swim 🏊🏼

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⌚Longines Hydroconquest 39mm Commonwealth Games LE⌚

So I've started getting into collection Gen 5 digit Rolex models, however I really don't care for the dated, cheap stamped clasps on their factory bracelets.

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Most recently purchased a Gen 16570 Explorer II, removed the cheap ugly pressed clasp and cannibalized the Glidelock clasp off my VSF 40mm Sub, and it fits pretty perfectly, solving all my lack of on-the fly microadjust issues.

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So now I'm wondering if any TDs here can just source clasps because I can see myself using this situation again in the future (5 digit subs, GMT Master II, etc)

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I know Ali Express and ebay have unbranded glidelock clasps for cheap, but it would be nice to get some with that crown logo. 👍🏽

I'm a bit rubber strap obsessed, especially with my sport/tool watches. If I can find a good fitting and comfortable FKM rubber strap option for a particular piece, then I'll always give it a try.

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For the Explorer II 16570 I ordered a Rubber B-style fitted rubber strap from Wristbuddies (unlike Rubber B, they offer different length options for the 6 oclock end strap that better fit my wrist) and Frankenstein-ed with a modern glidelock clasp meant for a 40mm 6 digit Submariner.

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Overall look and wearing feel work great for me, coupled with the near infinite adjustability afforded by the Glidelock 👍🏽

So over the last couple years, my watch tastes in general have been veering away from larger modern watches to smaller vintage/neo vintage size and Aesthetics.

This includes Rolex as well. When I originally got into collecting a decade ago I only really knew the modern 6 digit references and even got a Yachtmaster 40mm ref 126622 as my first new watch from the brand. And I was looking at a 6 digit GMT Master II or another model in the future as well.

This started to change when my dad passed away within the past year, and I inherited in mid 90s production year Datejust ref 16220. First this solidified my appreciation for the DJ in the classic 36mm size and also wearing men's watches in the 36-38mm sizes in general. Also I was cooling on my YM 40mm, despite being a gorgeous watch, I wasn't wearing much over the past year, which made it an easy decision to trade it in when I picked up a new TT DJ for my wife.

I shopped around for a replacement for my YM and eventually found my 5 digit Explorer II ref 16570, which I absolutely love. It fits my current tastes of lower key luxury + functional tool watch style. Ive got to play with and wear many other modern 6 digit references and with a few exceptions (Daytona for example) I find them too big, bulky and shiny for my current prefs.

I think in the future, if I do add any more Rolex to my collection, I will continue to focus on later model year 5 digit models, but for now this pair meets most of my needs 👍🏽

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The backstory: After owning a 40mm Yachtmaster for a number of years, I was cooling off on it (and most modern 6 digit Rolex models in general) and hardly wearing it in the past year. I recently picked up a Date just 28mm for my wife (her first mechanical watch) and traded in my YM which paid for the majority of her two tone DJ.

So after bidding the YM goodbye I was looking around for a similar size Rolex replacement for my collection, but as I said earlier, I lost interest in most of the modern 6 digit reference Rolex models, either because they're too big, chunk, shiny, etc. I really wanted a Rolex GMT and thanks to a very generous Rolex collector friend, I got to wear one of his (many) 6 digit ref GMT Master II for a couple weeks, because I was considering one of those for years. My tastes have drifted smaller for my 6.5 in wrist so after trying the modern GMT II, decided it was a bit too large for me now and officially over that. The modern Explorer II at 42mm was also out of the Q, so I turned to looking at older 5 digit models. The asking prices for good condition complete set ref. 16710 GMT Master II are bit too much for my budget, so I looked at the late model 40mm Exp II which was basically the EXACT SAME WATCH minus the difference in the bezels.

So fast forward, I eventually found a great condition complete set black dial 40mm Exp II, one of the final production years before its 2011 discontinuation. It was also a Rolex CPO, while I normally find that a bit of an overpriced upcharge, this was available thru my go to AD in Orange County. Plus I had a pretty good relationship with my SA so he knocked a generous amount off the asking price and took another swiss watch I wasn't wearing much for a trade in. After getting a pretty good trade in offer for the other watch, I went ahead and pulled the trigger on this Exp II and walked out of the store paying only $6K out of pocket for this new (to me) piece. 👍🏻

Being one of the final model years of the ref 16750, it has a lot of modern Rolex features including laser engraved rehaut, fairly solid Oyster bracelet (altho still not as refined as the current ones) and the updated 3186 movement that fixed the 'GMT hand wobble' of the earlier 3185 movements when using the jump hr function.

I love how this watch blends more old school no-nonsense tool watch appearance and function while still retaining a touch of refined elegance that makes this an even more versatile wear than even a Submariner IMHO . This is a piece I hope to keep for a LONG time. 👍🏻

So I shared my pic of my BP factory Coke GMT (ref 16710) the other day, but that wasn't the only NWA this week: I also picked up a Gen ref 16570 Explorer II 40mm black dial as well.

L: BPF GMT Master II Coke bezel

R: Gen Explorer II ref 16570

It's fun having essentially two sibling pieces, and knowing that I can interchange bracelets and straps between the two since they essentially share identical case and lug designs 👍🏽

Whats funny is the BPF Coke GMT likely has a clone of the older 3185 GMT movement that has the infamous 'GMT hand wobble' when you use the jumping hr function. My Gen Explorer II has the newer 3186 movement which eliminates that issue and the difference in GMT operation between the two watches is night and day 🤔

So I shared my pic of my BP factory Coke GMT (ref 16710) the other day, but that wasn't the only NWA this week: I also picked up a Gen ref 16570 Explorer II 40mm black dial as well.

L: BPF GMT Master II Coke bezel

R: Gen Explorer II ref 16570

It's fun having essentially two sibling pieces, and knowing that I can interchange bracelets and straps between the two since they essentially share identical case and lug designs 👍🏽

Whats funny is the BPF Coke GMT likely has a clone of the older 3185 GMT movement that has the infamous 'GMT hand wobble' when you use the jumping hr function. My Gen Explorer II has the newer 3186 movement which eliminates that issue and the difference in GMT operation between the two watches is night and day 🤔