Should I Buy an "Authentic" SS Smurf

[z16marine]

Yeah...a little misleading....

But figure I could buy a TRF forums standard Sub C and buy the authentic blue dial/bezel from Chrono24....all for around $10k to make a SS Smurf.

Now.....do I do this.......

[thomaspp]

That's an expensive "fake" rolex. Don't think it's a good idea. Save another 10 k and get the real deal.

[joe100]

You can but it's a lot of money to spend. Personally, I'd just be happy with the black sub c

[sleddog]

It can be, and has been done.....
I'd just save for the real thing, the weight and feel of a full gold piece is something to behold, and feels exceptional on the wrist.

However, it's your watch, do as you please....

[HL65]

Originally Posted by sleddog

It can be, and has been done.....
I'd just save for the real thing, the weight and feel of a full gold piece is something to behold, and feels exceptional on the wrist.

However, it's your watch, do as you please....

X2

[Wesley Crusher]

I wouldn't, but if you really want to...

[theseira]

No for me. I like "original" factory condition.

[tkerrmd]

Originally Posted by z16marine

Yeah...a little misleading....

But figure I could buy a TRF forums standard Sub C and buy the authentic blue dial/bezel from Chrono24....all for around $10k to make a SS Smurf.

Now.....do I do this.......

You can do whatever you want, glad Rolex fixed this so we won't be having this convo about the new Pepsi - c

[77T]

Paging Dr. Jocke...
Dr. Jocke...please report to the operating room.

[joshuaray]

Why not. $10k+ extra for a color is a waste of money in my book. The gold is not worth it's weight.

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

I wouldn't, but if you really want to...

X2
I would be careful where you source parts. As Padi said they're not easy to come by. There was someone on here who posted a similar change to a watch only to discover through the educated TRF members that the parts weren't authentic.

Originally Posted by joshuaray

Why not. $10k+ extra for a color is a waste of money in my book. The gold is not worth it's weight.

I disagree. Some would say a Rolex is not worth it, that it's a waste. A Seiko can do the same, a Casio a better tool watch. It's all relative and depends on a person's lifestyle and standard of what quality is and on what is precious and most importantly how something makes them feel.

Also, for thousands of years many would disagree on gold being a waste, it's been special since humans discovered it. Perhaps what is better to say is that it isn't something for you, whether it's a waste or worth its weight is irrelevant because the fact is in our world it really is special. It's a fact.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by z16marine

Yeah...a little misleading....

But figure I could buy a TRF forums standard Sub C and buy the authentic blue dial/bezel from Chrono24....all for around $10k to make a SS Smurf.

Now.....do I do this.......

Post pics.

[gwozhog]

I would do it. Its not like its fake. And you will also save some serious jack too. I never did understand white gold. Im still waiting for someone to saw one of there links in half to prove its not rhodium plated too. The purist will always shun you on here but you will never meet them in the real world. In the real world most people probably would think a white gold rolex is stainless steel anyway.

[lapince]

Originally Posted by gwozhog

I would do it. Its not like its fake. And you will also save some serious jack too. I never did understand white gold. Im still waiting for someone to saw one of there links in half to prove its not rhodium plated too. The purist will always shun you on here but you will never meet them in the real world. In the real world most people probably would think a white gold rolex is stainless steel anyway.

White gold, as far as I know, is always rhodium plated, if plain white gold it's going to have a kind of yellowish look to it

[padi56]

Originally Posted by lapince

White gold, as far as I know, is always rhodium plated, if plain white gold it's going to have a kind of yellowish look to it

Rolex white gold is not Rhodium plated for there mix it contains 75% pure gold and a small amount of Platinum or Palladium, Silver, plus other alloys to make up the other 25%

[Alessi156]

Originally Posted by gwozhog

I would do it. Its not like its fake. And you will also save some serious jack too. I never did understand white gold. Im still waiting for someone to saw one of there links in half to prove its not rhodium plated too. The purist will always shun you on here but you will never meet them in the real world. In the real world most people probably would think a white gold rolex is stainless steel anyway.

+1

[gr33n]

It is not rhodium plated. But the case has more holes in it than 116610 (inside) to enlight it, and save a bit of gold.

[14060m]

Pics

[padi56]

Originally Posted by z16marine

Yeah...a little misleading....

But figure I could buy a TRF forums standard Sub C and buy the authentic blue dial/bezel from Chrono24....all for around $10k to make a SS Smurf.

Now.....do I do this.......

I would most certainly doubt if the insert/dial was genuine Rolex as these are not readily available.And you still would have a frankenwatch that Rolex would not service and would doubt if anyone would buy if you needed to sell.

[diver2012]

Originally Posted by padi56

And you still would have a frankenwatch that Rolex would not service and would doubt if anyone would buy if you needed to sell.

You always say how easy it is to change the bezel insert...so just change it before sending it in to be serviced.

Likewise, when you sell it just sell with the black bezel in and sell the blue separately.

[capote]

Originally Posted by diver2012

You always say how easy it is to change the bezel insert...so just change it before sending it in to be serviced.

Likewise, when you sell it just sell with the black bezel in and sell the blue separately.

The bezel insert is not east to change on the ceramic version.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by diver2012

You always say how easy it is to change the bezel insert...so just change it before sending it in to be serviced.

Likewise, when you sell it just sell with the black bezel in and sell the blue separately.

Its not so easy to change the dial though that take a bit of skill and correct tools,same for the ceramic inserts that's not a DIY job like the aluminum inserts.

[goog53]

Not a fan of modifications

[yld2rob]

Originally Posted by goog53

not a fan of modifications

x2

[Gaijin]

I am not a fan of this. In the interest of being polite I don't rip on those that put a WG Daytona dial on a SS Daytona, or in the case of this thread the WG Submariner dial on a SS. Don't like it though.



Save up. The feeling of an all gold watch on your wrist is really nice.

[travisb]

It's been done before.
Not a fan at all. If that's the look you want, the only option for me would be to save and get the real deal.

[bparone]

I wouldn't care about any of the reasons above for not doing it. I want my watch to look the way I want it and would do it if the extra money was equivalent or less than the value of having the watch I want. I say do it and post some pics.

[lapince]

I am thinking of doing the same thing, sure it's expensive but I think the blue bezel with black dial would look great, and it's not a fake Rolex, just modified, but only original parts, especially you would still have the black bezel if one day you want to sell it. For the white gold sub I couldn't really see myself putting that kind of money for a sub, if I had to buy another I would buy the Hulk, the LV, for me sub's are SS, just got myself a Daytona 116515, so it's around the same price as the white gold sub, if to put a big sum of money I would wait longer and buy a platinum Rolex, either Daydate II which I like a lot or the platinum daytona, of course very expensive, possible to find new around 35.000 euros for the first and around 44.000 for the second, their AD price are 50.500 and 60.800 of course in euros not dollars, but platinum is really something, weight, feel, look…

Anyways do what you like, it would make an almost unique Sub, please post pics if you do, might decide me to do the same...

[Token74]

The Frankenwatch debate is such a curious one and frankly some of the attitudes towards Frankenwatches are nuts (I include myself in the Nutty camp btw!), it just makes no sense in the real world.

By swapping out the dial and bezel, assuming it is a genuine Rolex dial and bezel, then you are not compromising the quality of the watch, it is still Rolex design and Rolex quality.

Rolex don't like people doing this because they want customers who buy precious metal watches to be able to be easily distinguished from cheaper SS models; largely I suspect, because Rolex believes this is important to those that buy the more expensive watches (it's probably not important to the WIS folk that come on here, but to the average Joe, it probably is important). To object to this type of mod, is potentially just bowing down to the Rolex machine that owns us.

Lot's of folk on here like their cars, and there is a similarity.

I have had a couple of cars with bodykits; genuine OEM kits but not factory fitted. The first was a Porsche 911 S4 which had a GT3 kit fitted to it, and the second was a Range Rover Vogue Diesel which had a Supercharge kit fitted.

A friend of mine had no issue with the Porsche because the badges were never changed so it said 4S rather than GT3 on it; it improved the look of the car, it was an OEM kit, but the badging didn't pretend it was something it wasn't.

The same friend had a massive issue (and still moans about it now, 10 years on) with the Range Rover because it had the Supercharge badge added; it improved the look, it was an OEM kit, but the badge meant in his view it was pretending to be something it wasn't (although the exhaust gave it away, and obviously the sound!).

I bought both cars as they were and bought on asthetics alone, I didn't care what anybody thought. I didn't go to the trouble of removing the Supercharge badge, but neither did I replace the 4S badge with a GT3 badge.

So, do people on here really object to modifying a watch? Or do they just object to a watch being made to look like a more expensive watch?

If I changed my 16600 bracelet and clasp for a modern one from a Sub (assuming they fit), is this ok because I have undoubtedly improved the watch but not tried to make it look like something better?

I like Project X stuff but ultimately I can't bring myself to wear a modified Rolex...so I am one of the nutty ones. But I can accept it's a bit silly.

[alanc]

You are asking your question in a place where the majority of the folks revere original condition, so the majority of the responses will be (and have been) "don't do it." If you enjoy the look and don't mind the compromise, then do it - it's your watch. If you are doing it to get people to believe you are wearing a watch that is worth much more than you paid, I'd ask myself first why you feel the need to do that.

As Peter points out, there is a good chance the blue parts will not be genuine; since you would be creating a watch that's not original Rolex in any event, I'm not sure Rolex parts or not really make a difference.

The value of a genuine Rolex in its original condition is important to some; less important to others. What would be important to me, if I were doing it, is knowing what my motivation is.