Thoughts on a project - detailed guides for verifying watches

[etp]

Earlier this year I was almost burned when a dealer showed me a 100% original Red 1680, only to find out on TRF that it was definitely not all original. Another example was the Flat Four fiasco another TRFer was in when he bought a Frankenstein Kermit. These situations got me thinking there has to be a better way for collectors to validate a piece and make sure that it has all of the details & quirks it should have.

For the last week or so I finally buckled down and built a site for enthusiasts to create pages for specific models and to highlight the features of the piece. The details on the dial, the variations on the bezel, the ending serial numbers, anything.

I'm finally ready to show off the first version of this little project, and was wondering if I could get some feedback &/or questions.

Here is an example page for a Mark 1 Kermit.

So the idea is you'll be able to search for a model, pull up a listing, and find high quality images & detailed info on what a model needs. After almost getting burned myself, I want a solution for the community to be able to more easily share & discover information.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance for your help-

[tyler1980]

a byers guide also doubles as a counterfeiters guide so making this more available to buyers may have the effect that they are buying a watch that still ticks all the boxes and still isnt genuine.

[onemany]

It's definitely a laudable goal. I think it's going to be very challenging to do and the more complete and accurate the guide is in terms of capturing all possible variations, authentic if not original RSC replacement parts. In some ways, the guide also becomes a blueprint on how to create replicas.

[marc2828]

I think this is a really good idea, but will require a lot of effort. Having the TRF community add to the data, correct and modify details, and add photos from their collections would make this an invaluable tool.

[Camel]

Originally Posted by marc2828

I think this is a really good idea, but will require a lot of effort. Having the TRF community add to the data, correct and modify details, and add photos from their collections would make this an invaluable tool.

x1

[etp]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

a byers guide also doubles as a counterfeiters guide so making this more available to buyers may have the effect that they are buying a watch that still ticks all the boxes and still isnt genuine.

It is a fair point, but counterfeiters already have the upper hand without a check against them. Buyers buying without an easy way to verify what they say.

Having almost been burned out of a pretty penny, I'd rather have a way to verify their claims than blind trust. But thats just me.

[beshannon]

How will you validate the images?

[etp]

Originally Posted by marc2828

I think this is a really good idea, but will require a lot of effort. Having the TRF community add to the data, correct and modify details, and add photos from their collections would make this an invaluable tool.

Yeah thats the direction I'm thinking too. Get something up, iron out the quirks and then open for the community to contribute.

Thanks for your thoughts

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by etp

It is a fair point, but counterfeiters already have the upper hand without a check against them. Buyers buying without an easy way to verify what they say.

Having almost been burned out of a pretty penny, I'd rather have a way to verify their claims than blind trust. But thats just me.

there are good ones and bad ones ... what scares me is them all being good ones as those are not the most common ones you see presently.

[etp]

Originally Posted by beshannon

How will you validate the images?

I'll be building community tools for flagging pages / info/ photos. Long run I want to open it to the community for their input.

[avilhena]

I think it is a very honored initiative and definitely something that if carried forward will help the community! Congratulations!

[etp]

Originally Posted by avilhena

I think it is a very honored initiative and definitely something that if carried forward will help the community! Congratulations!

Thanks! Just trying to do my part

[joli160]

Great job, nice clear pictures, true asset for anybody buying pre owned

[BVLDARI]

I like the idea. I've had times when I wanted to know what made this watch more special than the other and can't really find an answer. If we are worried about counter fitters you can put in the private section or at least make it so it's not visible to search engines so it it's not readily available. I am happy to help with whatever watches I have on hand.

[powerfunk]

Hey E, glad to see you over on TRF making things happen That mockup looks good! I think the Kermit is a perfect place to start; if you go through all the Marks and become the "Doubleredseadweller.com" of the 16610LV world you'll have a legitimate destination site on its own. And once you have visitors hopefully they'll become an information-sharing community and you can expand the models from there. Just thinking about doing this for every variant of Datejust is making me dizzy though! Good luck!

[Speed]

Overall, great idea imo. Will do much more good than harm. Sure, some counterfeiters may benefit...but hopefully it’s a net win for buyers.

[SLS]

There are members here who have shared a lot of info regarding the 16610LV, I can’t remember who, but contacting them would be a good start. Also, I would join other sites and make a similar post. Good luck &

[etp]

Originally Posted by SLS

There are members here who have shared a lot of info regarding the 16610LV, I can’t remember who, but contacting them would be a good start. Also, I would join other sites and make a similar post. Good luck &

Good idea - the problem, hopefully this solves, all that is scattered like the wind. I'll get digging..

Any site's in particular? My main hubs are /r/rolex and TRF

[etp]

Originally Posted by Speed

Overall, great idea imo. Will do much more good than harm. Sure, some counterfeiters may benefit...but hopefully it’s a net win for buyers.

[Ballzzz]

Great idea, good luck.

All of these watches have serial numbers, is there anyway to use this unique identifying mark somehow, possibly as an archive, previous owners, origination etc? Just some thoughts for your project.

[etp]

Originally Posted by powerfunk

Hey E, glad to see you over on TRF making things happen That mockup looks good! I think the Kermit is a perfect place to start; if you go through all the Marks and become the "Doubleredseadweller.com" of the 16610LV world you'll have a legitimate destination site on its own. And once you have visitors hopefully they'll become an information-sharing community and you can expand the models from there. Just thinking about doing this for every variant of Datejust is making me dizzy though! Good luck!

Thanks! Yea Kermits, Reds, Datejusts, Daytonas...Rolex hasn't made this easy. Will have more to share later this week

[endotreated]

Originally Posted by etp

I'll be building community tools for flagging pages / info/ photos. Long run I want to open it to the community for their input.

Wikipedia of watches, so to speak?

I think it’s great... but:

When I’m spending so much money on a watch, I want experts opinions not just relying on my own analysis.

[endotreated]

Also, what if fakers start flooding this database with images from their watches to even confuse us all the more?

And given that they will surely be using this resource to make closer fakes, this might get even more confusing

[etp]

Originally Posted by endotreated

Wikipedia of watches, so to speak?

I think it’s great... but:

When I’m spending so much money on a watch, I want experts opinions not just relying on my own analysis.

Yea sorta.. A bit more structured than Wikipedia but similar in that its a resource.

Good point on experts. This wouldn't be analysis so much as the factual info.

* Characteristics of the dial
* Things that should be on the bezel
* Etc.

Originally Posted by endotreated

Also, what if fakers start flooding this database with images from their watches to even confuse us all the more?

And given that they will surely be using this resource to make closer fakes, this might get even more confusing

Bingo! Thats why I won't be opening it fully for the public to contribute content (ala Yelp). It will be more curated.

[function12]

Love the idea and could be a great resource.

[etp]

Originally Posted by function12

Love the idea and could be a great resource.

Thanks!

[etp]

After a month of work, it is finally live! orolo.co

The idea was to build a community site for sharing the details one should look for in each Rolex reference. For example, here is a page on the Red 1680.

https://orolo.co/rolex/submariner-date/red-1680-c1c6c/

I'm interested to see what people think. What took the most time was a nifty photo editor to edit photos for highlighting details. Anyway it's a labor of love and I'm sure it will grow and evolve over time. Hopefully everyone finds it helpful.