Should I Buy an "Authentic" SS Smurf

[NukeMan]

Originally Posted by 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.

Very well written Vince, you bring up several good points! I especially agree on the "bowing down to the Rolex machine" part. Heck, its our money and we do decide ourselves what we want to do with the things we've bought for our hard earned money, as long as it doesnt hurt anyone else. A modified watch being re-sold I would want to see it restored to original shape before it is sold as there is always a risk that someone will be deceived further down the line, and that is obviously not acceptable.