For a number of years, modern consumer trends have been favoring larger watches. As a result of this, Rolex’s 34mm references have become somewhat forgotten in all the excitement and shuffle that surrounds their larger, sport/professional watchlines. However, recently it seems that smaller-sized watches are starting to make a comeback, and Rolex’s once-overlooked, 34mm watches now represent some of the best values for the money among all Rolex timepieces, both vintage and contemporary.When it comes to Rolex sports watches, the Submariner and Explorer II are amongst the most beloved. And despite the fact that they are both tough, purpose-built timepieces, they’re just about as different as it gets in nearly all respects.But if you’re not very familiar with either watch, comparing these two industry titans can seem daunting. So here, I’m breaking down everything you need to know – and compare – about the Rolex Submariner and the Rolex Explorer II.True sports watches, both the Submariner and Explorer II were built by Rolex with specific jobs in mind – and the hint lies in their names. Unsurprisingly, the Submariner is a divers watch, built to time out scuba dives and withstand the unrelenting pressure of 300-meter (1,000 foot) depths. In fact, this watch has been one of the world’s top diving watches since it was first released back in 1953.The Explorer II, on the other hand, was originally introduced in 1971 for speleologists who work in deep underground caverns. But like the original Rolex Explorer – the watch that provided its foundation – the Explorer II appeals to adventurers and explorers of all kinds, especially since its popular 40th anniversary remodel.
A lot of people – even seasoned collectors – can find themselves confused when trying to distinguish between original and authentic watches. The trick? Stop thinking of the words as synonymous. In this guide, you’ll learn about the big differences between these two categories of luxury watches and how it can help you be a more educated shopper and collector.An authentic watch is undisputed in origin, and not a replica or copy. This means that in order for something to be authentic, it has to be 100% real. Authentic watches are genuine pieces from brands – think of the big players like Rolex, Tudor, Omega, Patek Philippe and more.We use the word authentic in the industry to distinguish between genuine timepieces and fakes that are widely copied and sold. When a dealer gets their hands on a watch, the first thing they are going to do is check the authenticity of the watch; and as a buyer, you should be doing the same. As a buyer, the first step in guaranteeing you get an authentic watch is by always buying directly from the brand or a trusted and reputable dealer who can ensure that the watch is authentic.But how can you tell whether a watch is authentic? Well, we’ve created some great guides to help educate buyers and collectors – both on what’s real, and how to spot inauthentic details. Head over here to check out our official guide on the Top Ways To Spot A Fake Rolex.To be an original watch, the timepiece has to be an authentic watch. Because when you see a watch listed as original, it means that it is both a genuine timepiece from that brand, and one that has not had any later-era updates or alterations since it was manufactured and originally sold.Original watches are:Authentic Have not had parts replaced with later-era equivalents or been modified/altered in any way Sometimes in the industry, we also refer to original watches as ‘honest’ watches. And when we look at pre-owned timepieces – especially vintage watches, we often look for originality. This means we look for things like correct factory-installed parts, whether they’re scratched, chipped or faded.We also look for things like custom details that were added after purchasing, like diamonds or enhanced bezels which were later-era additions and unoriginal to the piece. There are even many buyers and collectors who will favor watches that have never had a polishing or servicing that could have hindered the natural aging process of the timepiece.
Although the rotating bezel serves to record dive times, this has not stopped Rolex from making a few ultra-lavish Submariners with precious gem-set bezels that forsake the tool watch nature of the model. First, there’s the white gold Submariner 116649EMBR (presented in 2010) with a bezel set with 36 emeralds and 12 diamonds. Then in 2018, Rolex introduced the white gold Submariner 116659SABR with a bezel set with nine light blue sapphires (to mimic the first 15-minute markings), 27 dark blue sapphires, and 12 diamonds.To summarize, the history and evolution of the Submariner bezel is generally divided into three generations: bidirectional bezel with aluminum insert (early-1950s – late-1970s), unidirectional bezel with aluminum insert (late-1970s – late-2000s), and unidirectional bezel with Cerachrom ceramic insert (late 2000s until present). Which is your favorite type of Submariner bezel?
In 2008, a small factory cloned IWC Big Pilot, whether its appearance or movement, it has a large gap with genuine watch, the power reserve is faux. After seven years, Z factory built this Big Pilot again, they updated the dial and movement construction, even the power reserve is real, which was increased from 42 hours to 12 hours. Big Pilot is one of the most classic series of IWC, the genuine watch is also sold at a high price, so, to have such an 1:1 replica is a dream of many people. Here I will give a review of Big Pilot IW500901 replica watch, which is a great timepiece with perfect function and closest movement.Big case is brushed and almost has 47mm in diameter. The Pilot watch has a common case design that is similar to dress watches, its dial completely shows every thing clearly in front of your eyes. Seeing from the side of the case, you will find out the difference between 1:1 replica and those cheap replicas. The replica IWC is polished well, especially its bezel, it has a polished silver edge that looks like a mirror. The streamlined design of the case ensures a great fit to your wrist. Please check some photos below, the crystal reflects a little hue when under a certain angle, this indicates the sapphire crystal has a layer of anti-reflective coating. So the dial is very clear even under the sun light, it seems like the crystal is invisible.
Actually there are a lot of vintage Rolex in genuine watch market, but most of them have been out of stock now. So, people who love vintage Rolex turn to seek for perfect replicas of them. However, it is hard for them to get a perfect replica of vintage Rolex, sometimes it is even difficult to get one because these vintage Rolex watches are also very rare in replica watch market. Vintage watches usually appeared in Rolex series like Submariner, GMT Master II, Daytona and Milgauss. I have introduced these replicas here on my blog, for example, Daytona Paul Newman, Double Red Sea-Dweller, Comex Submariner, etc. Today, I am going to introduce another vintage Rolex Submariner replica, which was ordered by one of my clients. The watch is unique and greatly different from modern Submariner.First, these photos are 100% real photos I took with my mobile phone. This is a replica and made b JK factory that has produced a lot of vintage replica Rolex watches. The case is made of 440 stainless steel and 40mm in case diameter, the case size is almost the same as other modern Rolex Submariner, but this vintage model features a big crown on the right, which is 8mm. Under the crown logo, there is a word of “Brevette”. On the bezel, besides diver’s markings, the most unique place lies in its red triangle mark at 12 o’clock. On this vintage replica Rolex Submariner 6538, the bezel markers are not engraved.Black dial has yellowish hour markers, there are Arabic numeral hour markers of 3, 6 and 9. A big triangle mark is at 12 o’clock. The dial has a simple layout design and no date. By the way, the dial is protected by a domed plastic crystal.The replica is equipped with a black nato strap that features a SS pin buckle. Nato band is a perfect match for this vintage Rolex but this replica watch will be more perfect if the band is fitted a Rolex Crown buckle.Happy Chinese New Year! In the beginning of 2018 year, a lot of factories published several new models, some are amazing. For example, my watch contact brought me a good news and said the Noob factory just updated Submariner 116610LV again. In my mind, this is the eighth time for Noob to update this Submariner watch, actually after the previous improvement, the Rolex Submariner 116610LV replica has been so perfect and the watch itself has gotten so many compliments.
