Rolex has graduated from a watch brand into a seismic force to which the regular rules do not apply. While it is far (far) from guaranteed that any Rolex watch you buy will appreciate from the day you bought it, time is showing us that these models, both old and new, endure the fluctuations of the watch market very well indeed.And, in fact, buying a pre-owned model might well be the very best thing you can do in the case of Rolex. Many of the new professional models are simply unattainable without waiting an inordinate amount of time – or without paying an exorbitant grey market mark-up to skip the queue. Older professional models are available for prices below those of a new model, and present the chance to pick-up a potential classic while also expanding your knowledge of the crown.Part of the joy of the watchmaking game is getting to know the tiny ticker on your wrist. Buying modern watches because they are in vogue is all well and good, but it can sometimes be a bit of a rushed exercise (thanks to all that competition). A far nicer, and (in my opinion) rewarding way to pursue this hobby is to consciously decouple oneself from the pursuit of luxury, or status, or the latest trend, and instead put stock in the long road. Read about old models. Pore over their nuances. Allow yourself to appreciate how certain models and certain designs can somehow, almost inexplicably to a modern mind, encapsulate an era so perfectly. These wordless time capsules are worth seeking, as they can, in a single glance, remind us of a simpler time when things didn’t move so fast.My first Rolex was a Rolesor Datejust from 1985. I bought it pre-loved after finally managing to get over my thirst for Pepsi, and having hit the history books in search of inspiration. It cost me around $4,000 and it looked brand new but so satisfyingly anachronistic. Vintage is not for everyone, but before you dismiss it as an option, remember that whatever you like right now will be old someday soon. And it is only with the passing of time that we’re really able to understand what has managed to stand its test.
So, a lot of people who were Noob watch fans have turned to be clients of ARF. Today, I want to introduce two important Rolex watches AR factory just published several days ago, both are Datejust II models in 41mm, which is a trendy size in current watch industry. Two Datejust 2 watches have some common features, like genuine watches, the replicas are made of 904L stainless steel, and both feature a fluted bezel. The difference is that one is with a grey dial, the other is with a blue dial. I saw both watches and took these photos below, compared two of them, I like the Datejust II with grey dial more.About case, both are made of the latest genuine watch material 904L stainless steel, case is brushed, while the lugs are polished. The case finish is very good, which is the same quality level of Rolex made by JF factory. While I find one subtle flaw on the case, that is the back of lugs does not have engravings, while the replica Rolex made by Noob has. Compared replica Rolex watches between Noob and ARF, the quality of case finish of ARF is better than Noob, but if you do care about some detailed engravings, I suggest you buy from Noob. The fluted bezel is also made of 904L stainless steel, the tooth design on the bezel has the same size as that of genuine watch, the amount of bezel tooth is the same as original. The bezel fits the case body perfectly, so there is no gap for water penetration.About dial, the Rolex Datejust II 126334 replica has two options, grey and blue, I prefer the grey one, which looks more low-key, while the blue one looks more elegant. The grey dial matches the white stainless steel appearance better, the unique sunray polishing on the grey dial looks more obvious, I like such sunray polishing on the dial, it looks high quality. The inner bezel has Rolex’s famous rehaut engravings, which look exactly the same as genuine Rolex.
