Today there is quite a high premium on original vintage pieces simply because they’re extremely rare and becoming increasingly harder to find. Decades ago, when people bought luxury watches like Rolex for example, it was perfectly normal for them to get the watch serviced, polished, or have parts replaced if you scratched or dented them up. The problem is that while they were done by the company with authentic later-era parts, they still weren’t original parts or features of the watch. Since this was such a common practice, today it’s really special – and highly valuable – if a vintage watch is totally original.When posed with the question of which watch to buy and when, every industry “expert” probably begins their answer with some variation of the same caveat: Buy for love, not for money. Watch collecting is a wild and unpredictable hobby. Auction prices for classic models have been known to hit eight figures (and then some), but most of the Rolex watches out there depreciate the moment you strap them on your wrist.I have a young friend who is ready to buy his first luxury watch. He’s been thinking about it for weeks (good boy), but every few days he calls me (bad boy) and labors the same point: He wants a watch that is an investment (even worse boy). There exists in modern watch collecting a problem: collectibility is now treated as a selling point. But the problem with everybody and their dogs knowing that something is collectible is that everybody and their dogs are quite likely to collect it.The most expensive wristwatch ever sold was the Rolex Daytona worn by Paul Newman himself. It fetched $17. million at a 2017 auction. That’s a pretty good price for a watch that was so unpopular when it was initially launched that it lingered on dealers’ shelves with relatively few actually making their way onto customers’ wrists. One of those wrists happened to be Paul Newman, who had reputedly been bought the watch by his wife, Joanne Woodward. And it isn’t that she made a sound investment, but rather her purchase created an investment piece by her gifting it to her stratospherically famous husband.
In July, one of my clients sent one watch back to Noob for repairing, he waited almost one and half month for the factory to fix it, I must say that the repairing of Noob is too slow.Both factories have their own advantages, but for beginners, I recommend ARF 116610LV more, because the first feeling it gives to you is more real, the quality and texture of the watch is super. I did not say bad things about Noob, they are a big factory, I have to admit, but if they can not do a better customers service and quality check, I think they will be very difficult to keep the pace with AR factory.AR Submariner 116610LV photos below:This watch is the V2 version of two tone Submariner 116613LN replica from AR factory, it is also the best version currently. Some people will ask, what about if being compared with the one from Noob? Actually I do not know, I have not held two watches in hand and compared them. Maybe in subtle details, Noob makes better, but the replica from AR factory also has their advantages. For example, it is the factory that used 904L stainless steel material on their replica Rolex watches, second, the finish on case and bracelet is much better. Third, AR factory installed an Asia ETA 2824 movement in this replica, compared with the Asia 3135 movement in Noob version, Asia 2824 is more stable and reliable. Fourth, the price is cheaper.
In my opinion, the competition between them mainly comes from two products, Daytona and Sea-Dweller Single Red 126600, which are the most popular two Rolex replicas in 2019.About Daytona, it is undeniable that Noob makes the best replica, however, about this 43mm Sea-Dweller Single Red 126600, I think both have their own advantages. Noob and AR make it with 904L stainless steel, about movement, Noob has Asia 2836 and 3235 options, while AR factory only has Asia 2824 movement option. AR factory unveiled the replica 126600 earlier than Noob, now the version of 126600 from AR is V3.Both factories make the same case size, which is 43mm in diameter and 14mm thick. However, about the case finish, I think AR factory is better. All clients of mine who bought this 126600 said that the AR 126600 gave them a real feeling when they firstly touched the case and bracelet. Every corner of the case is polished by skilled master, the case of ARF 126600 is completed to be perfect.The bezel uses ceramic insert on both factories. About bezel tooth, AR is a bit sharp, while Noob’s is a bit smooth and has a better touch. The sharp of each tooth on Noob 126600 has a rounded chamfer polishing, so these teeth feel smooth. About the bezel pearl, it looks a little greenish, while Noob’s looks more white, the bezel pearl of AR 126600 is closer to genuine. The inlaid method of the bezel pearl is also different, Noob sticks it with glue, while AR inlays the pearl into, if you check the Noob 126600 carefully, there is glue mark around the bezel pearl, while AR’s is very clean. Because the installation of bezel pearl is different on both factories, Noob’s is a bit higher than its edge around, while AR’s is correct, the same as genuine, it will also not easily fall off. About bezel engravings, AR 126600’s are deeper than Noob’s, because Noob’s bezel engravings are shallow, the platinum coating is exposed to dust and sweat on your hands, so the white coating will easily become black. While the bezel engravings on AR 126600 are much deeper, they can avoid the contact with hand sweat, so after a long time wearing, they still look very clearn. So, about the bezel finish of 126600, I think AR wins.I can hardly find difference. Both Noob and AR have made a good dial. About the letters below red “SEA-DWELLER”, AR’s are slightly plump, while Noob’s are a bit thinner. The lume coating on the dial is a little yellowish on Noob, while AR’s is very clearn.On the side of the helium valve button, Noob has a qr code sticker, while AR factory does not have. Noob makes it correct.
