Rolex has been manufacturing watches with 34mm case diameters for the majority of their long and distinguished history; however, these “mid-size” models such as the Date and Air-King often get overlooked due to the multitude of options that exist in the more standard, 36mm Rolex Oyster Perpetual case size. However, Rolex has manufactured a number of excellent watches – both vintage and contemporary – that have 34mm case diameters, and their highly versatile size allows them to look at-home on wrists of virtually any gender or measurement.Although the Datejust collection has historically had a case diameter of 36mm for the standard full-size model, Rolex also manufactures a line of watches called the Date that offers many of the same design traits and features of the Datejust – even the same movement too – only in a slightly smaller overall package.One of the most “quintessentially Rolex” watches currently in production with a 34mm case diameter is the reference 115234 Date. With a Cyclops magnification lens, stainless steel Oyster bracelet, and 18k white gold fluted bezel, the reference 115234 Date checks all the same design boxes as the Datejust, just with a slightly reduced size. Additionally, since the 34mm Date and the 36mm Datejust share the same movement, the reference 115234 is in no way a “lesser” watch compared to the Datejust, just one that is 2mm smaller.Since consumer trends favored smaller wristwatches in past decades, a number of great vintage Rolex references exist with 34mm case diameters. One of the longest-running Rolex models of all time is the reference 5500 Air-King, which boasts a super clean and minimal dial design that perfectly complements its slightly reduced case size.The reference 5500 remained in production for thirty-seven years, during which time it was fitted with both Rolex’s Caliber 1520 and Caliber 1530 movements – neither of which were chronometer-certified. Due to their long production run, reference 5500 Air-King watches were manufactured in relatively large numbers and can still be purchased for very reasonable prices. Fitted with one of the cleanest and least text-heavy dials found inside any Rolex watch, the Air-King 5500 pre-dates the widespread implementation of chronometer-certified movements and represents one of the best entry points into vintage Rolex collecting.Although the Day-Date President is the classic all-gold Rolex watch, it has never been manufactured in a size smaller than 36mm. However, throughout its history, Rolex has produced a number of all-gold watches within their Date collection that have 34mm case diameters, and lack the additional complication for displaying the day of the week that is found on the flagship Day-Date line of watches.One of the more modern incarnations of the all-gold 34mm Date is the reference 15238, which stands out due to a number of characteristics that help separate it from previous iterations of Rolex’s all-gold 34mm Date watch. While earlier examples were made from 14k gold, there reference 15238 is craft from 18k – the same as what Rolex uses to manufacture their flagship Day-Date President watch. Additionally, the Date 15238 is fitted with Rolex’s Caliber 3135 movement and a synthetic sapphire crystal, which give it all the ingredients necessary to be a fairly modern watch.
Then there’s the much more subdued fixed stainless bezel of the Explorer II which matches the case and features a 24-hour marked scale. This feature was specifically built for explorers who need to distinguish day from night – think cave explorers or polar explorers in the height of summer when the sun never sets.For decades, the durable and waterproof Oyster case on the Explorer II measured 40mm, but upon its redesign for the 40th anniversary of the collection in 2011, it was enlarged to 42mm. However, while Rolex produces a precious metal version of the Submariner, the Explorer II is exclusively offered in 904L stainless steel, and there have never been any solid gold or two-tone models ever produced. The current Explorer II is only offered on a steel Oyster bracelet with a Oysterlock clasp, but to be honest, when it comes to the Explorer II, collectors are much more concerned with what really makes this watch: the face.The dial of the Explorer II is iconic for a few reasons. The most notable being the colored 24-hour hand which circles the face. First there’s the iconic orange 24-hour hand, originally designed to help polar and cave explorers distinguish night from day, that gained its cult-status from the original “Steve McQueen” reference. Rolex eventually brought back the bright orange hand with much fanfare. Then there’s the red 24-hour hand which graced the dial for decades – it’s distinctly different than the orange hand with a skinnier body and smaller luminous triangle at the tip. The dials with a red 24-hour hand are far less punchy than their orange counterparts, but still make the Explorer II standout from the rest of the Rolex lineup.Then there are the dial colors – available in effortlessly-cool black and the coveted ‘polar’ white. The polar dial is totally cool and clean, the white face outfitted with white lume plots and Mercedes hands outlined in black. The black face on the other hand has a totally different appeal. While it boasts the same features, the darker face really highlights the stainless steel bezel, lume hour plots and lume-filled Mercedes hands (this time in white gold rather than finished black). It’s a punchier look, and the colored 24-hour hand – especially the orange one – shines against the black a little brighter.
Compared with V1, this version has a much slimmer movement. First, the watch is made of better material 904L stainless steel, whether the lugs and clasp, there are correct engravings. There are same correct engravings on the back side of the case back and movement plates. The movement plates have Rolex SEALs, the entire movement is decorated to the lookf of genuine Rolex 4130.The dial is blue, it has special sunray patterns, the texture is high quality. I do not know how did the factory do, but it really looks high quality. All hour markers have been filled with quality Swiss lume material, they will have a strong lume light in the dark conditions.The replica is equipped with a super clone 4130 movement. It is the best quality chronograph movement in replica watch market. Compared with the movement installed in ARF Daytona, this super clone 4130 movement can achieve a full chronograph function. By the way, the replica watch comes with one pair of free short rubber strap. The following are details of the replica.Movement: Super Clone 4130, Decorated Movement Plates and Auto Rotor to Look of Rolex Calibre 4130 Case: 40mm*12.5mm, Solid 904L Stainless Steel Bezel: Black Ceramic Crystal: Sapphire with Tiny Rolex Crown Logo at 6 o’clock Dial: Blue with Working Subdials, Blue Superlume on Markers and Handsn Bracelet: Top Quality Black Rubber with Deployant Clasp Water Resistant: 30m Daytona and Submariner are two models that have been mostly replicated in recent months. Both Noob and AR factories have brought us a lot of amazing replicas during this period, I can not share all of them with you here, so I chose some representative models to review. Today, I will introduce another novelty AR factory has brought to us, it is a Daytona replica watch, which is in full yellow gold. This is the latest V2 edition, AR updated its bezel, dial and bracelet on basis of V1. There are several selling points on this replica watch, please read the following article.First, the watch is fully made of 904L stainless steel, while on the surface of case and bracelet, there is a thick layer of 18K yellow gold, which is measured to be 5 mils thick. This is one of the selling points of the replica. Based on V1, this time AR factory made improvement on the case engraving and bezel engraved numerals. The black color of the tachymeter scales on the bezel is closer to genuine. About engraving, check the back side of each lug, it has correct symbol engraving like genuine watch case.Replica Rolex Daytona 116518LN The second selling point, it is the movement. Actually I did not recommend AR Factory Daytona before, because they do not have a full chronograph function, the subdials at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock have no function, only the second-chronograph hand on the center is working. However, when I think back, although the replica does not have a full chronograph function, its movement may be more reliable. Some features are sacrificed, this makes the movement to be slimmer and more stable. We know Noob also makes this Daytona with full chronograph function, all subdials are working like genuine, but I do not think the movement of Noob Daytona is more reliable than that of ARF Daytona. Besides, the ARF Daytona is sold at a much cheaper price.
The IWC Portuguese Annual Calendar replica is equipped with an Asia IWC 52850 automatic movement, ZF disassembled all 326 components of original movement, after lots of trials of data analysis, the clone movement looks 90% the same as original 52850, besides, its adjusting method and winding feel are 100% the same as original. Because this IWC Portuguese watch has a see-through case back, so on the replica movement, ZF factory needs to work hard on the movement decoration. The following are photos of four Portuguese Annual Calendar watches.
Before going into a further discussion of the replica, let’s check its specification first.Movement: Super Copy 3186 Automatic, Decorated Movement Plates and Rotor, Correct Hand StackCase: 904L Stainless Steel Bezel: Blue/Black Ceramic with Silver Markers Crystal: Scratch-proof Sapphire Crystal with Laser Tiny Crown Logo at 6 o’clock Dial: Black with Superlumed Hour Markers and Hands Bracelet: 904L Stainless Steel Bracelet with Rolesor Clasp Water Resistant: 50m Like the two Submariner watches Noob just published in 2018, the case of 116710 BLNR replica is also made of 904L stainless steel. The upgrade of case and bracelet material makes the replica watch have the same weight as genuine. Case is 40mm in diameter and 13mm in thickness. With a smooth polishing on the edge, the case does not feel scratch when wearing on hand. Smooth streamlined case design makes the watch fit your wrist better. Bezel is the place that has the greatest improvement. Compared with previous V7, the bi-colored bezel of V8 has a more natural color transmission from blue to black. GMT markers on the bezel are engraved correctly.On black dial, there is an extra blue hand with a big arrow indicating GMT time. Hour markers have silver edge and are filled with white lume material like hands. If you concern the hand stack, then this V8 replica GMT Master II 116710 BLNR has a correct hand stack. From top to bottom, the hands are second hand, minute hand, blue GMT hand and hour hand, while other factories and previous version of Noob 116710 BLNR usually set the GMT hand at the bottom.At last, the replica is equipped with a Swiss 3186 automatic movement, we also call it Super Copy 3186. It is not an Asian clone 3186 on basis of a Chinese movement, this Super Copy 3186 runs more accurate and stable than any other 3186 movements developed before. Now, the factory will send one pair of blue rubber straps for free if you order this GMT Master Rolex watch.I want to introduce more Rolex watches here because a few factories produced some innovative replica Rolex watches with 904L stainless steel and better clone movement. Now it is not surprising most Submariner replicas are equippeed with Super Copy 3135 movement, since the end of 2017, some factories even used clone 3235 in Datejust models.
However, these two differences are not important, because we are buying one replica watch that look very close to genuine in appearance. In overall finish, the watch is an 1:1 original Swiss replica. The 007 Commander adopts fresh and bright color design. Red, white and blue paid a tribute to the British Royal Navy, which adds solemnity to this watch.41mm stainless steel case, white ceramic dial, blue hour and minute hands in skeleton, red second hand with “007” logo.Like genuine watch, the replica use anti-reflective coating on sapphire crystal, so the crystal has a high transparency and the dial is extremely readable.About the dial lume, UR factory imported Japanese non-radioactive luminous material, when being applied on hour markers and hands, the brightness and color are very close to genuine watch. A lot of replicas in our market use cheap luminous material, you can see their lume light is not correct.New case back design is different from previous Seamaster 300M diver’s watches. The case back rim has “Commander’s Watch” engravings. Wave-shaped edge is more convenient for you to open and screw the case back.Besides the military nato strap, UR factory also offers one stainless steel bracelet for free. Simply speaking, this is a replica watch with impressive color design, if you are young and full of passion, you should try it.
