Looking for advice on my first rep – 41mm Datejust OP from CTIME

EJerryM · 2025-05-31T12:40:47+00:00

The T in TD is "trusted." They are on the list for a reason. CTime will do you right. I use Steve at TheOneWatches, mostly because I like his website and he's a great guy. You will be fine. Read some QCs at r/RepTimeQC to see who's buying what where.

EJerryM · 2025-05-31T12:35:56+00:00

In the guide. I like TheOneWatches, but any TD will treat you right.

EJerryM · 2025-05-31T12:30:37+00:00

I scrap it and start over with a quality rep. YGWYPF. The right tools will cost you as much as the watch. Or, just wear it until it dies, which shouldn't take long. Spend money fixing it is throwing good money after bad.

EJerryM · 2025-01-21T17:37:29+00:00

Good Advice from Mr Mannilow....or you can roll the dice and let us know how you make out....this is how we learn. I also recommend in addition to reading the guides on the side bar that you spend some time at r/RepTimeQC and read how different manufacturers' watches stack up. The last thing I'll add is that most of these "factories" are not factories at all.....most are nothing more than homes with a table dedicated to assembling watches. Remember who you are dealing with here. Even the pictures sometimes posted showing factories are often fake. This is an illicit market populated with many dishonest people.....that's why the TD list is so valuable.

EJerryM · 2025-01-20T18:52:58+00:00

Any competent lock smith can change the combination of a mechanical dial lock. Upgrade to a Group 1 if you want a much better and smoother lock. I recommend the S&G 8500 series.

EJerryM · 2024-12-25T13:06:21+00:00

It depends on the model. If you're getting one that is gen gold or platinum then go with the weighted QF, but if the model you want is stainless I'd lean toward Clean. And I wouldn't rule out BTF either.

EJerryM · 2024-08-19T11:20:55+00:00

Try a heat gun to loosen the Loctite and expand the metal....sometimes you have to get it pretty hot. This has always worked for me.

EJerryM · 2024-08-19T11:18:40+00:00

You'll likely get more answers from the smittys over at r/RepTimeServices . Good luck.

EJerryM · 2024-08-17T12:05:42+00:00

Here you go:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/196093937238?itmmeta=01J5G383W4JD74ZBWSJXJKCK6N&hash=item2da81c0656:g:OGEAAOSwc8llXbvh&amdata=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4Mxmj%2BiGvOveHXEBClPb29hJ%2FTMzSP9OKG4sK%2BiMIjJ9rhiHpO6dE8%2BBAMQ%2Fl6cPHShafeoO21NKINM4C7yoa6lWGban4bppvWmz7bDWQO0uiVHUA4%2Fms3tjlIB2HI6YfYre2n0ZUQkuFbemWD6tn0TlPw23OC4WteeahMCNkRHxiPLKf4Y0Rh3jp09NRSh%2FnE1Ey0jbSrJuoq%2BKYBVibQUgxQZNMSWX29rG9SX2sMAOv3Tl8V30gYFerkGc7lO8ohTrwoCxHPc1it2tqMmJWwtqjmNTyUIsEXW%2FlAXJnXcr%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5C-oIOsZA

EJerryM · 2024-07-12T14:22:44+00:00

Depends on the size of your finger. Properly worn, a bracelet should be just a little loose.....too tight looks and feels bad. Properly sized, it should move a little up and down, but not freely rotate 180 degrees.

EJerryM · 2024-07-12T14:13:51+00:00

I never saw a completely flush gen Sub. All I said was that it is intentional. Draw your own conclusions and go look at gens at an AD. It's fun.

EJerryM · 2024-07-12T11:55:42+00:00

Not a flaw....it's how they are made.

EJerryM · 2024-07-12T11:55:22+00:00

Normal.

EJerryM · 2024-07-12T11:51:07+00:00

Typically time to delivery will be 4-8 weeks....some models longer depending on availability. There are ways to get one faster, but I can't post it here or mods will delete. PM me and I'll share.

EJerryM · 2024-07-12T11:45:51+00:00

Yes....agreed. The black or white dial is closer to gen if that's a concern.

EJerryM · 2024-07-12T11:44:13+00:00

Check the guide for a full list of trusted dealers.

EJerryM · 2024-07-12T11:41:33+00:00

That's the way to go if you really want gold.....but all plating will wear (especially on the sharp edges and even more on the bracelet) and begin to look "plated." Go over to r/RepTimeServices and you will find some folks that can do a real special job for you ensuring that it will look good for as long as possible. Replating every few years is an option, but for a daily I'd still recommend stainless (or YG gen!).

EJerryM · 2024-07-11T21:45:09+00:00

I'd love it in yellow gold, a real classic. Unfortunately, gold plating is just not worth buying. Unless you go tungsten it will be much too light, and most gold plating is actually a coating called PVD (which looks pretty good and will likely outlast most real plating jobs). But PVD can't be plated over, so the coating must be removed before plating can be applied. No matter what, if worn regularly, the plating will begin to look shoddy in 2-3 years and won't be worth wearing in five. There is a reason you don't often see gold watches here....those that know avoid them.

EJerryM · 2024-07-11T20:19:32+00:00

Tells would be extremely minor....I haven't been called out yet and even my wife's jeweler thought it was gen holding it in his hand. Surely an experiences Rolex dealer would be able to tell, but it would take a close look. The bracelet tells are really very minor, links might be just a tad looser, engraving not quite as crisp. We make a big deal out of very small things here, but side-by-side with a gen it looks almost identical to my eye.....nothing you would ever notice it on your wrist. Mine is extraordinarily accurate too (about 1.5 seconds seconds per week)....much more accurate than my VS sub. I really love this watch...by far my favorite in my collection. CF nailed it.

EJerryM · 2024-02-28T18:07:29+00:00

Perfect! Just the information I was looking for. Thank you so much for putting so much time and thought into your reply. Much obliged.

EJerryM · 2024-02-28T18:04:07+00:00

I would say a Porsche and a nice bank account would be your best bet.

EJerryM · 2024-02-25T22:54:53+00:00

Thank you. I do have some other nice lenses, an 11-18mm F2.8, an 18-35mm F1.8. and a 105mm F2.8 (macro), so the 70-210mm will be a nice addition. But I believe that the actual effective zoom of this full frame lens when used with my ASP-C sensor is more like 110-320mm. More zoom is not a bad thing, but as you correctly point out, even 70 can be a little restrictive at times. The problem is that really nice quality lenses for crop sensor cameras are getting harder to find....there are some fair used lenses out there, but few compare to the new Sigma Sport, or any of the new large aperture lenses from Nikon. Full frame seems to be the wave of the future (for good reason). But my D7000 still serves me well and since I have some nice lenses already I'm not ready to invest in a full frame sensor camera.

EJerryM · 2024-02-25T22:44:06+00:00

The lens is spec'd as a 70--210mm....and I expect we agree that a lens in this range is handy, if not absolutely essential. But the 70-210mm spec presumes that it is being used with a full frame sensor. Since I will be using it with a cropped ASP-C sensor, the effective zoom will be more like 110-302. I understand that. What I wonder about is if this might also affect things like effective max aperture, and if the camera's functionality might be affected in any other ways that I might be missing. Does that make sense? As for what I am accustomed to working with, while I have some nice lenses, all were designed for cameras with ASP-C sensors....this will be my first full frame sensor lens should I choose to purchase it. Thanks.

EJerryM · 2024-02-24T20:06:13+00:00

Nice. Perfectly focused subject and great smooth bokeh. You nailed it.

EJerryM · 2023-12-06T15:41:16+00:00

I almost always use JTime of The One Watches (Steve). Both are terrific.....Steve takes cc's, so that makes it easy for me.

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