GMT Meteorite

[Rolex1982]

Thnx for all the replies. Of course I enjoy the watch. It’s my daily. :) I just wanted to know if it was common. After the replies and youtube video’s here i can see now that it is. And yes, using a loupe to find flaws takes away from the pleasure of the watch but i use a loupe to judge condition if i buy a second hand watch or to look closely at the meteorite dial. People who have this dail know how beautifull it looks.

[Rolex1982]

Originally Posted by binArt

It could be distortion in the photo, but it looks like the printing is uneven on the minute track.

Don’t exactly know what you mean but the photo i posted in the opening post isn’t from my watch but from a newsitem on a Rolex AD site. This just showed what i saw when i louped my watch.

[ratty]

Originally Posted by Rolex1982

Hi all,

I couldn't care less about the paint, what a lovely photo!

[Tach24LMS]

This is really common on GMT hands, and the first thing I look for when looking to get a non-AD watch.

There is a video out there of 2 guys putting several watches under a microscope routed through the monitor. And that’s the first thing they looked for on the GMT. Starts at 3:42 for that part

https://youtu.be/hKrJOMaFuyA

[ratty]

Originally Posted by ltmgeller

The poorer my vision gets the more I love my watches.

Unfortunately, I totally agree.

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by Rolex1982

Hi all,

I was looking at my GMT meteorite with a loop and noticed that the red paint wasn’t nice and straight at the end of the GMT hand stick. First i found this really weird so i started looking at pictures from watches for sale on chrono24 and also on pictures from AD. This one from Petite Geneve shows exactly what i mean. Is this common with the GMT hand? More people noticed this? I didn’t see it on my batman. I thought Rolex was known for it’s perfectness and finishes.

This is completely normal. Don't stress about it. I've owned 4 Rolex GMT models and all had this region where the paint stops like yours.

[AllGoldRollie]

Originally Posted by Rolex1982

Thnx for the replies and the YT link. Confirmed my suspicions.

And to the negative persons. Definitely didn’t expect those negative reactions. Sorry for being a detailled person. Just asking a question. I thought it was a community here where you can ask questions and share experiences. Not all people are equal so different people notice different things. :)

Take the good and leave the bad. Just ignore the negative comments. Some people have nothing better to do than make snide comments on the internet.

That’s a beautiful watch. I love the white gold and meteorite dial. Personally, if I saw that paint job it would bug me, but it wouldn’t kill my appreciation for the watch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by Rolex1982

Thnx for the replies and the YT link. Confirmed my suspicions.

And to the negative persons. Definitely didn’t expect those negative reactions. Sorry for being a detailled person. Just asking a question. I thought it was a community here where you can ask questions and share experiences. Not all people are equal so different people notice different things. :)

With your attention to detail and budget you should check out Lange, Vacheron, AP etc for high finish quality.

I give Rolex a pass. It's a marketing company that makes a rugged and beautiful watch but it isn't made for loupe perfection.

[RDT-G23]

Just enjoy it! Mine is my favorite piece!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CK19]

Awesome photos, incredible reference

[GradyPhilpott]

[2loaded]

Originally Posted by binArt

It could be distortion in the photo, but it looks like the printing is uneven on the minute track.

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by binArt

It could be distortion in the photo, but it looks like the printing is uneven on the minute track.

Meteorite is not an even surface for printing.

[MrMercedes]

If you want a perfect watch, don´t buy a Rolex!

[Boopie]

Originally Posted by Rolex1982

Thnx for the replies and the YT link. Confirmed my suspicions.

And to the negative persons. Definitely didn’t expect those negative reactions. Sorry for being a detailled person. Just asking a question. I thought it was a community here where you can ask questions and share experiences. Not all people are equal so different people notice different things. :)

This is a community for open, friendly discussion. Few people agree on everything, but when people express differing views (especially when a thread specifically solicits opinions), it’s not right to then personally attack those who disagree with you.

You created a thread asking for opinions. You also expressed an opinion about Rolex “perfectness” that isn’t shared by many here. People responded with their opinions, which you solicited.

Labeling people here who disagree with you as “negative persons” is a personal attack. If you did not want to hear any contrary opinions, why did you create the thread? What were your expectations? That everyone here say, “You’re right, Rolex is supposed to be perfect, your watch is unacceptable, and you should immediately take your watch back”?

I’ve owned and worn Rolex for over 20 years. I don’t think the brand has perfect finishing, or is the finest in the watch industry, but I do tremendously enjoy owning and wearing my watches. Now you know that other TRFers don’t believe the “perfect” finishing assumption, either. Why does that make us “negative persons”?

That being said, there have been many, many threads here over the years involving quality control and finishing issues. Sometimes, the consensus here is that the flaws and defects at issue are, in fact, unacceptable and warrant a return. This is why it’s important to have a robust discussion here.

This is also why I read your thread, to see where the consensus here went. I do like reading threads about potential quality control issues, and am curious to see what this enthusiast community thinks about Rolex quality control and finishing in any particular circumstance. I was, frankly, surprised to see your attack on fellow TRFers, whose opinions I find to be valuable and done in the good spirit of friendly discussion.

This resort to personal attacks is, unfortunately, reflective of social media elsewhere. The ability to have discussion here is why TRF is such a great resource. We are all free to disagree with each other’s opinions, respectfully, in a non personal way. For the most part, we do that. If someone doesn’t want to hear any contrary opinions, then don’t create a thread asking for opinions.

[Randy9999]

Here's what I want to know. If certain aspects of Rolex watches look horrific under 200x magnification, what happens if we bump it up to 1000x magnification? How disgusting will a Rolex look then? Will we want to vomit?

[Rolex1982]

Originally Posted by Boopie

Labeling people here who disagree with you as “negative persons” is a personal attack. If you did not want to hear any contrary opinions, why did you create the thread? What were your expectations? That everyone here say, “You’re right, Rolex is supposed to be perfect, your watch is unacceptable, and you should immediately take your watch back”?

First of all, you are absolutly right that personal attacks are not done. If i offended people with my reactions than of course i’m sorry. I also welcome different views on the matter. My reaction towards the negativity involved posts 8 and 10. In my opinion they did not contribute to the subject.

People who say Rolex is not known for its quality contribute to the subject so i did not mean those type of reactions. Also the people who say that i should leave the loupe in the drawer i can understand. I don’t agree with the loupe in the drawer point of view because i like looking at details. And i just noticed this and decided to open a topic about it. Just to see what other people think of this.

But on topic, i had many different rolexes and use to look at some of them with a loupe. I like looking at the special beautifull dials. I always found the finishing on a Rolex very nice. The hands are normally very nice. Of course i do not look at my watches with 200x magnification. My loupe does not magnify that much. Also it is not that i feel any different about my GMT, i just never seen this kind of finishing on my batman GMT hand so i started this topic. After the responses here with references to video’s i found more topics on the matter and i see that this is a more common topic. That is the beauty of a community. Next time i hope i can help someone with a discussion.

[Filipão]

OP, it will get worse (corroded) in about 50 years...

[milgauss2232]

My Batman’s gmt hand is like that too

[MRBolton]

Originally Posted by Filipão

OP, it will get worse (corroded) in about 50 years...

It won’t since it’s not tritium or hands made of steel I thought.

[MRBolton]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Bad painted hands are pretty normal.

What is going on here…

[mykii]

lol @ rolex known for perfectness and finish. This isn't high-end horology...It's a consumer product for the masses - good daily's and beaters.

[dlrolex]

Should have ordered a grand seiko

[samuel019]

Well you could go the RB route and have all gold for the GMT hand

But my 570 isn’t exactly perfect

Pretty sure it’s like work. Some days are better than others at the ol Rolex hand painting dept

I’m more mesmerized by how beautiful the dial is. I could live with the hand as is no problem if I were able to ever get “that” call.

[Bladeshot]

I hike my AD can get me one! Love it!

[Darcey]

I have a GMT and I suspect that the 24 hour hand was never intended to be viewed through a loupe.

[HogwldFLTR]

"This is the loop police; put down the loop and return the watch to the wrist." FWIW, I'm a professional metrologist. Nothing is perfect under magnification. It all depends on how closely you look.

[travisb]

Originally Posted by Brian Page

Put away the loupe

Sent from my SM-S908U1 using Tapatalk

Exactly

[1William]

Beautiful watch.

[gr33n]

Yes, the paint transitions are not always perfect on GMT painted hands. So pretty normal :)
This is machine painting, I suppose, and paint is always a challenge, because it is variable in consistency, it is applied on polished gold... The more you will age, the less you will see it ;)