Thanks for the video Austin! I am “D”. I really appreciate your insight. Totally agree that modding a Rolex is a little out there…. but I couldn’t help but wonder if it was possible. Maybe one day Rolex will return to their roots with a brushed bracelet GMT. To those other GMT lovers out there, once you experience glide-lock, you will be forever changed!
@watchsymposium4 ай бұрын
The man himself! Thanks again for the question, and glad you liked the video - the comments are the icing on the cake, as it's a pretty polarizing topic!
@nonrevguy4 ай бұрын
Austin, I’m glad that you can engage with non-purist discussions. As I’m a purist, this was a challenging video for me, but I enjoyed that you shared your learnings and perspectives with your viewers. You are the definitive trusted Rolex (GMT) advisor!
@watchsymposium4 ай бұрын
Much appreciated - thank you for watching!
@BAF6054 ай бұрын
Austin (as usual) finds the best way. Keep original parts and buy parts for any changes. Do nothing that would prevent getting the watch back to original state.
@JCW802 ай бұрын
I like the ceramic GMTs… except for the polished center links (PCLs); too much bling. I have had this bracelet swap idea in mind for years. Good to know which bracelet reference would work for that. Swapping the bracelet is as far as I would go, but I don’t really think of that as “modding” since it’s so easy to do and undo.
@OFD4 ай бұрын
Nice of you to try to make sense of something a bit crazy. Honestly, I don't get it at all.
@Hrodriv94874 ай бұрын
I would never do it, especially on a luxury watch….with that said he can do whatever he wishes because it will make him happy looking down on it. There’s no better feeling. Do what your heart tells you to do my friend, you will wear it, not us. Enjoy of you proceed with it 🙌🏼
@jonbravo62624 ай бұрын
Great navigation of specs, and thinking of the future to return to factory state! I custom / mod my personal builds similar to these questions , but I don’t mess with my RLX other than swap straps. This Gentleman definitely needs a friendly watchmaker
@byergo4 ай бұрын
Some great advice is: leave your Rolex exactly as it came from the factory and enjoy it!
@vishnupersaud9864 ай бұрын
I am all for it. If I have the money, I would definitely customize a ceramic GMT. But that would need to be like my fifth Rolex. I would make the Sprite that never came out. Half green half yellow with a green and yellow GMT hand.
@tombyl23864 ай бұрын
Great video Austin, I’m a purist so I keep mine as Rolex intended
@jdwxflyer4 ай бұрын
Buy a Seiko and go to town! It’s slightly nuts to dork up a 116710LN. Just MHO though.
@ahsan1014 ай бұрын
Brushed bracelet would look nicer on that model
@ItsTimePictures4 ай бұрын
A Batman purchased at retail as a first Rolex is pretty cool, and impossible today. He got in at the right time. Clearly he has money and one can do whatever one wants with it, but customizing a Rolex? I don’t know. What I do know is that a lot of people mod their Omega Seamaster 300’s and Planet Oceans with fairly neat results. I modded my Planet Ocean’s bracelet (greatly improving how it wears)… But modding a watch that can be had used for under 4k (PO) or under 3k (SM300 pro) just feels far more logical than messing with a Rolex north of 10 grand.
@chiguyxi89924 ай бұрын
I would not make the mods…. Have you considered the Tudor Black Bay Pro? Seems like it would generally give you what you want: GMT Function, Brushed bracelet and no cyclops. Good luck with your quest.
@ddaley874 ай бұрын
Explorer 2 40 mm and black bay pro scratch the itch for me. But I love the rotating bezel. Allows me to properly track multiple zones easily.
@watchman88174 ай бұрын
I get what the viewer wants. He’s trying to create the “perfect watch” for him! I have often thought the perfect watch for me would be a 39mm OP but with a date window and cyclops! So my thoughts had me brushing a Datejust oyster bracelet and polished surfaces on the case. I laughingly told my AD salesperson that I was going to do it and she was HORRIFIED!! LOL. I never did it, but if Rolex ever puts a date on an OP or Explorer, then I’m buying!! So I get it! He wants PERFECTION. But I think the lesson is that you will never find the perfect watch!!! Once you deface your 116710LN my guess is it will somehow miss the mark. We are a weird bunch. We dream of things that should be built and sometimes we get very close but we never get there! Maybe that’s why people become watch designers.
@watchsymposium4 ай бұрын
"I laughingly told my AD salesperson that I was going to do it and she was HORRIFIED!!" That's hilarious! I completely understand her reaction, yet also get how bizarre the mindset of a staunch purist must be to someone not into Rolex. It's like oysters (the shellfish, not the bracelet!): I love them, but can totally understand the people who think they are disgusting...because they are!...Yet, they're great! "Once you deface your 116710LN my guess is it will somehow miss the mark." I think this could very well happen!
@watchman88174 ай бұрын
@@watchsymposium it’s like an asymptote! You can get very close but never quite make it. LOL.
@structurescience4 ай бұрын
Don't even want a non-Rolex strap on my Daytona anymore..
@watchsymposium4 ай бұрын
I feel the same way. I messed around with NATO straps for a while, but it must have been a phase, because I have zero interest in them these days.
@shaunwilliams71233 ай бұрын
Hi Austin great video. Talking about customization I wonder if the Jubilee bracelet on the new 126710GRNR would fit the 116710LN? That's something I'd consider. And why Rolex didn't put green txt on the Sprite dial, too much green? That bezel would look great on a 116710LN.
@watchsymposium3 ай бұрын
Hi Shaun - thanks for watching! From what I understand, the 126710 bracelets won't fit on the 116710 because they changed the position of the lug holes. And the likely reason of that is so you can't make a 116710BLNR (which only ever came on an Oyster bracelet) look like a 126710BLNR by putting it on a Jubilee bracelet.
@shaunwilliams71233 ай бұрын
@@watchsymposium thanks Austin 👍
@timeisahumanconstruct92513 ай бұрын
i'm a big fan of modding watches. it's just a watch and watches are meant to be fun.
@watchsymposium3 ай бұрын
Sure, just as long as you know what it does to the value of a Rolex.
@timeisahumanconstruct92513 ай бұрын
@@watchsymposium Value is moot if you never sell...I understand that most people have to eventually sell. Just keep all the OEM parts and reinstall or send it in for a service to restore it to their original settings. At the end of the day modders generally prefer customization over maximum resale value.
@2GoodLookin4 ай бұрын
Are those display case backs made by Rolex? Where can I get them if and when I ever get a Rolex GMT. One of the main reasons I never bought a Rolex (kicking myself) is because they never had a display case back in the models I like.
@omar102132454 ай бұрын
yeah, but the whole point for a display caseback is to look at a beautifully-finished movement, and as great as Rolex's movements are, they are definitely NOT beautiful, lol. there's no point in having a display on the back of a rolex.
@2GoodLookin4 ай бұрын
@@omar10213245 Well for you maybe but I actually like watching all the moving parts of a watch.
@omar102132454 ай бұрын
yeah, if my recommendation counts for anything, I say don't change ANYTHING when it comes to a Rolex.
@aidanloughlin45014 ай бұрын
Hey Austin, great video as always. Could you advise me on the price of a Rolex explorer 1 39mm in Japan currently. I’m hoping to purchase one in August for my 30th Birthday.
@micaljimenez73814 ай бұрын
For me change parts of a watch its realy unecesary,and could be negative for selling it later...but everybody do whats he wants
@coreyasherman4 ай бұрын
I'm going to Nakano tomorrow. Would you like to join? Which stores you recommend?
@watchsymposium4 ай бұрын
Hi Corey, I can't tomorrow - I'm sorry about that. I actually just noticed your email from awhile back last night! But, I'm busy with work and family stuff the whole time you're here, so sorry I couldn't work out a watch hunt with you! But, be sure to hit the 3rd floor of Nakano Broadway. I always go for the piece over any particular shop. That's why I recommend targeting a specific model, hitting all the stores, and comparing.
@coreyasherman4 ай бұрын
@@watchsymposium Awesome Austin! Thank you for the reply.
@ForbinColossus4 ай бұрын
116710LN is perfect as is. My god, buy a seiko and experiment on a 300 dollar watch if you insist on heating and scraping cyclops
@alohaguchis4 ай бұрын
Will I See you next week in Tokyo?
@albertmeyer89834 ай бұрын
Are you on drugs? Never NEVER change a Rolex!
@PabIoMexican4 ай бұрын
I buy replica bracelets and put it on my gen rolex, then I dont worry about scratches on the gen bracelet.
@ol63094 ай бұрын
I think that would absolutely ridiculous, he should sell his Rolex and go buy Seiko’s he can mod
@andrewlogan95564 ай бұрын
Dont mod a watch in a way it cant be restored to all original condition
@jackflowers9994 ай бұрын
just make a sprite leftie
@greatchalla37994 ай бұрын
I think he should buy, a nice pair of false glasses and big nose and attached moustache. See if they’ll through in a hat with three 🔔…..😂😂😂.
@Stoneitful4 ай бұрын
buy a clone bracelet. buy a clone watch then tear it all up
@DennisC_X4 ай бұрын
First!
@philiphurbauchs204 ай бұрын
The guy wants a gmt to remember is family and he likes the adjustability of the glide lock. He doesn't want the thickness of the sea dweller or the cyclopse. The cyclopse is ridiculous to put on every watch just because Hans' woman couldn't read the date on her tiny watch. We aren't in a cult and you saying "that's not what we do"" is weird. This is buried in you video, but it's kinda telling as to Psychologically what's going on with you. haha. half joke half true
@sammirr874 ай бұрын
Hi Austin, is there an email I can contact you with? I couldn't find it on your about section.