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Airking dial authentication please

  1. JwRosenthal Aug 19, 2019

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    Hey Guys,

    Thinking of changing out the dial on my 14000 Airking as I find the silver on silver near impossible to see in lower light (aging eyes) and selling mine and hunting down a black one is far more hassle than just swapping the dial out.
    Wondering if you guys could verify is this is authentic or not. Seller has tons of positive feedback so that’s a good start.

    https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/383093146922

    076B0D7E-07D8-4F6A-8F56-7140430D3098.jpeg 87B487A9-1AB9-4ECD-B52E-0E22AABE0B46.jpeg CA73E2D8-F988-432B-BA9A-D1B2541937FA.jpeg CF59590F-A2E0-4BB9-A952-39691E8A0D6F.jpeg
     
  2. wsfarrell Aug 19, 2019

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    Looks good.
     
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  3. Uniqez Aug 19, 2019

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    Is the middle of the coronet a bit off or it is an optical illusion?
     
  4. JwRosenthal Aug 19, 2019

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    This is why I ask here!! Keener eyes than I. I have read in other threads here that they are hand applied and sometimes can be a hair off- higher or lower but not sure about crooked.
    Anyone?
     
  5. S.H. Aug 19, 2019

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    A bigger version of this picture could be useful :
    [​IMG]

    To repaint the dial, the indexes would have to be removed, and put back again. Impossible to do without leaving marks. Here, I'm not sure.

    Also, not 100% sure about the lume plots.
     
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  6. jimmyjay Aug 19, 2019

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    I held the screen 30cm away, shrunk the image to equal the diameter of the dial and couldn’t see the flaw.
     
  7. Uniqez Aug 19, 2019

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    What about now?
    upload_2019-8-19_15-42-51.png

    upload_2019-8-19_15-43-22.png
     
  8. 89-0 Aug 19, 2019

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  9. JwRosenthal Aug 19, 2019

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    Here are a few comparison images from two other dials, one currently listed (but not nearly as clean) and another finished auction-both state genuine Rolex. The finished back on the above is what has me scratching my head as it’s not like the others.
    I would love it to be the real deal as it’s so clean and it comes with hands, but obviously I wouldn’t have posted it here if I weren’t sure.
    03F7A2A9-1A64-41C1-B00C-1FAAB42D0E8B.jpeg 07A5C5BB-66A7-4381-875A-BBC4FC1D902B.jpeg 5216A3CF-0DD1-49EB-BA36-5828DD96AD81.jpeg E5687DD3-51C0-4FA9-A56E-70627ABA2854.jpeg E4AC9B90-4CEA-4D61-8459-04933DEA2FE4.jpeg 32629ABB-9E16-449D-889E-72474D4DF66B.jpeg B67B9798-DDF2-4E00-9A30-DA898609BB3F.jpeg 453D70CA-8BC5-4DE1-B13C-544E34B2C5A0.jpeg 5B876FB0-FE4F-4228-9F46-C1FD9048F666.jpeg
     
  10. JwRosenthal Aug 19, 2019

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    And one other thing I am noticing, the coronet on the one in question seems very flat whereas the other two seem more rounded.
    But that may be me just trying to see problems now.
     
  11. jimmyjay Aug 19, 2019

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  12. ICONO Aug 19, 2019

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    The ‘T Swiss Made T’ aligns differently, on the proffered dial

    Personally, I would not endorse that dial as authentic
     
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  13. wsfarrell Aug 19, 2019

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    Still looks good to me. I think any differences between dial 1 vs. 2 and 3 above are attributable to different dial makers--and dial 1 seems of much higher quality. These lume pips are really hard to reproduce, and they're absolutely perfect on dial 1. Same with the painted indices--they're often irregularly spaced on redials; perfect on dial 1. Hands also appear to be original and pristine. And, as noted, seller has great feedback and offers 30-day returns. No-brainer.
     
  14. ICONO Aug 19, 2019

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    This discussion is like trying to get, two light meters to agree…

    You have to choose one, or the other…and live with that decision

    The one consistency I have learned, collecting Rolex…is that the smallest difference / variation, from the norm…is usually a big deal
     
  15. JwRosenthal Aug 19, 2019

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    So, looking closely again- there seems to also be differences in the text- the one I linked above has serifs on the letters and the ones from the other auctions and from the screen shot from Bob’s I am posting below don’t....hmmm

    Bob’s screenshot
    51CAF1B1-5906-45CF-B182-851BE3B8A96A.png
    eBay dial
    3EBDD3E8-6886-488E-BF56-4708DA958E93.png
     
  16. JwRosenthal Aug 19, 2019

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    And I agree with you, it’s seemingly perfect. If it’s a fake it’s an excellent one- the sunburst on the dial is excellent and the lume pips and minute track are perfect. This is a tough one as I don’t want a fake, and shipping it back to AU is a pain despite the 30 day return. I know to some it’s only $400 so doesn’t seem like much of a deal but it’s the principle of doing my due diligence.
     
  17. JwRosenthal Aug 19, 2019

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    And I totally get the light meter analogy, but that’s assuming we are talking about two genuine dials with slightly different variations- which does happen as has been discussed many times. If it’s just a different version then I’m fine- but a fake is a fake.
     
  18. JwRosenthal Aug 19, 2019

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    Not trying to split hairs here-the 14000 had a long run so I’m sure there were variations. Just want someone who has has taken these things apart to see the serif text and the back and say- that’s totally a fake, or yeah, that’s the real deal.