Okay, so, let’s talk about this Rolex GMT-Master II, the left-handed version. You know, the one with the crown on the wrong side? Yeah, that one. I’ve been messing around with trying to find a decent, let’s say, “tribute” to this watch for a while now. It’s a cool piece, kind of different, you know? And the real deal? Forget about it, way too pricey.
So, I started digging. First, I hit up some forums, reading what other folks were saying. Found out that apparently the Noob factory, which I guess was like the gold standard for these things, is gone. Kaput. Disappeared. Bummer, right? But I found a few other names being thrown around, like Clean Factory, and some others. I mean the name Clean Factory is a bit funny, right?
Then I started looking at what’s actually available. There are so many versions of this GMT-Master II. You’ve got the “Pepsi” with the red and blue, the “Coke” with the red and black, and even a “Rootbeer” one. And don’t get me started on the all-black ones. I even saw this crazy one that looked like a Sprite bottle. It was a hard choice. To be honest, I’m a sucker for the classics, but that green and black bezel on the lefty, it’s just so unique.
I spent hours, and I mean hours, comparing pictures, reading reviews, trying to figure out which factory was making the best version. It’s like, you look at one picture and it looks amazing, then you see another and it’s like, “Wait, is that the same watch?” Some of them have these tiny little details that are off, like the font on the bezel or the way the date window looks. It’s a minefield, I’m telling you. I mean, how much do you want to bet on a replica, right?
Anyway, after all that, I finally pulled the trigger. I decided to go with this one from Clean Factory. I figured, hey, it had the best reviews, most people seemed happy, so why not? It was still a bit of a gamble, but I thought, you know, it’s worth a shot. I mean, I am not going to the AD and spend the crazy markup.
Now, I’m just waiting for it to arrive. It’s like Christmas morning, but for adults who are obsessed with watches that they can’t really afford. I’ll let you guys know how it goes when I get it. Fingers crossed it’s as good as it looks in the pictures! Wish me luck, guys, I really hope this turns out okay. I’m not expecting a miracle here, just something that looks good on my wrist and doesn’t fall apart the first time I wear it. I really want to wear it out to show my friends. Hopefully I won’t get called out.
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