You see a lot of talk, right? Like that VSF/XF Sea Dweller thread – it’s always a hotspot. People are dissecting QC pics, arguing about bezel alignment down to the micron, and generally just going nuts over these things. And then you get the ARF V4 DeepSea 2020 – another contender in the ring. But where does the “red” come in?
The single red Sea-Dweller is like, THE holy grail, yeah? I saw one guy saying he was buying gen parts off eBay to mod his TRC-sourced red Sea-Dweller. That’s dedication, man! That’s going down the rabbit hole. My personal opinion? That’s probably way too much effort and money, but hey, to each their own. I’d rather just buy a good replica and call it a day. Cheaper, less hassle, y’know?
And then there’s the whole “best SD43 right now” debate. Which, let’s be honest, it’s like asking which pizza topping is best. Everyone’s got an opinion. But the *real* question, if you’re looking at vintage, is authenticity. That’s where it gets scary.
The thread about making sure a DRSD is completely authentic… Yikes. That’s a minefield! No provenance? Forget about it. Unless you’re a literal expert (and most of us aren’t!), you’re basically rolling the dice. I mean, what’s even “perfect” anyway? There isn’t, is there? I’m not an expert, just a dude who spends too much time on these forums.
Then you get the hype trains, like that Clean 126600 Sea-Dweller July 2024 release. Everyone jumps on board, claiming it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Is it? Maybe. Are they all just saying that because it’s the new hotness? Probably. You really gotta do your own research, dig through the BS, and figure out what *you* want.
I saw a post that was just a dude talking about his experience with Andrew (a TD, I assume) and how Andrew helped him pick a rep watch. Starting small, starting with the replica. I think that’s a good idea. Don’t jump in the deep end immediately and start obsessing about gen parts. Just… start. Get something you like, wear it, and see where it takes you. It’s all supposed to be fun, after all.
