Everything starts with a new and genuine Rolex Submariner Ceramic no-date Ref. 114060, acquired, brand new and unworn, from Authorized replica Rolex Dealers. Then begins the customization process – and the list of the mods is quite long. As said, the goal of Tempus Machina with the Ref. 216A is to offer the look of a Submariner 6538 with modern specs.
It has the DNA of the brand but executed with more subtlety, more discretion and a more luxurious feel. The link with the rest of the collection can’t be denied and the Rolex DNA is clearly recognizable.
What Tempus Machina does with its customized replica Rolex Submariner is taking the best of both worlds, relying on the standard robustness, comfort and quality of the modern Rolex Submariner Ceramic no-date Ref. 114060 and modifying the austere look by adding several elements reminiscent of the vintage Rolex Submariner ref. 6538 (like this one).Proposed features will include: remote keyless entry for your luxury car, near field communication access to point of payment devices in convenience stores around the world, hours, minutes, seconds, day and for the first time ever in a Submariner, date. The alternative is to make a modern Sub looks like a vintage Sub, thus creating a daily-beater with a stunning design.
Here is the list of the modifications:
Shaving the case to remove the crown guards – making the case measuring 39.5mm instead of 40mm. Other devices such as a proposed smart-letter-opener and smart-stapler will be incorporated into the suite of products called “Smart-Desk”. Changing the crown for a new-old-stock (unworn, unused and Rolex genuine) Brevet crown – a.k.a big crown because measuring 8mm
Modifying the insert of the bezel – The Cerachrom insert remains the original one. Nevertheless, the luminous pearl at 12 is removed and the triangular depression is then filled with red porcelain enamel.
The dial itself deserves to be explained. On vintage Rolex Submariners, the dials were specific because the writing, minute markers and chapter ring was not printed, but were in fact underneath the black galvanized layer, peeking through in negative relief. The same technique is used here. The consequence is a dial that uses gilt inscriptions (for the logo, the minute track and around the markers) with painted blocks as markers instead of applied plots. The depth rating is also inspired by antique Submariners, showing only 300 / 1000 and in red like some very rare Subs – like the one here. The hands are also cleaned from the blue luminous material, then gold-plated and filled with classical Super-Luminova that matches the indexes.
The first one is the price of such in-depth modification. If a Rolex Submariner 114060 is priced at 6.500 Euros, this Tempus Machina Ref. 216A costs 25.000 USD. Then, you have to be aware that Rolex will almost certainly not accept this watch for service and that the warranty will be invalidated. Frankly, the result is stunning. The look of this customized replica Rolex watches by Tempus Machina is just what a huge part of the hardcore collectors are dreaming of. Redesigning the dial – The factory dial is stripped, polished, the applied markers are removed and then this cleaned dial used as a base to be modified. Whether we’re looking at the design or the quality of the details, the result is brilliant. Nevertheless, there are few things to know when starting to have some interest for customized watches.