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Old 12 September 2016, 08:36 AM   #1
Snow-Dweller
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The BLRO - Six months in

Buying a precious metal Rolex was a major purchase for me. I wanted to be as sure as possible that I was doing the right thing and wouldn't be flipping it for a huge loss further down the road. The BLRO had been on my radar since it first came out (thank you Dr. Tom) but at the time I was more interested in quantity than quality. My collection had slowly grown to six Rolex before I decided this was too many. Three were sold and became two APs....which I loved until the honeymoon was over. A year ago I saw the writing on the wall...the two APs would eventually become my Pepsi.

I had owned a BLNR for a while a couple of years ago. I had it for long enough to know that I loved the complication, the case, and the ceramic bezel. The watch was sold when I realised that I really didn't like that blue. Last September I bought an LN with the express purpose of making sure the BLRO was right for me. It worked.

I have now owned the 116719 BLRO for six months....

The white gold constantly and consistently makes me go "wow". I remember the moment when "I got it". I was at an AD trying on a BLRO for the umpteenth time when I took it out into natural daylight. Next to my stainless steel LN the white gold had a warm tone, and ironically looked less blingy to me. To put it another way, I find the WG to be like warm light, and the SS to be more like cold light.

I absolutely adore the weight. I had read many times here on TRF that the heft makes it more important to have a good fit. I would take it one step further.... I have found that I wear the WG slightly tighter than the SS model, and use the easylink extension a little less. The weight of the bracelet makes the entire watch feel better balanced to me than the SS.

I find the reports of white gold being as "soft as butter" to be laughable. I generally take care of whatever watch I'm wearing, and to me Rolex's WG is not noticeably more fragile than steel.

I am a lover of the ceramic bezels in general, and of the GMTc bezel in particular. Whilst the blue and red of the Pepsi has always held a sense of nostalgia for me, I was slightly wary of the "purple and cranberry". This has gradually changed (even if the red does not IMHO look at its best in bright sunlight) and in most lighting conditions the BLRO's bezel puts a smile on my face.

Note to Rolex: it's easy to understand why you don't want people dressing-up their SS GMTc to look like a WG model....but what about the other way around? Surely I have spent enough to be able to "dress-down" to a black bezel if I want to, so how about a changeable bezel system on pm models?

We all know that the 3186 is a solid movement, and mine consistently loses 2 seconds per day (which is ok). My one, however, is not easy to stop to set the time. I find it difficult to pull the crown out to its second stop. It usually takes a number of tries (read minutes) to get it stopped. Not serious enough to send it to RSC....but irksome....especially because the same movement in my SS model works perfectly smoothly (and keeps better time as well).

Within a week or two of getting the BLRO I took a conscious decision not to "baby" it. On hindsight this was a very good decision, and has contributed greatly to my enjoyment of the watch. In six months there have only been a handful of days when I have not worn this piece. It has absolutely become my daily wear....I love it.

The downside: I've basically worn the BLRO for six months solid (it might as well have been my only watch). I can see more consolidation of my collection in the future....maybe flip two for another pm piece.....but which ones, and for what? What wonderful problems to have!
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Old 12 September 2016, 08:44 AM   #2
BigAl72
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That's one drop dead gorgeous watch. Someday I will have one. Hopefully before I am 50. Congratulations and Google luck with her. A real beauty.
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Old 12 September 2016, 08:54 AM   #3
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Still looks great!


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Old 12 September 2016, 09:30 AM   #4
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A gorgeous watch. If I ever sell my Platona, it is the one watch I'd buy.
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Old 12 September 2016, 11:39 AM   #5
Vinyasa
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Excellent review/update, thanks for sharing! I'm still enjoying the honeymoon with my BLNR, but if I opt to move to PM in the future, the BLRO will be the one I purchase.
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Old 12 September 2016, 11:58 AM   #6
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Very nice progress report and glad to hear that you are enjoying it as much as expected. The BLRO is at the top of my PM wish list, but that won't be for a few more years
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Old 12 September 2016, 01:55 PM   #7
Droolex
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Great write up! Enjoy it in good health.
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Old 12 September 2016, 02:49 PM   #8
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great write-up! that pepsi ceramic is gorgeous!
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Old 12 September 2016, 06:14 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigAl72 View Post
That's one drop dead gorgeous watch. Someday I will have one. Hopefully before I am 50. Congratulations and Google luck with her. A real beauty.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WhatTheDeuce View Post
Still looks great!


Sent from half way through the Kessel Run using Tapatalk
Quote:
Originally Posted by locutus49 View Post
A gorgeous watch. If I ever sell my Platona, it is the one watch I'd buy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinyasa View Post
Excellent review/update, thanks for sharing! I'm still enjoying the honeymoon with my BLNR, but if I opt to move to PM in the future, the BLRO will be the one I purchase.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deyj28 View Post
Very nice progress report and glad to hear that you are enjoying it as much as expected. The BLRO is at the top of my PM wish list, but that won't be for a few more years
Quote:
Originally Posted by Droolex View Post
Great write up! Enjoy it in good health.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sinncollector View Post
great write-up! that pepsi ceramic is gorgeous!
Thanks guys.
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Old 12 September 2016, 08:53 PM   #10
1William
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Nice write up. I have always like the watch, it is good to hear from an owner.
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Old 12 September 2016, 08:57 PM   #11
brandrea
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Fantastic review Clive! Great choice and I'm pleased to hear you're still loving it!
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Old 12 September 2016, 11:25 PM   #12
Snow-Dweller
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Nice write up. I have always like the watch, it is good to hear from an owner.
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Fantastic review Clive! Great choice and I'm pleased to hear you're still loving it!
Thanks gentlemen.
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Old 12 September 2016, 11:40 PM   #13
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always so great to read about "watch happiness". thanks for the update.
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Old 13 September 2016, 12:47 AM   #14
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a lovely review
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Old 13 September 2016, 05:49 AM   #15
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always so great to read about "watch happiness". thanks for the update.
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a lovely review
Thank you....and yes, I'm delighted to say that it is case of "watch happiness".
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Old 13 September 2016, 08:14 AM   #16
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Great pic and story Clive and I know this is the piece for you. I just went the other way and sold my YG GMT for an AP. Hope to add back the SS next year tho. Which PMs are top of your list?
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Old 13 September 2016, 08:59 AM   #17
brmeyers
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Nice review, thanks for sharing...
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Old 13 September 2016, 09:06 AM   #18
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Cool info - I have yet to try a modern GMT as I'm not a fan of the Blue/Black and I already have a Sub ND so didnt want the LN GMT. This one would be the one I would get if I ever add a GMT

I found this quote interesting

"Next to my stainless steel LN the white gold had a warm tone, and ironically looked less blingy to me"
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Old 13 September 2016, 09:53 AM   #19
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Great pic and story Clive and I know this is the piece for you. I just went the other way and sold my YG GMT for an AP. Hope to add back the SS next year tho. Which PMs are top of your list?
Thank you Neil. I'm really not sure. I suppose it's a good thing (but probably against TRF rules) that there is no particular watch that I feel I desperately need to have at the moment.

I do think the new ceramic Daytona looks great in white....but I doubt it would get wrist time. I like the idea of a DD40 in WG or PT, but (how dare I) I've gone off of the president bracelet. Apart from anything else, I refuse the idea of buying any watch that does not have an easylink extension or equivalent.

So I sit here, very content with the BLRO for now.

Have a good evening...
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Old 13 September 2016, 10:58 PM   #20
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Maybe a WG DaytonaC comes out in Basel, could be the one for you.
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Old 27 September 2016, 01:37 PM   #21
Eric Chan
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Great review of an amazing reference. Thank you for sharing.

If I were ever on the market for a WG watch, the BLRO would be one of two I would consider. The Day-Date would be the other.

As a fan of Rolex, I am just happy they were able to bring back the classic red and blue bezel.
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Old 27 September 2016, 10:09 PM   #22
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Very nice review...I agree with everything said
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Old 30 September 2016, 02:01 AM   #23
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Nice review!
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Old 22 October 2016, 03:02 PM   #24
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You are right. I had the BLRO and BLNR on my wrist at different times. The BLRO looks much warmer and better than the cold and clinical BLNR. Yep...after trying the BLRO, I thought the BLNR would do it for me. It didn't.
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Old 30 October 2016, 08:49 PM   #25
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Nice review, thanks
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Old 31 October 2016, 12:26 AM   #26
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A great read. Yes sir, definitely a good problem to have!
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Old 13 November 2016, 01:42 PM   #27
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Great review, thanks!
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Old 4 December 2016, 05:17 PM   #28
AntonL
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Great to hear your thoughts on the BLRO. I have the LN and love the GMT function and use it almost everyday (I have family in London). Such a versatile watch with the black bezel. For weekends and more casual occasions I have my eyes on a Pepsi 16710.

I have read that the parachrom bleu movements speed up over time. Will be interesting to see if your watch does the same. Wear in good health!
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Old 30 December 2016, 08:59 PM   #29
R. Francis
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I enjoyed your review and your watch is stunning! Having that as a daily wear would be such a pleasure.
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Old 31 December 2016, 11:42 PM   #30
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Great review, thanks for sharing
Happy Days
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