Got the email, picking up my first Rolex tomorrow from AD

[904VT]

Congrats! Great first Rolex for sure

[Odie-r]

Lucky day! Congrats!

[Saaci]

Always nice to hear a positive experience story!


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[Wristwatcherboy]

Thanks for your advice above. Yes hopefully this will mean I can start building a relationship with the AD, and I will definitely wear my SD43 when I pop in. My budget can only afford me one watch a year, but I will definitely be buying from this small AD for the foreseeable future and will be avoiding all the big national/international chains which laughed me out of store. Many thanks for all your comments, will post photos when I get it!

[datejustrms]

Congratulations on getting your first Rolex!

[Wristwatcherboy]

Have collected it and is on my wrist, making my way home. FWIW the salesman said they have been receiving far fewer Rolex stainless models this past year, and that they are having to vet their potential clients but have a policy of not turning anyone away initially. However he also said they’ve been receiving even less Patek models, and the shortage with Patek is causing them real problems.

Will post impressions of it later. But she’s a beauty!

[cdbeaver66]

Congrats, its good to hear that there are some ADs out there that are true to their word.

[yannis]

Congrats!!

[Wristwatcherboy]

Here are some pics and my initial thoughts and notes on it, with it being my first Rolex.

Bracelet and clasp:
What struck me most when I first saw the watch was the quality of the bracelet and the clasp. I have owned a Tudor Black Bay, but the bracelet and clasp on the SD43 is in a league of its own. The links are machined so finely that the gaps between each of the 3 components that make up each link are nearly non existent, the tolerance is so high. The clasp oozes quality, with a definite and satisfying sound when used. The bracelet and clasp are incredibly comfortable when on the wrist, and the glidelock really helps facilitate this. I have read some posts about squeaky bracelets on the SD43. Mine does also squeak with shaking of the wrist however I am fully expecting this to eventually wear off, and will be disappointed when it does!

Rehault alignment:
I have read many posts about the crown at the 12 o clock position on the rehault being misaligned to the right of the 12 marker ever so slightly on a wide variety of different models. Mine seems aligned pretty perfectly which I was very pleased about, although I know it is a minor thing.

Mark 2 dial:
Mine is a mark 2 dial, with a crown between the words "swiss" and "made".

Size:
I have a 7 and a quarter inch flat wrist, and I also own a 44mm Panerai which I absolutely love, so I was fully expecting the SD43 to sit very well on my wrist and I was not disappointed. Despite it being only 1mm smaller than the Panerai I feel it wears much smaller indeed. To me it feels more like a 41 or 42mm watch. This may be because of the smaller dial than the Panerai, the black bezel makes it seem smaller and the redesigned smaller lugs which I think are perfect as I always thought the maxi lugs on the Sub didn't "flow" into the bracelet very well at all. Also the Panerai has a squared off case with the round 44mm bezel sat on top of this, so the case takes up more wrist surface area.

Height:
The height of this watch is 15mm, which is almost exactly the same as my Tudor black bay was and also my Panerai. The Tudor was always very wobbly and top heavy. I feel this was because of its smaller 41mm case and smaller bracelet. The SD43 sits very firmly on the top of my wrist with far less wobble than the Tudor. I feel 15mm is a good height for a sports watch, although would not want it any thicker. The only thing I was worried about was the protuding case back that I had seen in pictures and had read some stories about it being uncomfortable. However it sits very comfortably on my flat wrist, the caseback kind of sinks into my wrist somehow, letting the underside of the watch sit gently on my wrist. If my wrist was round instead of flat then I think I would have some serious problems with it.

Lume:
The only disappointment I have encountered this far is the lume. To me it seems very weak, especially when compared to my Panerai which literally blazes just from coming inside from outside. The Rolex lume seems much weaker, despite me charging it with my phone torch it just never seems to really GLOW, although I have read it is supposedly longer lasting. I feel that the Panerais lume is so much more vivid and intense and it really glows from the weakest of light sources.

Overall build quality:
As expected, excellent. Blows the Tudor out of the water. the quality of the brushing is incredible, the dial is flawless (I had to send my Tudor to RSC twice for dirt/marks on the dial…), the edges of the case razor sharp which is testament to the machining, the bezel clicks with a satisfying solid resistance when rotating and just feels like pure quality, the white gold hands and markers are again flawless and really catch the light. The ceramic bezel with engraved numbers is executed perfectly, and in daylight it is extremely reflective. My only complaint would be the lack of AR coating on the sapphire which I know is a much debated topic. The lack of AR puts a milky gloss over the dial in certain lights and doesn't make it “pop” as much as the Tudors dial did. However this is a small niggle and certainly something I can live with and get used to.

I am extremely happy with it, and is certainly a watch to keep for a lifetime.1.jpg

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[CoveWatch]

Congratulations!

[TswaneNguni]

Nothing beats the thrill of the first one.Enjoy !

[Otto]

Congratulations!

[Burlington]

Looks great !! Congratulations

[Mick8moses]

Congrats, it is a beauty and my personal favorite Rolex.
Fits you perfectly!

[lenfried29]

Congrats on the great watch. My first was DSSD

[HogwldFLTR]

I didn't know Rolex was allowed to import the SD43 into GB; a huge score!!! Congratulations!!!

[Wristwatcherboy]

I forgot to add something about the weight. Whilst it is not overly heavy, I do know it’s on my wrist. But I like that with a watch, I like to be reminded that it’s there rather than it being so light I forget about it. The SD43 definitely has some heft although it is not too heavy or bulky at all.

[subprimero]

Congratulations on the SD and the good AD experience!

[ltmgeller]

Congrats!

[Urosfan]

Congrats

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

I didn't know Rolex was allowed to import the SD43 into GB; a huge score!!! Congratulations!!!

Come on Lee - I had you as smarter than that

[rolexdream]

I personally wouldnt be happy with holding back the warranty but if it doesnt bother you congrats!

[rmlovett1]

That’s a great one! Congratulations!

[TickTockChuck]

Congratulations on your new SD43! Looks great! Enjoy and wear it in good health. Cheers!

[AEC]

Seriously cool Rolex. Looks great on your wrist! Glad to hear that you had such good care from the seller.

[Hkspwrsche]

Congrats. Good choice.

[Wristwatcherboy]

Originally Posted by rolexdream

I personally wouldnt be happy with holding back the warranty but if it doesnt bother you congrats!

Very common at least in the UK now, at Rolex’s request. It’s simple, either get the watch or don’t!

[10klakes]

Good for you in sourcing a dealer that would work with you. Make sure to stop by those other dealers and let them know. The SD43 is one of my favorites and the size, feel, and balance of that piece is perfect to me. It’s a masculine piece that has the look and fee one would expect from a Rolex diver. Congrats!


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[Maverick_1908]

Originally Posted by 10klakes

Good for you in sourcing a dealer that would work with you. Make sure to stop by those other dealers and let them know. The SD43 is one of my favorites and the size, feel, and balance of that piece is perfect to me. It’s a masculine piece that has the look and fee one would expect from a Rolex diver. Congrats!


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I second this. Go to the AD's that laughed at you and show them your new beast!

Congrats!!!

[jrs146]

Big congrats! Enjoy it. I’m sure it won’t be your last.


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