Kingston GO #228 Arrives! Confessions of a former Rolex Big Crown owner...

[TheGanzman]

Happy Monday to ME! Kingston GO #228 is happily residing on my wrist. Wife has digital camera at work, so pics will need to be forthcoming - here are the specs on mine:
Gilt dial, no date, C3, Red Triangle, Regulated to 6 positions. I immediately mounted it on a very high quality Rolex replica riveted bracelet that a good friend gave me last year - it fit perfectly! Here are my observations:
As a guy who has owned two Rolex 6538 Big Crowns, a 6536, a 5508, a 14060, and a Maxi-dial 5513, let me say this: It's LIKE a Big Crown, only better, and that's no lie! Here's why:

- It's bigger; 39.2 vs. 38 - I THINK it's bigger "pin to pin" too. It actually"wears" bigger than my 42mm vintage Watchco Omega Seamaster - this is THE #1 thing I like about it over an original Rolex Big Crown; you don't feel like you're wearing a kid's watch…
- The crown makes a bigger "presentation" than a stock Big Crown crown; the knurled area extends out almost to the end of the crown, making it appear more prominent…
- The gilt dial, the gold gilt chapter ring, the gold gilt hands, and the lume that EXACTLY matches hands-indices - WOW! The gloss black enamel of the dial is like COAL, and looks a mile deep…
- The red triangle is the way to go IMHO; nice "contrast feature"…
- The lume is PERFECT! It is EXACTLY applied within the gold gilt of the indices; each indice looks like a little "jewel"- The sapphire crystal has a nice "double dome" to it; not as high as an original Superdome, but very respectable.
- The bezel "snicks"into position EXACTLY where it is supposed to, with EXACTLY the right amount of stiction; "balls-on accurate"(that's an industry term…: -})
- The crown "sits away" from the side of the watch, just like an original does…

I just can't get over how finely crafted and finished this watch is; honestly, this watch puts Rolex to shame. I sold EVERY one of my Rolex's for some reason or another that "bothered" me - lume didn't match between indices and hands, gilt dial was imperfect, lume looked kinda cruddy, but mostly - because they all "wore too small". There are so many details that go into how a watch "wears" and presents itself on your wrist - width, "pin-to-pin" length, thickness, slope/dropoff of bezel (or lack thereof), crown height and dome, dial size with respect to overall watch radius. When you put on a vintage Big Crown after having worn almost ANY other watch, it's like putting on a kid's or ladies watch - they feel and look "mid-sized". The Kingston looks like a MAN's watch, without being too big. Somone else made the observation that this watch actually wears the same or bigger than a Rolex 14060 - I have to say that it wears bigger, due to the domed crystal, knurled rather than "saw-toothed" bezel, and larger appearing/less "busy" dial. Bill hit one of the PARK with this one! "All good things to those who wait". For those of you who didn't have the patience to wait it out, and "sold your spot" - you missed out on a KILLER watch...

O.K. - I'll give you two "nits" that *I* personally would have done differently:

- I would have used a "Big Bubble", white second hand...
- I would have made the "pearl" in the bezel bigger; "vintage-size", if you will...

Other than these two VERY minor items, the watch is dead perfect! Thanks for your clarity of vision and attention to detail Bill!

[buzz819]

Happy Monday to ME! Kingston GO #228 is happily residing on my wrist. Wife has digital camera at work, so pics will need to be forthcoming - here are the specs on mine:
Gilt dial, no date, C3, Red Triangle, Regulated to 6 positions. I immediately mounted it on a very high quality Rolex replica riveted bracelet that a good friend gave me last year - it fit perfectly! Here are my observations:
As a guy who has owned two Rolex 6538 Big Crowns, a 6536, a 5508, a 14060, and a Maxi-dial 5513, let me say this: It's LIKE a Big Crown, only better, and that's no lie! Here's why:

- It's bigger; 39.2 vs. 38 - I THINK it's bigger "pin to pin" too. It actually"wears" bigger than my 42mm vintage Watchco Omega Seamaster - this is THE #1 thing I like about it over an original Rolex Big Crown; you don't feel like you're wearing a kid's watch…
- The crown makes a bigger "presentation" than a stock Big Crown crown; the knurled area extends out almost to the end of the crown, making it appear more prominent…
- The gilt dial, the gold gilt chapter ring, the gold gilt hands, and the lume that EXACTLY matches hands-indices - WOW! The gloss black enamel of the dial is like COAL, and looks a mile deep…
- The red triangle is the way to go IMHO; nice "contrast feature"…
- The lume is PERFECT! It is EXACTLY applied within the gold gilt of the indices; each indice looks like a little "jewel"- The sapphire crystal has a nice "double dome" to it; not as high as an original Superdome, but very respectable.
- The bezel "snicks"into position EXACTLY where it is supposed to, with EXACTLY the right amount of stiction; "balls-on accurate"(that's an industry term…: -})
- The crown "sits away" from the side of the watch, just like an original does…

I just can't get over how finely crafted and finished this watch is; honestly, this watch puts Rolex to shame. I sold EVERY one of my Rolex's for some reason or another that "bothered" me - lume didn't match between indices and hands, gilt dial was imperfect, lume looked kinda cruddy, but mostly - because they all "wore too small". There are so many details that go into how a watch "wears" and presents itself on your wrist - width, "pin-to-pin" length, thickness, slope/dropoff of bezel (or lack thereof), crown height and dome, dial size with respect to overall watch radius. When you put on a vintage Big Crown after having worn almost ANY other watch, it's like putting on a kid's or ladies watch - they feel and look "mid-sized". The Kingston looks like a MAN's watch, without being too big. Somone else made the observation that this watch actually wears the same or bigger than a Rolex 14060 - I have to say that it wears bigger, due to the domed crystal, knurled rather than "saw-toothed" bezel, and larger appearing/less "busy" dial. Bill hit one of the PARK with this one! "All good things to those who wait". For those of you who didn't have the patience to wait it out, and "sold your spot" - you missed out on a KILLER watch...

O.K. - I'll give you two "nits" that *I* personally would have done differently:

- I would have used a "Big Bubble", white second hand...
- I would have made the "pearl" in the bezel bigger; "vintage-size", if you will...

Other than these two VERY minor items, the watch is dead perfect! Thanks for your clarity of vision and attention to detail Bill!

Do I really have to say it??

Where's the PICS!!

Congrats!

I wish I could have been able to get one of these!

Buzz

[tako_watch]

Congrats! Good to see the GO's beginning to appear...mine is in transit and I hope be here tomorrow. Sadly I will at work till the late evening!
So feed me some pictures...

[Dragoon]

Wow! Outstanding review and comparison from an actual Big Crown 6538 owner. Very nice to hear it matches up so nicely and in some aspects is even more modern and stylish than the original without losing its 6538 characteristics.

I am continually amazed at how well regarded the Kingston is from Rolex owners much less a 6538 owner. Not amazed from a standpoint of how impressive the watch IS (because I have owned a Kingston and think it is one of the best homage watches I have ever seen), but, amazed at how this watch stacks up against Rolex watches which cost multiples of the cost of the Kingston.

Enjoy your Kingston and thanks for the great insight from the perspective of a 6538 owner. Not many of us can say we have had that opportunity to experience!

Happy Monday to ME! Kingston GO #228 is happily residing on my wrist. Wife has digital camera at work, so pics will need to be forthcoming - here are the specs on mine:
Gilt dial, no date, C3, Red Triangle, Regulated to 6 positions. I immediately mounted it on a very high quality Rolex replica riveted bracelet that a good friend gave me last year - it fit perfectly! Here are my observations:
As a guy who has owned two Rolex 6538 Big Crowns, a 6536, a 5508, a 14060, and a Maxi-dial 5513, let me say this: It's LIKE a Big Crown, only better, and that's no lie! Here's why:

- It's bigger; 39.2 vs. 38 - I THINK it's bigger "pin to pin" too. It actually"wears" bigger than my 42mm vintage Watchco Omega Seamaster - this is THE #1 thing I like about it over an original Rolex Big Crown; you don't feel like you're wearing a kid's watch…
- The crown makes a bigger "presentation" than a stock Big Crown crown; the knurled area extends out almost to the end of the crown, making it appear more prominent…
- The gilt dial, the gold gilt chapter ring, the gold gilt hands, and the lume that EXACTLY matches hands-indices - WOW! The gloss black enamel of the dial is like COAL, and looks a mile deep…
- The red triangle is the way to go IMHO; nice "contrast feature"…
- The lume is PERFECT! It is EXACTLY applied within the gold gilt of the indices; each indice looks like a little "jewel"- The sapphire crystal has a nice "double dome" to it; not as high as an original Superdome, but very respectable.
- The bezel "snicks"into position EXACTLY where it is supposed to, with EXACTLY the right amount of stiction; "balls-on accurate"(that's an industry term…: -})
- The crown "sits away" from the side of the watch, just like an original does…

I just can't get over how finely crafted and finished this watch is; honestly, this watch puts Rolex to shame. I sold EVERY one of my Rolex's for some reason or another that "bothered" me - lume didn't match between indices and hands, gilt dial was imperfect, lume looked kinda cruddy, but mostly - because they all "wore too small". There are so many details that go into how a watch "wears" and presents itself on your wrist - width, "pin-to-pin" length, thickness, slope/dropoff of bezel (or lack thereof), crown height and dome, dial size with respect to overall watch radius. When you put on a vintage Big Crown after having worn almost ANY other watch, it's like putting on a kid's or ladies watch - they feel and look "mid-sized". The Kingston looks like a MAN's watch, without being too big. Somone else made the observation that this watch actually wears the same or bigger than a Rolex 14060 - I have to say that it wears bigger, due to the domed crystal, knurled rather than "saw-toothed" bezel, and larger appearing/less "busy" dial. Bill hit one of the PARK with this one! "All good things to those who wait". For those of you who didn't have the patience to wait it out, and "sold your spot" - you missed out on a KILLER watch...

O.K. - I'll give you two "nits" that *I* personally would have done differently:

- I would have used a "Big Bubble", white second hand...
- I would have made the "pearl" in the bezel bigger; "vintage-size", if you will...

Other than these two VERY minor items, the watch is dead perfect! Thanks for your clarity of vision and attention to detail Bill!

[tomr]

A very thorough and complimentary review! As a Kingston owner, I totally concur with your references to the Kingston's high quality of workmanship and detail. However, I am going to assume that you have a larger wrist than I, as the size of the Kingston is perhaps my only disappointment. I have had the opportunity to try on some older Rolexes, and you are correct in noting that the Kingston wears much larger. It is noticeably thicker, and actually seems to overpower its thin, homage rivet bracelet. Perhaps that is why you mounted yours on a high quality Rolex replica bracelet. Although by today's standards you may refer to the older Rolex watch sizes as kid's, ladies, etc., but to me, their size was part of their nostalgic appeal, as too many of today's watches are just too large for comfortable wear.

I recently visited a Rolex AD, and, to no surprise, their new generation Submariners are larger and thicker than their predecessors. One wonders where this trend toward larger watches will end; however, if you do choose to try to find some older models despite their smaller sizes, they still command a premium price.

[JP(Canada)]

Jealous here....must be a great feeling to get that Kingston finally. Biggest reasons for me ordering this this watch are some of the very things you pointed out, particularly the big crown. Congratulations! Wear it well!

[OmegaCosmicMan]

OK, get it all out....

Seriously, Great post. Thanks, I really appreciate the comparison to the original. Can't wait to see the pictures!

May you enjoy this in the best of health and circumstance -

[kkmark]

I've wondered how the Kingston compares to the 6538 and other Rolexes, from someone who has actually owned both types...not just a comparison from pictures of them. I definitely paid this review a lot more attention! Thanks for writing it.

[Izzy]

I've wondered how the Kingston compares to the 6538 and other Rolexes, from someone who has actually owned both types...not just a comparison from pictures of them. I definitely paid this review a lot more attention! Thanks for writing it.

Me too, awesome post! I love the enthusiasm of the post as well. I have had my Kingston for a few months now and I can't stop looking at the quality of the mirror like dial and way in certain angles it reflects the light. Many 6538s have been thoroughly abused and the dials have taken a battering. I have only seen two in the wild which belonged to some serious collectors and they were beautiful. But if you are lucky enough to own a Kingston, you do get a hell of watch for your buck, well done Mr Yao!

[sunster]

Nice write up. It's a pity you still own your Big Crowns as one of the few things I haven't seen with the Kingston, is a side by side of a Kingston next to a Big Crown