whitestripes

ETA is a company that makes many high quality movements for other companies. AFAIK, it doesn't stand for anything and is pronounced "etta." SEL = solid endlinks, i.e. the part that connects the bracelet to the watch head is not hollow

We're talking reps here. Nothing fancy. If it's got the 7750 chrono layot, then yes. Otherwise, not much.

Where are you in the bay area? I'm in Berkeley.

Who's tony? Is that who runs rolex2u.com, or are you talking about tonyxkf on cqout?

fauxlex, please post pics when you get it! We are on the same quest!!!

I'm planning on getting a bargain Bond rep of the new coax (see a few posts down) for $108 from rolex2u.com. The crownguards are EXCELLENT, and the He valve does not bother me, but the kicker for me is that the lines go through the middle of the applied OMEGA, not through the bottom, like OMEGA. The bracelet is crap, and unfortunately the case back is wrong. However, I can live with that if I can switch out the crappy bracelet with etched clasp for a nicer ETA-style bond bracelet that andrew sells for roughly $60--> making a pretty nice rep, imho. Is this possible? For those of you with both bargain and ETA bonds, can you try to see if they fit? Thanks!

The logo is an egregious error and is enough to prevent me from buying any models with the lines through the bottom. The clown feet on the "ohm" symbol don't really bother me, but the OMEGA looks like crap. Too bad Ofrei doesnt have the new gen dials for sale.

The lines should be through the middle. They f*ck this up on EVERY expensive Bond rep (and the Aqua Terras, too). It really gets me because it's quite obvious. This [censored]-poor flaw can be found on the new Seamaster chrono, and I hope to god that it doens't happen on the new non-chrono Bond. However, I am almost 100% sure that it will be f*cked up.

Why can't the get the applied logo correctly? The lines should be through the MIDDLE OF OMEGA, NOT THROUGH THE BOTTOM! If this happens on the new SMP Bond, I will be deeply, deeply disappointed.

hxxp://rolex2u.com/omega-seamaster-automatic-with-blue-dial-and-bezel-watch--12210.html The crownguards look great, the logo has lines through the middle, not bottom, engraved clasp. The caseback is wrong, though. What do you guys think?

Gen. I wouldn't pay that high for a non cal. 321 watch.

Aren't gen bracelets expensive? The rep is around 270, I highly doubt the bracelet was less than 230...

That brings up a post I read before, where someone brought in an A7750 for servicing and the watchsmith said he had trouble fitting the parts back together. The thing about reps is that if the smith f*cks it up, there is no recourse. Who am I going to go to, the better business bureau? "I gave him my illegal, counterfeit watch and he messed it up!" I guess I just gotta find a good one sometime later

As I contemplate my collection, I wonder what is to be of our reps 5 years down the line, when they start needing servicing? Is an Asian ETA copy service-able? Is it worth it? Is an A7750 serviceable? Are our watches disposable, useful until the movement dies? Drop a new movement in? With my gen speedy Pro, I know it will last a lifetime if I take it in for regular servicing, yet I'm worried about my reps. What's you take on this?

Ohhh I'd trade my 3717 for a Mark XVI...

Hey guys, I just developed an interest in vintage Rolexes, particularly the Subs. I love the simple look of non-applied indices, the acrylic crystal, and the lugholes :-). I know Silix has a ton of reps, but what would be a good one to start with and Wabu (wabi?) the crap out of it. By this I mean, which is pretty accurate? What mods are necessary? This is heavily discussed for modern 16610 subs, but vintage it seems like it's a "do your own thing" kind of thing. Love these pics, (property of their respective owners from the "vintage love" thread) I really like this one: Any help would be appreciated. Help me get into the vintage rolex addiction!

The problem with the Aqua Terras is that for many of them, the Applied OMEGA lettering has the bar through the bottom, not through the middle like gen. Also, the display back gives it away.

I don't know about you, but a college student with a DateJust is just weird. DateJusts/Presidents are for old men. Get a steel sports rolex! (Sub, SD...) I'd like to add that being in your early twenties makes it hard to join the rep scene. Because we are buying reps of > $2000 watches, the believability factor is a different game than if we were in our thirties (stable job that you should have moved up in by then). I bought a used gen Speedy Pro last year for $1500. It still is the biggest purchase on an item (things like tuition notwithstanding). It was a luxury purchase, and I still love it. However, I sometimes feel self conscious about wearing a multi-thousand dollar watch, but it's offset by the fact that the Speedy Pro does not LOOK like a super expensive watch. It's a classic known by all WIS, but your everyday Joe will look at the matte black dial, simple baton hands, non-applied indices, and strange tachy bezel, and not think of it again, unless they catch the "Omega" on the dial. The game changes with Rolex. Everyone knows what a Sub looks like, and it is perhaps the definitive Rolex watch (besides the Day-Date, but Subs are far more common). I actually have a noobmariner (back to the dealer for problems...), and I got it just to see what all the fuss was about. Let's be honest here, it's a handsome watch, but I don't think I can live with all the baggage that comes with it. I also would especially hate dealing with the "is it real?" questions that will undoubtedly arise considering I'm so young and in college. However, I love the classic looks of it and it's not too flashy (the bezel does catch the light, though). When I get it back, I won't be wearing it in public. I pretty much got it just to have in my collection. The DateJust, however, is in a different league of watch than the Sub. It's a pure dress watch. However, I have heard that DJ's are Rolex's best selling model, and for good reason, because when people buy a Rolex, they just want a luxury watch that looks the part. A Sub, to the non WIS, does not. Personally, the conservative looks of the DJ do not appeal to me (I'd rather have the Aqua Terra, or maybe some day, the looks of a nice Calatrava). But again, I have an IWC 3717. No one my age knows what an IWC is. Hell, most people of any age don't know what an IWC is. This solves a few things: 1. No one will call me out because no one knows what it is. 2. The rep is almost perfect, so even if they do, they won't call me out. (still got to get double AR + DW swap). Very few people know that the 3717 costs about as much as a steel Rolex sports watch. I love the looks of it, though. I have a strange collection as of right now. Gen speedy pro, rep 3717, noobmariner, Seiko SKX007, Orient Blue Mako. I wanted a few gens that looked nice (or were very tool-watchy) that were easily within reach and that I would never have to worry or feel self conscious about. (If you haven't tried out the blue mako, I highly highly recommend it. For 1/3 the price of a super rep, you can have a beauty of watch. Seriously, have you felt the bracelet on one of them? The shimmering blue dial? The applied markers with excellent lume?) Anyway, I'm still just waiting for a good Bond SMP to come out to round out my collection. I really don't lust after many other watches (I'd trade in my 3717 for a Mark XVI if it ever gets repped). Finally, to answer your question: of the two watches, the first is more tasteful and fitting for a college student, if a DateJust with fluted bezel can be "fitting" for someone in his early 20s. However, it is a bit too flashy for my tastes, but then again I don't drive a SLK55 AMG. I would not call you out if you stepped out of that car with a DJ on your wrist.

Ah. I don't understand why they'd make the effort to rep the Mark XV but not the XVI. The 3717 is nice, but I find it to be a little too thick for my liking. The XVI's smaller case size and classic design would make it perfect. Yet the rep factories continue to make reps of outrageously extreme watches for proportionately extremely priced replicas. I can't pull off wearing an AP ROO, it would cost more than my car. A Mark XVI is much more accessible, though. Ack is there nothing we can do?

Either the old 2531 or the new 2220 would satisfy me. I just figure the new one would be more popular for the rep factories (I also like the applied logo, indicies, and the new huge hippocampus on the back.

For particular models, they are better than the ones available today (e.g. Bond SMP). They are called 'closed factory' because the factory that made them closed down.

Well under the strict definition of WIS I guess it's a large amount of knowledge about watches, but according to a commonly quoted thread on time zone, many of the "signs you're a WIS" have nothing to do with knowledge, but with a love for watches.

Part of me regrets revealing this, part of me doesn't. :-)

I like to charge up the lume on a dive watch, make sure the crown is screwed in, line up the pearl with the minute hand, then hop in the shower... in the dark! That way the watch is in its "natural habitat." I can't believe I do this, but you should try it, it's kind of fun, tracking (shower) time. What's the geekiest WIS thing you do/have done?

quartz? what are the specs???