docblackrock

Thanks BT and Pugs....just really hurt my feelings that's all (Nah just kidding, obviously I don't have any...surgically removed first week in med school )

Sorry that my review was such a cursory, lightweight piece

For ryaku Some UPO comparison shots inc. on the wrist... Not much in it as you can see, although despite its bigger girth, the AR feels a wee bit more comfortable on the wrist than the PO (even on rubber)

To clarify, double-sided meaning accurate for most Breits, IWCs, POs etc. but NOT the majority of Pams right? Regardless, I still would like my 187 doing, must keep my eye out for the signup post

Good question, I certainly hope so, would be nice to know before I install Pugs???

Yes it's the norm, gasket and sapphire crystal go together. Ouch, this project is hitting you where it hurts hate to say it but when you said your man was swapping over logos and markers, I did think With the datewheel issue also, you should have just sold gen dial and been content with a crystal swap. Oh well, c'est la vie - kudos to you anyway for "taking one" for the community

Very nice review Of course, it's also a painful reminder of my so-far fruitless search for the 1st gen/old factory version Typically when one does actually surface today, there are other *cough* "issues" to consider BTW what's the best source for gen calf straps aside from the obvious? I have a nice BOB deployant, but recall you mentioning one of the dealers having a nice line?

just quick reply, on the move right now... pics of watch are as received, standard crappy font day-date wheels....gen eta/valj. white and black sets in pic have not been installed yet @rolexman - will do

Larger but I wouldn't say "much larger". Enough. I balked at buying the gen 41mm date Racer due to it's very unimpressive presence on the wrist. Felt small both size and thickness/heft. This one (gen and rep) at 43mm feels just 'right' in the same way the 45mm PO does. If you have any doubts, check it out at any AD - I think you'll be surprised if you're worried about size.

Well, it seems Mr Postie had a little surprise package for me today So thought I'd share my initial thoughts as well as some quick 'n' dirty photos, hope you enjoy... Dealer Big kudos to the delightful and reliable Ms King - her English may not be perfect, but it's always a pleasure dealing with her Background As some of you know, Tonton and I petitioned for this rep during the Great Polls of Christmas 2006, but were humiliatingly torn apart by Pugs and his IWC-olytes. I must admit then, that the fact that the 'Racer has made it into production before the long-awaited standard Aquatimer gives me some tiny glint of pleasure, but hey I'm petty like that Onto the watch then, I actually had the gen on approval at the beginning of the year, and I was keen to see just how 1:1 this rep was. I initially ordered the black dial on bracelet together with an extra rubber strap. Also have a blue dial on it's way, the plan being to gift one to my brother. So first impressions.....this is as expected a stunning piece, from memory it has the same heft as the gen, as welll as the same overall quality of finish. Dial - clean crisp, concentric rings in dial and subdials are pretty much perfect. New silver decal logo is also spot on. Calendar window is also nicely silvered. 9/10 Case and Bezel - superb finish to case, pushers feel solid, crown screws in with same resistance and smoothness as anyone with a gen Rolex crown/tube would recognise....very nice indeed. Bezel has the correct 120 clicks, nice and tight. Inner bezel aligned perfectly, no movement with outer bezel. 9/10 Caseback - ok a little rough in terms of finish as usual nothing a bit of elbow grease can't sort out. Diver's helmet engraving is nice although not quite as defined/deep as the gen. Maybe 90% there. The surrounding engraving is more of an issue - not as defined as gen even if despite somep peoples' fears it still is engraved NOT etched. It is also inked, which will be easily removed (a la MBW/WM vintage Rollie casebacks) to give a more accurate look. One welcome addition to the prototype pics is the inclusion of model and serial etchings in the correct place. I recall someone pointed this out as a major flaw based on the model pics. Well that person(s) can now sleep at night (assuming they're correct numbers of course, I just can't be bothered to check ) Calendar wheel alignment - finally, the fly in the ointment, the spoke in the wheel, the strychnine in the soup, etc. Yes, about as misaligned as it possible to be. A big big tell. Fortunately, an easy solution - gen ETA day/datewheels and a copy of Pugs' excellent DIY guide to swapping 7750 wheels....voila, hopefully a good fix 2/10 rising to 10/10 with fix. Note: I have it on good authority that TH plan to change the datewheel colour on all new black dial models inc the 'Racer from next year, so the black DWs will come in handy Bracelet/Strap - as good as the UPO bracelet, says it all really. Almost indistinguishable from the gen. The old Date-only 'Racer not only had a weedy 41mm case but had a bracelet that rivalled Rolex in the cheap and nasty stakes. When they thought to modify the gorgeous Aquagraph case for the new Aquaracer, they also (thank God) used the 'Graph's bracelet - much more substantial and silky with a much-improved clasp. The rep bracelet does not disappoint far from it. Clasp looks and feels good, and the polished midlinks give the watch a nice almost-dressy feel - very much an allrounder or hybrid watch. 9/10 Rubber strap I've not actually received yet but from pics it looks very good, no lug gap issues that some people had with the post-production PO rubber strap. Still I've included pics of the gen strap to give you an idea of how it looks on the wrist. Crystal - the big AR question, does it or doesn't it? Well I'm happy to say the crystal is as the gen crystal. It DOES have AR - almost clear with a faint blue reflection. By no means a light sucker (neither is the gen) but the dial is clearly visible at certain angles, no mirroring or other nasties. Doesn't perform too well under fluorescent lights though it must be said. This ain't no gen PO. Logic states it must be single-sided meaning inner coating but interestingly it does seem to give a positive fingerprint test. Hmmm . So to clarify again, this is not AR as some people seem to think AR should be - bright blue/purple reflection like with some of the 'super' Breit or HBB reps or older-generation Pams - that is simply not accurate for a Tag, so there's no flaw here to speak of. Good news. 9/10 Movt - the Achilles heel of course, being it's a Asian 7750 - we've all been here before many times gentleman, luck of the draw in which your odds are improved if you stay away from the chrono function. That said, this is a watch that is ripe for a movement swapout with a Valj.7750 - I have been offered one at a very competitive price, not sure whether it will end up in this piece or not though. 5/10. So all in for approximately one-tenth of the RRP on the gen, you'd be mad not to indulge a bit of Tag love. "Stop blathering on man, and just show us the bloody pics!" I can hear you all muttering, so without further ado....

Nice DT, old factory model too - I'm still having no luck there

How shocking that I'm in that club also - just something about that white dial and silver subs But still not as shocking as my admission I actually like any Daytona never mind actually consider buying one Bring on the NoobTona!

Hey, that's Brickie's watch (and wrist)!!! (old RWG self-appointed 'noob policeman' for those who don't know ) Personally, don't like it at all, even if the Ti makes it light enough for a NATO. Same with rubber. The Avenger calls for bracelet or leather only IMO.

Although as I said before I'd noticed it on the gen, I'd hardly call the slightly squarer date window 'a tell' - black DW sees to that. Can you confirm how easy crystal was to install - watchsmith just pop it on with a press? Any gasket issues?

So the double AR crystal aside, a logo swap with an earlier-version rep PO dial and a superlume job will have the same outcome....

Funny my eye always thought the date window on the gen was a little taller/squarer than the rep - guess this confirms it. 2892 white-on-black datewheel? Not gonna be easy to source I think.... Look forward to pics though.

Tapered??? As in 24/22??? Really?!!

$1500 for a gen Pam bracelet is a good price sure....but only relative to the exhorbitant price in the first place. Four figures of any currency for a steel or steel/Ti bracelet is just obscene Hence, why it's the one accessory I'd like to see repp'd.....an accurate 24/22 bracelet (SS/TI would be perfect but SS/SS too) rather than the 24/24 ones available. It's like the common cold and Apollo 11....sure they can make a HBB, but they can't make an correct-size bracelet

Yes, but look at TK471s gen date Racer - same misalignment. Still gen. I would guess not so much sloppy QC at point of manufacure, more sloppy in application and type of adhesive used perhaps - with bezel use, things tend to slip. As for misalignment, well we've all seen issues like that with gens, Rolex, Omega, IWC, etc. not just Tag.

Chrono buttons on this new DayDate version are same 'bar' shape as Aquagraph case it is based on. Previous Date model had different smaller case with 'button' type pushers.

What moi? Impatient? *click me*

Hey, what's with the TRC stylee emoticon ??? For gods' sake, please bring back our old animated : wink : this one looks like he's suffered some sort of mini-stroke.

Ah, a new skin.... feels a bit But really, frickin' Sudoku, god no.....the horror.....the hooooorrrrroooorrrr Apart from that, my compliments T, very nice work and perfectly timed for my return from last orders

You wouldn't bet against it, despite the 'cheese' factor.... http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?showto...27797&st=20 Anyway, think the consensus was it is not a current production model