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"(letter! you sound like wife)" hahahahahahahhahaa

@ klock: that's a nice strap but it's not really near OEM look. @ rafi: i believe the strap is nylon check the topgun thread for a nice comparison of gen kevlar and rep. Check the springbar tubes, the reps are much sloppier whereas the gens have nicely fused tubes and clean edges.

Man, the quintessential super compressor is growing on me fast! definitely on the opposite end of the spectrum from a Sinn U1. ha!

some guys have all the luck. I've been looking for months.

Yeeeeah. I don't know about this at all. You have to be a brain damaged possum not to be able to tell an Asian datewheel from the correct IWC font, or a non modded rep from the real thing. For starters, there were two versions of the dial, do you know whether you have a V1 or V2? Each iteration has parts of it that are closer to the real thing than the other. Two 3717 reps and one gen later, I can tell them from the color of AR coating at this point as well as the grade of brushing applied to the case. Having had both the original product as well as the modded reps, I can say that the date wheel and AR make a huge difference. If you have 3717 rep, you owe it to yourself to have the date wheel done and crystal AR'd. It's such a standard combo that I believe that the AR guys all do the date swap. That said, the bracelet IS very well replicated.

hahahah, these are great 'efn replies. Got a good laugh out of them. You know watch tastes are highly subjective but even so, I thought this one was a universally acceptable version of a retrograde. For example, you'd have to pay me to wear any of the Audemars Piguet royal oaks. I know some of you are X'ing this window right now or laughing but you want fugly...take your pick any of the roo's... I have good taste I do, I swear. Admittedly, I possessed no taste when I picked up the 'blanc but since then I've developed it a bit. I'm not really into fashion or dress watches but this one fits the bill at a decent price and I wanted something from that category in the stable as all I have are aviation oriented pieces. It's not supposed to be structured like my IWC, Glashutte or Thommen. I did notice yesterday that the double retrograde comes with a very nicely finished gullioche (spelling?) face... whereas this one is just flat. There is also a semi skeleton version with big date at 12' and roman numerals. It ended up going for five hundred more than I thought it would. I did not buy. Surprisingly people weren't deterred by lack of box and paper and shady seller.

I need to be talked off the ledge here.... I found a Maurice Lacroix Retrograde Luna, 43mm, white/silver, black croc on ebay... that I am dead set on purchasing. The watch belongs to the owner of a pawn shop - yeah I know, but I love evaluating odd sales like this and taking the plunge - Moonphase, retrograde and power reserve in one! http://www.prestigetime.com/images/watches/mp7078-ss001-120_main.jpg I have a Montblanc Meisterstuck Chrono in my watch box that hasn't seen ANY wrist time. An extremely well finished watch, that much like the Lacroix, looks much more expensive than its market price. The Blancs' value has gone up since I purchased it and I think I could get approx. 1K for it now. So this would be a purchase before sale. Sigh. I'm having second thoughts (but fleeting and not strong enough) about purchasing a hand wound dress watch. It won't be a daily wearer and I doubt I'll be boosting it every 40hrs. Every time I put it on would entail me setting and winding.

I can personally attest that even the REP 3717 bracelet is insanely comfortable, much moreso than the strap and clasp combo. The gen should be equally comfortable.

Thanks. I just put my 3717 on a kevlar and rep deployant. In line with what everyone said the deployant buckle is incredibly uncomfortable and I really dreaded having the watch on; even around the house. It was widely documented as being not for the smaller wrist, but I figured my 6.75-7" wrists could pass. I'm thinking that there's a tang buckle in my future. Sorry, no pics up yet. It's been an incredibly busy week, working tomorrow, flying on business the following day away for the week... It's really neat to be able to see all the minute differences between a rep and gen when on your wrist side by side. Also, I'm really lukewarm on the strap at best - it is genuine - but to me, the 3717 just looks good on a bracelet. And, it's so comfortable and flexible to boot, even in the rep variety.

Is that a titanium buckle or brushed steel? TIA.

So I went to Torneau and got the run around when I asked about spring bars. You have to bring the watch in (but I didn't buy it here so its not a warranty issue), you have to have the watch here so the watchmaker can measure the size (but i already told you its a 3717, just like the ones right behind this glass)... went nowhere. I did try on a 44m Oris (6.9-7 wrist) and it wears very small. The 44mm case is tapered from the bottom up, so the bezel is more like 40mm and on a diver with a beefy bracelet, it just doesn't work. The 47mm on the other hand, while nice, was a good 21mm thick (exaggeration) so also a no go. Very nicely finished pieces though - diver dials have wave background, tight date wheel - and a tremendous value second hand. Anyway, concepta et al, does anybody know where I can get some spring bars for my baby? I found some swiss quality made on Ofrei in 21mm lengths but they are 1.2mm thick and I need to buy a bag of 10. Also, [censored] or straight shoulder?!? My love of IWC aside, I'm a noob. Help me out!

Arrived today! Intercepted the mailman in the lobby. Looks good Concepta, thanks! No duties, no mess, just signed for it and it was in my hands finally. Kevlar strap arrived a few days ago, now just waiting for the clasp. Going to Tourneau today to see how a 44 Oris diver wears, will ask them to see if they sell 21mm spring bars so I can mount the strap. Once it's all assembled I'll post some photos! And oh, there's a distinct difference in the dials from my V1 REP. The brushing on the case looks surprisingly close (but I don't have the rep with me at the office) I'll compare when assembled as well. This one just looks so, so crrrrrisp.

1- Nice watch. 2- Ah shyt. I'm hoping mine arrives in mail tomorrow or following day.

and lastly... nice Porto!

I'm not familiar with the top gun line but the seconds and GMT hands are also different in each photo. A cursory Google search reveals footage/video of confirmed gen top guns on both straps. BTW, the used kevlar I purchased - not either of the above linked - does not have the extra stitching by the lugs. It is however meticulously constructed with all requisite markings and certainly gives off the impression of being authentic. Then again haha! I'll look more into this when I get home.

I echo your concerns about the BALL pieces. Also, at least with respect to the fireman night train, the date windows/wheels look recessed and generic. Oris triple date is nice and 43mm too which is a nice fit for a 7" wrist. So!... back to our babies, did the luxxori fleabay stap look similar to this? http://forums.watchuseek.com/f319/fs-oem-iwc-top-gun-3789-kevlar-strap-21-18-a-469336.html Apologies to the administrator if the linking of other watch forum sites is frowned upon.

the lexxori sale on fleabay, right. I was watching that too, except I wasn't tipped off by anything. What do you think is the tell?

I have a relumed, datewheeled, chief a/r'd 3717 V1 rep on bracelet. Some time ago I dropped it and the date function broke (spinning freely). I sent it off to my guy who took it apart and got it going again but said there's only so much you can do with a A7750 and rep hands. It died again shortly thereafter. I wouldn't mind using that as a beater if I could get it back up and running but, I can't justify the cost of gen dial/hands (and I'd like a crown too) especially now since I have a gen copy. Also, while I am absolutely in love with anything IWC, it would be somewhat redundant. I would like to spend 1K on a used gen "beater" (perhaps daily wearer is a better word). If you look hard, there are deals to be had in certain value brands. I've never been a diver guy but I looked in that direction too. Edox has some nice watches, Oris too, both in divers and the Oris Atrix Moonphase triple date one... BALL night fireman also interesting... On the triple date, the thing is that, despite my desire to own a white faced moon phase, I know a dressier watch like this won't get a lot of wrist time because its rare that I'm in business attire. So a diver is probably a good way to go, I find myself gravitating towards the Oris line but I'm looking for: something with a 42mm dial or greater, a narrow bezel if possible (not a fan of wide bezels overshadowing dial presence) and polygon dial markers vs dots found on some lines (seems silly but it's a big turnoff) and may not mind the implementation of titanium on a 47mm 15+mm high piece... You know in browsing through a ton of brands on the used sale forums as well as websites, I've come to notice that what makes a watch desirable and beautiful is so, so very subjective. There are, no exaggeration, 5K+ brands that I wouldn't want to inherit for free much less pay anything over $99 for. And for each of those, there's an entire forum of drooling fans.

I know better than to do that. My rep clasp came in. It was billed as IWC like without branding but it turns out that its straight REP, markings inside and out. I believe my example is defective so I'm in talks with the seller for exchange. I'll post photos or a fully functional replacement. OEM Kevlar also came in a few days ago, I now have everything but the [expletive] watch!! And oh, I'm itching for another GEN to wear as a daily beater... the problem is I can't decide which... big date (tough to find sporty implementation), moon phase (gorgeous but too dressy and probably wouldn't get wrist), something similar to 3717? Like a ball? tool? .... damn it! Not the worst "problem" to have though.

The wait! The wait is agonizing!!!!!

I'm not sure how much wrist time the 3717 will get since it is not meant to substitute my damaged 3717 REP. It looks like I'll be in the market for a reasonably priced gen daily beater while this takes the prized spot in the winder. Shame the Stowa's are only 40mm; regardless of how they wear, I have a 7" wrist. One day I will find a second hand bracelet and then genstein will be complete.

I found a new or barely used OEM Kevlar on the watchseek forums. Actually, it's been bumped for a while so I hope there wasn't a reason for taking a pass on it. Visually, it appears authentic. The seller has been communicative so I hope all works out. I REALLY want a bracelet on this though... I'll keep eying fleabay and hope to find someone who doesn't know its value. A while back an OEM deployant clasp for the 3717, seller was in GB or Denmark I believe, went for something like $50-75!!!! I have a rep bracelet on my 3717 rep. I wonder how the brushing and finishes compare.

I know this wasn't meant for me but... I purchased OEM Kevlar. I also purchased this buckle, what are your thoughts guys? http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-18mm-IWC-Style-Deployment-Buckle-Folding-Clasp-/110615259336?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c12ee8c8 In the sub $100 range my options were OEM tang or aftermarket dual fold deployant. I'll definitely review this after I receive it!

I know who the other guy is. Ha! So, two spoken for, who has the third? (Concepta, we are not worthy!!)

Damn. Why is that I always miss deals like this: h**p://cgi.ebay.ie/OEM-IWC-Kevlar-Strap-Pilot-Top-Gun-3789-/110615649246