mars08

A price war is of little benefit if it the dealers have to reduce quality in other areas.

The odd thing is that the "bargain" reps do a better job with the crown guard, than the Silix item at over twice the price. http://www.replica2u.com/images/omega/seamaster_a7.jpg Would it be possible to make a hybrid of the two?

To my noob eyes, the two most noticeable flaws in the "cheaper" Bonds, are those which could be easily fixed by the makers. 1. The hands. Hour and minute hands too short, second hand out of proportion. 2. Bezel insert. Pearl size/location and wrong font on numbers. Of course there are issues with the etching on the clasp, He valve etc, but I can live with those. It's the inexpensive little "fixes" that are frustrating. Pity.

Thanks for the detailed review. I ordered one of these reps from Ruby this week. Can't wait to get my hands on it.

Hey whitestipes... hello DemonSlayer... I've got my hands on 2 SMP Bonds in the last couple of weeks. One from Silix and a cheaper sub-$100 rep. Both are worth what I paid for them. However the better quality Silix rep left me feeling slightly annoyed. The Silix watch corrects some of the faults of the "bargain" watch but replaces them with ONE that slaps me in the face every time I look at it. Sure it still has a misaligned bezel insert and the date font is wring (although I'm too inexperienced to notice), but the glaring tell, to me, is the size and shape of the crown. It is the wrong shape and the watch case isn't recessed enough to accept it. I just CANNOT understand how they can get it to look authentic in so many ways but then get it wrong in where a half-price rep gets it right. My quest for a better SMP Bond continues, but I suspect the "golden age" for this rep is gone. Good luck.

"How can I pull off wearing a High End Timepiece ?" Giggle, giggle, chuckle, snort.... he said "pull off"!!! Sigh...

Just wondering. Although I'm new to this pass-time, it seems like there's been a lot of complaints about quality in the forums. I don't know if this is usual or if product quality has slipped. Thoughts?

Nice bit of kit. Do there normally come from the dealers with the bezel aligned, or were you just lucky?

Okay, consider this a pre-emptive "plonk" Is there an easy way to tell the right direction to push the pin?

Thanks for quick reply.

This should be an easy one for those of you with a clue. I remember seeing a picture of a tool which is used to remove pins from SS bracelets. I think it came with various size removable "tips" for different types of pins. Sorry for being so vague. Can someone please tell me its correct name so I can buy one?

Okay the latest.... I owe Andrew an apology. Sorry. The email acct I have been using has apparently been blocking his replies. I didn't expect this as his messages have made it through in the past. Andrew is also very reluctant to use PM. I assume that's for security reasons. When I contacted Andrew using another email acct, I got a prompt reply advising me that I had been unreachable and asking for pics of the problem. I have done as requested. Frankly I am relieved (and embarrased) that the delay was just a technical error.

Thanks. I'm also adding WBK to the list. Oh... that LL clip... it's bloody mesmerising! Love it.

It's almost four days ( 3 emails and 3 messges ) since I tried to make Andrew aware of the problem. When can I start of get [censored] off about this?

Because over at Repgeek, some people are struggling to accept that some dealers who SAY they don't drop ship, clearly DO.

Apparently Narikaa, Ruby and Eurotimez have a reputation for doing in-house QC before they ship to the customer. Are there any others who can be trusted to perhaps, probably do the same thing? Controversial subject?

When I saw the problem with the watch I tried to contact Andrew using three methods. I sent TT88 an email, I filled out a form on the TT88 web site and I sent Andrew a PM. It has been 45 hours without any reply. So... should I start to worry about now?

Stunning watch. Thanks. It has just pushed the orange bezel 42mm PO off my wish-list. Do the chrono pushers seem any more "waterproof" than other reps?

Finally got around to taking some pix. What I got... http://web.aanet.com.au/~mars08/P7040114.JPG http://web.aanet.com.au/~mars08/P7040113.JPG http://web.aanet.com.au/~mars08/P7040112.JPG http://web.aanet.com.au/~mars08/P7040111.JPG What I wanted... http://web.aanet.com.au/~mars08/DIAL1.jpg http://web.aanet.com.au/~mars08/CLASP1.jpg The difference is bloody hard to miss! Perhaps a QA problem?

This is where Andrew's reputation for good service saves the day, right?

I picked up a package from the Post Office this afternoon. When I got home I unwrapped it and.... DISAPPOINTMENT! It's not quite the watch I was wanted. The bracelet it clearly different to the one advertised. Interesting thing is that the rep isn't the "Bond" SMP I purchased from replica2u, it's the SMP GMT that I ordered from Andrew at TT88. And it has a PLANET OCEAN bracelet. He IS fast though. In the past couple of weeks I have ordered several watches on-line. A "Bond" SMP from Silix, another from replica2u, the GMT from Andrew and a Speedmaster Carbon from WBK. These are the only reps I've ever bought on-line. Such a pity that the first watch to arrive has a problem. Also deflating is the fact that it's from one of the dealers with a reputation for being efficient. Bad omen? Certainly leaves a bad taste in my mouth! Anyway, given the hugely posiitve comments about Andrew I've seen around the forums, I expect that he will set things right. I will contact him tonight and see where it takes us. Meanwhile jury is still out on replica2u.

Hi, I've been researching this question myself for the past few days. My understanding is that there IS NO rep 20mm lug PO rubber strap. The closes avail is the similar one for the 42mm SM rep. As far as it fitting your particular watch... it's a matter of luck. It's this issue that has held me back fro buying an Orange 42mm PO from a well-respected dealer on another site. He is selling a rep with a steel bracelet, but the clasp markings are incorrect. Probably just buy one already fitted with a rubber strap from someone else. Sorry but there appears to be no quick/easy answer to this one.

First... I did order a similar (and supposedly better) rep from a "trusted dealer". Silix. The 2u item I purchased mainly because it "looked" nearly as nice at a better price. Also ordered another rep from a well-respected dealer yesterday. Second... I got an email from 2u last night (one of several) saying the item has shipped. I assume if they were an outright scam they wouldn't bother with so many updates. Yes? Another reason I decided to take this gamble was that all the negative posts I saw about rep2u were non-specific. Nobody gave any detail of their scam. So, as I mentioned in my first post, I'm the lab rat. Or maybe I'll just get lucky. Or not. Maybe? How bad can it be, right?

I get your point, fakemaster. I saw your list before I ordered. "Hey, how bad can it be? Right? RIGHT???"

Got an email from them yesterday saying the status of my order has changed to "pending shipment". That's better than nothing. Right. Right? I if the status willl ever change again?