Pannyman04

I have my suspicions about this  listing ... gen has evenly-sized markers all round, the rep has a short one at 6 ... the one on this looks short to me even though the photos aren't that great.

Actually just as I was writing this, it's gone sold!

https://www.chrono24.com/longines/avigation-bigeye--id26209786.htm

Thanks. My interest though was in how the rep case patinates. It seems the gen case is a very specific alloy that seems to darken up quite evenly.

This would be scammer has been reported to the moderators. 

Anyone got experiences they can share about longer-term ownership of a Tudor Black Bay Bronze? I'm curious about how patina develops. The gen seems to gently darken, quite nice looking. Anyone left their rep for a decent period of time without stripping back the patina? Pics?

Also was a consensus ever reached about whether the ZF of XF is the best one to go for? Both apparently still available. My preference would be for the A2824 movement over the Miyota but again would like to hear people's experiences. 

10 hours ago, vcappp said:

nice! which factory maker? YLF? 

Andrew confirms this is correct.

Not sure. Don’t think it says on Andrew’s site. 

Just landed from Trusty ... Glashutte Original Sixties  ... very impressed with this. The dial is stunning and having looked at the original coming through Frankfurt I think it really captures the shade, and it's really pretty close (closer than pics suggest) on dial texture. I had been a little worried as close pics do show a difference with the rep's markings being a bit more regular in height and shape of the blobs. But really, you need to get very close up to get a handle on this and even then it's only apparent face-on, from any sort of angle it looks pretty much correct.

Strap as ever was short on me as I have an 8in wrist but I had a 20 x 16mm Hirsch ostrich handy (lug width is actually 19 x 16mm but it squeezed on) which suited to a T.

It's a 39mm watch but it's all dial and I don't feel it's small even on my large-ish wrist. It's lovely and thin and they did a nice job of the movement decoration too..

Well impressed by the Tudor Heritage Ranger on bracelet that I got from Toro.

The only giveaways (very slight at that) are the slight texturing of the dial on the original, and the better definition of the Tudor Rose signage on the crown.

Anyone suggest (directly in the thread or by IM) any possible sources? Anyone done such a mod?

I've had a close look and while the watch is an ok rep the bracelet is a mile out.

Long, long way from super rep.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/06/diy-spitfire-enthusiast-builds-replica-fighter-plane-reading/

Awesome - look forward to it.

No-one got the versions figured out?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Anyone seen these watches (MkXVIII rep)? They look pretty good but I haven't seen anyone do a direct comparison.

I see Trusty is now selling a V2 V6F version of this, at a low price too.

Anyone got any info?

Looks like it to me

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zenith-Pilot-Extra-Special-Type-20-Uk-Post-Only-/222148198972?hash=item33b910823c:g:Qq4AAOSwbYZXWolR

First impressions not good, dial too dark, bezel too light/red should be all over more bronze coloured. At least they got the changed case size right (who knows about the shape!).

Is the second hand still an issue with these? I had one years ago even then it looked great, but it died after only a few months. Is the 'new, improved' movement really a fix? What's the best version these days?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm no expert on these watches but this looks off to me

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IWC-Big-Pilot-Watch-/182156734040?hash=item2a69632e58:g:J1AAAOSwintXSDju

I see Trusty are selling a v3 version of this. Strongly tempted. Any feedback on it? Obvious 'tells'?

Anyone know how the blue compares? The gen is very distinctive c

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The rotor in mine is very noisy compared to A2824 it's more of a giveaway than anything on the case or dial.  Its a shame as its a lovely rep. I'm informed that only the miyota will 'work' in the bronze case not sure why that might be. 

The 9015 is actually a very very good 28800 movement and a part the bit of noise (stay FAR AWAY from the Bell&Ross 123 if this is a problem) it is extremely stable and less temperamental than the eta clones.

Just to say I got mine back after some watchmaker attention to lubricate the rotor and it's perfectly acceptable now.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The rotor in mine is very noisy compared to A2824 it's more of a giveaway than anything on the case or dial. 

Its a shame as its a lovely rep. I'm informed that only the miyota will 'work' in the bronze case not sure why that might be. 

I bought this watch but was disappointed in it ... unlike the SS, the bronzo doesn't have A2824 movement inside, it has a crappy, noisy Miyota, which I didn't notice till it was too late. Not sure if this is the case for all the sellers.

Just looking through old posts ... I wasn't an active member here at the time but I lost a watch to Geof Dedman. Breitling Avenger as I recall, lovely thing with gen ETA (allegedly anyway) plus a gen rubber I bought for it at Cribbs Causeway.

Did anyone ever get to the bottom of this saga?