Category 5

Looks real. 24 hour hand is the correct width, first bracelet link crowds up into the lugs,a nd the overall finish of the watch looks pretty much precise. If it is a rep it isone of the better reps I have seen.

I have to say that I think that at least brands like Omega are pretty reasonable in their price point. You can tell just by holding a Gen that there is a significant imporvement in the quality of crafstmanship over a rep. Screw down crowns will screw down without any effort -turning the hands of the watch with the crown is a smooth as silk -the dial is printed and assembled with precision that has to be seen under a loupe to really be appreciated - the markers are straight - the lume is bright and uniform throughout the parts -the watch is guaranteed to be properly assembled and regulated. Then there is the issue of testing the watch. Most luxury watches are tested to ensure consistent operation under vibration, heat, shock, etc. Then, there is the added cost of having the watch certified as a chronometer. I am sure the COSC doesn't do that as a favor to watch companies. Factor in the cost of development, assembly, testing, advertising, certification, packaging, distribution, international duties, taxes and the cost starts to get more understandable. The PO cost me $2000 at an online discount retailer. I think the watch was a great price. Yes, I was able to get a rep with a box for $300 - but it does lack the AR coating, the markers aren't straight, the movement doesn't turn as smoothly, the lume is not as bright, the stainless steel is not of the same grade, it has not been serviced, it is not certified as a chronometer, and the precision of the parts machining (while very good) feels nothing like the gen when they are side by side. ...not to mention there is not a real co-axial escapement in the rep...and it isn't safe in 10 feet of water let alone 2000ft. There is a point to gens, oh yes. There is a precision, and a feel that people pay for (aside from the gold and diamonds). Now if were talking about Rolex...well then. They are way pverpriced for the watch you get. But the truth still stands. Rolex is the most recognizable name in the luxury watch world, and it carries value of it's own. While I agree their watches are 3 times too expensive for what you get, your money can be considered an investment. Rolex are like bonds. Once they mature you can only make money on them (if they are cared for).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Valjoux-ETA-7750-Watch...1QQcmdZViewItem I had heard these were a fortune. $200 is not bad at all in my book. Would one of these fit into the latest TAG Link reps that are floating around (or Breitling) using the Asian movement? Seems like if this is a direct drop in a) there should be more watched offered with thes/and for less money too and instead of servicing new Asian 7750s, just save the money and swap with one of these right away, or even after the Asian breaks. Any thoughts?

Andrews DOES have a single AR coating on the inside of the crystal (evidenced by the blue in the direct light reflections) but it is light years away from the gen. There is a board member (forgot who) who is offering AR coating, and any cooperative 1hour optical place can also do it for you. If you really want a real AR coating on your rep the best bet is to seek it out aftermarket. The AR coating on the 4th gen is not going to fool anyone who has seen the gen (though it's much better than none at all). The Gen looks as though the crystal has been completely removed in indirect light. It is rather uncanny!

My watch DID come as new, with serial number intact, in the original box with manual, chronomoter certificate, and a movement certificate. I would have gotten no more from any other AD. Unfortunately, Asford is in the same city as me so I had to pay tax. UPS tracking showed 7:37pm pickup scan, 7:38pm arrived at destination. It was shipped and delivered by the same UPS office!

Well...I knew I loved my wife, but yesterday she showed me just one of the many reasons why. She decided the PO was a great watch for me, and after me dragging her to AD after AD to get a closer look she decided I needed a closer look at home. She bought me the watch! It was only $2000 on sale at Ashford.com (much better than Mayor's $3400 proce tag) and she couldn't pass up a sale! Here are the mandatory comparison photos between Andrew's 4th Gen, and the Genuine. Seeing them both side by side, the AR coating on the Gen is an instant giveaway. That said, Andrew's PO is really an amazing rep. The Gen hasn't lost half a second in 30 hours...it is dead on with the Time website (WOW!). Our two specimen The difference in the glare is more pronounced in person (significant despite 4th Gen's AR coating) The famous Blue Coating of the Gen A lume shot 1 minute after a quick charge (30 seconds under a UV light) - Pretty good on the rep. not near as bright, but rather uniform across markers, hands and pearl. Too bad the marker at 9 is crooked on the 4th Gen. Bezel color is excellent on rep. the backs and bands are almost perfect match, but since the face is what we see I chose not to photograph them. For a high rez closeup you can click here http://www.pbase.com/sbushman/image/61941006 So all in all the Gen proved Andy's rep to be a worthy alternative. the AR coating on the gen is just too amazing though. In most light it actually appears as though the crystal has been removed.

As evidenced above...TTK and Pug are the resident watch photography champs so far. ...but every day us laymen are getting better and better. I just might go out and get some daylight bulbs and try one of those light tent configs tonight. What makes things worse for me...I am a photographer for a living! (People though...not watches)

It's almost funny...the one that's in there. There is an awfully nice slot for a proper size that looks like it might even keep the watch pretty water-resistant. So before I try sticking rubber bands in there (JK), does anyone know the correct gasket size, and a place I can source one in the US (or better yet, FL?)

Nope... http://www.time.gov/timezone.cgi?Eastern/d/-5/java

I think the latest Tag carrera is a beautiful watch that is ruined by using a domed crystal without anti-reflective coating. You can get the hands and omega logo back by using a second light. ...but yes, on a black face like the PO, using a single flash there is the side effect of the anything silver turning black too. So far almost all of the pictures I see on this site have some glare...maybe with the exception of TTK, and maybe Pug.

So far I have now 4 ETA reps which are all 15 seconds per day fast. Seems to me if they can be 15 seconds fast per day, consistently, then they could be within 1 second per day consistently. I managed to regulate a chap asian chrono movement to within 1 second per day (still within 1 second after 3 days actually). I did this by nudging the balance spring lever. On the ETA's I see a little screw with a +/- next to it and a wishbone around it. Am I correct in assuming that turning this screw is the way to regulate these movements (same effect as nudging the lever regulator on my asian movement)? 15 seconds a day makes 7.5 minutes a month. That's just way to off for any decent watch, mechanical or not. ...especially considering that the cheap screw down crowns don't really give me much confidence that they can handle regular time adjustments.

Even anti glare crystals like the PO have some glare...so I experimented with an idea tonight. Instead of setting up a light tent, these pics were taken with a Canon Pro 1 (point and shoot) with a 420ex flash mounted on top. the flash was bounced off the left wall. To eliminate the glare off the crystal I just held a black folder (the same as the one the watches are sitting on) above the watches until all reflections disappeared. in other words there is only one reflection in the crystal...that of the black folder. It worked a treat. I think these are great considering how simple the setup was. The Omega Planet Ocean (courtesy of Trusty) My TAG Aquaracer (Quartz, but a schweet lookin' watch - one of my Favs!) And just for fun, the wonderful ETA movement in the PO. Too bad it never gets seen. No wonder there are so many non-dive watches with exhibition backs! So even with a light tent setup, covering the roof of the tent with black felt will reflect only black on the crystal...making it seem to disappear completely. Good luck with yours!

That dial is shipping on practiaclly every LV you can get (aside from Joshua's latest i think). Even the MBW has those markers and the bold M. Joe, where is a good source for a new replacement dial. Are they available from you? My LV is my current favorite, and I flinch every time someone asks for a closer look all because of the dial!

Where'd that dial come from? The dial is the only thing annoying me about PT's ultimate LV. Actually, the problems are minor...but I'd love to get my hands on a dial with correct minute markers and no BOLD m in 300m.

http://perfect-clones.com/product_info.php...products_id=633 Looks excellent to me in pics... PLus, it has sapphire instead of mineral. Didn't the original use a Lemania as well? Also, does the lemania have the chrono trouble the 7750's do?

http://www.ofrei.com/page1122.html

"Designed exclusively for Autograph by Nigel Hall " HaHaHa

People "assume" my sub reps are real all the time. in fact, nobody has ever taken two looks to see otherwise. Part is how you wear it, the rest is just ignorance to the tells. That said, I get far more "Rolex" haters telling me I overpaid for an inferior watch and should have bought a Chronoswiss or something than I do admirers. In the high end watch world it is amazing how much detest there is out there for Rolex. I took a Alaskan cruise last two weeks on a Regent ship (high class, and most employees are from france, Romania, Austria, etc.) full of watch lovers (not just the guests but the crew - I saw so many awesome pieces!). The ship was full of Pateks, Chronoswiss, Audmars, Vacheron, and of course (beginners designer) more Tags than you could shake a stick at. there were plenty of Rollies, but the air seemed to hold them in very low regard. The casino manager commented "Nice watch...how many seconds a day does it lose?" with a smirk. I didn't tell him it was a $250 rep.

It's the biggest AD in and around Boca Raton. Some of the fine jewelry stores carry Rolex, but the Boca Mayors has over 100 pieces in stock...in addition to Tag, Omega, Chopard, Patek, Hermes, Breitling, Panerai, Raymond Weil, Corum. They even have some pre-pwned Rolex and Pateks. ...one of my favorite ADs to visit. As far as calling out a rep...I don't do it.

Thanks Neil. No, not a cable guy... Category5 is the name of my band here in Florida (been together since Andrew in 1992). Little did we know Florida would become the new Hurricane Alley! Order was a Tag H. Carrerra. Initials are SB and it was ordered to Tamarac (Ft. Lauderdlae to some), FL. I know these watches don't show up overnight, I just wasn't sure the order got placed. I didn't mean to start a long thread about it (sorry) either. I just figured I had e-mailed the wrong address,a nd I found out later that you don't get your PM's ever. Thanks for the response BTW.

It doesn't seem too easy top find for me...I see no e-mail address anywhere in his section. Care to point it out as a favor?

Just to clarify, I am not whining...I just would like to know what's going to happen. Obviously I'd rather have the watch. It was sure a beaut!

I paypal'd Niel some money for a rep that it appears he only had one of. I saw on another forum that it was sold before I paypaled my money 9but the forum i ordered it from had no such indicator). Anyway, I tried top e-mail him at the paypal e-mail address, as well as a PM but got no response. If his intent is to get ahold of another watch and send it then that would be great...otherwise, i would like the money back. Either way it's fine, I just need some kind of response from him regarding what's going to happen. Anybody know the best way to get in touch with him?

Lenscrafters or lens Express can do it. ...if they are friendly enough to.