crystalcranium

Geezze!!! Economic theory...what a classy place. I'm feeling a little lightweight intellectually here. Anyone want to talk carbapenemase mediated resistance in K. pneumoniae????? Didn't think so

Breitling Bentley white dial on a genuine Breitling strap. Oooooooooh....why did I do it???? (See the significant other for the list of reasons!). I had that Asian 7750 sucker sdjusted to + 3 seconds a day too.

IF I wear one....Timex Ironman. Wear one of my precious pieces into heavy work battle.....NFW!!!!

Let me preface this with saying I'm in something of a devil's advocate mood. I'm not trying to challenge anyone's decision making process about what is an acceptable amount to spend on anything. I really don't see much in your list of improvements besides AR that is a value added, quantifiable step up in quality. Fit and finish is not hard to quantify IMO. I have participated in reviews of woodworking equipment in publications in that trade and the fit and finish catagory is very well defined and quantifiable. Yardsticks like quality of milling, paint application, packaging and shipping, attention to detail in instructions, smoothness of right angles, deburring of sheet metal cuts etc.. are all benchmarks used in the assessment of a machine's "fit and finish". In a watch, there are such benchmarks as well and I just don't see how this latest crop of replicas is so much more of an improvement in this area. If the bracelet of a BCE is better "feeling" than previous Breitling replica bracelets, then there must be a reason ie. heavier gauge stainless, better transitional milling, better finish milling, etc... If a bezel turns more solidly, the click having more substance, then there must be a reason ie.. a thicker pin, a better more substantial spring, better milling on the bezel detents etc... Forgive my characterization...but I just don't see our Chinese friends building more intrinsic value into these things to justify a price increase. It's not their way of doing business. They will not build better intrinsic quality into anything unless it's at gunpoint if it is selling as it is. I don't quite understand your vague reference to "technical improvement" either. What improvement?? That they are getting better at making more accurate copies? I dont see a major leap in absolute fidelity with this latest crop over the great reps we've been getting in the last year. If anything, improved technical competence should be streamlining the process making pieces more affordable. Like I said, just a little argumentative today. If you are an owner of replicas spaning the last few years and you have a sense these guys are better...I tend to believe it. I just wish I knew why they were better. It's the scientist in me struggling to get out!!!

I think our hobby is driven by passionate people and it's difficult to be objective when the next "Super" piece rolls into town. This is evidenced by the number of "OMG OMG OMG!!!" posts when a new model of a very popular genuine hits the market. You are correct that the market would be better served by some dispassionate objectivity....and isn't that really one of the reasons we're here...but unfortunately, the boad sometimes adopts a mob mentality rushing for the lifeboats in a mass lustful frenzy to get the newest and best before the whole business comes crashing down some day.

I'm waiting for a more indepth explaination of the elusive feel. The power of suggestion, especially one where we suggest to ourselves there was money well spent, can be a powerful placebo. The reason a genuine Submariner feels better than a replica is better steel, better milling and finishing etc.... Is there anything to compare a BCE to besides a genuine BCE. What is the feel of the replica compared to? I'm just suggesting some of the "feel"might be tied to the expense...."Man this feels like a $300 or $400 watch" rather than an actual comparison.

My guess is your replica CE would "feel" more substantial than a genuine Submariner on an Oyster bracelet. It's apples and oranges. Anyway,...one thing I have learned about myself and hobbies is that I'm always changing. Who knows, 3 months from now I might be singing the virtues of these teriffic watches....like I was 6 months ago...or maybe I'll keep evolving.....modification obsession next....yeah that sounds good....I'll be one of those guys...

Exactly. If "Super Rep" is defined as fidelity of reproduction, we've been getting those for a while and far cheaper. Now if someone can tell me that there is something intrinsic about materials or process that's different about these new pieces, I might find some room in my wallet for them but from the feedback about QC....it sounds like little intrinsic has changed.

Let's say for argument's sake this was "Pot Heads Buying Group" and some of us were upset that our trusted dealers were making exaggerated claims about potency and quality etc. There might be merit in the point but most of the crowd is not going to take a stand and jepordize their convient access to an illegal product. I think most of the outraged here were upset on the merits of the argument and have been collecting long enough to have confidence in the availability of the marketplace but far too many were afraid of tarnishing their good names and being cut out of the game. Bottom line is yes, we can have an influence on the business...for the better or worse. I personally think all of the enthusiasm about $400+ replicas is driving up the prices in general and we should be careful about buying. Believe me, if no one paid $400 for an IWC Cousteau...the price would come down significantly.

To be honest, no I have not. Are you suggesting there is a superior "feel" to these super reps like others speak of the genuine feel of an MBW, ie. the heft, quality and silkiness that is attributed to higher quality materials??? Is your CE made from higher quality materials than your Nav? Or is it just heavier?

They have been making reps within a nats whisker for about 18 months now. Only in the last several months have we seen this huge price increase. It has nothing to do with a process that's new to the industry,....like the Chinese replica parts producers just got new CNC mils to carve out more accurately the newest batch of 1-1 pieces. Starting a new model from the ground up requires tha same ol, same ol. I recall when the VC Overseas was the new "IT" watch because the manufacturer actually purchased a genuine to copy. Still, that watch never topped out above $275 and it could be found in the low $200. I guess my point is that replicas of really neat limited edition genuines shouldn't cost twice as much as the standard high end replica of 9 months ago. It's the "God have you seen the new.....gotta have it" factor they are counting on, (like all good businessmen) that's driving the premium price. Our "Irrational Exuberance" is mostly to blame.

But the IWC is $400 + needing service at $275. For that I can smell a used, genuine Omega. I hear what you are saying too. I think we are being expected to pay premiums for watches that don't really cost the suppliers that much more, if any more, to produce than the high end reps we saw come out a year ago. I got a fabulous IWC GST Chrono for $199....why should the Cousteau Diver be twice as much?????

The prices certainly seem to be crawling up to premium levels. I guess the "custom" aspect might have something to do with the nomenclature as in "We ask for it...it appears"...and certainly the quality of the reproduction state of the art has made some advances but...come on..."Super Reps"????? Over the last 6 months, some new models have appeared with high price tags,..but the litnay of complaints seems to be the same....stuff falling off, screws falling out,..same ol 7750 stories, jerky second hands, DOA movements.....etc..... If anything, and I have no numbers to back this up, just a sense of feedback from the board, it seems reliability has taken a dip ....while everyone is celebrating the fact that the Hublot CEO got [censored] off with how good the HBB looks. The replica equation makes no sense to me for purchases approaching $300. $500 is much better spent for a genuine with a traceable place of origin, a warranty, and a quality control department. I have no problem with how anybody else wants to spend their hard earned cash but I'm not ready to sign off on calling this latest round of reproductions "Super" in any way.

I collected about 5 replicas that were "had to have" models driven primarily by a desire to buy up as many high quality reproductions as I could get my hands on. I bought an Omega Broad Arrow, an IWC GST Chrono, and a Tag Link Chrono because they were some of the best reps out there....the only problem was....I rarely wore them. I had a collection of over 25 watches and found myself wearing the same three on a regular basis...so I sold almost all of them. My wearing these days is limited to a SS Submariner replica, a genuine Omega SMP Chrono, a Seiko Black Monster and a replica rose gold FA Jones. Just about everything else gets about 1-2 days a month including some beautiful Hamilton and Raymond Weil genuines. I'm not sure what to do with the "trailer queens". I used to think having a box full of rarely worn beautiful watches was a cool thing but now I see it as wasted cash.

Unfortunately, the reaction of many was "Hey, I'm just damn happy to be here and I'll tolerate some shenanagans as long as I can keep my access." I think the next watershed event is a general disappearance of good replicas for afordable prices.

How has it changed my collecting? I don't collect them. I came to RWG seeking relief from $700 replicas. No replica no matter how faithful the reproduction is worth that kind of scratch. Are these really "super reps"? What is super about them? It certainly isn't the meat and potatos of movement reliability. I would rather have a quantam leap in QC than new models.

I would avoid it as it is a replica in the 80% accuracy range of a genuine that has limited appeal. The rep is fully functional but has some quirks like no instructions, an analog quartz and digital quartz readout that do not stay synchronized, lots of backlash in the minute hand when setting, a bezel that doesnt line up with 12:00 between clicks, engraving on the back that the genuine does not have, a screw off caseback with faux screw heads.....I could go on and on. Not a bad watch for $75 but a replica that isn't even close to the genuine. Mine arrived with a broken bracelet. I replaced it and then sold it to Richard

Arughhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!\ Gagggg

The pusher lockdown nuts are non functional on the genuine because the pushers can be operated at stated WR diving depth. No screw down is required but i guess they liked the look of gear toothed lockdown collars at the case opening. The only disadvantage of this arrangement is that the pushers require more that the usual amount of pressure to operate. Non functional lockdown nuts on the replica are absolutely faithful to the genuine.

Sorry to break in but I can't get a PM through to you Ziggy. Can you help out??? CC

SMP Chrono. Very accurate and iconic.

It's aimed at health care workers but the advertising language is pretty amusing in that they are trying to get obsessive compulsives in a froth about how many germs they might be carrying around on their watches.

Came accross theis. St Gallen watch company is a Hong Kong based company with a Swiss name. They make a watch called "The Disinfectable", an automatic watch that you can dip in antimicrobials like diluted bleach. It has pulsation and respiration gradations on the dial. ...and now this LE horrible looking thing with our favorite karosel tourbi movement from the guys at Sea-Gul. The seller claims the movement is shipped to Switzerland for upgrading and then assembled into the watch but the company is based in the east so.....you draw your own conclusions. $10,000 and fugly! Model: Chinese Tourbillon Description: The base movement is created in China and then sent to Switzerland to be refined and quality controlled by St. Gallen. The hand wound movement is in a 42mm stainless steel case with a rubber strap. The dial is hand painted Roman numerals on mother of pearl and features a display back. Water resistant to 330ft, limited to 500 pieces for the world. Brand new with box papers and two year factory warranty. Armstrong Rockwell is authorized by St. Gallen to distribute their brand. The watch is brand new and is located on this web page until additional product is received and an individual page can be built. List Price: $9,900.

They are a decent supply house to deal with if you have your ducks in a row and know what you want. They are not an information service nor do they want to discuss what might work in what case etc. My guess is from most of their postings, they get lots of inquiries from replica upgrading people and they close the door on any of those discussions.

I'm so anal about my watches. My first thought seeing your group shot was "Oh no, he's scratching the cases...metal on metal!" When I see Mr Swatch (Hayek) wearing a 2 $60,000 Breuget watches on the same wrist, the crown of one digging into the case of another, ...it makes me cringe. Put some bubble wrap between those things!!!