crystalcranium

I agree. I think the reason Rolex reps are a third or fourth choice on every seasoned rep collector's list of "gottahaves" is that Rolex itself is a stale company with decade old designs mired in the 1970's. Just flip through the pages of Watch Time magazine and count how many times you are stopped in your tracks by the advertisements for new and incredible pieces and notice how the Rolex ads and watches seem so ordinary and run of the mill. Sure, they sell every watch they make but to whom? Dispite our reputation in the genuine collector world, I think we're a pretty discerning bunch and are just as tuned into trends and the sexiness of design as anyone. I think no one cares much for Rolex around here because of the styles of the genuines, not the quality of the replicas.

Guilty as charged

Looks like it was done with a super luminova caulking gun!

Haven't we all agreed quite a while back that the notion of "Swiss Made" as it applies to anything horological, watch movements, watches, parts etc... is a manipulation of a national stamp of quality, not a guarantee of origin. The rules of the Swiss Federation are so broad that it reminds me of a frat house friend who said the dryest martini was one where you filled your glass with gin under a picture of the inventor of vermouth. You can technically call it a martini if you ascribe to these rules but lots of people will just see it as a glass of gin. As Neil said, the real question here is quality, and movements bearing the ETA hallmark, regardless of point of origin, are probably better performers over the long haul than their asian counterparts but, all mechanical watches will need service and adjustment. If I have a 21j Asian or an Asian made ETA movement that gives me 5 yeras of trouble free service and you have a Swiss made ETA, and we meet at our watchmaker at the same time, then what's the point of argument. It's like arguing who makes a better battery for a quartz watch, Maxell or Eveready??? The OP was rude and obnoxious although they did spark lively debate. Let me see, at the risk of fanning cooling coals, if I have this straight. Sealed in the package ETA movements. Probably gold plated. Probably manufactured at the ETA facillity in Switzerland but no reason to believe this plant of manufacturer is superior to an ETA plant in Thiland as far as producing ETA quality movements correct? The reason for obtaining these hermedically sealed movements is so one can say "I have a Swiss manufactured ETA movement" which might make some nipples hard but really means nothing more than where it came from and does not indicate superior quality over official ETA movements produced in ETA plants all over the world.

Dear God...shut up!

TVT nails it!!!

2824 bi directional winding 650 winds/day 7750 unidirectional clockwise 800 winds/day

Actually, I just posted that link as an example of what was available with just a short look. I have purchased aftermarket bracelets from this dealer with good results. There are several AM and genuine bracelets available with a "seamaster bracelet" ebat search.

You know you can buy a replacement aftermarket, (with pins!!!!) cheap on the bay right? Might give you some courage to really wrench on the screws if you have this in reserve. http://cgi.ebay.com/OMEGA-SEAMASTER-PRO-ST...1QQcmdZViewItem

Where do you plan on having your watch re coated? Do you know someone who does small scale vapor deposition coatings?

I thought the original post, way back when the idea was first floated, was in the interest of opinion gathering in service of selecting a limited number of potential pieces to be polled. I think it became something of a wide open primary field in service of letting everyone have a voice but perhaps the overall process would have been better served by having a "special master" (RT!) gather opinions and select just a few (based on the limitations and discussions with Jay) for our selection. It seems the selection process just became too fractious with too many candidates and too many hurt feelings and defections.

I'm assuming your jeweler looked to see if there are pin directional arrows on the inside of the bracelet. The binding split on a pin can liik like a slotted screw head. Some genuine manufacturers, (like Raymond Weil) put Loctite like screw seizers on their bracelet threads and the bracelets need to be heated to loosen the screws. You might try laying the bracelet on a light bulb for a minute and see if you can turn the screws.

I think some of your criteria do not apply to replica chronographs. I wouldn't pay the premium no matter what to get an ETA 7750 rep chrono and they are few and far between anyway so we're talking asian 7750s and geared up to look like 7753 7750's correct? In my opinion, there is no durability and dependability threshold that any of the asian 7750's meet. They remain a crapshoot on delivery. Serviced, that's another story but I assume we're talking out of the box. I guess at the very bottom of the list would be any chrono that has running seconds moved. That's a ticking time bomb. Functionality??? I dont know what you mean. There might be some visability differences in the 2-3 subdial chronos but they all work just about the same. My choice, the Tag link Chrono in blue. Great dial, nice pushers, very close case and wonderful bracelet, but as far as functionality, durability, and dependability...it's the same as all the other 7750's from our Asian friends.

I love that the Oris divers are thicker than all hell. A real diving watch should look like a marine tool!

...and the crown guards are terrible...they look sanded flat.

From the Omega website Looks like the red Seamaster under the Omega trademark is missing as well. Your dial looks like something of a combination of the chronometer co-axial dial and the quartz dial but is true to neither. The hour marker is the least of it's problems. I don't know if newer models have supplanted this one but this is the product pic from the official website

Lots of interesting things popping up! I have lost some respect for my Submariner replica. I now "see" what others have talked about as far as crispness of print on the dial and date wheel. FA Jones Asian Movement: Dial looks like it was painted with an artist's brush freehand. Very cheap looking under magnification. Breitling Bentley GT and Tag Link Chrono: Excellent dials with terrific attention to detail. Print font, especially on my white dial GT, is crisp and accurate. These are still my top two reps. My Speedmaster Broad Arrow is of slightly lower print quality but still pretty good. Gonna open casebacks soon. Ohhhh boy!

I love complications. The only replica I have that is a non chrono is a Submariner (OOPS EDIT I have an FA Jones too!), and I think many of the people here are gadget collectors too. Maybe we heard "We can have what we want" before we heard and absorbed the limitations. Some of the semi rants in the suggestions certainly sounded like kids in the candy store listing every kind of desired bell and whistle without much regard for practicality. I suggested the Lange because if fit the criteria AND was a beautiful, classic timeless design that was also large enough to satisfy those collectors for whom a 40mm watch "looks small". I was very surprised it recieved minimal support and that watches like the Ebel BTR were running away with the vote in the early going. This was a chance to obtain a high fidelity copy in an area where the replica market is lacking, good replicas of elegant, simple high horology pieces from Vacheron, Patek, A Lange et al. Too bad it didn't work out that way. Just a public disclaimer. I did originally vote for the Seahawk before it was removed from the running (and before I suggested the Lange) and then my computer wouldn't allow me to log another vote. I didn't have the time or savy to figure out how to recast a vote so I guess technically, I didn't participate and for that I apologize.

Love Oris watches except or the Sinatra offer

Dont know except to speculate one is a digital read out and the other is a mechanical readout so perhaps the digital is still spot on with nuclear time but the hands are off. I'll check itagainst the master clock when I get home.

No, you think you got it with glow in the dark pickles, incredible yellow sauce mixed with unbelieveable red pigment sauce and rare minced translucent chopped vegetables all for the spectacular price of $4. You still overpaid for a cheeseburger with pickles, ketchup, mustard and onions.

I paid $119 for Pauls ETA sub a few months ago and it's a great value. Cyclops mag is spot on 2.5X, decent CG's, very deep rehaut, good bracelet, decent lume, ok crown, decent dial, no glaring faults... COSC like performance out of the box.

Wow, look at everyone here in this topic. Fight, Fight, Fight!!!!! A cheeseburger does not suck for $1.29 For $24.99 it does.

Best way out of a hole is to STOP DIGGING!!!

He has the right to remain silent, he has the right to a lawyer, if he can't afford one......