crystalcranium

Lotsa bells and whistles but still a minute/hour/seconds watch and a manual to boot. The marketing on this watch is first rate. At a glance, it does look like a very expensive timepiece but I was quite disappointed when I inspected one up close. A 31 day retrograde date hand???? It looked like something you'd see on a cheap replica. Now, ML's new Limited Chronograph, that's a beauty but it runs about $25,000.

Hey, my subscription just expired 5 days ago and I forgot to re-up. Give me a break!

Good luck on your boards. I was the last year in ID when you had to take them once for a lifetime. Thank God!!! 4 out of th 6 attendings in our practice have to teke them every 10 years and that might be enough for me to seek another career. IMHO, what you are concentrating on is FAR more important than this little hobby that sure as hell has it's share of pompus, opinionated prima donnas. The fact that you are contrite and open about an honest mistake says loads about your character.

My Dad has a Gyromatic a friend in the brokerage business gave him in 1968 saying "Fred, I'm sick of seeing you in cheap watches. Wear this". My Dad wore it every day for 32 years until it needed service. Not knowing ANYTHING about watches, he didnt think it unusual the watch needed no input except a monthly adjustment of the minute hand back a few minutes. The friend did tell him if he wore it every day, he would never have to wind it. When I reverently took it in for service in 2000, he almost considered it disposable saying "Well, the damn thing has been running for 30 years, I guess I got everything out of it". Dad...are you kidding me????? Of course, not seeing the value in this amazing timepiece, he almost [censored] a brick when I told him a movement tear down, service and restoration to the dial and hands would run about $350. "Dad, it's on me" I told him. He has worn it every day since 2000 and except for a crystal replacement, it has run flawlessly since the restoration. BTW...he won't be burried with it!!!

WOW!!! Just Gorgeous. Nothing like an old working watch. I just bought a Vintage GP Gyromatic 39 jewel High Beat (36,000 bph) on the bay. Can't wait to get it and have it serviced.

It's my undrstanding all "Swiss ETA" movements are manufatured in China and "finished" by the Swiss so they can legally be called "Swiss Made". I don't quite get the ire and passion in your posts. Exactly what is your point, that these replica watches are in reality very poor quality mechanical watches? Are you trained in watchmaking and repair? Rob has done some remarkable reviews in the Repair and upgrade forums that both praise and criticize the mechanical reliability of the movements in our watches. These reviews demonstrate his skill and knowlege and are free of bias. When he tells me that an Asian 7750 with service can be just as reliable as an ETA version in a $2500 genuine, I know that opinion is based on tearing the Chinese movement down to the bare bones.

Where do we go from here????? I asked in a post a few weeks ago that as the feedback channels between factory,dealer and consumer becomes more fluid and responsive, what rep buyers would like to see in the next generation of replicas. The majority of responses had to do with AR coating and dial luming. I hope, as the trend seems to be toward better movements from the in house Chinese companies, that our replicas powered by something other than ETA movements in the future will be a moot point. I agree with you that if we aren't at the pinacle of replica quality and availability, then we certainly must be close. Although this notion was laughed off as not possible by some, I suggested that this communication line between devoted consumer (and anyone willing to shell out $300 for a fake Omega is a passionate buyer) and manufacturer seems to be paying off in another level of ever more numerous 1-1 copies and that some day, the next step might be OEM interchangeability in a few more reps than just the MBW Subs. But, a cloud of foreboding is hanging over this. The Swatch/ETA pullout, the desire of the Chinese to be an above board player on the capitalistic marketplace, and the paranoia of getting these beautiful somethings for next to nothing, etc. leaves me feeling less than hopeful for any long term prospects for this upper end replica market. Get em while you can guys and gals. With the help of RWG and you Rob, I have made sure I have invested in only the best reps available in terms of replication and servicability.

Part of the problem is that every sub replica, even the best, have terrible flaws. I agree with By-Tor that this fact remains mysterious. This is a very simple watch. I can't understand why the levels of fidelity you can find in a Tag Link or Omega Seamaster can't be replicated in the most replicated watch in the world. My personal favorite is Wo-Mart's $119 SS Sub. Great rehaut, 2.5X mag on the crystal, great pearl and bezel. But it has flaws too.

Can you let me know what movement you ordered from cousins? I've ordered a half dozen chinese automatic movements from them to try and retrofit a movement into my play submariners and the date wheel in the window never lines up.

Not to start anything here....(yeah right) but the original poster is waving a flag about what a shameless rip off of Bell and Ross this watch is....here???? Isn't that sort of like having a debate about the terrible and pervasive violence in our society....in jail??? Who the hell are we to point fingers. The fact is I would never buy one of these abominations simply because they don't go far enough in looking like the original design. Give me a balls to the wall replica any day...the hell with these "in the Bell and Ross " style pieces.

Worked out a budget with my wife that allowed for a watch about every 6-8 weeks. You know, lying about what we treat ourselves to can add a spicy flavor to the acquisition, but in the long haul, honesty will afford you more opportunities.

The 5 year interval is an industry standard. In reality, very few mechanical watches require it to keep running. I know of many mechanical owners who have 20 year old watches that have never been serviced. From what Rob has told us, there is little in these Chinese copies of tried and true movements to suggest anything flawed inherent in their design. There is no reason that with a one time adequete cleaning and oiling, they can't be just as reliable. Besides, if you think the replica watch business is still going to be around in this format with this ease of availbility in 10 years, you're deluding yourself. Any plan for open ended replaceability of these watches will fail eventually on the power of import scaning and x-ray technology and...guns and bullets. The little dark secret around here is that the replica business will end very quickly one day when the Chinese government decides it's in their best interest to stop it. As someone once said here, when it comes time to shut it down, it will be gone overnight because when it comes to getting things done, no one does it like the Chinese.

Yes, part of my innocence busting education here. All ETA movements are made in China!!!!!!! All "Swiss Made" ETA movements are made in China and spit polished in Switzerland.

No stoning but put yourself in the dealer's position. Do you want to start out in a transaction relationship with a customer by caving in on a request for an exchange over flaws that take a close inspection to find? To what higher standard might the next purchase be held??? I think the dealer is in a bad position here in having to draw a line and say "Look new guy, these are replicas and they all have flaws. If you start using a magnifying glass,....we're not going to be able to do business." But watchman is right too, this is a lousy QC'd watch. A PO is supposed to be a slam dunk replica. Getting one that's a little sloppy here, a little sloppy there, a little scratched...etc...must be frustrating.

http://www.thewatchprince.com/s.nl/it.A/id...p;category=1023 http://www.watchband.biz/pd1924994217.htm?...mp;categoryId=0 Just a couple of sites at both ends of the price spectrum. Go to the links tab above and click on dealers/straps and bracelets. Beautiful stuff here. http://www.sirtoli.com/

I checked out the thread and your pics and.....this is a tough one. Yes, in one respect, I can see the watch looking like a disaster to you, and I think a scratched, poorly functioning bracelet should be replaced. The other issues are a little bit tougher to resolve. I agree with you, this is a bit of bad luck but I can also see a dealer not wanting to set a precedent for replacement in light of these flaws. Before long, we might be going over our watches with loupes looking for dust and fingerprints and demanding replacements. This is where QC meets dissatisfied customers. On the other hand, a simple exchange for a PO clone that meets the high standards we have come to know in this replica is not an outrageous expectation. I think if you had had this bad experience a few purchases into your relationship with a dealer and they know you are not a PIA about details and microscopic flaws, that you're just a guy who wants to make good quality and numerous purchases, there might have been a different resolution to this.

Perhaps????? All mechanical watches will need service at regular intervals. Aside from damage from shock, the wear and tear a watch sustains in daily running doesn't damage it in such a way that service cannot restore it to like new running condition. But running does affect this service interval to a certain extent. I read in WT in their discussion with Tag about the development of the 1/100th second chrono that service intervals are a function of beats and there is a simple multiplication/division formula to determine a service interval based on beat rate. Furthermore, the movements in our replicas have certain QC issues that might suggest continual running might have an effect on specific breakdowns. I know Rob has reviewed movements that have pallet stone mounting/adhesive issues, non jeweled bearing sites etc..... In all, there is nothing about running your watch continually that will damage it beyond what a thorough servicing can restore, but I do think our watches might suffer from wear issues related to running faster than others.

What do you mean the pearl is awful and the marker is flawed? Was the watch misrepresented in photographs? I guess what I'm getting at is if you have a complaint that the watch ia a terrible quality, poorly manufactured one of that many have purchased and are happy with as a high quality replica, then I think the dealer is not stepping up to the plate and you are owed another watch. If the watch is a disapointment because you didn't do your homework before the sale and now on closer inspection, you've decided it's just not a good replica as an overall product, then I think the dealer is bending over backward to make you happy. Not that any of this matters,...if you have worked out a satisfactory deal and have no problems with the resolution, so be it. I just wonder where this particular dealer falls on the customer service line. Most of them are terrific chaps.

It needs a new what what and what???? Did it explode on delivery? Are these flaws, cosmetic problems, operational problems???? It sounds like this watch is a disaster. Are you saying it was delivered in this condition? Not to start a firestorm here but it sounds like a slam dunk replacement to me. Yes a bezel and bracelet replacement is no biggie to DIY but a dial replacement that involved pulling hands is something I wouldn't attempt at home.

Water resistance on any replica that is not advertised as pressure tested is a crap shoot. Even those rated to 50 meters are only suitable for getting wet, not diving, swimming or scuba diving. There are many here who will tell you tales of replicas that have resistance equal to the genuines they replicate but I think getting your rep wet is a big gamble. Synthetic saphire is saphire. A mineral crystal is a glass crystal. Anything Josh says is pressure tested is a water resistant wash BUT..... In reality, only a watch rated to 200M is suitable for general swimming, diving and water abuse. If you want to risk a non guaranteed in the drink, that's your risk..

5% arrive with problems bad enough that I feel I'm entitled to a replacement. Not a terrible percentage. As for 30-90 day reliability, again not so bad. I had one watch that required a regulator and beat adjustment to keep it from running 15 minutes fast a day but that was it. Again, about 5%. I think, as long as you are staying with the reputable guys, you've probably had your share of bad luck.

I read Fosil unveiled an automatic mechanical at Basil for $99.00. http://www.fossil.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PR...ROO000000FS4199

Excellent!!!!!

I'm currently looking for one. Here's a link to the best ones I've found so far. http://www.thewatchprince.com/s.nl/it.A/id...p;category=1023 and http://www.watchband.biz/pd1924994217.htm?...mp;categoryId=0

I'd stick to the original bracelet. The SMP Chrono Diver brecelet is iconic and is very well reproduced on the Omega replicas it adorns. Putting a strap on a replica piece that is braceleted on almost every wrist it resides on is asking for closer inspection. I've never understood the notion of switching out bracelets for straps on watches that do not offer a strap as an original option.