crystalcranium

The MBW subs are "supposedly" made from 440 stainless but I haven't heard enough solicited confirmation of this to say for sure. I almost bought one several weeks ago but I stopped just short when an insider told me that dispite feeling better than the typical submariner copies, they still do not have the silky heavy feel of a genuine. I guess the fact that submariners are the Ford F-150 of replicas and are produced in vast numbers to satisfy the market, producing a high end quality one is not an economic priority for the replica manufacturers. If we're going to buy up tens of thousands of 316 grade stainless ones, who needs to make a 440 grade one? Surprisingly, I have found much better intrinsic quality in the Omega and Breitling replicas than in the Rollies.

The initiation hazing here can be a little rough, hence the newbie section where the waters are a little less choppy. You'll find with time most of the seasoned posters here are pretty tolerant of naieve questions and are willing to share information. Like with most groups, some are crankier than others but on the whole, the tone here is very positive.

I agree. I have fussed with my asian and ETA replicas quite a bit and NOW, all of them are to within +-5 seconds a day but those accuracy points are transient dependent on if I'm wearing the watch or not, how much it's being worn, how fully wound the watch is etc... Even my genuine COSC certified SMP Chrono is out of specs at 7 months out of the box. Not horribly, it's + 7 sec per day, but it's not the watch that left Switzerland. Bottom line is chronometer accuracy in a mechanical watch, once achieved, is fleeting. An automatic movement that runs 10-15 seconds fast per day is an easy cross to bear when a quick hacking pull out of the stem for 15 sec each morning is all that's required to get it, for the moment, right back in line.

Oh God that's funny. People ar staring at me laughing out loud in my office!!!!!

This is absolutely a rep that falls into the catagory of "You are going to need a lot more props than a perfect replica to pull off this one". I stick with replicas in the believeability range for someone who drives himself to work.

I am certainly no expert photographer here, not even close, but I think it's just a natural inclination to photograph anything that you are trying to give some visual interest to at something of an angle. I think it's advertising 101 good sense, not a conspiracy to hide flaws. How many of us love the classic straight on "mug shot" photo of ourselves that graces our drivers licenses and work IDs?

The identified problems with this replica are so far 1. Engraving on the caseback. The "t" on Switzerland is not crossed. I can see why the replica factories missed this one, it is barely noticible on the genuine. I've given the watch to several collectors of Breitlings and not one of them has suspected it is a replica and not one on close inspection of the back has found this flaw. 2. Inner bezel is wider than the genuine. This is true but is far less pronounced on the white dial version. 3. Subdial color. Addressed above I consider these issues very minor. As replicas go, this is a fantastic piece. The finish is first rate and the new 28,000 bph asian 7750 is a so much smoother operator than the old version 7750. This watch has the most "ooooh and ahhhhh" power, with those who see it, of any of my replicas. Everyone notices it and wants to touch it. In my sideline of building period reproduction furniture, I know I've done a top notch job when people want to run their hands over a piece. This replica passes that test with flying colors.

You know, that's the first thing I saw on the full page ad for this watch in one of the trades. I thought If I were producing a high end watch with a techno look I'd be damn sure the slots in the screw heads all did the same thing or all had the same relationship to the dial. What an asymetrical mess!!!

Breitling Bentley GT .......209 grams Omega Speedmaster BroadArrow........188 grams Rolex Submariner.........135 grams As for comments about the GT white having the wrong color subdials, the genuine dials are not as silvery grey as photographs of watches on ebay and other sites appear. Although the subdials on the replica could be just a shade greyer, they are silvery in appearance and have a MOP appearance to them in contrast to the white of the main dial. Check out the photo of the $5000+ white dial GT on this page to see a more accurate representation of the subdial color on the genuine. The replica is much closer than some have indicated. http://www.collectorstime.com/other_AD.htm

I know they were experiencing server troubles recently and are now back up. It seems like Paul/Chris had his hands full for a while

All of my watches have bracelets but my new Breitling Bentley GT is getting a tan leather srtap. There's just too much metal on this piece. I first fell in love with this watch when I saw a genuine with a leather strap so that's what I'm going with.

Just an amazing replica. Could someone let this computer novice how to post pictures within the post instead of posting thumbs????

Excellent point. I guess the replica business will migrate to North Korea next. They already have state sponsored counterfeiting of US currency. I guess you voiced my fear. All of this seems too good to be true. I just got a Bentley GT clone in my hands and it blows me away. I have this incredible copy of a $6000 watch that will fool just about everybody who sees it or touches it without opening it. I have a friend who is a Breitling collector and I can't wait to spring it on him and watch him fawn over it. I really feel like I got a $6000 watch for $300. Twenty years ago when I bought my first Rolex copy in Mexico, it was an absolute joke. Today, if I were a Breitling executive, I would see this watch as anything but. It, and others like it, are scary real. My wife is afraid Interpol is going to show up at our door. Just like downloading all of my favorite music for free like I did years ago, I have this feeling of foreboding doom like this can't possibly last. It's just too easy.

Spoken like a true addict in denial. Without any available Replica Addicts Anonymous meetings, I fear your plan to go cold turkey on will power alone is destined to fail. Perhaps we can start a support group here for RAs in recovery!!!!

But the Chinese already make ETAs for the Swiss and Chinese companies like Seagull make the equivalent of ETA movements like the 2892. I don't think the Swiss cutting off the supply of Swiss finished/Chinese made ETA movements is going to be the choke hold that cuts us off from our replica sources. I do think international pressure brought to bear from companies and conglomerates with their deep pockets just might, for instance, holding shippers legally responsible for moving counterfeit goods. I think DHL and FEDEX will be buying X-ray machines at an alarming rate and using them if they are getting consistantly prosecuted for trafficing in illegal contraband.

Ahhh yes, great minds thinking alike!!!

No list per se, just listening to the experts here. By-Tor has a very good Omega rep review that I used in selecting my Moonwatch and Broad Arrow and there are others. Use the search function and read some threads pertaining to watches you are interested in. My short list of the best I've bought and heard about IWC Titanium GST Chrono IWC FA Jones from TTK...Remarkable rep!!! Breitling Bentley GT Chronos Tag Heuer Link Chrono from TTK....So good it is scaring me into this post! Stainless and 18K solid gold Omega Constellation Omega Aqua Terra with 2892 movement. Small dial issues but that display caseback is oh sooooo nice! Franck Mueller 2892 platnium rotor Casablanca...a 1-1 looking rep and movement MBW Vintage Submariners King's LV Submariner..Best Dial and bezel of any LV replica I've seen including the MBW LVs

At the risk of having my hat handed to me here, I'll state an opinion I have voiced before. Ugliest PAM? Isnt that a redundant question? To me, these watches have no aesthetics. There's nothing subtle or interesting about them. They look like they were designed by a bunch of Navy Seals in a bar one night. I guess a military watch combined with celebrity patronage has given these watches a passionate following but I just don't see the appeal. They were designed out a desire for complete practical function, huge, readable and bulletproof. Similarly, so was the Humvee. Although the commercial version of that vehicle enjoys a similar cult status thanks to Governor Arnold's patronage, it is just too plain ugly and impractical for mass market appeal. Not to disrespect afficianados of Panerai, there are certainly enough passionate fans of this watch to make it a well known and top selling replica but just like the Hummer, I don't think people are on the fence about them when they see one. It's either love at first site or "What the hell is that ugly thing?"

I'll miss your thorough reviews and those apples!!!!

I'm certainly not anything close to an expert here but isn't that crown kind of poorly machined? I think genuines and higher end reps are crisper.

I'm concerned. I found this site and its' affilliated dealers several months ago after staggering around the replica internet for years spending far too much on crap. Since I've been here, I've spent about a grand on 4 stunning pieces, the Speedmaster Moon Watch with the Venus copy hand wind movement, a Speedmaster Broad Arrow, an ETA powered stainless Submariner, and a new 7750 powered Bentley GT. The quality and craftsmanship in these watches is nothing short of remarkable for the price. The Submariner fooled a Rolex regional sales representative, the Broad Arrow won compliments in a high end jewlrey store, and all run to within 3-5 seconds accurate per day after adjustment. In some recent posts however, respected members here raised the point that some replicas are getting so good that genuine companies, who have always viewed tha replica industry as a flattering annoyance, might begin to get serious about cracking down on counterfeits. Shipping problems, which I believe were linked to choking off the counterfeit trade, have cropped up recently. My question is are we living in the golden age of replicas right now with accuracy to originals at the highest level it's ever been and availability at the easiest level it's ever been, but this ride is due to come to a screeching halt? We've gotten too good and too easy and hard times are on the horizon. This is my concern. In other words, should I buy up every 9 out of 10 rated replica I see now before it's too late!!!!

I think the spacer on this rep is better quality than the ring on most. I think expectation of quality of materials in a closed caseback model is a pretty lofty expectation.

I'm blown away. I got the white dial version so the rehaut depth issue is not an issue. The fit and finish is amazing. I'm concerned the bracelet polish is so high that I'll be paranoid about scratches and fingerprints. The bracelet is very high quality in feel. (Why cant we get this in our Submariner reps?) The watch is huge and heavy. Subdials are silvery white, a concern when I ordered it because this was not apparent from the photos. They are accurately recessed and the rims of the subdial cutouts on the dial are highly polished and catch the light adding to the dial "sparkle" The new 7750 28,000 bph movement is very impressive in its' smoothness. The second hand and the chrono timer second hand move MUCH smoother than the old version 7750. One mechanical issue is that the minute hand of the chrono timer seems to roll over to the next minute when the chrono second hand hits about 58 seconds, an issue it I were timing an activity that needed to be stopped and evaluated at 59 seconds. I think I can live with this . I order this watch from Josh last friday so recent delivery issues from China didn't appear to be an issue. Just a fabulous replica. I'll post some pics soon!

Maybe I've just been lucky but I have been able to regulate all of my reps to within 3-5 sec per day and they vary from ETA's to Asian 21js to Asian 7750s. The 7750 ran 10 minutes fast per day on delivery and it is one of my most accurate watches today including my genuine COSC chronometers.

Think of what you are doing while swimming. First off, the dynamic pressure is not only changing relative to overall pressure but can also be very localized. Your head is large and relativly passive but your hands are literally pulling you along and pressures at various local points can be huge. You couldnt stand an unprotected speed fast enough to produce a thunderclap yet you can move air quickly enough locally by clapping your hands and squeezing out air at a high enough speed to cause a shock wave powerful enough that, if it were to be reproduced in an area over your entire body, would probably burst your eardrums and cause a loss of consciousness. The dynamic pressure breach in a watch has only to be large enough and local enough to break a small point on a seal or a tiny spot on a loosely fitting crystal etc.... And people do pass out all the time from a violent change in very localized dynamic pressure like when a boxer's fist comes in contact with an opponents jaw and creates tremendous concussive pressure in the mandibular joint.