Submariner400

-Does your mind have to keep going to the fact that it's fake?:

No. Once someone gets their head round the fact that the general public who might see the watch will not care what they're wearing, they find they start wearing watches which they enjoy wearing, regardless of how they may appear to others (who most times don't care...) As you say, the word 'fake' doesn't give credit to how good these watches can be. Even stuff out of the box would probably pass as genuine to anyone who doesn't know watches. I think the terms 'forgeries' and 'reproductions' as they would apply to forged paintings are closer to what these watches represent, rather than just being 'fake knock offs'.

-What is the mindset of a rep wearer?:

Varies from collector to collector... Some people are happy to get a watch 'out of the box' and wear it as is, and will tell anyone who asks that it is a rep, some people prefer to build watches as projects (either accurately to an existing watch, or to a customized design) and there are also those who want to be able to lie to people and pass their rep off as genuine... (They have other issues which a fake watch is never going to resolve )

Personally speaking, I'm happy with an out of the box rep, but I do also like building a watch. As mentioned with my Tudor Sub, the source of the parts means that the watch has meaning for me. If anyone was to ever comment on it, I wouldn't try and pass it off as genuine, but I would explain that I built it myself. Something you need to bear in mind, is your age and income bracket. I know you've said that you could have afforded to buy one, but would a stranger meeting you for the first time think you could afford, or be in the position to own, a genuine Rolex? I say Rolex, because as a brand, it is so widely copied, that to the minds of many, Rolex = Fake. People are more likely to believe that your gen is a rep, than to believe your rep is gen... Could you deal with people thinking it's a fake watch when you know that it isn't, or might that make you feel that it was money wasted? Sure, the same people might ask if the BK is a rep, but at least that is what it is... If, on the other hand, rather than buying a gen, you were to start installing gen parts, if asked if the watch was real, or where you bought it, or even just a 'Nice watch, bro..." while you wouldn't be able to say the watch was 'real', at least you can come out with the trump card of "I built it myself..."

Thanks for the response.

I realize that a lot of people want the Gen to show off etc, but i can honestly say its me that is the problem. There is no one i know or would ever know, that could say anything about watches, they dont even know what a Gen costs let alone the fact that Reps are so accurate now. Even now, i dont ever tell anyone "I have a Rolex", i could care less, i have just always loved watches and the Sub is my favorite watch. Mentally i just find myself drifting more to the idea that, i have this Rep because its representing a watch i love, so why not get the real one? But my mind does wonder, i was looking at some Subs today online and some of these (not all) look exactly like my V2, so no doubt the Reps are amazing now a days.

When i first got my V2 i almost felt smarter and good then a Gen wearer because i had virtually the same watch without the price, i was proud i found a way (starting with the 100$ p.o.s rep) and ending up with BK who hands down is the best person i have ever dealt with as far as sales, and his custom work is amazing - but i feel like i can see the edge and i may want to take the plunge, im still looking though. Found a few on ebay that are ok prices but still in the 3500-4000 range, they are complete sets though..

Anyway i would love to hear any other enthusiasts mindsets about a Rep, very informative..

Wow, love all the comments!

I can say that i see both sides, i dont feel like its stupid to buy a Gen though, i have already explained why but they are expensive. Last night i tried to get my "rep mindset" back and i was doing a lot of thinking...if you own a high end rep with custom parts like my V2 - does your mind have to keep going to the fact that its "fake" i dont like to even use that word because i think its much more of a replica but when i would wear it i would sometimes get the feeling that i didnt have the real history or watch on my wrist so why am i wearing it? While so many of the problems are solved on the V2 V3, there are still issues. I know the the new YM from WM9 is almost "perfect" from what you see, so i feel like that watch would be easier to wear....i dont know maybe im just a stickler for details. Like i said before though, everytime i look at the Sub i think of when i was younger and saw my uncle wearing one and how awesome it looked, and even though it looked great, he still wore it diving. In my head i know i will get a Gen one day so why not now but i am taking my time, i could have bought one of them yesterday easily, but im still looking.

So if i can swing the discussion a little bit - what is the "mindset" of a Rep wearer? Do you have to look at all the details? Does it matter when you are still getting the same experience?

I have a Gen crown coming in, and honestly i feel like that is the only obvious thing slacking on the rep, its just a bit oversized, in the midst of all my Gen talk, i do think i could make the V2 about as close as you could get with some Gen parts.........still want a Gen though!

Thanks again for the replies, good points about the older one compared to the 2003. My V2 now i feel like i can never see unless its been "charged" in the sun, i own a Lumni Nox watch that i wear a lot too and with those gas tubes i feel like nothing can beat it.

As far as the investment side, maybe i shouldnt have used those words, i guess i like the idea of having something that i can use and in the long if i HAD to, would still sell reasonably well. Im def. not looking to make money off of it. As far as the rep side, i do agree that they are so similar now that it does make it hard to purchase the Gen, but i can say that since i do want the Gen Sub, there is no doubt in my mind on that. My V2 has a custom crown and looks really really good, but like i said its hitting the point now where i almost dont want to wear it because i want more from it, every detail perfect.

When i first got the V2 i looked at it like an experience that would be pretty much exact to having the Gen, i wore it on the boat, in saltwater, cutting the lawn, whatever - i actually used the watch, i didnt baby it and i loved it. But little by little (because i really do have a thing for the Sub) the little flaws (which are very little) kept popping out to me. I def. used the V2 to find out if i wanted the Gen and in my head i do, but like any human being, this is a big expensive purchase, so thats why i posted here.

I have sent emails to the sellers and im waiting to hear back, the 92 is really in good shape and the price would justify it but those little things like the superlume are a big deal to me so i will have to see. In my eyes i would not really make money off the watch down the road (and i wouldnt be buying it to sell it) but its good to know like i said that it wont really loose to much in resale.

Hope i dont stir up the whole investment thing but they seem to hold their value.

Hey Submariner400, I purchased a Gen Sub (date) under very similar circumstances as you. One came up at a good price, with full box and papers and I had to make a decision. I went ahead and got my Sub and here is what I learned.

I learned that the longer you wait, the more your Sub is going to cost. I spent $3100us two years ago. If I tried to buy a full set now at that price, I probably would not be able to find one.

I also learned that because Rolex puts their prices up every year. So I'm actually making money with my Sub. And that is a good feeling.

Having the Sub gives me a good sense of security in terms of cash in some kind of dire emergency. I know at any tick of the clock I could go on eBay and sell this watch for more than what I paid for it.

Now a negative. If that Sub is a 2003, by now it should have the oil refreshed in the works. So if your buy this Sub, at some stage in the future you really should get it serviced. If you have it done by Rolex it will be a significant expense. You could however have it done by a competent watch maker and save a lot of money. Then again, having the service done by Rolex can, to a small degree, enhances its resale value. Now having said this, the Sub I bought had never been serviced. When I took it to Rolex it was the first service it had had in 12 years and it was fine actually.

And all things considered, mechanical watches need to be serviced; that's just part of owning one.

I love wearing my Sub. Where I come from (small city) nobody really notices it for what it is, but I know what it is. The Rolex Sub is really a genesis design and you can see the influence it has had on many different sports watches. From the hands to the dial markers to the bezel, you can see the spirit of a submariner almost anywhere you care to start looking at what other people are wearing on their wrists.

The very few times I

Less than 4k for a full set? Buy it, you'll never loose money on it

Thats why im tempted too, i really cant see how i would loose money on it..

Thanks for the replies guys, keep them coming!

The problem im having now, is i almost dont even want to wear my rep because im getting obsessed with the small problems it has as a rep, now dont get me wrong, its one of if not the best rep for a Sub out there (also have a Gen crown on order for it) but i feel if i had a Gen, i would never take it off.

I did a few searches and it seems the time to pull the trigger is the time im at, i would not stop with Reps, but to have one Gen i feel like it would be "easier" to own other high end reps.

But like kbh said above, this is a very busy, hetick, time of my life - so part of me thinks i need to wait, but this one is at a good price. I will admit that i told myself if i got this job i would buy a Gen, this is the job i have wanted my whole life and worked my whole life for, so to me this would be a gift to myself and a gift of achievement.

Hello everyone, big time lurker, not a big poster.

Well i wanted to get the opinion of everyone here, seeing as we are all here for the same thing, love of watches. In a nut shell, since i was young i wanted a Rolex Submariner, my uncle had a two tone back in the day and i loved it. I currently own a WM9 V2 sub with custom parts from BK, and its a great watch, but as we all know, it just makes you want to get a Gen even more!

I have an opportunity to get a Sub for under 4k (16610 with date) with box and papers, great condition i think its a 2003. From searching around (correct me if im wrong) any 16610 with box and papers at or under 4k is pretty good. I was planning on waiting to get a Gen, im in the process of getting a new job which will involve more money then im currently making but will also involve a move that will cost money. My plan was to wait until i was "settled" at my new area and job, but after seeing this one pop up for a decent price, im considering it.

I know this is personal preference but i wanted to ask about re-sale and the "investment" side of purchasing a Rolex. Now i dont need to make money off the watch but lets say i buy it and found out that i have made a mistake, i feel like i could resell it for very close (if not a little more) then what i bought it for. Let me be clear, I would be buying the watch because i want it, and i would wear it daily, but i feel that these watches in a sense are a good investment. Im a young guy starting off on my first career, so this is a big purchase for me. Sometimes its hard for me to justify spending so much on a watch, but i love watches and always have, and this has been my dream watch.

Well any advice, clarifications, whatever, id appreciate it!

I wish i was level 3!

Thanks guys for the responses, i do take it off now before the shower, but i would have to use the same water to clean it so thats why i brought it up. Soon i will have to clean it, not a deep clean but a nice once over. Watch is still running good though!

Hello everyone,

Well i started with the typical 150$ rep Sub, researched on here and found out how bad it was, then went through BK and got a WM9 V2 with his mods and im loving it. Im wearing it as a daily watch and really dont take it off, but where im living has well water that obviously after time will stain certain things. My toilet bowls will turn black after a couple of weeks and the white in my shower will stain a bit if not cleaned every month.

So it got me thinking, if im rinsing my watch or wearing it in the shower, overtime will it ruin the watch? The water doesnt seem to horrible here but its def. hard water.

How would you guys suggest cleaning it?

Thanks for the help.

+1

He is a great seller, only person that will answer all of your messages with no problem. Bought a subV2 from him with no issues.

Very nice, i love subs.

Hello everyone,

I was a member on here before but did a long move and was not on here for months. Im back and looking for another Submariner.

Great site.