seraphe

More pics...

My ROO Diver finally got back from Vac after a few months of reworks. - Dial + bezel relume - Colorless AR - Bezel replacement, for the serious scratches suffered before I sent it in Enjoy the quick pics! Pardon the noise, but this is the best quick pics I can capture the lume with my iPhone.

TAG Heuer Aquaracer 500m Chronograph CAJ2110 I had never thought I'd add a Tag Heuer into my collection of rep watches. It's one of the brands that I'd consider getting a gen since it's still considerably affordable. It's funny but it was the loss of my Tag Heuer 2000 Exclusive Chronograph that sprouted my interest in the world of rep watches. I would have just gotten a gen Aquaracer to replace the loss but the quality of reps are so good today it has deterred me from spending too much on non-collectible gens. 'Non-collectible' it is, since it is one of the TH models that has gone so quietly through the WIS radar. At least similarly priced Carrera range are more popular and much sought after. Personally, I find the 500m range of Aquaracer designs more interesting and aesthetically fulfilling. It is partially due to my preference of dive watches to race chronographs. Within the 500m range, the chrono seems more serious looking compared to the date@9 non-chrono. Hence I decided to give this rep a try. Ordered through Andrew and received the watch timely on Wednesday and wore it throughout the rest of the week on a business trip. Goes very well with smart casual and jeans. Size: It's a large watch at 44mm. Though it doesn't wear as large as the similar sized Panerai 236, it is still considerably large due to the thickness. I'm sized 6.5" wrist. It looks large just because of the thick caseback vs the flat crystal+bezel top. Case - Just as most luxury diver's watch designs, the case are both brush and polish finished. The crescent-shaped marks on HEV @ 10 are very nicely done and look spot on. Rehaut looks reasonably deep. Dial - While I do not have the gen to do a side-by-side comparison, the details of the dial looks immaculate. One of the arrow ends of the "G" of TAG Heuer logo is present, but barely visible. Bracelet - Just as the gen, the clasp looks and feels flimsy. Otherwise, the overall construction of the bracelet looks and feels great. Unlike the non-chrono WAJ2110, the midlinks are polished. Lume: Almost non-existent. I can see a hint of lume in complete darkness but nothing close to what I'd call 'bright'.

From a quick comparison between pic of a rep (taken off a dealer's website) and a gen (with rubber strap): - Spacing between numbers on bezel indeed look wider - Number font on bezel of rep looks more round ended compared to gen - The TAG Heuer logo (though not visible here) of rep looks like it's missing the arrow ends on the "G" - Everything else looks fine.

Still wondering the same thing. How and why do they do the testing without locking the lever?

This shot must have been taken 10 years ago...

... and also the 112 and 176

Between DLC'd 005 and 360, I pick the 005. Reasons being: - A 360 will catch more attention of people who know what it is = more scrutiny - Quality of aftermarket DLC treatment on a 005 varies = less scrutiny - 360 has a faux vintage lume color... if I plan a rep of this, it'd be a faux-faux vintage lume Having said this, I've just sent in my 005 for Taka DLC.

Very nice, isn't it? You're lucky you got a better CG lever than mine. It's more flushed into the CG body than mine. Enjoy!

It's a black Savage Stitchless... one of my favorites

More pics taken in day light.

Pardon the bad focus... Will take new photos in the day.

Radiomir version? Of the P.9000 series? That's something new...

For to choose between 000 and 005, this could be the case. But for multi-PAMs collectors, variety is preferred. I'd rather get a 000 after 111 and 177.

Got this updated version of 212i from the cartel and put on a MX Semimatte Black Croc straps with deployment buckle. The look is immaculate... and the feel is more. At first this was meant to be a temporary straps for the watch while I hunt for a gen OEM carbon fiber straps, but after I put it on I began to wonder... "Why didn't Panerai match this watch with a croc instead?" I find it so much nicer than the original carbon fiber that comes with 212! For the quality of this watch, I seriously am not bothered by the mineral crystal, not unless I'm going to take this watch for a walk in the rain and watch the raindrops smudge. The only thing that bothers me, if I must share one, is the length of the chrono buttons. For ages, I've always felt that the chrono buttons of all PAM 212 reps (including this one) are longer than the gen. Other than that, I'm all happy with it!

PAM212 on MX semimatte black croc

Thanks for the comparison!

My exact sentiment! To add to that, it's not PVD... but matte ceramic!

Generally not a fan of Chanel J12 series, this rep version of the J12 Marine with ceramic bracelet somehow intrigued me to give it a chance. I was still rather skeptical about the build and quality when I ordered it from Andrew (Trusty) since most of the photos do not show the curvature of the ceramic bezel. When it arrived, I was pleased to find the shape of the bezel true to the gen. I can't advocate it to be 1:1, but the overall built was fantastic! Though this matte ceramic bracelet does not exists in the gen world, it is a clever improvision from the polished ceramic version used for regular J12. It looks like the rubber bracelet (not straps) of the Superleggera but the matte surface of the ceramic bracelet matches the matte ceramic case exactly. Not too bothered by its non-existence, I find this ceramic bracelet more comfortable than the rubber straps. If there should be any flaw, I would say it's the wobbly unidirectional bezel. This can be an easy fix with some adjustment to the bezel spring beneath, but I'm not that bothered by it to risk dismantling the bezel. Overall, I find the watch pleasing to the eyes... especially the dial, which is unlike the other J12. I find the weight and size comfortable to be worn with work shirts. Since this watch does not come with an option for ETA upgrade, only time will tell how well this Asian automatic movement performs.

Yes, you should. OEM straps for modern 44mm Luminors are usually 24/22, while vintage OEM (e.g. MX) are 24/24 but use only tang buckles. Therefore deployment clasp for 44mm, OEM or rep, are 22mm.

OEM straps are the best for contemporary PAMs in my book. The only non-OEM I have are used for the handwinds.

That's right! All we need are the cheap but good factories, our trusted 'collecters', great modders, DLC and AR specialists... and we can spoil the gen 360 appeal by flooding with great rep versions we are going to create!

My bad... you're right. The old style bracelet with these new Daylights are 24/20mm. They are fantastic IMO. Well I took the risk of the fit with this new style bracelet on my 236 coz I really like the look of the new style bracelet on a 44mm Luminor case. Since there isn't any good PAM 299 available yet, this is the best I can live with for now. I was just lucky that it does fit the new Daylight case very well

PM sent Tried to send PM but failed. You have set your account not to receive any PM.

The newer old style 24/22 brushed SS bracelet that came with 236 is the best constructed rep bracelet I've ever seen. The details and edges are very precise. Feels almost like the gen. The only thing that bugs me are end links which are slightly blunt-edged and the gaps. These are actually negligible if you aren't too anal about the details. The new style rep bracelet as seen in this thread was bought from a ioffer dealer but it was quite pricey. I got it for $100. The fit in between the lugs is perfect and the edges are gen-like. Even the engraving on the clasp is great. The only complaint I have is probably the brush finish, which is not as smooth as the satin-brushed quality of the old style from the 236. I tried some light cape cod cloth but it only helps a little.