By-Tor

Man... I didn't realize how many Rush cover bands there are on YouTube... hundreds. These were definitely the prettiest ones I found. (the dumbass, braindead director keeps turning the camera away of the blonde though).

I feel like this is a reponse to my mention of your suit combined with my choice to wear the Portofino chrono later BT, am I right!?

Yeah, I thought this deserves a thread of its own.

I agree, white Explorer II is a great choice. And how can you argue with b16a2, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig? However, the chrono version of the SMP is not a good suit watch. It's way too thick.

That was actually a OK performance. Thanks... I gotta check out this movie.

Check these small kids. They're not bad, either:

This is the real thing:

I was just thinking... I don't wear a suit often. Yesterday and today I had to wear a suit (work duties) and came to the conclusion that my Discovery is the only real "dressy" watch that I own. Being the geek that I am, I snapped some watch pics before I went to the office.

I don't know if my Ebel is a "sports chronograph" or what it should be called... but it's not overly bulky like some other watches I have (the SMP Chronograph for example). It's actually a thick watch (all 7750 watches are) but the slender lines don't make it look so. It's also a big watch (43mm) but not ridiculously so, because of the case shape.

Rolexes go really well with a suit too (perhaps not the Pepsi GMT though). Generally, I think white dials are great choices with a suit because they're understated... especially my Ebel (which I consider stunningly elegant and beautiful).

Or what do you say?

There must be other people too, who don't wear those gentlemen's dress watches no matter what. So... what are your choices for the occasional dress duties? If you have some wrist shots with a suit please share!

My condolences Ziggy.

I'm starting the weekend with the classic plain old Sub.

which pepsi?! im new here!

This one.

I'm really fond of the new Link Chronograph with 2xAR and display back. A stunning watch, and if I were looking for another gen that would be high on my list.

I thought it would be the Pepsi By-Tor

Oh yeah definitely... but this is the favorite from the chronographs. Can't think of a more beautiful & sporty watch, really (regardless of the brand and price).

I'm lucky to have both as gens. Two watches that I love the most.

@MOP: Yeah about two, three weeks ago. Check my forum, I wrote a gen vs. rep review of the 'Racer.

But don't you find it lacking when there aren't little quality, or reliability things you can complain about?

Yeah. Writing a review of a gen would be just BORING.

Honestly, my best reps are so good that they don't pale in comparison to gens. It's just those very small details like SEL fitting, etc. Not a big deal really.

@Shundi: Oh yeah, this 41mm version is much nicer. Perfect size, perfect watch.

Yep.

I loved the rep... it's a great rep. But since this is probably my all time favorite chronograph watch, eventually only the gen was good enough.

You guessed right.

This turned out really well. I love the small triangle hand... it really adds to the watch.

Could this be the only serious no-cg GMT in the community?

Looks like it's not just the Blacksteel that has been reduced, Ebel Discovery is now $278. I recall it was around $380 at worst.

LINK

My favorite "whitey" for Thursday.

In short; I'm saying maybe in essense the simple, single fact that you are paying a large amount of money on something gives it its worth and is then romanticised by your mind.

I completely agree about this.

Some people become "fanboys" and they lose their objectivity. Completely natural. And there's also the human nature that always wants to convince itself that "I made a very good deal". This is very important aspect when you're paying $5000 for a basic automatic stainless steel wristwatch.

When you go to the Rolex forums and you see those guys who brag about how their Rolex has never lost a minute in the past 20 years. Well you know what... neither did my uncle's Casio.

What is "quality" and how do you even measure it? Can you compare a $250 Chinese replication and a $5000 genuine Rolex? I think you absolutely can.

I have done that, and other people have done that in RWG. The final outcome is often very different and there are no absolute truths... only opinions. This was mine.

@freddy: I agree, but I think the general problem with most Rolex reps is that they're not very well made. Generally, many other brands have been replicated much better. There are only a handful good Rolex reps, that are up to today's replication standards. Some replications (of other brands) have superb fitting SELs and awesome bracelets... take the (already mentioned) Swiss SFSO for example.

@freddy: Yes, none of the "precious metal" reps can't compare. I'm talking about steel watches... WM9 v2 uses the Clark crystal which is just as bright as the gen. The dial print quality is similar, the lume is similar. Gen crown has a bit more substantial "feel" on it, yeah and the gen bracelet is "butter smooth".

Something like my SFSO replica impresses absolutely everyone who sees it. It screams "expensive" and "quality". Gen Rolexes are light, flimsy and have a cheap feeling... they aren't impressive watches visually, and they usually impress NO ONE.

That doesn't mean they aren't great watches. They absolutely are, and I love them. And I agree about the extreme details... they are important for us WIS. But for the 99,9% of people... no. Technically and historically Rolex is above Breitling and Omega any day... the 3135/3185 inhouse movements are legendary, and their innovations in the watch world are beyond comparison.

You know how big of a Rolex fan I am... but that doesn't stop me from looking at these watches objectively. I don't think the "superb quality" (that they definitely possess) is very apparent or invasive to any "outsider".

Best reps are visually closer to the gen than some people are willing to admit. I agree the "overall construction quality" isn't there, but that's a different issue.

A lot has been written about the 904 steel. It has higher corrosion resistance, and as the metal is a bit harder it doesn't scratch as easily.

Corrosion resistance is pretty much meaningless on a wrist watch. How many rusty old diver watches you have ever seen?

PS: Moved this thread to the correct section.

Best possible choice.

SMP chrono is probably my all time favorite Omega watch.

I think the biggest thing is: Many people consider genuine Rolexes something special... that they have something "big" that reps don't. You know... "they MUST be special because they cost $5K", etc.

I can assure you: They're NOT anything special. The visual differences between best reps and genuines are virtually non-existant. Super luminova is pretty much the only thing, and even that is not as dramatic as you might think. When you take huge pictures you can see differences in dial print quality, SEL fitting, etc. But we're talking about extremely small differences that often aren't even visible to the naked eye.

Rep and gen Rolexes are both just automatic watches that keep time, made of cheap and cheaper stainless steel base metal. Something like WM9 v2 looks and feels almost exactly like the gen after you have "treated" the bracelet. I'd say the best Rolex reps are visually in the 95% range, WM9 even closer.

One of the weirdest (and longest living) myths is that brightness of the 904 steel is "easy to spot". I disagree completely... there's no way you can "spot" that unless you have both reps and gens side-by-side, in a direct light exposure. The visual difference between properly treated & polished rep bracelet and gen 904 steel is minimal.

The only meaningful advantage of the 904 steel is in the marketing department. It probably costs a few dollars more (for a ton).

@Robsa: Sorry man, I definitely wasn't flaming you... it was just general mumbling and my wicked sense of humor... Offshore might be right though. There are so many myths about Rolex reps that are untrue. Some of these myths were probably true 4-5 years ago. Today's reps are so much better made. But as always, there are big individual differences between reps.

Too bad I crashed my car this morning

Damn. What a way to start a day!

But think about the bright side: It's not too bad that you're here, telling us about it.

I don't get it. How is it I can buy a generic s/s bracelet from ebay for $20 that has lasted three years without any problems, and the same on the OEM bracelets on $100 Seikos and yet I hear about all these failures on reps. If I'm paying over $100 for a watch I shouldn't have to deal with all this s**t. I'm starting to think that the rep watch market is a total scam and that people are paying very good money for inferior products. I recently purchased a used Seiko Velatura for around $120 and if there's any rep that come remotely close in quality at that price I'd me amazed.

You probably don't realize that there is no such definition as "replica quality". I mean, there is no any kind of common "quality standard" among them. They are not like "Rolexes" or "Omegas"... they are simply watches manufactured by numerous different factories.

Some of them are very good quality watches, some are not. Especially the cheaper ones fall into the latter category. Some reps have been generally made very well, all around. Some reps are otherwise good but have some weak parts (like the lousy bracelet on the PO 4th Gen).

Many of our veteran members own genuines that are 500 times more expensive than your Seiko Velatura. Even Breguets and Pateks. These people still enjoy reps and consider the best ones very good quality watches.

PS: I have been watching your posts since the day one. I suggest you find another hobby if all you can come up with is negativity. There are other places, like the Poor Man's Watch Forum if you want to brag about the amazing quality of your $100 Seiko. Nobody is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to buy things that you consider "total scam". I suggest you drop the attitude.

Have a nice day Dennis.

Indeed.

Another really nice writeup.

TAG Guide updated again. Thanks Morlock!!!

EBAY LISTING

$1600 right now.

The previous owner has apparently used this watch for... well... "exploring".

Looks like even the black bezel numbers are possible to "wear out". First time I see this happen though.

Really hot!

AP's are bad arse watches. Great lume of course ("ZZ Top quality").