By-Tor

I would say v3. WM9 is so good, it's almost impossible to tell... but the SEL recess and fit doesn't look exactly like the gen. Here's my gen 16710... all sports Rollies from this era have this type of SEL recess. On most reps the SEL edges are on par with the lug height (or even above the lugs) which looks dead wrong. Only WM9 v1 was able to execute it correctly. All reps (even WM9) have certain kind of sloppiness in the SEL fitting (small gaps on both sides, etc). Gen is machined with the highest of tolerances.

Gen parts? Yes, genuine insert. ETA dw came as a default and the bracelet is the pin version from an old school non-chrono SMP. Perfect HE valve position, very good lume, superb wave pattern, crown screws in deep like the gen, etc. I simply can't justify a gen, this is just way too good. Long live the old school SMP Chrono rep!

Yep, same for me. I still dislike the pearl though. I saw the rep pics and unfortunately the blue is not even remotely accurate (what a surprise). I wonder which one might be the better choice for the black... stick or Roman numerals. Opinions?

Things have changed a bit for me since the initial post. Only 2 left... the two nicest Rolexes ever (imho).

Congrats!

Good morning. Watch of the day time. Wearing my Aquaracer this morning!

These are web finds... unfortunately the pics are rather small. I didn't initially like the B01 but damn that blue dial is just Does anyone know how the rep blue is in comparison? (Please tell me that it's just as inaccurate as usual... I don't need any more watches) Some black ones here.

Always a great choice. I'm considering the gen too if the rep will disappoint.

Damn that Blackbird is pretty. Much nicer than the BCE actually... I love the brushed finish.

It's a beauty! I always decide "no more gold watches for me" but this post made me reconsider it...

Congrats Ronin, is that a new one? Fish for me.

Now that's the best Sub. Without a question! Enjoy it my friend. I will never part with my v2, either.

Great photo Freddy! Wearing my Aquaracer today, and lovin' it.

That's a great looker. The crown screws in very deep exactly like the gen GMT. Very nice detail.

Italy doesn't deserve anything after this gift from FIFA in 2006 Disgraceful.

That's just fantastic. No date = the original Sub.

New v2 wristies!

Good question. This is the new (gen) SuperOcean and I was very surprised to see the sloppy lume application. Check the '12, '9 and '6 markers. It's surprising because gen Fish XL and BCE have very high quality finish on the dials. This is a $2000+ watch.

Yeah somewhere between those figures, I agree. The dial printing is amazing, the lume is great, the details are great. The only thing that doesn't impress me is fitting of the SELs, which is (or at least WAS) very poorly executed. This is often the achilles heel of Rolex reps. I don't know why it's so hard to do properly.

What joy there is to wear a Invicta? A cheap half-assed "brand" from Indochina (or wherever) that steals designs from all major luxury manufacturers. At least reps are honestly illegal and counterfeit, and often much nicer watches than Invictas. I had 2 Invicta Sub "homages" and they were much poorer watches than most of my reps. I don't see the point of the $1K franken-reps though. Gen Bond Seamaster quartz and TAG Aquaracer quartz are about $700 in the preowned market. Yes, quartz but they actually are in the different league. The detail level and finish is very good. Seikos... well they're actually nice watches and unlike Invicta Seiko is a respectable brand... but personally I don't see them interesting. I owned a Orange Monster once though... it was tank of a watch.

Yeah the SA hype... even I was thinking about one because I actually like SA dials more than Skyland... but I think it's just too big. And it has nothing to do with wrist size or overall size of the wearer... there is a limit for everything and I think 45mm is the limit for a watch to be balanced and good looking. Well, so far I haven't seen anything that would prove me wrong (at least from this higly subjective point of view).

I got lucky with my Skyland v2. I can't see the lume misalignment with a naked eye, unless I'm zooming really hard to the '4 marker. I find it very insignificant and definitely not worth a relume. But I understand that there are much worse dials around. I've seen some with "broken" lume balls, even. There's nothing special about gen Skyland dials, imho. If that great watch has a weak point in design, it's the dial definitely. And I mean both gens and reps... they're a bit boring. It's "matte" and very basic, which is probably why it was so easy to replicate. That's why I wouldn't waste my money on a gen dial. Fish is completely different matter... gen dial on a rep Fish would make an amazing franken. Same with BCE sticks version... rep dials aren't that great in comparison... both have quite bad lume application... all other things are pretty amazing though.

Yeah when it comes to mods, Ziggy is the master and in the league of his own. But the longer I've been around, the LESS sense the mods make to me. Especially those which require shipping the watch somewhere. Mods like gen insert are great... and if you have the skills to make more advanced stuff like swapping the datewheel, etc. it's different of course. I don't, so I simply buy gens and the best OTB reps, like the Skyland v2 which still impresses the hell out of me (without any mods). I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the upcoming 42mm PO... and besides, I love reps when they're $250-$300 but not when they're $700.

I've never been obsessed with the lume, either. I'd rather take very well applied hour markers and zero lume than a torch that has half-assed and sloppy lume application. With reps you can rarely get both.