Bit late on this but for the chrono hands you should always use hand removing levers. The Bergeon Presto type tools will chew the chrono hands especially on reps as they are so soft.
Since using levers I've never had a problem
Not sure if there is a rep of this yet, there is a quartz version of the standard 3880 topgun. The problem with these with an auto movement is the secs@6
The index rings are delicate and the markings can be rubbed off very easily. They can be damaged when the crystal is fitted and it looks like the crystal gasket isn't sitting too well around the area of the damage. See the gasket bulging between 25 and 20. I would suspect the gasket was pushed in and rubbed the markings off when the crystal was fitted. Not much you can do apart from replacing the index ring (if you can find one) and use a new gasket. If the gasket gets deformed when fitting it should be replaced as it will never work properly.
Apart from someone trying to clean it and damaging it or a combination of both I can't see any other way this can happen.
The pictures shown are not sterile versions just gens photoshopped, If there was a movement that could replicate the gen then there would be a more accurate rep made using it. All the reps whether sterile or not will have the sub dials too close to the centre.
I have one and really like it, apart from the days issue I would say it is pretty close to gen. There are a few minor issues but personally I wouldn't study it really close to find them, you can always find errors if you look hard enough. The case is very nice but the strap is crap, I've changed mine to a gen with gen deployant. For the price it is a good buy in my opinion, I have no regrets and I am fairly picky!
The days error can be hidden by moving the power reserve hand to full (as it would be on the gen watch when wearing). I have one of these and it is very nice, ok the movement is a long way from the gen but it's inside the case so no one is ever going to see it.
Would be surprised if you can source a gen case, if you can let me know!
The minimum you want for a good franken is gen movement, dial, hands and crown and a modded case (not the bezel machined mod). Add to that a gen bezel and gen index ring and you are nearly gen. Parts alone will run up a good few $ though if you can find a source now. If you can do all the modding yourself and find used gen parts you can get under $1800.
I've PTFE dry lubed a couple of rep movements and they run very smooth but I don't where my rep 3714s very often, like to stick to my frankens
The bracelet is definitely a rep. It has all the tells, the hole in the side of the clasp and the fixing point of the locking pin visible on the underside. Also, and not very obvious, are the pins holding the bracelet together are perfectly flush on a gen and more random on the rep. I have a rep and a gen bracelet so can compare side by side. What you can't tell from a picture is the feel of the gen is so much better quality but then at about 20x the price it should be!
Judging by his feedback and activity I would not doubt he is a legit seller but even the best can be duped if they don't know these minor details. I would suspect that there are plenty of gen owners walking around with rep bracelets on their gens in blissful ignorance.