Hi all, have been collecting reps for about 10 years now.
I'm in a position to buy a gen, my budget is 25k USD approx, I can't wear gold watches due to my religious beliefs.
I love the AP ROO but the exorbitant services prices put me off, and I have a rep AP diver & Ap diver carbon rep (just died a year ago after 5 years of good service).
I find most Rolex steel models are being worn for purely 'image' and 'lifestyle' associated with 'bling' so buying a hulk or batgirl has become offputting to me, I don't even want to buy the rep. Daytona is still has a little classiness left (although the hype is ruining that too) so I could buy a gen panda but the replica is so similar for so little money and when I travel I can take it with me (I travel a fair amount).
Patek nautilus would be lovely but is out of my price range and people often want to see my watch up close so the movement in the rep would give it away, aquanaught at 30k usd, I wouldn't pay 30k for it. Gold daytona, yachtmaster patek world timer would have been good shoutse but due to religious beliefs they are out.
Other watches I've looked at in gen around 10k+ on the used market still take a massive hit when you try to sell and if I'm spending that much I would want it to retain value. If I were to buy gen, I would Ideally something with a well decorated movement and sapphire caseback. Also without silly servicing costs. F P journe for example I have heard nightmares about the servicing time period and price else if there was something non gold/platinum from them I would be onboard.
Other reps I like are AP bumblebee, bronze big pilot, blancpain 50 fathoms. What's the point of buying gen on those will just end up costing tons of money when I can have the same thing without the risk of walking around in an expensive watch and saving the money for other things
I have Big Pilot and top gun, Ap diver steel and carbon. Pam 253, PP aquanaught (can't wear much as people will see from the caseback it's a rep). I have others which I don't wearat all (frank muller jumping hour, Rolex DSSD, piaget upstream, omega seamaster with orange bezel.