r11co

My thoughts exactly. It beats me why, with so many models using it that have been repped, they haven't committed to replicating the Cal. 3313 movement or one of its predecessors.

It suffers from the usual problem when trying to emulate the Tri-Compax '3,6,9' layout of the genuine Omega movement using an A7750 with displaced 12 subdial ie. the subdials are spaced too far apart.

And to think JTB offered me the chance to snag Milan away back when the 'Prize Poo' opened.

Yeah, plus it doesn't say CHRONOMETER on the dial....

I used washing up liquid and a vice lined with some wooden blocks to press my 1.8mm springbars in. Worked a treat.

Nicely aged lume on the SMP!! Also, interesting to see the misalignment on the datewheel. Fussy newbs take note!!

This should be in the requests section.

I love it! Brilliant! Its like those stamps with the upside-down bi-plane on them.

That hasn't stopped them in the past. The first 'seconds @ 6' Rolex Daytona reps used a re-worked ETA Valjoux 7750 with aftermarket transfer gears added on. The 100% Asian movement version of that watch didn't appear until some time later, and that was after The Zigmeister doubting that the same mods applied to the Asian 7750 of the time would be reliable. He was (for the most part) right!! A newer, better constructed A7750 was the indirect result!!

Swap the datewheel for one with the correct ETA font and I'd agree with you there. The Carrera also....

Hmm. I bet they blow up in your face. (We're back on gonorrhea, aren't we.......)

All gold, black face stick marker Day-Date. No picture (sorry). Woefully unfashionable, but it gets respect. (A really good early one from Paul. So what if it's too light, no-one else is feeling the weight apart from me...)

TOO much information!!

Actually, another way of interpreting this is that the finish doesn't actually determine the origin - simply that your supplier receives gold finish movements that are allegedly from Swiss factories and nickel finish movements from the Hong Kong distributor. This doesn't preclude that each factory may produce movements in more than one finish. It is a bit like saying my local cash-n-carry sells Diet Coke in cans that say 'Made in England' on them and all their normal Coke says 'Made in USA' on it, so all Diet Coke must be from England then.....

Phew, Randy. For a minute there I thought you were going to mention your Breitling Seawolf and I'd have been wracked with guilt (it still gets TLC and was the only watch I took with me on my recent trip to Amsterdam, and one of two that went with me to Italy). I can understand why the Tudor Sub is still pulling at your heart strings. I'd love one of those. Back on-topic, I haven't regretted a sale yet, although I might get another TAG Link at some point. Each watch has been an experience, plus I look for keepers now.....

They don't seem to have a problem getting them though, so someone is not marking them up or restricting supply to hold on to stocks. Also, at the moment if I need a spare ETA2824 I can get one (a real one!!) by buying a brand new genuine watch and stripping it down, for HALF the price that every watch spares seller on the 'net is asking for for the movement alone.

I'm inclined to think that the rep makers are not this farsighted, or are not long-term gamblers. Stockpiling means having an investment in something that then isn't making you money, in the hope that in the long run you can cash-in, but the process of depreciating the 'average' acceptable rep watch price will continue so there is probably less to gain from the stockpiling for more hassle than to just cash in on the current value of the ETA movements, which is why we are not really experiencing a shortage at all at the moment.

Interesting observation now that I have seen a few more pictures of uPOs with the caseback off. I've had the opportunity to compare my (ETA) uPO with a (DG8413) uPO 'lite' side-by-side. What I noticed was that with the ETA version the movement wasn't clamped to the holding ring, but the ring itself was clamped to the case. With the lite version it was the opposite - movement holder was hanging free in the case but the movement was screwed to the holder. Finisterre's matches this observation. I'm not sure of the significance, but some people have reported movements flopping about in their lite uPOs when they unscrew the crown....

You might want to persevere with getting those thicker bars to fit the strap holes, because otherwise you might find the strap a loose fit and you'll get a gap between it and the watch case. Try a little soap on them....

By this definition, the first 'super rep' was the ETA2892/ST-18 movement 40'th Anniversary 007 SMP of three years ago. Other 'super reps' that predate the term (and the price hikes) include the Link, Link Chrono, Carrera 7750, SMP Chrono, Breitling Seawolf and Chrono Avenger Ti (the previous ones, not the cack new gen) and arguably the first 2824 based SMP (OK, so the He valve is out but the case and strap accepts gen parts...)

You are very insightful TB, if not a little controversial, and I suspect many respondants are being intentionally circumspect with their replies to your points. I think you've hit the nail on the head. Just this morning (before reading this thread) I was thinking how annoyed I am at my most recent experience with a dealer I have used often and praised highly in the past. An order I placed over a month ago and paid for instantly still had not arrived by the middle of last week. I sent a 'jolly reminder' to said dealer who confirmed the order had not even been prepared or sent out - I felt they were taking the [censored] a little, relaxing the quality of their service to me as they have gained my trust and respect. I won't say much more, but this was piled on top of another disappointment from same dealer after promises were made and much assistance was given with a project. No doubt my package will arrive eventually and I will feel a little better. No doubt I will order from them in the future, but I'll be on top of them a bit more next time rather than assuming I will be taken care of in the same way I was when the relationship was building. The 'rep standard' indeed. It seems it is all relative.....

Actually, as I pointed out even before this watch was released, the annoying '10'oclock' He valve postitioning flaw in the standard SMP wouldn't be, and isn't, a flaw on the Chrono version!!

And that person's first post was to ask where they could buy a watch. Perhaps new registrants should be restricted to being able to post only in the Introductions forum for their first week, and all questions be banned in that forum. Initiating this thread was the product of pure laziness and little else....

Don't expect the functions to be replicated very well. The movement will be at best a vague look-alike. Same as with the Breitling B-1 reps that use the Miyota T241 quartz dual display.

Am I correct in saying that the current SMP chrono rep's pushers appear to have screw-down locks but they aren't functional as per the real deal?! Also, I am in agreement that there isn't enough distinguishing the Chrono from the standard SMP. If you already have the standard model then go for something significantly different.