importr

The crown on the gen is not screwed, so the rep shouldn't be either. Plus, with chrono pushers on this rep, the risk of water ingress is higher, so I doubt that a screwed crown would make much difference to its water resistance. At best you could escape with a splash under the tap, but under no circumstances should you swim with it. You can't believe everything that is written in the sales blurb By the sound of what you're saying about the Chrono hand, its needs lifting and re-positioning at 12. The clasp "hooks" indents (on the piece facing the clasp) have probably been ground too wide. Not much you can do here, unless you reground the "hooks" to make them reach longer. I'm not sure if you can send back a watch after 3-4months of use, though! The rep uses the a7750, right? Any watchsmith should've come across a Valjoux 7750 in the course of his/her career. If not, then they shouldn't be messing with yours. Period.

Great post BT Like many of the WISs on the forums, you've spent so much time, money and effort in testing and tasting the gazillions of watches out there. It comes as no surprise to read about how you came to own "watch x" after countless reps of "watch x". I sympathise with you there! Its great to see that you have evolved your collection to something as close to perfection as you would like. The 10 watch philosophy seems to work well, as you said, the watches do get their fair share of wrist time. Although I thought it was 10 REPs, not including gens!! I noticed something else about your collection, they are all actually perfectly attainable watches! Granted, the gens are expensive - but there is nothing in the collection to suggest ostentation or flamboyance! Well done on achieving the right balance!

I've just checked....and the chrono hand is firmly fixed, not loose on the tube or post. So maybe, Francisco , it is a similar problem to what you describe

Thanks guys, but i initially thought it was exactly the problem you describe, but after refitting it twice, and trying to move the needle (it wouldn't move) ......i think it is something more serious. I hope i'm wrong! What i'll do tonight, is put a spare needle on, and see what happens. Thanks again

Hi guys/gals One of my a7750 chronos' hand keeps resetting to different postions. The hand is not loose (i checked and refitted it). For example, if its refitted to 60secs, on the first reset it goes to 3secs, the next reset it goes to 5secs and then the next reset it goes to 7secs etc. Is there a tutorial on how to fix this? Or is it a watchmaker service & repair only?

From past experiences of buying UPOs, not all UPOs are the same. The case and bezel are the same, but I've seen variations in dial and movt. Some UPO dials have the tiny serifs on the arabics (which is true to gen), other dials don't. Then there is the ETA 2824 and Asian clone. There is also the Sellita SW200 which is very similar to the 2824. I've found that the movt keyless works can get unsettled in the Asian and Sellita movts, but ok with the ETA. Most UPOs have crap crown & tube; which means that at some point they strip the threads and will need upgrading to gen parts. The bracelets and straps are the same. The casebacks are different also, soem have the chequer pattern duller than others. The gen caseback should have a satin sheen to the chequer pattern, not completely matte. On my ETA UPO, the caseback centre is matte; i've been meaning to polish it a little.... Buying from Precious Time is usually a safe bet, as he knows what movt is being supplied to him

Good advice, thanks! I was thinking about buying a new gen bezel and tabs....but the total cost is around £350 gbp! So in the photo of your BCE, is that bezel removeable? Cos i have the same bezel on my BCE

nice, the difference in finish is vast. did you get all the gen tabs?

Got my B01 from Joshua yesterday! I'm relieved to say that it is the one I ordered - a fabulous piece, with no problems. Having worn the gen, this looks as expensive and feels like a very well made rep. I would certainly say that it is as good as my v3 BCE. The only cons, would be the sunken date (not that noticable with this Onxy Black dial choice) , the cardinal markers (again, not that noticeable) and the AR, which is good, but not as good as the AR on the rep Super Avenger, for example. I also bought a rep Ocean Racer strap 22mm for this.

Well sir, fear not. Maybe I can inerest you in this new model - I'm sure you will melt at the sight of this....

Joshua is also listing this prototype model. Maybe the official batch have now sold out?

Will the real slim shady please stand up! I now think that the "v2" is actually the real "v1". It reeks of "tester model". Maybe the QC people finally spotted all the tells and corrected them for the official release after CNY?

My answer: No. but thats just my opinion. Both releases are available from Angus. The latest release is on the April offerings. The earlier release is on the March listing. Now, the first version that we all know - V1 - had amongst other things: 1) correct date font as per gen 2) correct pusher length and screwed collar 3) caseback logo has matte finish to centre logo, other text is bold 4) some pics show it with decorated rotor 5) clasp has correct raised wings logo, well defined stamping on other parts the latest release has some very strange things which take it a step backwards: 1) wrong date font. It appears to use the standard a7750 font as per the Navitimer rep 2) wrong pusher length and screwed collar. The thread is visible! 3) caseback logo has shinier finish to centre logo, other text is thin and sharp 4) some pics show it with UNdecorated rotor 5) clasp has flat wings logo, poorer stamping on other parts - looks cheap 6) bezel font seems to be radially "set out". As opposed to tangential on the gen and "V1" 7) CERIFIE instead of CERTIFIE on the dial!! So is this rep actually a V2, or just a prototype batch that they need to shift? It looks like a precursor to the first release....

they did... they call it v2, v3, v4 etc!

You'd think so! but the Super Avenger gen has chrome numbers, whereas the rep has opaque greyish numbers. Chances are, they'll get the Skyland dial wrong aswell

You can't cut & paste PC's pictures. Take a look on their pics - i'm almost sure that the ones we get will be ok.....but it is a bit worrying! I guess that the pictured ones would be the rushed out after prototype models. I too have one on the way from PC

lol i'm crap at reviews! ...and at pics too, compared to the talents on these boards. I'll give it a try though....once i get it. I was going to get the carbon black (aka blackeye grey) but from the official pics, the datewheel should be BLACK and not white as the rep!

I noticed on a certain rep sellers site, that the screws on the bezel rider tabs (if you can still call them that) are inserted off centre. This looks ridiculous and is so obvious. I'm curious if any of the rep B01 owners have any misaligned bezel screws?

I've just ordered my rep B01....black dial as above

Those SOSF shots are simply brilliant. The Pro-II is probably my all time favourite bracelet design

Agreed. I wonder where the reppers got the inspiration from, to put the English notation on this particular BCE bracelet of mine

even the titanium ones? I'm sure on my gen CA and CA M1, the inscriptions are English. Along with "NICKLE FREE BUCKLE" ??

Thank you!

Chaps, I have 2 versions of Pilot bracelet and clasp for my two BCE v3's (which are also different!) One clasp has the French wording MODELE DEPOSE MANUFACTURE EN SUISSE in a not very well defined stamping the other has the English wording REGISTERED MODEL SWISS MADE in a very clear stamping which is correct, or should I say, true to gen? thanks

Bloody hell BT, posted at 4am....now that is commitment! Another fabulous personal review, my friend! Without going over whats already been covered, I think you just about summed it up. Some watches which are a "must have" don't necessarily agree with you, once you own it. Christ, if only I had this advice before spunking "x" amount of cash of watches over the years! lol The photos are breathtaking - you've really captured the highlights of the watch. I think i even felt a little pining for it! I'm so happy that you've found yourself liking it though, and that you've gone to the trouble of "publicising" it. No doubt a large number of emails will be sent to dealers requesting this Ling, following this review.... Congrats BT, wear it well