TeeJay

Any time If you say that you like that the BK Sub represents the real thing, personally, I would suggest making it a project and installing some gen parts. That way, you get what is essentially a genuine watch (maybe with the exclusion of the mid-case) so none of the flaws to bug you, you still get the ability to say "I built this..." if asked about it, and save about 50% of the gen retail price... If after completing the project you still really feel the need to get a gen sub, you could always sell it here, and would definitely get a worthy price for it to put towards the gen I just think, that as you've already got the 'best of the best' when it comes to Subs, the differences between the gen and the rep, rather than making you think "Yeah, this is the shit!" are just as likely to make you think "I paid that much for this difference in the watch?" and then make you regret the purchase, which would be a shame. Maybe you'd find a different variant of a Submariner interesting? Not necessarily a Tudor, but maybe a 1680 or 6200...

I'll give it a go and see how I get on I didn't want to get it too raised, as I'm hoping that being more flush with the insert, the marker might stay in place, rather than snagging and getting pulled out, which I've found happen with all my raised pearls thus far...

-Does your mind have to keep going to the fact that it's fake?: No. Once someone gets their head round the fact that the general public who might see the watch will not care what they're wearing, they find they start wearing watches which they enjoy wearing, regardless of how they may appear to others (who most times don't care...) As you say, the word 'fake' doesn't give credit to how good these watches can be. Even stuff out of the box would probably pass as genuine to anyone who doesn't know watches. I think the terms 'forgeries' and 'reproductions' as they would apply to forged paintings are closer to what these watches represent, rather than just being 'fake knock offs'. -What is the mindset of a rep wearer?: Varies from collector to collector... Some people are happy to get a watch 'out of the box' and wear it as is, and will tell anyone who asks that it is a rep, some people prefer to build watches as projects (either accurately to an existing watch, or to a customized design) and there are also those who want to be able to lie to people and pass their rep off as genuine... (They have other issues which a fake watch is never going to resolve ) Personally speaking, I'm happy with an out of the box rep, but I do also like building a watch. As mentioned with my Tudor Sub, the source of the parts means that the watch has meaning for me. If anyone was to ever comment on it, I wouldn't try and pass it off as genuine, but I would explain that I built it myself. Something you need to bear in mind, is your age and income bracket. I know you've said that you could have afforded to buy one, but would a stranger meeting you for the first time think you could afford, or be in the position to own, a genuine Rolex? I say Rolex, because as a brand, it is so widely copied, that to the minds of many, Rolex = Fake. People are more likely to believe that your gen is a rep, than to believe your rep is gen... Could you deal with people thinking it's a fake watch when you know that it isn't, or might that make you feel that it was money wasted? Sure, the same people might ask if the BK is a rep, but at least that is what it is... If, on the other hand, rather than buying a gen, you were to start installing gen parts, if asked if the watch was real, or where you bought it, or even just a 'Nice watch, bro..." while you wouldn't be able to say the watch was 'real', at least you can come out with the trump card of "I built it myself..."

I haven't, the marker is it's literally as taken from the dial, and just glued into place in the insert, but thanks for the tip

With it's new movement, this won't be coming off my wrist any time soon A big thanks to FxrAndy for such an awesome gesture of not just one, but two new movements :drinks: I'd read a while back, the tip of using a Sub dial marker as a replacement pearl on an Omega Planet Ocean. I decided to give it a try on this I think it looks okay, and, being more recessed than the usual Rolex pearls, I'm hoping it won't snag and get pulled out :thumbsupsmileyanim:

Sorry I missed it on the day, but happy birthday, amigo, I hope you had an awesome day :drinks:

Any time, bro I think you're spot on with your point of 'where to go' with a gen after buying it. Sure, an inherited or gifted gen would have sentimental value, and a purchased vintage at least has it's past adventures to be interesting, but a straight up purchased modern gen, that's just 'another watch'... Projects are always fun, and definitely result in a strong connection to the watch, but I accept that not everyone's into projects, and just wants something nice 'out of the box' I think a BK Sub will provide everything a gen sub would provide 'out of the box', except for the bill at the AD

+1 Absolutely spot on, bro

+1 My concern is that if you get a gen, you will wind up with buyer's remorse when comparing it to your BK Sub. I totally get your point that you're buying it as a daily watch, not an investment, but, should you need to sell it in the future, hey, nothing wrong with getting a reasonble price for it, that's just good sense As KBH mentioned, way more important things to be buying/saving for than an overpriced sports watch, when you already own the next best thing already. While I totally get that you're noticing the flaws in the rep, I think you'll find the gen boring in its perfection, and gradually get that sickening feeling of being rolled for several thousand... After quite a while with this watch off my wrist thanks to a dead movement, I just received a new movement to put into this self-built Tudor 79190 Submariner, and I can quite easily say that it won't be coming off my wrist: Here's the gen 79190 for comparison... Look how easy that cyclops makes reading the date Even if I had the cash to buy the gen counterpart, I would not, simply because this watch has personal history and sentimental value (I wore the bracelet and case in a GMT configuration on my honeymoon in Tokyo, the dial was a gift from a friend, the new movement was a gift from another friend and the crystal was from the very first project watch I built) An identical purchased gen would not have any of those things... It might well be 'gen', but in my eyes, it would always be 'less of a watch', and without personal connection. Is the watch perfect? Well, obviously, the insert needs replacing, and the case should have lug holes, I removed the cyclops myself, as I don't like them, but those things don't bother me as it's my watch... At the end of the day, it's your call, I just wouldn't want you to drop the cash, only to wind up with buyer's remorse...

Fantastic

They're good stuff, I've been a fan of Lustbader's work for about 15 years now... With the Nicholas Linnear novels, it's best to start with the Ninja, so everything makes sense... My favorites, were actually the China Maroc trilogy (which he never finished), and if you read enough of the novels, such as Black Heart and French Kiss, it's almost like he's writing on auto-pilot and recycling characters, but there're also a few references to PP watches

I'm curious as to if the rep ceramic inserts are more durable than the genuine inserts. Apart from scratches, I don't believe I have seen reports of anyone shattering a rep insert, but I have heard reports of the gen inserts shattering under certain conditions, such as the watch being dropped...

Excellent choice in reading material, bro, have you read the other Nicholas Linnear novels as well?

Yes please :tu:

Thanks bro, I guess it just doesn't feel like 'my watch'

I've been 'slumming it' the last few days... :bangin:

Sheeeeiiiit, I was just thinking the other day if you'd be giving the project a go, I can't wait to see how it turns out :tu:

Although I was never sold on them from the photos, once I saw a coke GMT 'in the flesh', it really grew on me as a watch Other GMT options might be the Rootbeer GMT if you wanted a real challenge in building, or, had you considered putting the movement in an Explorer II? Personally, I'd vote for the Coke Never seen a Pepsi, but have got one on order, and you'd be welcome to the insert, as I probably won't be using it

Still dying to know the techniques used to achieve these effects... I don't want to have to break out the sodium pentathol

The generosity of the members of this community is humbling in its awesomeness Kudos to all

Always a pleasure seeing shots from the Mod Shop

As with many, my first rep was a modern Rolex Sub: The first which actually had some sentimental value, and which I was totally comfortable wearing, was a 42mm Omega Planet Ocean:

Awesome one on the right

I guess it depends on how one chooses to define the term... Automatic cars, personally, I would consider 'labor saving' rather than idiot proofing, afterall, a certain degree of nous and awareness is still required to be able to drive. For a car to be idiot proofed, I'd consider it to require full automatic driving (ie no need to manually steer) such as the cars in 6th Day or I, Robot, where the ability to actually know how to drive (beyond parking) is not a requirement... Indeed, it hasn't reduced the demand for car designers, but, it does tie the consumer to 'authorized repair centers' for fear of validating a warranty, so the company retains the ability to keep charging the customer after the initial purchase (just like with Rolex service centers, for example) Sure, someone might feel happy doing repairs themselves for most things, but eventually, they might encounter a repair which is beyond their scope, so have to take it back to the garage for the service, only to be told "Sorry, you voided the warranty, it's not our problem anymore..." It's not just selling a product, but also forcing the buyer to remain in a closed market for future 'repairs/upgrades'...

Ahh, I thought you were trying to say that idiot proofing doesn't create idiots, and using drivers as an example of modern drivers not having the knowledge of engines and car set up which a driver back in the 50s/60s/70s would almost certainly have had to a basic degree I can just imagine Lewis Hamilton bending over an engine and being a bit ... I see the point about driving automatic as opposed to manual... I wouldn't go so far as to say that someone who can only drive automatic is a worse driver per se, but I would acknowledge that there is a difference in skill sets involved. I wouldn't blame 'idiot proofing' for creating idiots though, I'd blame substandard education systems and fluoride in the drinking water