TeeJay

i did thake my choice and bought a 15000$ EWA and a 3500$ breitling emergency ohh did i forget the iwc big pilot for 10k$ sold but missed.reps sucks yeah they are fun but in the end its a fake nothing more and almost all reps have stupid flaws that will agrevate you each time you look at the watch..

nothing beats a gen sorry.

In terms of physical perfection, I agree. That said, as I mentioned with coke vs generic, sometimes the differences can make the rep nice in its own right

Let me weigh in here guys with the contrarian view. First off, IMO if you ever even consider buying a luxury watch with a wonder of whether anyone will know what it is you are probably missing the fine details that make these pieces exceptional. If you are talking about visual cues, you are right that most good reps come so close to being visually accurate it is hardly even worth the conversation. I would also argue that perfectly objectively, 200 bucks doesn't buy something that truly feels, looks, acts like the real thing in my experience - not without a lot of work and even then it depends on the watch and it still won't be quite the same.

But that said, the little details that truly signal quality are almost always missing in reps. Crooked indices, grinding sounds when using the crown, stripped threads, floppy levers, uneven lume, poor quality glass, unoiled movements, play in hands, sloppy printing, datewheel misalignment, and my favorite - quality and final finish of the steel itself.

Simply put, there are major differences and just because they look close and/or get to 98% or whatever the other 2% is a world apart. The debate lies in whether a person feels that they are important or not. I, of course, do. Very much so. But I suspect many here probably don't and the ones that do can easily be spotted as they usually have less reps in their collections.

Most of the things (but not all) that I mentioned can be corrected by modding, tweaking, etc. The issue for me is whether I have the inclination to bother with it. I used to, but not anymore. I found that I would do all of it and instead of being rewarded there would always be something that still wasn't right. I am drawn to the perfection of it all above all else so for me, if I truly love a watch and its design I want to have the highest achievement of it. Period. But it isn't for knowing what I have or what others think, it is for me and me alone.

Liking fine things that happen to be very expensive isn't snobbery, nor is it absurd to spend money on something that can and has been replicated. So what? They make generic cola that looks and taste a lot like Coke for half the money and I still buy Coke. The cost of anything is relative really.

The one thing that I always feel like I have to defend is the notion that it is a fact that Swiss watches are overpriced. For that matter I suppose reps are overpriced as I would think anything that wasn't the highest quality to be so. It is a personal decision and the cost of material has no basis in that discussion. There can't be a fair comparision unless the items are equal and they aren't. The gap money is the amount one is either willing to pay for perfection or willing to not pay because it is "good enough" for him. That is all...

As an example, I had a IWC Slevin rep and ended up getting the gen version in Ti. The Slevin rep was $300 and the gen was $5500. Very similar, but here are the differences. The rep had caked on dust and fingerprints under the glass, three crooked indices, a sticky pusher, a terrible lume application, bad rate results, dirty unoiled movement, and my favorite - the bezel mechanism had about a 16th of play in it and wouldn't land in the center. Did the watches look to be the same quality from arms length? Sure. But the details that I find a bare minimum in any nice watch were all missing. So it wasn't even a moments decision to spend the additional $5200 to have those items be right. But the rep served its purpose. I bought it to see if I would really like the design and would want to have it as a permanent part of my collection. I did.

But I think you see my point. Many people on these boards buy reps to save money on the genuine counterparts. Many buy them to be able to feel like they are wearing a luxury item that they couldn't ordinarily afford but look like they can and be noticed by others or whatever. And everything in between. I know I am probably the exception given that I have evolved to use reps simply as a trial run for potential future gen purchases. We all have our thing.

In my current box the pieces in there have a retail value of nearly $30K. That scares me now that I say that as I realize what I scaled back from. Silly. But I was right to do so. No sense in being wasteful. If they were all reps I would have maybe $1500 at most in them. Or would it - because I wouldn't have 5 reps I would have probably 50 by now if I had kept going. Anyway, I realize it is a huge price differential but again, it is how much you are willing to pay for what moves you? In my life experience I can say one thing for sure and that is my comfort level and pleasure is usually found when I pay more for things rather than less. Watches, hotels, sheets, booze, clothes, cars, etc. In each one of those items there will always be a way to say that we are overpaying for something that is not needed. Will I not be able to sleep with 600 thread count? Must I really have 1000? If hotels are for sleeping why pay $700 a night with a butler on your floor when you can get a bed for $38 at Quality Inn or whatever? $7 a bottle Scotch still gets you drunk but do you want to drink it? You might say that I'm the poster child for the saying, "Life is too short" When in doubt, I ratchet up rather than down because hey, why not travel in style when you can. Call me a snob, but [censored] Creek tastes better than cheap bourbon to my taste buds...

Watches are no different. We all know that if you want pure perfection from any particular watch you have to get the gen - or do some major modding. It is kind of a joke around here when someone starts complaining about rep issues. We say almost in unison "Dude, you better get the gen then." I realized I was on of those guys so I stopped buying and stopped complaining. But if the details don't move you, why bother? A rep is more than fine if all you are about is looking down and seeing something that is 95% or more visually accurate to the gen. The point being that this debate can never really be a worthwhile one as there is only one thing to consider: There is no answer as to whether a rep is better than a gen or vice versa for the money. It is a loaded question. The better debate is not a debate but a poll which says knowing that reps are flawed and gens are not, but reps are economical and gens are way more expensive consider this: Do you care about details enough to pay through the nose for them for them or would you rather have something which is "close enough" and save the money because you don't care about those details so much?

I also think that the longer you are collecting reps you can get jaded too. When you are newer at it and just buying everything in sight in the honeymoon you don't have time to reflect as much and consider the collection and where you are going at first. It seems like we all get more refined into one mode of thinking or another as we move through the years. Anyway, I would like to hear the debate from that angle - the "Who cares about details" and who doesn't angle that is. I think the money aspect of it matters less if you are firmly planted on one side of the fence or another.

.02

I do see your point, bro, and I would agree, that with some things, yes, paying a higher price will often result in a superior product. However, I don't think that that necessarily renders the cheaper product unacceptable... To use coke as an example which you mentioned, I've found that some generic colas have a taste very different to Coca Cola, but that taste, is still pleasant. I do understand what you mean, no, it's not snobbery, and it's not even elitism. I guess all I can call it, 'is an appreciation for the finer things in life': A case of being used to top rate quality, and being prepared to pay for it, on the understanding that you are actually getting something for your money. In a way, I'm the same, in that I'm prepared to pay more for something if I feel like it, but in many situations (and simply because life hasn't been as financially kind to me as others) I'm mostly unwilling to pay the higher price tag, simply because I cannot justify it to myself. To me, I can't justify buying one bottle of Pepsi (which totally PWNS coke ) when for the same amount, I can buy two, maybe three bottles of supermarket generic, which I will enjoy just as much as the Pepsi. I drink a lot of cola, due to hypoglycemia, so for me, it's more beneficial to have a longer-lasting supply, than a smaller quantity with the brand name From that point of view, I am getting more for my money by buying cheap, rather than 'getting more for my money' in terms of quality...

With regards watches, the only rep I bought which really fits in the catagory of flaws you described, would be the canal st. PAM I bought in Spain last year. Other than that, even though the watches I've bought could not be considered 'super reps', I don't think any of them have had the kind of flaws you've described. Even the Rolex I'm wearing now, the only issue with the dial, is because I wanted to 'paint over' the dial print. The indices are all on straight, the print is of even quality, and, as I mentioned before, the lume lasted for 8 hours. If the hands weren't vintage, and matched the indices, and if I hadn't taken a Sharpie to the dial ( ) then it would look like a reasonably nice watch. Oh, the bezel teeth could probably be better, but, for my plans, I think the 'lighter' teeth will look better (I want it to look like an elegant watch) than the more deep teeth of an out and out 'action Sub'.

It's like when we were discussing the different properties of the various precious metals. There does come a certain point when the property of the precious metal simply cannot be substituted with the rep. But, that's when it comes down to the point you made, is that difference, really worth the additional costs? Financially, I would say yes, because the metal is worth that money, and without that metal in the rep, it will never fully replicate the gen. But, on a personal level, I can only say that I can't justify the amount (if I could afford it ) simply because to me, that kind of detail, while something I can appreciate, is not one of my priorities for actually buying the watch. When I tried on the GMTIIC, I was actually impressed with the feel of it as a watch. It had 'the feel' which I wanted a Rolex to have, when I first strapped on a Sub a few years back, and thought it felt like a lightweight piece of garbage. The GMTIIC gave me the feeling I was expecting, but by the same token, the Explorer II which I tried on, I couldn't get it off my wrist quickly enough. It looked and felt like crap on my wrist. It felt no better than any of my SS reps. It certainly didn't look as good as the watches in By-Tor's incredible photos... In a way, I have a reverse view to yours with regards rep/gen purchasses. I'll go into an AD, try on the gen, and if I like it, I'll buy a rep. As yet, I've never felt let down by the rep compared to the gen in terms of satisfaction with the product as a comparison to the gen, although, I have been let down by the feeling of two gens I tried on (the Submariner and Explorer II). As a result, I bought my Sub rep (which I'm now selling, and simply don't enjoy wearing) and equally, simply wouldn't buy a rep of the Explorer II, simply because I don't think I'd actually want to wear it...

So many different opinions and perspectives as to who likes what and why they like it, this place is sure never to get dull

This is Time4Direct@RWI / Prestigewatchco @ RepGeek.....

Most likely same as watcheden?

Watcheden is Tony's RWI shop, PWC is a different dealer. I have to admit, my deal with PWC for my 104 was my smoothest transaction of them all... Just don't let MickeyPadge hear me say that I've seen the light blue sub on Tony's site for a couple of weeks, and, I have to admit, I wasn't over impressed. I think the other blue submariner available is nicer in terms of the 'blue'.

My advice to anyone would be to buy the pale blue model for the case and bracelet,

but then swap over the bezel insert and dial from the darker blue

They say you can't polish a turd...

Well, maybe not polish, but at least make it look nice on the plate

Were any mods done to the strap, or was it just forced into place? Looks good

I see what you mean now TeeJay, and it truly is a hobby in which each enthusiast has their own personal reasons as to why they do it. I think the point you made about giving the history of your watch should someone ask, regardless if it is a rep or not, is very true. You are still treating these manufcrs. with respect and dignity regardless if there is a Gen or Rep on your wrist. I am also like you, I'm a cheap bastard and would rather by the REP than the GEN. But for me, (and everyone is different) its about seeing and being a part of a recreation of an expensive piece, finding its flaws, fixing the flaws, and truly enjoying the modification of it, and naturally, to make it look as close as it can to a GEN.

Don't get me wrong, with some stuff, I'll pay whatever it costs, I've always been a believer in the motto "it costs what it costs", but, if I can get a cheaper alternative, then in most instances, that'll be my choice

The funny thing, is that I've never actually modded a watch to get it visually closer to a gen, for the sake of getting it visually closer to a gen. When I installed a black second-sweep hand on my 113, it was because the factory-installed white hand, simply wasn't clear against the white dial. Sure, the outcome was that it was visually closer to the gen, but that wasn't actually my intention when doing it

Some people say that buying a rep means "you want to look cool" and I tell them thats not true, mind you I do want to have a nice expensive watch on my wrist for the fraction of the cost, but I couldnt care less if anyone even looks at my watch. IF i never get a compliment for the remainder of my life on what is on my wrist, it will never stop me from enjoying reps and enjoying the hobby as a whole.

Indeed, I think anyone who does say that other people are doing it to 'look cool', are just insecure and trying to knock a homey's hussle. Yes, people want to wear nice watches, but that's because they want to wear a nice watch. People like to wear nice clothes, but it isn't so much a case of trying to impress anyone, it's just a case of wanting to look presentable The Rolex I cobbled together (in the wrist check) and wore last night, didn't get one word spoken about it, but, it was perfect for what I was wearing. It definitely got eyeballed a few times, but no one said anything. I'll take that over "Is that real??!!!" or "Nice watch!" any day of the week, as it means someone's appreciating the watch, but keeping it to themselves

For me, it all started when my friend spent 2k on a used PAM 111, it has scratches on the front, back exhibition sapphire was scratched (somehow!) and I had a $200 rep right next to it. He immediately started to get [censored] because his overtime, and weekend hours that he worked just to BUY a used one lost all justification of his expensive time piece. He returned the used GEN (had 10 days to return if he didnt like on a used purchase) and purchased the rep and is now much happier, and now has $1800 bucks in his pocket.

That's an awesome example I hope your friend told the AD he was returning it to buy a cheaper rep of the same watch That'd've really bugged them The crazy thing about it, is that your friend is probably just as happy with the rep, if not more so, than he would've been with the gen As I've said before, rep or gen, expensive or cheaper, a nice watch, will always be a nice watch, regardless of what the dial or price tag says

Also, i'd like to say, someone will think what they want about you having a REP or a GEN before they even see the watch, or have a conversation with you. The few people in your lives, or strangers, that do know about watches, will immediately have an opinion, based on the car you drive, your clothes you wear, and your history (if they know you). If you have a $6k watch on your wrist, and have asked for money for burger king the majority of your life, then its pretty easy to tell that you have a rep, or you hit the lotto and didnt tell anyone But once again, thats only if you care what people think.

Precisely The other thing which needs to be taken into account, is the ponce bigging it up at the bar, shaking his wrist every 2 seconds to get the attention, even if he happens to be wearing a gen (but chances are, that kind of behaviour it'll be a rep) will be thought of much worse, than the person sitting quietly, wearing a rep, which only gets exposed when he raises his arm to take a drink

I for one have a good job, good pay, and having a PAN gen, and a B-Ling Gen is completely believable. But for someone to have a $35,000 chopard and they work in customer service, i'd like to think thats a REP before I even talk to the person wearing the watch. but then again, there I go again casting opinions and judging people :)

I know what you mean, in theory, the person behind the till might not be in the pay bracket to afford a gen, but, there are always factors to through the equasion... Graduation presents, inheritance (either the item itself, or the cash used to buy it) random fluke like snagging a watch put for the stake in a poker game... Unless the dial reads 'Bolex', it's always possible that a watch is genuine, even if unlikely... I remember once sitting opposite a businessman on a train coming out of London wearing a TT Sub. At first glance, one might think 'gen', but, his clothes looked like they'd come from a thrift store, and I figure someone working in the city, able to afford a TT Sub, would at least be able to afford a decent suit for work Also, although he might admittedly have simply been tired, but his entire demeanor was, well, let's just say a tattoo on his foreheard reading 'PWNED!' would have just about summed it up Equally, another time, I saw a guy of similar age wearing a TT Sub with jeans and a Ralph Lauren polo shirt, but, he didn't have a 'broken by the system' air about him, and his clothes, while worn, were at least good quality. I figured he probably had the kind of position where he could wear what he wanted

We've derailed from the original question is "how" the chinese are doing this. How the replication is so on point (for the most part) and since it's illegal there too, how are they having these manufacturer locations and once they get the rep and dissect it and get the first one replicated, is it a matter of just doing it again, does it go through a machine? or is it still hand made like the GEN, but with cheaper parts.

Well, there's the factories who just buy a gen, dismantle it, and then copy every part, and there's also the factories which are contracted by the companies to produce the parts (such as highlighted by the Hublot BigBang fiasco) and who just make surplus parts to pass on.

And probably several other sources as well My dad used to work in engineering, and the company he worked for dealt a lot with formula one commissions, as well as other industrial component manufacturers, and it ultimately just comes down to having an adequately stocked machine shop, the people to operate the machinery, and the raw materials for manufacture. If something can be made by one person, then it's possible for someone else to replicate it

I think that would work and look good, and you can fit the sub parts in the airking and get some thing like this

Thanks, bro I think if I'm lucky and the Air-King dial fits (and I think it should) then I definitely think it'll have the kind of look of the SOH. I have to admit, I had planned on keeping the sub as it was on the NATO strap, but I wanted a watch on a strap for the costume party, and that seemed the most logical watch to alter. The strap gives the case a real elegance, which surprisingly, the bezel actually adds to in this instance (maybe it's the lack of crown guards) so I thought that a more elegant dial might look nice

As you say, I can always put the Sub dial in the Air-King case, and that'll then be wearable on the NATO I like what you've done with yours. It doesn't matter that the dial's sterilized, it looks like a really nice, functional watch

I'm wearing this at the moment

I wore it out last night, to a friends 'gangster-themed' birthday drinks. I didn't flash it about at all, and no one actually commented on it, but I did catch a few people eye-balling it at various points of the evening I kept it on over-night, rather than changing back to my GMT Sub, and when I woke up this morning, I had an idea for using it in a further project Oh, also, the lume kept it's charge for about 8 hours. It wasn't glowing this morning, but I could easily tell what the time was, and I've just kept it on all day

I'm thinking of taking this Silix Vintage Submariner:

Swapping in the dial and hands from this AirKing:

And hopefully getting something resembling the Breitling SOH:

Given the measurements of the viewable dial area of the Submariner, I think it might work... Another long-term project, but I just wanted to share

The dial in this sub is measuring at 28mm, but is only displaying at 27 The plan can continue

Case size on my 5501 is 34.25mm and dial is 27mm. Air Kings and Dates are the same sizes as far as I know.

I had a feeling they were the same Thanks for the info on the size Time to get out the measuring instroments

Thanks for everyone's responses so far. I have to say that I agree that a GEN is not chosen based on price, its chosen out of its history, creativity, and individuality in this huge market we love and fear. What I do say, is that I can't justify wearing a 5,000 panerai, when I know

A. no one in my life will know what it is, and B. it costs me 200 bucks to get the rep and it feels, looks, acts like the real thing. I cant justify the price at all. and I know you're buying tradition, history, knowledge, exclusivity, but then i'd rather buy the rep, i just dont know why

Personally, I take an interest in the traditions and history behind the watches, but, I still prefer to buy reps, because at heart, I'm a cheap bastard When I was wearing my 029a on vacation in Spain, and someone we were dining with asked me about it, I was able to tell them just as much about the history of the company as I could have it had been a gen, so I don't consider that any disrespect to the heritage at all, as the story is still being told with respect. In circumstances like that, when someone is simply showing an interest in a watch, I don't think it matters if is rep or gen, as they're interested in the watch itself, so it's not actually a question of it being rep or gen.

When someone does recoqnize my watch, i'll know enough about it that I will blow them out of the water with my stats and specs, so they will have to assume its real, otherwise i wouldnt know so much right? Its all about who knows more, the hunt vs. hunted, so if you come off knowing more about your piece, no one will questions its authenticity.

I'd have to disagree with you there. Someone might know a watch inside and out, but, at the end of the day, if someone suspects that a watch is a rep (and to be honest, it is) trying to convince them otherwise, is a pointless exercise. Most people have the manners not to ask if a watch is rep or gen, and those who don't, and do ask, they certainly don't deserve an intelligent response I think a chuckle and "who cares?" is all they deserve Trying to pass a rep off as gen is just asking for public humiliation

Now here is the thing, a lot of people will tell you they do it for themselves, they dont care who recognizes the piece their wearing, and they dont care if people stop you and ask about your watch. I do agree to some point that we collectors are not doing it for being noticed, we're just doing it out of a hobby, but then why are we working so hard to get our rep watch to work properly, and why is it such a top priority to tweak it and hack it. Couldnt we just spend 300 bucks on a citizen eco-drive and never deal with clock adjustments again? There is no such thing as "NO vanity" when it comes to collecting REPS, because thats exactly what it is, its us as the collector trying to find the best mimick piece around, and after we get it, we hack it to make it more reliable on the wrist. So I dont know if i believe people when they say "I do it for myself, i dont care if anyone notices", then all of this REP business would have been created for nothing if there were not people like me (admittedly) that enjoy a rep on the arm for nothing OTHER than vanity, and to enjoy a $5,000 watch piece on my wrist for 300 dollars.

I think it depends on why someone is modding a watch to truly answer that. Someone might want to get the most accurate looking watch, so they'll have the satisfaction of something which looks just as nice as a crazy money gen, but cost a fraction of the cost. Then you've got the crazy bastards like me, who will modify a watch, not for accuracy of replication to the gen, but for personal aesthetic or functional requirements. I didn't build my GMT Sub because I wanted to be wearing a Rolex (because that's the bestest brand EVER!!!1 ) , it was just a case of those were the parts which I thought would fit together, and were easy to obtain, and result in an actual unique watch. Doing a similar thing with an Omega Seamaster, would be pointless. The SMP is available with GMT complication, and all a dial swap would achieve, would essentially, be removing the identifier GMT from the dial... The rest of the dial would be the same. With Rolex however, there is no GMT Submariner made. The GMT watches which visually resemble the Submariner have only ever been identified as GMT Masters, or, in different casing, the Explorer range. I was just going with the parts to give me what I wanted: A Rolex Submariner, with a GMT complication

and TeeJay brings up an awesome point, its not like if we win the lotto, we're going to go out and buy 10 GEN's, and start ripping them apart and using them as toys. its just the fact of owning such a close replica, being able to mod it, and interchange parts with the GEN! Its the fact that we enjoy the hobby more than we enjoy the prices...and after all of this knowledge, we can look down (like teejay) said, and truly said, this watch was 50% upgraded by ME. and if no one notices, who cares, but when someoen does notice, i'll have the knowledge, and my piece will have the looks and guts to prove its point.

I think you misunderstood me slightly, bro. If I won the lotto, I would not suddenly start buying gens just so the watches in my collection would be gens rather than reps, but, if it was a case of having the funds to afford to build my GMTCSub out of gen watches, while I probably wouldn't do it, feeling the money could be better spent, but, from the perpective of actually butchering some Rollies, I wouldn't hesitate to actually do it, simply for the sheer bloody-mindedness of doing it, and the satisfaction of knowing that not only was the watch precicely what I wanted (as mentioned above) but also the satisfaction of knowing that it was actually built out of OEM parts, totally against the manufacturer's intentions

To be honest, I couldn't care less if the watch I build is gen or rep, either way, it'll still be a watch which I personally put together 'my way', or my own pleasure, and that individuality transcends distinctions of rep or gen, especially in the eyes of the general public. Sure, tell them something is a rep, and they're going to think "it's a cheap-ass fake..." Tell them that you built it yourself, and regardless of the parts used, it becomes interesting as a watch in its own right

I've done a search, but can't find any reference. I know the cases are 36mm, I was wondering what size the dials themselves might actually be? I'm guessing around the 25mm region rather than 30mm? Thanks in advance guys Yes, you've guessed it, I've got another crazy idea for a potential build, but I don't think it would work

That's fantastic, thanks for the references, guys Based on those photos, I think I know which case I want to try and cram my project into Thanks again

Nice

Should they be thick or thin?

Buying a new house soon, I need to make some decoration on a tight budget : ) I looked on ebay and there is a lot of "oil paint" that come from China, at ok price ($60-120)

So I ordered one just to see. Well I was surprised and happy.. Probably more a canvas transfer than "paint", but look really good actually!

Now I wonder.. where the hell those seller get them? I am sure they are probably under $30 each and I still pay premium by ebay.

So, I was wondering if anyone here is aware of a web site where I can get some cheaper than ebay. I have found www.doupine.com which sell some I have seen on ebay for about $10 (lol knew it) but I want to find other store.

Thanks

I'm quite happy to do custom requests on canvasses, but they're a bit more than eBay price

I am no where near finished, but I think round one goes to me

Before

After

Definitely Looking good, bro

It looks awesome thus far, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for updates and the finished project Best of luck with it

The VCO is a nice watch. I didn't particularly like mine, but I'd certainly recommend it as a nice watch to someone I'd also suggest a different dealer

You are starting to worry me my Libran brother...

Sorry, bro

...So naturally, we enter the world of replica watches. we fall in love, we get hooked, we buy more, we read, and we modify, we hack, we learn more, and after a while, the rep you purchased is just as good as a GEN, if not better, and the feeling you get after realizing the watch you purchased as a rep, does the same thing as a GEN, is nothing short of spectacular. after all, a gen is a gen, but if you're just a collector and enjoy different types of movements, types of watches, then a REP is for you. Of course there a many of us out there that LOVE to have Gen's just to have it. Just to know that a watch that was so individual in so many ways. Each watch has its unique flaws due to their hand-made techniques.

Couldn't agree with you more strongly. I think that's why I've been feeling my GMT Sub so much. Sure, the SMP was inheritance money. That's sentimental value. But looking down at your watch and knowing that you built it yourself, that it does what it does because you chose to make it that way, well, that just blows anything else out of the water. It's a step up from custom tailoring, because you haven't paid someone else to do it for you, you did it yourself. I guess it's akin to the pride a parent must feel in their children's accomplishments.

For me, reps give me an affordable 'parts box' to play with. Even if I won the lotto, I wouldn't go and buy a load of expensive gens, because personally, I don't think the price tags are justifiable. Overheads and advertising costs? BS. Those losses were recouped long ago with interest, there's just no need for a watch (unless it contains precious metals) to be costing crazy money.

That said, if I could afford to buy the gens of the watches I plan on buying as reps as parts donors for the GMTCSub I plan on building, I'd still do it. I wouldn't care that the ADs would probably shit bricks and have a heart attack to see such watches cannibalized, I'd still be really happy that I was wearing my watch, which I built, my way Have it your way... The BurgerKing of the watch world

I agree with Robbie! There is something about the marvel of the micro mechanics setting on my wrist that could never be matched by anything digital. Digital has its place, but never something so personal as a watch.

I don't know... For everyday wear, I'd agree, mechanical is much nicer, but, I think there is still a time and a place (or rather, activities and environments) where the accuracy of a digital could mean the difference between life and death...

Very eloquent posts with much to ponder and I'll probably repeat some of the good thoughts:

The old saying that quartz has no soul still rings in my ears although I'm only a recent mechanical watch fan of 4 years and I've been around a long time, always the nerd with the latest digital tool watch. I still know the value and accuracy of quartz/digital and ramifications of the new LG video watch phone just revealed at the Vegas Electronics show convention. No real diver will put his life on the line with a mechanical movement when he can have the accuracy of a digital dive watch with a hellavu lot more functions than how much air time he has left. Nor a climber who needs more accuracy than a mechanical can give.

Personally, I'm also now at the advanced age that I need an analog watch dial in an emergency as I can no longer make out digital numbers on a small watch dial without glasses , no reading glasses and I can't see the digits. I guess that's why us older folks are going for analog dials and my gravitation towards the bigger cased watches. I lost my love for the busy faced Breitling only because I could no longer have fun working the bezel timing computations without really squinting with my reading glasses!

Luxury items will always be there for the wealthy, collectors, WIS, so there will always be a market for the Swiss mechanical watch producers, but only for the well established Pateks, Vacherons, Breguets, Omegas, Rolexes; not the fad stuff we have seen recently with the likes of Hublot Big Bang. The designer brands, Mont Blanc, Cartier, etc. will suffer. There is going to be attrition/shrinkage again in the Swiss watch industry as the younger generation use their cellphones to tell time instead of wearing watches, or wear their cellphone watches and us older generation pass on. For the last 30 year I have seen the typical business salesperson (mainly USA) that consider the entry level businessman's watch of choice that you've arrived is a Rolex sub, which is a perfect example of style/persona over its actual intended purpose, but I think that will also change.

I have two sons in their 20's, both quite tech enabled, they prefer looking at their phones for the time and very seldom wear a watch. One likes my watches, but so far only the gizmos quartz that have functions other than time, its just a sign of the times. They can afford good mechanical watches but don't desire them, although if they inherit them, I'm sure the mechanicals will have some meaning.

I am still buying some latest quartz for beach/yard/tool, and as I said above, if I could see all the midgit digital numbers, I'd have the latest coolest tech toy. But these are the kind of watches you throw away or give away rather than have someone like offshore fix. When they crump, there is no emotional attachment. Mechanical, on the other hand, will always have a following that the afficianado will pay to have fixed if it is status, artistic, rare and antique value, they will never dissappear or be wiped out by Digital.

Digital Quartz is a precise tool, Mechanical is gear art, two different mindsets. I don't think one will kill the other, but some producers may blend like the Seiko springdrive to survive financially.

I agree with a lot of what you've said, but that particular phrase made me think of something. In the past, people used to carry their watches in pockets, rather than on their wrists... Perhaps from the perspective of someone from that era, they might see people using cell phones for the time, as a sign of people going back to pocket based, rather than wrist based time keeping, regardless of the actual mechanism being used to track the time Just a thought

a quartz watch lacks a real soul.

a mechanical watch has a heart beat you can fall asleep to...

if you die, your mechanical watch can rundown and die with out you.

it's a testament to mans engineering, accuracy and functionality all comes down to a simple hairsping literally no thicker than a human hair.

at least these are my feelings on the matter : )

To quote from Ogasmo, "I don't want to sound like a queer, or nothing..." but that put a lump in my throat

I actually read that more as "if you die, your mechanical watch will run down and die with you", it really gives the watch the personality of a loyal companion, who chooses to die with its Master, knowing it won't be needed anymore.

Sorry guys, I'll toughen up Arrrrgh... Who saw that Bears game last night?

I see 20-30 watches a week, requiring work.

Most all are quartz, and when the odd mech is presented, most people, when confronted with a quote of $150-$200 for service, just walk away. It is actually surprising, that many actually hand me the watch, and say, "Well see if you can use it for parts"

It really is only the "brand" names, with perceived "value", that even encourage owners to discuss further, whether a service is justified.

I will add, that this applies to older watches, which have come thru the various generations, or are laying round in drawers. If someone has a late model watch, whether it is quartz or mech, and they have paid recent money for it....I believe the owner will then pony up the necessaries for repair. (up to 50% of original cost)

So this is just another look at the thinking of the masses, in the quartz/mech discussion.

Offshore

If someone is not truly a watch enthusiast, just someone who 'wears a watch to tell the time', then I think they might put less emotional value to their watch, and thus less willing to spend larger amounts of money on a service, as they might rather put that money towards a new watch, rather than fixing the old one. I think it's only when someone actually appreciates a particular watch, that they begin to consider it something worth repairing when it 'breaks', rather than just replacing when it 'breaks'...

I'm still wearing this, it just seems to go with everything