Nightwatch

Hi, I am still stunned by TJGladeRaiders awesome Rolex collection..... Otherwise I second Andyfors general opinion and the one "vintage meets modern watch" which is totally believable, is good for any occasion (interview/date/beach/supermarket/ plane/work) with the added versatility of SS bracelet or strap is the Tudor Blackbay. For the budget a TC may be considered but I think the Blackbay and a TAG Grande Date swiss quartz or a Seiko Diver or 5sports would both be practical and fine.

Hi, good question and interesting points of view in this thread. My take is: Nobody cares, all profit, as along as they sell them by the thousands nobody will care. If it brakes the owner will either get a second one or another watch (win-win). Those that give up are a minority and don´t count. The TD can´t be blamed either as we all read enough about it and some do work for Years. You and me, we are resisting but for how long? A month? A Year? 2 Years? Probably it´s just a question of time until I am ready to knowingly throw the money into a Daytona or Aproo Chrono. Glad that for the IWC there is a solution: the hw IWC Portuguese Fa. Jones with ever-running seconds at six:) - just $118 from Sead - see those pics and for the Daytonas there is the whole vintage range with running secs at 9, for the AP probably a Quartz will do (same caseset and much, much cheaper) The other question is: what is it the factories have with blue screws?? There are some blanc ones on this, on the gen all are blanc, why do we need blue ones, for assembly purposes?

Thinking of Summerfun at the end of the day:)

Thx Mike, now have another month of reading to do:) And the blue Drake Borealis takes longer than a new rep (blue BB) to come out, keen on that one. Now for the more expensive brand gens they do have another trick up the sleeve - wait until You need a service from the AD. Just wanted to check waterproofness on my gen SMP (bought new from the AD a long time ago/nothing wrong with it) and the AD asked me for €500-€600 ($798) with 3-4 months or longer waiting time to send it in (better to replace the O-rings/ better to check the movement/ oh we could put another bezel on it but that´s not included etc.). Don´t want them to polish the case either, like it the way it is and not going to give it away. Had it wp checked for free somewhere else. But have serious doubts about what You get when these are offered 2nd hand from $1500 on the net.

Hi Mikejones. It seems to look good, it has no superlume, it´s expensive, will cost You around $400 shipped, You´re not 100% sure the movement is reliable, You´re never on these and You have to follow instructions about stopping/resetting chrono and date strictly. There are better alternatives for this price. There is a cheap 100% reliable classic transocean chrono in quartz as well. Research on this on the forum, see if others have it and what they say before pulling the trigger. Don´t hurry, take Your time, if nobody has it it´s either brand new or not a good rep. The Breitling Superocean Abyss 42 mm with the Asian ETA I would highly recommend it anytime (not a chrono). Have fun while reading - don´t hurry into that buy. If You discover it´s really good, take it.

Really bad luck on an expensive one and the very first on top. Nevertheless 1 personal experience doesn´t allow for general conclusions. Overall rep looks (with lots of quality-exceptions) have become so good I don´t miss the new 10k gens at all. This could be different if I wanted only 2 watches or if You´re talking gen vintage Rolexes. My personal advice would be to do Your research right: - When there is no super-rep. from Your "dreamwatch" don´t force it, look for something else. - When members say it has flaws or is fragile/prone to failure movement try to stay away from it. - Basic rule in the rep-world: automatic non-chronos are more reliable than chronos; - When "You want/must have" that watch get the quartz or the 21j cheapie version just knowing it´s not gen-like My Breitling SO 42 would have cost a stunning $4.277 in AD, the rep looks the same, does feel good and it looses 2 secs every 40 hours Instead of the Carrera RS2 (after reading about the movement and the lume) decided to buy the swiss Ronda Quartz Tag Chrono grande date, shockproof and never missed a beat (would have been a sizzling $2.350 in the shop). Compared to Conus new gens are 40% or more expensive in the AD (feel ripped off), if I choose them on Chrono 24 I get better prices but would have to figure in the travel and overnight stay. While I wish overall rep quality and promises were better and prices were lower if You do the selection carefully and avoid critical specimens You´re fine to go. Lucky owner of over 15 fine-ticking auto rep-watches and those are all handpicked/ several waterproof.

Hi and welcome to the real rwg from the other rwg:)

Gen and rep: which has the better decorated movement?

Amazing classic-looking hw beauty from Sead landed as well:) Very impressing Portuguese Fa. Jones

New delivery from Sead is just in and it´s fantastic quality all around. Also said I didn´t need qc-pics, just asked him to select a good, nice watch and that´s what he did - 110% happy, shipping was on the 4th day. There are fast communicators, there are fast shippers (which doesn´t have to be a good thing) and there are TD´s like Sead who take their time out in the field to sort a good watch that will last for many years. Thanks Sead:)

Most trusted dealers carry it, the one pictured is from Torobravos and the V5.1 version. There is a newer version V6 out meanwhile, ppl can´t decide which one is better, the numbers on the inner bezel ring look better to me on the new one (slightly smaller).

Hi, the SNZH and the SKX are very easy to modify as You just unscrew the back and after releasing the stem the movement just drops out as a whole (no screws etc.) There is an immense range of modding parts from Blancpain to Tudor and Seiko, Bezelrings, hands, dials in all colours and shades, modern or vintage available which are specifically made so they will fit and drop in perfectly. Take a look at Dagaz and Yobokies to get the idea and have fun:)

Hi, my vote goes for the AP Diver V5.1 or V6 in Stainless steel. Comes with a fantastic quality hard rubber strap. There is a new one in rg and Titanium, it´s lighter. The AP Diver not only looks, it also feels gen, it´s what is fantastic about it. The Ap chronos and there are dozens of them are beautiful and well made but You´ll need to get a strap ($200 extra) and the movement with running secs at 12 may cause problems on top of their $500 or more price. Alternative: The APRO 15400

Wow, the RM Skull Tourbillon cost $618 in the Asian 21j version..... Your best bet on these is to get a Felipe Massa with the A7750, it will still be inaccurate but from a few feet You couldn´t tell. AP´s are more bang for the buck As for Your question: It´s not possible, the best You could get would be a sticker made of plastic and painted in any colour; To make a rep: 1. learn Chinese and make friends 2. pay for 500 reps upfront 3. get the rep-makers a gen so they can dismantle it (being destroyed in the process)! The end-product will be the most expensive rep ever - lol

Ihooq - You are standing in my dream-garage with the right watch. What beauties - all of them:) Citizen NY Diver

Great You are comparing the lume too. With good lume it´s a different watch at night. Love the in-the-dark readability of the KH dial.

Hi, click on forums, scroll down a lot to watches, clothing, accessories and all listed there are trusted. There are some new vintage rg handwound and reliable seconds at 9 Daytonas out on trusty ttw888 and perfect clones that do look good as well.

Hi Aarvidson, base watch was from creation watches (very fast shippers/reliable), lumed bezel insert cost $50 but well worth it/dial/hands all from Yobokies. There are other versions with the 3-6-9 dial and a date-window but it wasn't available when I ordered. Now got used to this and prefer the gilt dial. Specially in the US on ebay You find ready-assembled ones with more or less components. SNZH55 = silver-version SNZH57 = gold-version.

Hi, here´s an example why I did it - quite the other way round: first I was pushed to purchase a gen (because rep-prices now are REALLY high! The latest Blancpain FF is over 514US$!!!!! shipped to EU) and then I put another bunch of bucks into it raising the expense to over half of the value of a rep one!!!!!!! crazy world this has become Pics say more than words ........ so this Seiko SNZH57 became this Fifty-Five Fathoms while I learned a lot along the way which saves me money in the long run on minor tasks For some time I´ve been looking at the 5512/5513´s to use otb and just vintagize a bit - but those crowns they come with are just too big so that has to be changed and.....I came to like gilt dials they don´t come with and...... You get the picture, it´s a lot of fun also. Final pic of my "Franken-Seiko", maybe not gen-like but it doesn´t have to hide from the reps, it goes along quite well...

Have seen some pics already - looks very good and sober to me - no mismatched hands like on the red V2.

No more lume needed at midnight... It´s a beautiful countryside and a fantastic Doxa.

16570 Explorer II today

The rg Ap´s (Diver or Chrono) look fantastic and there is the vintage, handwound Paul Newman Daytona in full gold for reliability (as the AP Diver). Good choosing

Woohooo, missed this thread after the 31th January when it was here for the first time. Nice Seikos flying around:) here´s what I´ve been doing... This dark-blue Seiko SKX009 Diver started it being soon followed by the SZNH57 (thanks to Mike..) which after some mods became this Seiko Fifty-Five-Fathoms:)) and lately couldn´t resist the fully lumed dial of the windable (!) Citizen Promaster NY0040-09W Diver (it´s really tops as well, same league as the Skx009)

Interesting and well chosen mix. These will keep You entertained for a while. Congrats, thanks for sharing.