The Mentalist

I have an ETA UPO so I now don't feel so paranoid about it screwing up on me.

Apart from the shortening the stem fix, is there any other way of replacing the tube and crown? Has anyone tried replacing with a Gen tube/crown? What about find a suitable stem and tube and then putting the UPO crown on top of the replacement stem?

I hear you, but is it really so widespread? Apart from a dozen or so posts on the boards, is it really as bad as is suspected? I think the only people that will really know the extent of the problem are the dealers themselves.

I've had my UPO for a couple of months and have unscrewed the crown regularly to adjust it (almost daily). Thus far, the crown functions as good as the day I bought it (touch wood). Just how endemic is this problem? I have a suspicion that it's nowhere near as bad, given the number of watches sold, as it appears to be. Maybe no more than a couple of dozen. As long as you're careful unscrewing the crown and treat it with a bit of respect, it should last fine. PS. Sod's law, the moment I post this, my crown will suffer the same fate.

Actually, the feel of a Gen 45mm PO and the UPO is virtually identical. There are some very, very barely perceptible details that differ but the UPO is astonishingly good for what it is. Personally, If I could get a PO for $2000, I'd consider myself very lucky. Buy the Gen, you know it makes sense

Damn, I was kinda hoping you were going to show us your collection of Lexington Steele DVDs.

All fixed. I used the two removed links and took it to a jeweller who reassembled it. Incidentally, this jeweller is also an AD and knows a thing or two about Rolexes. He initially did not question it as being a rep until he saw the midlinks which were the wrong shape. He then examined it in great detail and even took the bracelet off to check the endlink engraving and everything else. Totally confused and stunned, he said that if this was a rep, it was the best rep he'd ever seen. He asked me if the bracelet was an after market replacement saying that everything about the watch felt real: the feel, the finish and the detailing. He couldn't understand why every little detail could be replicated so well and why anyone would go to the trouble. It just goes to show, that wok rehaut or not, the high end reps are as close to the real deal as you can get short of paying over the odds or examining the watch next to a Gen.

I have Trusty Blue TT Sub and my bracelet has fallen apart. On the links on the diving extension end of the clasp there is a row of four links and the corresponding screws, and on the other end of the clasp there is a single link with screw. All but the two screws that have fallen out tighten up fine. The ones that have fallen out have no thread. Is this normal or do I have a problem? I just need to know how to fix it. Maybe I should ask Andrew for some extra screws? The bracelet has already been resized with two links removed if that makes any difference. If anyone doesn't understand I'll post some pics once I dig out my camera.

Great story. I would love to find out what vaporised titanium smells like. Shame you couldn't get a pic. I have a perverse fascination with expensive stuff getting wrecked.

Can someone tell me how that PO is a rep? I can't see anything wrong with it. The pearl is good, He valve is in the right place, the hands are the right length, the 12, 3, 6 and 9 markers are correct and the fonts look gen too.

He didn't though did he? I don't see anything wrong with what he did. In fact, there is a whole similar 'rep or gen?' thread going on right now. If anything, it demonstrated a good point.

I think someone's just choked on humble pie, lol. FWIW, I think the GMT looks genuine too. Nice prank.

It really pisses me off when people get their terminology wrong as it adds nothing except confusion. The UPO is the top end 45mm watch offered by the cartel dealers (Josh and Andrew et al). Silix does not stock the UPO and has never done. His top end 45mm version has a dodgy pearl and short markers at 3, 6, 9 and 12 amongst other faults but it does have the correct logo. The UPO has never referred to the 42.5mm version EVER. It's like people using the term 'noobmariner' to refer to any basic Submariner rep when by rights it is should only refer to the asian movement sub marketed by TTK. If people are correct in their terminology it would save newbies a lot of confusion and time.

I see what you mean now. Paul's 'So-called Perfect' sub is the same as Andrew's 'Ultimate Sub' right? And it has that @#!? wok rehaut? To be honest, it doesn't look too bad on Laz's watch until you compare it to your's Lonnie. I take it a true 'Noob' has the straight rehaut? Where did you get your's Lonnie? Thanks for all the help guys and I enjoy your pics and reviews By-Tor!

Arhhhhhh!!!!!!! Now you tell me. Ok, so does TTK sell his Noob with an ETA movement? And where did By-Tor get his? So what exactly are the differences you speak of Lonnie?

Can anyone in the UK recommend a decent watch repair guy in the London area (preferably East London)? All the ones I've been too won't touch a replica with somebody else's ten foot pole. I need my UPO regulated as it's 10 seconds fast per day.

Yep that's the one! Thanks Laz. Is the bracelet as good as the Asian noob?

Question answered. Looks like Paul it is... Thanks chaps. It seems that the term 'Noobmariner' is variable when it should correctly refer to Reg and TTk's original Asian movement Sub.

Thanks! Is that the same as Josh/Andrew's ultimate Sub with wok rehaut or is it a real Noobmariner as sold by Reg and TTK except with a ETA?

I recall reading on here something from By-tor that the Noobmariner has both standard Asian and ETA variants. I just tried to buy one from a dealer here and was told that the ETA Noobmariner does not exist. What gives? Can someone give me a definitive answer on this as it's driving me nuts. Cheers very much.

Ay, there's the rub, to quote the inimitable Bard....

I've been given a recommendation of a dealer called Madoka in China from a relative over there. Anyway, I've been chatting with him this evening and he's emailed me pics of his top of the range Submariner. Here it is: It has solid bracelet and the chap is selling it for $200 shipped including a full set of Submariner paperwork and box. So...is it a POS or not and how does it compare to the Noobmariner, MBW or CN Subs? By way of comparison, here's his basic Sub:

The uPO is good but it's not as Ultimate as it claims to be. There are several glaring faults with it that I'm surprised haven't been picked up on (aside from the obvious logo and AR issues): Caseback Seahorse Logo is wrong Caseback Font is wrong Diving Extension has a small 'bridge' of metal across the slot where it meets the circular hole (however this is easily removed with a little screwdriver and is probably a QC error than a genuine fault) Pearl is placed too far south in the triangle That said, I love my UPO. The build quality is as good as a Gen and will fool all but the most trained of eyes. That's good enough for me.

Woks and dog? I feel my stomach rumbling again, hahahahahaha (That was a joke btw, the only dogs I eat come in a bun with onions and ketchup )

I reported this auction to Ebay days ago but they took sod all notice. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=003 It's obviously a Silix or Trusty rep since the packaging is all wrong and the back does not have the proper caseback. Compare to this auction of a Gen: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tag-Heuer-Link-Ayrto...1QQcmdZViewItem I emailed the seller pointing this out but he told me he was sold the watch by a trusted watchmaker and it was a 100% Genuine watch (where have I heard that one before?). If that was the case, why is he offering this in either black or blue dials? I noticed he had sold another one a week or so earlier: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tag-Heuer-LINK-Ayrto...1QQcmdZViewItem Is there some way of getting this shyster nailed or Ebay to actually give damn?