southcoast68

Thanks for the link. Whats up with the Date Just "flower power" dial , and am I the only person who thinks that the current models from Tudor look like S@#t? There is just something ufantazone-esque about them. The Daytona that has what appears to be a two tone meteorite dial is cool looking, nice effect, although way too blingy. In fact most of what they show is way too blingy for me. just my .02 Cheers Edit: whoops, looks like rkdk likes the Tudors, oh well, its all good.

Looks amazing indeed!! Any plans on doing a white dial version of this beauty?

As others have said, there is no grading system for reps, however, please note that some factories put stickers on the crystal marked either "A" or "AAA", apparently distiguishing a rep as having an ETA or Asian movement inside. I don't know if this method of identifying a rep at the factory is real or just a bunch of bunk, but do realize that some reps come from the factory with these stickers affixed, confusing matters more of course. Kenberg and Phoband have the best systems for grading reps, you either get a good one, or a bad one. Roll the dice. Cheers

Verrryyy nice!! This one is growing on me due to its heavy duty "industrial look", quite the conversation peice. You all can correct me if I am wrong, but I beleive the "slots" on the side of the bezel are supposed to resemble the cooling slots on a brake rotor, nice detail. From all these pictures, the subdials look silver in appearence, is this true or is it a trick of the camera? I'll be trying for the older seconds at 9 version of this since I cannot justify the price right now, but congrats on yours, its a real looker. Cheers

Looks more like the latest in throttle body fuel injection technology to me. Definately not my cup of tee, but it is intersting, thanks for sharing. Cheers Edit: hey, I just noticed I crossed the 400 count in posts, hee hee.

1. Breitling Skyland - Not only does it look virtually identical, it feels amazing. Build quality is fantastic, bezel is solid and rotates precisely. The font for the date they got right and the double AR really makes it seem like it has no crystal at all. Folks on the Breitling forums had difficulty picking this out as a rep. 2. Hublot Big Bang - The man responsible for bringing the genuine to life was shocked to find out that rep dealers were advertising with pictures of the replica when he though they were pictures of the genuine. Its a complex design comprised of many parts that the replica makers nailed on about the first try. There are so many versions out now that there is a flavor for just about anyone. 3. Rolex Deep Sea - Available in the replica world at the same time (a bit ahead actually) as the genuine, this has its propriatory case and glide lock clasp design faithfully executed. It was also introduced at a price that most of our community can afford. 4. Tag Heuer Aquaracer Chronograph (Day Date) - Just get the black dial version, change out the day and date wheels with gen ETA parts, and it will be virtually identical to the genuine. The size, weight and finish are spot on. 5. Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph - Identical in size and finish (the bracelet is absolutely beautiful), the only thing it reall needs is a date wheel transplant with the ETA part. 6. Rolex Super Sea Dweller - Some have actually tested one in a diving bell and it passed with flying colors. For the first time we had a SD that captured the essence of the real thing. 7. Breitling SOSF - Based on the must have reviews of a lot of folks in the community and in comparison in pics of the genuine, this one has truly earned its super replica status. 8. Omega Ultimate Planet Ocean (UPO) - With no more modification other than better AR, this one has earned its spot on the list. Nicely done dial, correct looking date font, and overall build quality and weight make this one a joy to own. 9. Bk's joint venture Submariners with Watchmaker9 - Even the base model straight from George boasts gen-like construction and great dial printing. Adding Bk's special treatment to it creates a robust watch that is identical to the real deal. 10. AP Baricello Chronograph - Just out last week it is yet unproven, but I'll include it in my list due to its complex looking proprietory design. Everything from the case and bezel material, to the skeletonized hands are for this model only and in comparison pics to the genuine, looks like a very worthy reproduction of the genuine. Thats my .02

So he feels like a mug 'eh. I say he should enjoy those two reps until they die, which may take as long as the real deal to die, who knows. I know, counterfeiting is wrong, well understood, but when the gen maker charges its customers $6k for a watch that probably costs no more than a couple hundred to make while the rep maker charges $200 for a watch that probably costs $20 to produce, and the rep performs and looks much the same, tell me, who's screwin' who? I know, Iknow, advertising, dealer markup and all pushed up the price, I guess the father I go, the more problems I have with what some gen makers charge their customers based on the name on the dial, and that folks will pay it. I wish I had the cash for more gens, but I'll tell ya, it would be much more of the obscure vintage peices and a lot of Seiko going into the collection these days. Interesting read indeed. Cheers

This issue of Watch Time is da bomb!! Lots of interesting reads from the mentioned Deep Sea review, to how blued screws are made. Pick up a copy of this if you can, highly reccommended. Cheers

Nice write up, thank you for this, and welcome back. I hope all is good on your end. Cheers

WOW, you must really like toast!!!!!

All good points, anyway you slice it, this is interesting news indeed. I'll be watching for a tear down review of this with great interest.

I paid $800 for my first car (1974 Ford Mustang II), and that was a lot for me back in 1985. Now a lot of us spend that much per month on our watch habit, my how things have changed...................

Take a look at the picture of the movement, some parts are of a dark grey or black color, could this be a frictionless type of coating? The sucess of this new movement will be dependent on its build quality and this picture looks promising to me. Concerning the pre-2000 Zenith Daytona, let's not forget one thing. Even though the tighter sub-dial spacing will be a huge visual improvement, there is also the question of the movements thickness. As it is, all 7750 base Daytonas' need to use a case that is too thick to accomodate the movement's thickness. I doubt this can be accomplished when reworking a A7750, and so making a El Primero franken will still be a bit better than an updated rep, but still we shall see. Cheers

There you go! Sorry, don't mean to be a wet blanket here, and I know its a rep, but this may very well be priced at the $700 mark or there abouts, thats a lot for a rep only to have a flaw that would drive a WIS insane. I just gotta wonder, obviously there was a lot of R and D going into this one, and its a rather complex design, so I just wonder why they would not try to remedy such a flaw with what would be easy to fix with the printing of gears on the movement plate. The gen has a skeletonized dial for a reason, this high end rep ignores that completely. Kudos to the makers for putting fourth the effort, and it really does look great, but it may have been better to have it with a solid dial instead of what they did. If 99.9% of the public would not know of this watch anyway, the only people who it would bother is us, and it will.

Like printing a picture of the gears on the top plate of the movement

Excellent post indeed, might even be worth a sticky. It is the reasons you stated that I try to gain my own knowledge in modding or repairing so I can do my own watches. I do not yet have the proper workspace and complete tools to do as much as some members here, but I try to grow little by little and I do it for my own enjoyment. For those our there that think they want a perfectly modded dream watch, re-read this thread and realize that what you are looking to have is sometimes not realistic, especially if you want fast turnaround and perfection. Some modders do it right, and are true artisans, but even they have their limitations based on what they have to work with (cheaper quality parts which are hard to find replacements for). I wonder how many modders start out doing projects on thier kitchen table at nights only to find out that it is much more difficult than what they figured. They find that good lighting, magnification, dexterity (sp) with a screwdriver and the ability to keep things like dirt, hair and sweater lint out of the movement is all part of doing the work sucessfully. Still, they keep on until they have no choice but to dissapear. It also amazes me just how many folks spend thousands modding/building a rep or franken, only to sell it a couple of months later. Much the same as auto restoration I guess, once the project is done, its time to move on since the real interest is building, but even then, after so much work and money, why not enjoy it for a year or so. All this makes a case for getting what you want at the lowest possible price, learning as much as you can so you can take care of the little stuff yourself, and always remember that these are reps and will always be reps no matter what you do to them. When you identify what dream watch you want, shop for a proven modder who can do the work right, budget for the project, and when finished, make that dream watch one of the stars of your collection. Cheers

Perhaps that is the reason I like it

Well, I got the April 2009 edition of Watch Time magazine yesterday and took a quick flip through. I got to page 58 and saw this; They are all absolutely beautiful, but the Aquatimer chronograph is to die for!! If they rep this, I will finally HAVE to get an IWC in da house!! The following are from IWC's website (used without permission); Stainless with blue dial (blue rubber strap is an option) Rose gold on rubber strap. And, the Galapagos Island version in all black. Also, for anyone out there that does not have a copy of this months WT magazine, go and get one. This month is especially good because they have a test on the Rolex Deep Sea with some nice photos (they always have nice photos anyway). Cheers

Congrats on a new job!! Its great to hear of someone finding work these days, and the pens are awesome!! Cheers

Welcome from central Florida , and enjoy your stay. Cheers

Have you got anything from these people before? Are they a trustworthy vendor? I think this is a good indicator if the recent "crack down" in GZ is really as serious as it is described, or if it is being hyped up a bit to boost sales. If we see priced fall, the crackdown is more serious seeing that a lot of vendors will drop prices in the hopes of keeping the flow of business up and help move out stock that they may be in possesion of, getting it out before it winds up be confiscated. If prices creep up due to "the recent difficulty in getting stock because of the recent crack down", then I think that the whole thing is being used to bump profits a bit. Anyway, sorry to thread hijack, thanks for the link. Cheers

As found? Where did they "find" it? I'd like to "find" something like this

Happy B-day to a fellow New Englander , and heres hoping that wonderful spring weather will be upon you soon.

If the factories could rep the El Primero's sub dial spacing, do you realize the range of great reps they could do? Here is a short list. 1. Zenith rainbow (as By-Tor states at the beginning of this thread) 2. Zenith Deluca 3. Movado Datron HS-360 4. Concord Pressario 5. Ebel 1911 6. Rolex 16520 Daytona And, all the variations thereof. Heck, if they did a version that was hand wound, they could do an even better looking Omega Speedy Pro since the subdial spacing would be closer. Of course, I have always said that I would settle for a faux-chrono version of any one of these provided that its build quality and detail were good. I know, I'm dreaming since I have no idea of what it takes to copy a simple watch, never mind a complex chronograph movement. I guess I'm just doing like Robbie G and listing some wanted watches in the hopes that someone in the biz will take notice. Cheers

Wow, looks like the value of my rep collection just went up overnight, thanks China . Seriously though, this may change the hobby for a while, but does anyone really beleive that the rep trade will die? IMO no, there is still too much money to be made here, especially overseas where the average worker makes much much less than in other countries, and the opportunity to make more in the rep trade is a big draw. Folks over there working in the factories probably don't know or care that what they are working on is real or replica, its work, and they do it to earn a living. I think that the real crack downs should be in the legit products we get from China. Everything from Melamine in dog food to lead paint on toys to anti-freeze in toothpaste, to me, is much more serious than rep bags, clothes and watches. Still, the gen manufacturers will fight back, and as well they probably should (its their trademarks being infringed upon), and China will do some house cleaning, but it will come back.