Hm... I still consider myself a noob but I'm amazed (as Logan said) at the quality that comes right out of an EMS package now-a-days.
My favorite rep was a TT Black & Gold sub from avira, maybe, with a gen bezel + insert, mbw case, gen crown, perfect aftermarket gen 14kt hollow midlink bracelet- wow- that watch was something... transitional with a plexi xtal
To all the gen forum spies reading this- I went through that "transformation" - I started with lower quality gens, moved to cheap reps, moved to expensive reps, moved to spending LOTS of money to mod reps to near perfection, moved to gens, and now I'm into gens in a BIG way. I gained a deep appreciation for several brands (UN, GP) that I would have never looked at had I not stumbled upon the wonderful info in this forum.
I remember Victoria and ttk and all that jazz but I also remember (along with the little post voting icons) "winning" my first year of what was then VIP membership from an anonymous donor (who I believe was Lani) in a thread where I wrote "What RWG means to me" and the membership voted using post icons/voting buttons... good times.