dabom

nah.. I think people who buy high-end reps are a different breed altogether. You'd only be a poser with low self-esteem if you used your Rollex to pick up chicks! ;-)

I've genuines of both, and I sold both because I didn't love them enough to keep them and I owned them before I owned reps. So my actions now will not change their bottom line since I am not going to buy gens now, and buying reps did not influence my decision.

yeah I totally agree it's unfair and hypocritical.

;-)

Re: salespeople - I don't want the SSD to convince others of my status or anything like that, that is honestly not the intent of any of my reps. I have very nice gens that I pull out for connoisseurs, I certainly don't need reps to "show off". The SSD is there because I don't want the sales experience to be ruined by someone who would prejudge me based on the watch I wear, because of course I would be removing it when I try on watches. And of course, sometimes I don't feel like wearing a gen on vacation.

I made a poor choice of words, agreed. But unless you yourself have not been misunderstood on the net, I suggest people give other people the benefit of the doubt. I've already explained myself, and that should have been the end of the matter, but nooooo... on and on it went.

yes of course. I would never truly judge a person. I mean "impression" like you said.

A side note: I was thinking just now about what someone else on this thread said about caring what people think: I think the "shallow" comment I initially made was facetious in a way, because I myself judge a person by the watch they wear, and I suspect that many watch folks do that. Yesterday on the train I was sitting across from a guy who was wearing a Tag Heuer chronograph. It looked strange to me aesthetically, and sure enough after about 10 seconds I could tell it was a fake and I smugly told my friend sitting next to me (the guy wearing the fake was asleep). Why did I speak up? I think to show off a little my knowledge about the watch world and how I could detect a fake. I told her I could tell by the number of beats of the seconds hand. It's ironic and hypocritical of me to "look down" on someone who was wearing a bad fake, although I don't think I would react the same way if I saw someone wearing a high-end fake. No doubt however, that this in itself is worth studying from a psychological point of view! If I were to take a stab at it though, I think that I see people who wear cheap fakes as posers, and people who buy high-end fakes as people who appreciate quality but not the hype. It's probably whacked thinking I'm sure.

the quality of the reps is simply amazing, but you're right that they don't capture that long term love (dependability) that gens have. I saved so much money by simply trying out these reps and really KNOWING whether I really truly love a watch. The good thing is, even if I don't really fall in love with a watch, I can still keep the rep for the occasional day when I might change my mind. Although we are lucky to have The Zigmeister, I'm always concerned that one day we may not have an easily accessible rep-friendly expert. Sadly, I always have this in mind when I buy a rep - I cannot fall in love with it, because some day it might die and I have no-one to revive it. It gives the watch a throwaway, temporary feel that I don't like to associate with watches.

(moderators, kindly remove the other thread. It's been so hijacked that the meaning has been lost. I'd like to start another, just so we can discuss why we love to wear reps and other random thoughts on the subject. Many thanks!)

Obvious statement: people wear reps for all sorts of reasons. Some wear reps because they can't afford the real thing. Some wear them because they are posers and need it for their low self esteems. For me, I only buy reps of brands I like from a distance. I like their designs, but I don't "appreciate" them. When I truly appreciate a brand, nothing less than a genuine will do. For example, I primarily buy reps of Rolexes and Panerais. I like their designs, but I don't like genuine Rolex movements and bracelets, and Panerai's size is a little too big for me to buy a genuine even though they look good on my wrist in photographs. In a week, I will receive a SSD from Trusty. The reason why I am getting this watch, is because sometimes I go to vacation to watch havens like Hong Kong or Singapore, where it is mandatory to wear a good watch. I may not necessarily want to bring my gen, and it's nice to have an alternative. Why does it matter? Because sales people in those countries are very judgemental about what you put on your wrist, so shallow judgement deserves a shallow response! As for the other reps in my collection, they are more or less "nice watches that I wear to places where they might get stolen or wrecked", and watches that spruce up my collection of gens. I love my gens, but it's nice to have a bit of variety and change it up a little with reps. I take a long time to buy a gen - I have to make sure that I will not get tired of it and will always love it. Buying a gen is a long and thoughtful process. Reps on the other hand are good "tester" watches and fun watches that I don't need to think about so much. I think it's important to have both types. I'll finish off by saying that I really think that if you truly appreciate a brand, you really ought to buy the genuine thing. Although I have pirated movies, I will always go out and buy the legal copy if I appreciate the movie. I think we should be decent enough to pay people for their work if we appreciate it. I know there are many of you who don't have the same morals, and perhaps to you you think that any free ride is a good ride - well consider if you yourself were an artist and someone was enjoying your work but ripping you off. Or perhaps you aren't an artist and you're just an employee - how would you feel if someone got credit for the work you did, and got a raise ahead of you because of it? Perhaps some may think it's hypocritical of me to pontificate since I own reps myself. Well, balance is the key. There are some brands I will never buy reps of, because I truly appreciate their quality and the brand - therefore I reciprocate by buying the real thing. There are some brands which I don't appreciate, but they might have one or two models that are kinda nice, and I wonder what the fuss is all about. I think there's room for both and still be fair. My 2 c.

This is a careless (and judgmental) statement, especially in light of the fact that you already read my clarification. The desire to avoid potential public conflict or derision is not the same as "caring what other people think". Again, I point out that there is a great danger of judging people, because you cannot judge what you don't know. And yet some of you feel compelled to do it, because you haven't learned to be a nicer more gracious person. For your own benefit, I shall explain, but I suspect that such an explanation will generate more argument simply because judgmental people don't like to be pointed wrong. (I thought that by explaining myself the first time, it would end the judging, but it seems to bring out the best judges out of the woodwork for a round 2). I have a relationship with many watch salespeople in the aforementioned 2 countries. I don't feel this knowledge is relevant to the spirit of the thread, which is why I didn't share it. The fact that I am sharing it now makes me shake my own head at how sad a person must be to require this kind of information in order to stop attacking someone (maybe I'm wrong, and even more explanation is required to shut someone up - we shall see). It is not in my best interest, in terms of cultivating my continuous relationship with people who sell genuines if they know that I am wearing a rep. It's nothing personal, it's just business. There I've said it, and I feel sad for having to do it just to bring a damn topic back on track.

Well said sir! This was what I was hoping for - just some sharing, if you feel compelled, of why you like reps. And it's nice to have people who have a happy disposition and see the potential good in people, rather than a cynical outlook. I mean look at how many argumentative posts have resulted in simply having a judgmental attitude toward people - and none of which contribute in the slightest to the spirit of this thread. Let's all be nice and share, instead of nit-picking - shall we?

And you would do well to listen to your own advice. A fox can smell a fox. You obviously think badly of me because you can relate to the same level of animosity. You don't know me, you don't know my nationality, you don't know my ethnic background, you don't know anything. Yet you feel compelled to judge me based on your misunderstanding of that one sentence, with a self-righteous pontification to "show others consideration". I suggest you look in a mirror. This thread is my thread, and I'm trying to bring it back on topic. What's your excuse for coming here?

you don't get it do you? The onus is on you, as a gracious person to give another person the benefit of the doubt - not on me to write a novel on just exactly what I meant by every little sentence. Even after clarifying my statement, you felt compelled to continue blasting me, as if somehow you're justified in your uptightness. Should we really devote pages and pages to me explaining over and over again what I meant, and should we devote pages and pages of me saying that that one little sentence had nothing to do with the spirit of the thread, and to belabor that point is really to be very anal? It would seem so wouldn't it? Since I've already clarified what I meant, and some self-righteous people felt compelled to continue the attack. Why bother? This thread is not about that, so kindly rant on another thread. If you have nothing constructive to add to this conversation, then go elsewhere or attend some anger management class.

There's nothing worse than a thread being derailed off course on such a trivial point. Read between the lines folks. I am a watch guy like everyone else on this board. What do watch people do? Watch people go to watch stores. I am not saying the average man on a HK/Singapore street is shallow, I mean what the heck do I care what they think? However, in a watch store, you have to take off your watch to try on watches - and salespeople judge you by your watch. In N.America, salespeople in general don't care what watch you wear. I suggest some of you take a chill pill and learn to be an easy-going happy person instead of up-tight, overly sensitive and quick to label others as a bigot. I can just imagine some of you are so tightly wound that the slightest thing sets you off. Relax! Now do I have your permission to get back on topic? Hmm? Anyone else wants to have a hissy fit?

What you're saying doesn't make sense. What has the shallowness of people from other countries got to do with the individual? I'm stating that I wanted a near perfect rep, so that I'm not forced to wear my gen to HK/Singapore where people judge you by the watch you wear. The fact that this sort of thing might happen in other countries doesn't change this point, nor is it remotely relevant to what other individuals do since I'm only talking about my own thought processes. ??

Obvious statement: people wear reps for all sorts of reasons. Some wear reps because they can't afford the real thing. Some wear them because they are posers and need it for their low self esteems. For me, I only buy reps of brands I like from a distance. I like their designs, but I don't "appreciate" them. When I truly appreciate a brand, nothing less than a genuine will do. For example, I primarily buy reps of Rolexes and Panerais. I like their designs, but I don't like genuine Rolex movements and bracelets, and Panerai's size is a little too big for me to buy a genuine even though they look good on my wrist in photographs. In a week, I will receive a SSD from Trusty. The reason why I am getting this watch, is because sometimes I go to vacation to watch havens like Hong Kong or Singapore, where it is mandatory to wear a good watch. I may not necessarily want to bring my gen, and it's nice to have an alternative. Why does it matter? Because people in those countries are very judgemental about what you put on your wrist, so shallow judgement deserves a shallow response! As for the other reps in my collection, they are more or less "nice watches that I wear to places where they might get stolen or wrecked", and watches that spruce up my collection of gens. I love my gens, but it's nice to have a bit of variety and change it up a little with reps. I take a long time to buy a gen - I have to make sure that I will not get tired of it and will always love it. Buying a gen is a long and thoughtful process. Reps on the other hand are good "tester" watches and fun watches that I don't need to think about so much. I think it's important to have both types. I'll finish off by saying that I really think that if you truly appreciate a brand, you really ought to buy the genuine thing. Although I have pirated movies, I will always go out and buy the legal copy if I appreciate the movie. I think we should be decent enough to pay people for their work if we appreciate it. I know there are many of you who don't have the same morals, and perhaps to you you think that any free ride is a good ride - well consider if you yourself were an artist and someone was enjoying your work but ripping you off. Or perhaps you aren't an artist and you're just an employee - how would you feel if someone got credit for the work you did, and got a raise ahead of you because of it? Perhaps some may think it's hypocritical of me to pontificate since I own reps myself. Well, balance is the key. There are some brands I will never buy reps of, because I truly appreciate their quality and the brand - therefore I reciprocate by buying the real thing. There are some brands which I don't appreciate, but they might have one or two models that are kinda nice, and I wonder what the fuss is all about. I think there's room for both and still be fair. My 2 c.

The Sub I have has a weak click, and anyone who turns the bezel will know it's a fake. How does the SSD from Trusty click? Nice and solid like the gen? Thanks.

Someone implied there's a forum section where the dealers are rated, or where feedback on dealers are centralized? Where is this? I can't find it. I'm interested in feedback on Andrew, as I'm about to spring on a SSD and I want a Swiss ETA. Thanks.

I have been out of touch with reps for about a year. A year ago, I wouldn't have touched a 7750 because of notorious reliability issues. How about now? Has the quality of Asian 7750s improved such that they are reliable/clean etc.? Thanks.

Thanks gentlemen!

Thank-you for the tip. Where/how can I get a complete crown assembly? Thanks!

Thanks for the quick reply. I am not familiar with Davidsen, having had a sabbatical from reps until recently. Can someone PM me or let me know where I might sample some of his wares? Ta!

Do the current crop of UNITAS based Panerais have spring loaded crowns yet? Hopefully yes?