Toadtorrent

He's busy arranging a BBQ...anyone for some shrimps on the lava?

I'm from Canada...do you want me to do it or no?

Those are some pretty impressive watches...and with the mods, definite top shelf stuff!! Unfortunately...7/10 of the watches are either not available...or very difficult to obtain (proper movements like 7753, or 2893 based watches)...and almost all of them are made amazing with between $200-400 in mod work (or more if installing gen crowns and what not)...so I'm not sure if they're all that practical for this thread. Nice thread though!! As far as TOP 25 reps in general...we could throw in all the gen dial Ingy's, super-frankens, etc...not practical for the common-man's collecting purposes...but spectacular nonetheless.

That thing is a beast. Can't say I would wear one...but I would love to check one out. It looks to be a top quality rep.

That is a nice one. Congrats!!

I always look forward to your McPhotos. These are great as always...and of a great piece. The new subs look great...and the datewheel sunken isn't noticeable at all with the black background...at least to me. Thanks for doing what you do best...the King of Macros.

Government salaries here are on a grid (even Sr. Executives)...and our salaries are published by law when you get into the 6 figure mark. As a result...there are some decent watches floating around...nothing crazy like $30-40,000 watches in meetings...but $10,000 is not uncommon. I haven't seen nor expect to see a tourbillon in my meetings anytime soon...but TT Tags, Rolex DJ, GMTs, Montblanc, Breitlings, etc are very common...TT Rolex DJs are the most common probably.

You and your crazy wach modding ideas. Just kidding...

The Swiss Fish is a good one...especially with the white or black dial as the blue is a little off. The V3 3717 I still hold off on because of inconsistency in the lume markers...sometimes crooked...sometimes not...sometimes thick and modifiable...sometimes not. The Slevin and CD I didn't think so because of the misaligned and hard to modify inner rotating bezel. The Zigmeister fixed mine and it's great now...but it was a small hard to fix mod before.

And that's what matters!! I have a shiny nickel with your name on it for your MY insert. Just kidding...still out of my price range right now!!

In general...I wouldn't expect any of the lower end watches to be waterproof in the chrono range. The more expensive ones these days, seem to be copying the construction of the gens with all the gaskets, and similar design...but the cheaper ones will be cheaper. They still feel like big, heavy watches...but won't have the same feel as the better ones...very good value feel...but not the same. The chrono function on these cheaper quartz ones will work...just not the same as the gen because the movement layout is different...that is a huge difference but one you may not care about. Mineral crystal vs. sapphire...the latter is tougher...but AR can get scratched...

Either way you go...the watch is beautiful...it's varying shades of beauty. It's funny with vintage watches, that with 40-60 years of servicing options...various generation of gen and aftermarket parts...anything really could go!! Is the font "heavier" or thicker on the new insert...or is that just the angle of the photos? The dots and printing look "fatter" on the newer insert. It could just be the colour too. I would take either insert in a flash to be honest. Perspex, Bakelite, Plexi, Recycled Yoghurt Pots...I'm not picky.

Is there any way to tint the underside of the insert to warm up the white on yours?

That's quite interesting...really minor changes. I do like the design of the dial and overall "top view" of this watch...but am turned off by their thickness proportion and the rounder sides...too blobby for me.

I think this sounds like a project for your first major post. Download pics of the 2...the cheaper one..the more expensive one...and the gen...and do a comparison...write it up, and let us know what YOU think!! From my 2 min scan...the big difference is the cheap ones are quartz with different function of the subdials than the more expensive ones based on an A7750 mechanical movement. The more expensive ones have a rotating disc for the running seconds at 9...while the other appears to have possibly a running seconds centre hand...and stop watch second at 6, 60 minute totalizer at 12 and hours totalizer at 9. Which one is more accurate? I would gather the proper config uses what is offered by the standard A7750 movement. My challenge...should you choose to accept it...is to download pics...resize them for equivalent comparison...and write something up for the community!!

I figured that...but Pepsi Perspex sounds much more catchy. As much as I like the colour combo more personally...I do agree with Bob that the old insert matches your particular specimen more. It was one of the signature elements that really made yours unique. The warmer colours of the other insert match the gilt work nicely. I would like to make an aged, vintage Plastic Pepsi 6542. That is unfortunate about the dot placement. Given the price of the inserts, you would think he would be more accurate in his posting.

It's the top watch of Borgs everywhere. Resistance is futile. It's a funny one...it's interesting...fun to look at. 22mm thick...perfect for 6.5" wrists like Takashi and me. HAH. I like the green ectoplasmic goo...but that's a lot of money for gimics...it's pretty ugly...but technically wild to look at it. It would be mesmerizing to watch.

These are some good choices here too. I've never gone crazy over the Patek sports watches...so couldn't comment on these for accuracy. I like the look of the Grahams...but haven't read or researched enough to know how accurate a reproduction they are. They are impressive looking watches...but like many...as impressive as they may be...I have no idea how accurate they are. The Link Chrono and Porsche Flat 6 are good ones. I left the 3717 series out as the 3717-01/03 usually has at least a couple crooked markers that are the wrong dimensions...and the 3717-02/05 because of the wrong caseback and running seconds hand size. I think the Spitfire (02/05) is more accurate visually out of the box (caseback aside) as the crooked markers on the 3717-01 stand out more to me. I left out the Slevin/CD series because of the misalignment in the internal rotating bezel, sticker on the 2006 CD, colour matching and wrong lume on the Slevin, etc...

I like the Pepsi Perspex...that is the one I am eyeing in my planning. The white is a bit bright on the printing compared with the dial...that's probably the biggest standout issue. Where did this one come from?

I like the DSSD...but it's too big for regular usage for me I think. My big clunker in that department is the Skyland. I'm not a huge fan of the C1 either...but as an accurate rep, it's pretty darned good. I think it's more interesting as a "collection" piece than one I would wear. I don't know if the new Top Gun ceramic IWC would get on this list...possibly...

Looking at his posted topics...it doesn't sound like he was selling. He seems to list topics of purchases he's made from dealer's here...nothing referencing him selling anything...at least from what I saw on a quick scan. I've never read his site...so I have no idea what was on there.

Style aside...I would put forth in no particular order: Ulysse Nardin Maxi Marine Chrono Rolex Deep Sea SeaDweller V3 Omega Seamaster Professional 300 Chrono (white lettering) Breitling Black Steel Skyland V2 Tag Heur Carrera Rolex GMT IIc (the right version) Concord C1 (movement is the main issue...but the rotor is nicely done) Breitling Skyland...either version (if you get a good one, the differences are really splitting hairs) Ebel 1911 Discovery It's tricky...as they each might have something off on them...but the flaws are all pretty minor. What one person considers a show stopper the other person might not even be able to figure what they're talking about. I guess my list is more a list of really good reps out of the box...not a best of.

That's pretty hilarious...I was thinking this sounded like the Top Gear guy...not even thinking his name was Clarkson.

Beautiful watch...and very nice picture as well. I have not seen one in person yet. The AD does not have the Discovery in stock...only the BTR and seeing that in person really made me realize the size is good...not as small or thin as I was expecting.