Lutero-
The one you have is definitely CN version. If you want to upgrade to the MBK you now have both an offer from an EU private seller and a trusted dealer to source it Are you going to go for it?
Plan B - Swiss files from the inside out. But if the new pearl is substantially larger than the own one you may want to check which size is the right one.
If you are referring to differences in pictures of gens the answer is yes. Gens can look dramatically different based on camera and settings, lighting, use of photoshop, etc. The only way to satisfy your curiousity is to actually stop by the AD and check out the gen. I have seen the gen laureus but never the rep so I can't tell you how accurate the rep dial is.
I think the choices are pretty simple - either fess up or make a comment to the effect of "I hope not as it was a gift from my (wife/parents/whatever). There are a number of people I have told about the opportunity in reps but they tend to know that I own gens as well and either love it or think I am nuts. If it is a stranger or you are among a whole group of people I guess I would go with the gift concept. I can't imagine being asked though. As has been often said, very rarely is someone really going to stare at your wrist. But I also make it a point not to wear too obvious reps
Sorry to hear that. It is tough enough matching up any off-colored metal even when solid gold as the different color is achieved by introducing impurities. When plating looks close in color (but never in sheen or depth) that is just luck. By the way with the exception of Rolex who tends to to stick to a strict formula you can even find differences in different runs of the same gen.
Ken-
I appreciate your point but absent someone actually dissecting the watches they are not going to be called reps. After all - one is a gen and the other two are frankens. No Asian movements there.
JoJo-
Vacation has come and gone. I do look forward to seeing your 5508 though.
It is off but not as far as you think. Partially attributable to my photo skills. 162 is now a few years old and needs to be serviced and properly aligned. The truth is my gens often look worse than the reps.
Although (IMHO) my 196 is as close as it gets to the gen:
The 162 is in fact a gen. Although I don't usually display gens it is one of the three that went with me this year so it gets equal time.
Every time I head out on vacation I pick three to go with me. Here are my choices for my recent vacation:
BEACHWEAR:
You have to love the ceramic bezel.
Oh look, a peek of yellow. Mellow Yellow disguised with black strap.
Ah, one of the two Swiss HBB's
DINNER WEAR:
Night Shot
Day Shot
CLUBBING:
Until the next vacation.
Fabulous watch. The dial and movement are spectacular. Someone is a very lucky person. And on a self aggrandizing note I must be getting better at this. I conluded it was a gen dial on my own. I enjoy these pop quizzes.
A little confusing here - so you are looking for a titanium cased PAM. Beyond the 89 gmt (and a few others that maybe escaping me) I think most ti pieces are handwinds (36, 118, 177, etc.) and readily available. But when you go into the historic/sandwich dial you are going to end up with a clear caseback. On the automatics the most common ti's would probably be the 89 GMT and 25 Subs. They are both automatics and will have the typical date and cylops issues. When you start talking about Fantasy watches the world is your oyster and I would suggest picking a base watch and starting from there.
If your chrono hand is arbitrarily resetting I would guess it is simply hand slippage on the relevant post. If the hand is fully on check for slippage. SOP is often to glue it onto the post. By the way although it is certainly more common on Asian 7750's Swiss can have the same problem.
Ziggy, thanks for the loop. What I like about these posts is that you get folks who actually know a fair amount about vintage Rolexes together at one time. The thing about Rolexes is that it is a subject where the more you learn the more you realize how much you don't know.