Watchmeister

I am with A on is one. They make what they can sell. We get better reps today because there are better factories and better component suppliers. And some reps are virtually perfect other than QC as a result. If a factory could get it right the first time for the same price as our typical V1 they would. V2's and V3's happen because that factory or the next one believes they can sell that quantity. The genius of the rep world today is that the factories have greater control than ever. They do a better job of controlling the prices than gen companies and how many gen watch companies can Pre-sell an entire run?

Get something that reflects you. if you are a suit wearer and like gold the Calatrava is timeless. if you are a frequent traveller and 38-40mm works for you take a good look at the earlier generation JLC Master Geographique. It is a gorgeous SS dress watch for basically half your budget. For the full amount you can get it in Gold. If you are really going to drop $10k plus the Daytona really is a timeless SS classic and the only Rolex I would go for for wedding purposes. It really is very blingy (in a guy way) and it looks stunning peaking out from a tuxedo. Lastly, if you want to go for a bigger watch look but not bulky some of the Portu's are gorgeous. They are very popular among European CEO's. Most importantly, have fun picking it and bear in mind you will likely have it for the rest of your life or until you decide to pass it on to the next generation. By the way my original wedding watch a trillion years ago was an AP ROO and so IMHO that is another elegant timeless SS choice.

Congrats. You can't go wrong with either. Looking forward to seeing it on your wrist.

Actually if the other guy thinks you are good for the money he should go buy a gen, win the bet and collect your money and pocket the difference. In the 1:1 reps I have seen a few of the 1:1 $10k gold reps made for the Middle East a number of years ago. They would probably trick the AD but not you or the service center. And back in the day before reps went large scale even one or two of our dealers (who shall remain nameless) even did some of this.

Gorgeous watch. Congrats. wear it well.

Gorgeous. Wear that one well.

Not to burst everyone's bubble but what do you expect for a $400 rep of an $8k piece. The dial numbers are off, the case back according to a couple of folks looks like a $50 rep (light lazer etching) and the bezel triangle needs a redo. At least you can fix the triangle. IMHO, Everyone loses sight of the fact that no one gets it right the first time....not even the Noob Factory. It is one thing to add a different caseback to make a limited edition. It is another to make a whole new watch.

If I understand you correctly the question is whether you should buy a rep or a homage watch with a real but generic brand? I think the answer is as simple as do you want to wear a watch that says Rolex. The generic branded sub will most likely come with a warranty and be better assembled because of it.

A $400 bezel is random good luck if true. I did price out an SS case and bezel from my dealer and if required the watch and was thousands for the case without caseback.

Very nice boys. Haven't had one in years but always loved them. Wear them well.

I don't think (or rather know) whether the rep rubber will fit on a gen. The dimensions are slightly different. And it has to be the right height for the screw length. I buy a lot of gen parts and the $2400 sounds high to me. The problem is my guy can't get case parts unless I send him the watch.

Complete waste of time. You already know the answer and he ain't ever going to pay. Remember when you were six and the other kid said "I'll bet you a million dollars". Well it may be a "billion dollars today" but the concept hasn't changed.

Liking the Donerix best.

Very nice. Congrats. Wear it well.

Wow, great to see you back. I think you will be surprised how legit the whole rep jndustry has gone. It is a new world. But yeah, some of us old fogies just can't stay away.

So the consumer finances the inventory for the dealers and the dealers earn interest on the payments. Even the gen AD's only get a deposit.

If it is a different factory (Noob or not) it will be interesting to see just how wrong they get it.

The V4 is being acknowledged by Angus. Couldn't get a sense whether it is a Noob redo or a different factory.

7750 has been used as an automatic movement for quite a while. As an example all of the non in-house automatic PAM's use a 7750 base. So do a number of other brands.

Not at all. It is a very reasonable question and I know it can be frustrating to find the right modder.

A hearty welcome. And there is certainly a loyal Doxa fan base so hopefully you will find some interesting posts. And yes, Nanuq knows his stuff on Doxa's.

The 243 Noob is ridiculously good. I have always been partial to the 187....one of my first franken builds. But I have not seen the rep in the flesh and there may be a date changer issue. On the 243 you can plug and play a gen dial or gen movement with rep datewheel. you don't need both. You do with the 187. The 187 wears much bigger...closer to a Fiddy. So I would say for everyday wear go with the 243. In the real world I do consider the 187 the iconic sub. I have thought about buying the gen. I remember when Aaron and his brother (on the forum) both bought gens right about the time the original Honpo's came out. Long way of saying I prefer the 187 but I haven't seen the rep and the 243 is more wearable on a daily basis.

Silver is gorgeous. Great find.

Here is the swap completed. Put in an old school true Swiss ETA 7750. Apparently it was a piece of cake. Of course the date wheel fit in perfectly. Used the rep rotor. By the way the rotor was hanging by a thread on the original movement - classic example of poor rep assembly. now it is reattached to the bearing, properly lubed and attached to the ETA. Rotor is smooth as silk and goodbye second hand stutter.

No matter how good the movement replications get I would still go for solid caseback. So I vote for 29.