Febus

No, I buy from dealers whose business methods I can live with.

I don't buy from either any more for reasons which are obvious.

Result of all this is that I for one have moved away from reps and started buying mid range gens like Rolex. They hold their value across currencies IMO.

I don't think you're going to make money short term although I think a SD bought at the right price might keep up with inflation in the mid term. As an example I bought a new unworn SD at 2900 pounds sterling, if I'd left the money in the bank it would now be worth 15 percent less in Euros and nearly 20 percent less in US Dollars. I would expect to get 2700-2800 for it secondhand so it's currently performing better than the devaluing currency I bought it in.

These are almost impossible to buy if you're in the EU- very annoying. Paypal not accepted for non us accounts and credit card payments not secure. Very annoying as I'd like to buy one.

They (the brands) would argue that copies 'water down' their brand and make it more common. As well as this they have no control over what the quality of the copies is like or of their distribution. This game is all about control otherwise why do we see Daytonas and green glass Milgauss' selling for thousands of $ over the list price. From my point of view if I'd never become interested in and a purchaser of replica watches then I'd never have started buying genuines. In a very real sense then Rolex and Omega (to name just 2) can thank replica producers for bringing them about $20,000 worth of sales.

The major watch brands have as much chance of stamping out counterfeits as governments do of stamping out crack cocaine abuse. They know it as well. What they will do is bust as many big dealers as possible in order to look like they're doing something while missing out on the real question- why do people buy fakes? Answer that and the problem will go away. 'Aint gonna happen though.

Every single rep I've ever bought had one flaw or another some more annoying than others. I've even been promised one movement, dial and even type of watch and received something totally different. All this from different vendors, some euro based others not. This isn't like going to an AD and buying a gen, there is always going to be some minor issue whether it be the watch itself, customs or servicing after purchase. At least in my experience there always has been.

I wish I had half your skills to do a so called 'kwik and dirty' pictorial of my gens. Some of those pics shame Rolex's own site IMO. Never liked the Datejust before this but I'm starting to think it's a design classic. That said I'd still take an Explorer in front of one (my Wife did!)

Faulty, flawed or not I tend to look at what the rep has to offer me. My personal wants: Robust movement, great design and great build quality. This leaves me looking at gens or QC'd and fairly simple reps. Nothing better for me than forgetting the watch is on my wrist and getting out into the wider world and enjoying it. That said I had a great time with our aesthetically perfect (functionally poor) reps but I guess my priorities have changed. If I'm honest I've moved over to gens but I still love 'our' reps.

Cheers I have to say the Seadweller is my current favourite.

A 'super' SeaDweller today and maybe the rest of the week

Pricing information is relevant to the forum and helps strengthen my resolve that I'll never buy anything from 'the cartel'. Thanks for sharing.

Surprised nobody has brought up the issue of a so called 'sports' watch that isn't water/shock proof yet!

That's a nasty looking rep. I used to have the 'closed factory' Seamaster and even that sacred cow wasn't particularly good IMO. For a start they are all too thick- the gen is a slim and elegant watch unlike the reps. Next up the dial print isn't nearly good enough, bezel pearl, hands not quite right , wave pattern on dial not bold enough, crown guards not right, he valve placement not correct and general not as nice as the original feel. Other than that there have been some great reps of this watch-