vikkyrob Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 I have been a member on RWG for almost four years and have loved it. I have bought about 300 reps and in the same time had about 50 gens. BUT What is the point of reps? (I have been having this debate with myself and a good friend for a few weeks) Statement 99% of people have no idea who Patek Philippe are. The 1% who do, 50% could tell even the best rep is a fake and probably belong to a rep forum or work for PP and the other 50% might think you have a nice watch. Questions 1. Are we buying reps because we like gazing at them? 2. Are we trying to fool people into thnking we have enough money to buy a gen? 3. Do we have issues commiting to one watch and this is the best way to own numerous nice watches? 4. Is it the excitement of modding reps? 5. Why are we modding reps? Is it to fool that 1/2% of people who might call us out? 6. All of the above? I know this is a little rambling but I would like your views. I have always fancied a Patek Phillippe and can't afford the gen. I think the new V2 Nautilus looks very good but I don't really like the sunburst blue. I know that as long as I don't take it off my wrist then the blue is unlikely to be called out. I really like the black dial but it is a fantasy watch (gen Nautilus with black dial was in white gold and limited to 100 pieces). Which do I go for? (if anyone has one they want to sell in the EU please email me!) Let me know your thoughts Cheers Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronin Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 All of the above. However, I have had a recent revelation regarding my GEN's. I own quite a few Gens. 4 out of 5 of my higher end (>$4000) GEN's have developed problems within the first two years of ownership, and have had to go to the respective service centers, sometimes for months at a time. I am beginning to think Swiss Quality is a myth. On the flip side, I have a 15yr old Submariner Miyota powered rep that had never missed a beat before I retired it. In fact, for the most part I have been a VERY lucky REP owner in the movement arena. Combine that with the fact I can personally fix/service/R&R REP movements, I am questioning GEN ownership again. I think the "sweet spot" in the GEN world is the less than $2000 more boutique brands like Doxa, Ball, Sinn, etc... but I digress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 A picture is worth 1,000 words. How many of us would love to do this to a gen Rolex? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxman Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 My Pams get me ass...nuff said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penaduny Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 i would say all of the above. also the ratio of 10+ reps to the price of one gen helps the decision. i have a few gens, but no matter what i always want more!!!!!!!!! the addiction is terrible!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HartDoc Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 I'm still the new guy around here. But I started off with reps as a try before I buy (gen) deal. I've been pretty selective on my rep purchases and did my research not just on the watches but the dealers, sellers, and modders. I look at some of my gens esp. the ones with a ETA movement I just cant justify the cost. The build quality for brands like SINN, IWC, JLC etc are so far superior than any rep.. But brands like tag, B&R etc... give me a good rep anyday. Reps has their place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteM Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 My Pams get me ass...nuff said. Mate.... All that hanging around in mens toilets ... it aint the PAMs that are getting you that ass !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteM Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 If I am honest the first rep I bought was to make out it was a gen as I couldnt afford one..... How I thought anyone would think it was gen now amazes me and it didnt last that long anyway!! Years later after owning gens I wandered across this site and realised how good reps had become.... then I bought a few and started to get more into all the different brands the quality and accuracy or not as the case maybe... What I then found was a really great extension of enjoying watches was creating my own watches based on gens that I couldnt buy or didnt want to sell my car to buy !! I found this so much fun and found it introduced me to so many great guys here which in turn led to friendships which I value very highly... I think now I still really enjoy reps... I prefer putting them together and enjoying the search for parts etc and the people it puts me into contact with...but above all I stay around reps to stay around here and enjoy the community, the guys on here and the info it brings... It takes many kinds to make such a great forum and its because of that... we all have different wants from this hobby.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Wow Pete, that response almost sounded grown up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteM Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Wow Pete, that response almost sounded grown up My Mum wrote it on my behalf 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikkyrob Posted October 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Pete I agree with you, but by looking at the absolute minute detail of every genuine in order to fully understand the rep I think it gives one a full respect and admiration for the brand (or in the case of some watch bands you see how much you are paying for crap!!). It takes no time to buy a gen, as long as money is not an issue, but a great rep takes research and a true understanding of horology! (and a huge bag of patience and faith). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 .........but a great rep takes research and a true understanding of horology! (and a huge bag of patience and faith). And that is precisely why I like the rep world! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabularasa415 Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Reps absolutely have their place. I've been out to clubs wearing my gen Rollies and no one's ever noticed (to my knowledge) or said a word, now throw on a rep Cartier Santos 100XL chrono with swiss movement and everybody and their mother's on my sack. Could I buy the gen? Sure, if I sold a gen Rolex (or 2) I love with their in house movements. Would I? Would I sell these watches I love due to their unique factor for a nice piece of jewelry that houses a generic ETA movement with a Cartier decorated rotor for $5-7K when my rep is basically the exact same thing (especially with custom made alligator strap)? HELL NO! We buy and wear reps for many reasons. For some, it's creating a Franken of a piece that's exactly the same as the gen, but doing it for 4K instead of spending the 40K on that grail. For others it's knowing that what they have on their wrist is exactly the same as what they sell in the AD with the exception of it not having rolled off of that producer's line. And then there are those who appreciate the beauty and aesthetics of a watch, but can't afford the price tag. For others, it's keeping up with their co-workers and not wanting to shell out the money for the gen. For most of us, it's probably a little bit of all of the above. For all of us, though, as Pete mentioned, it's really about our brotherhood here. Do you know how many times I've had a member send me a part or piece I've been looking for and not asked for a dime? And of course, when I can, I do the same. I trust my brotherhood of "pirates" more than I trust the sycophantic gen-heads on the gen forums any day. The moral of the story is, everyone donate $5 for server rent. Thank you. ::steps down from soapbox:: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxman Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Mate.... All that hanging around in mens toilets ... it aint the PAMs that are getting you that ass !!!! Sounds like a man thats been there done that ....breath deep mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooky driver Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Mate.... All that hanging around in mens toilets ... it aint the PAMs that are getting you that ass !!!! Sounds like a man thats been there done that ....breath deep mate. FIGHT!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteM Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 this is about ass mate.... not pussies !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooky driver Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 quality pete...give me a min and i,ll get some ass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteM Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 .give me a min and i,ll get some ass Thats what Maxman says when he steps into the toilets !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooky driver Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 FIGHT!!lllllllllV 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooky driver Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 BTW Rob i buy reps because.... 1. I buy reps because I like gazing at them? 2. I am not bothered trying to fool people into thinking i have enough money to buy a gen because most people have never heard of most of my watches? 3. I Do have issues commiting to one watch and this is the best way to own numerous nice watches? 4. Is it the excitement of modding reps? 5. Why are we modding reps? Is it to fool that 1/2% of people who might call us out?...no it's because it's fun and honestly you would need to hold most watches for a few minutes to really decide if it's a rep or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilyailya Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 I keep going back and fourth thinking about this. Some days I want to go and buy a gen, but other days i look at rep and say to my self," a gen would not make me feel any better. It probably would make me feel worse since i spent so much $ on it." some people buy 1 watch, and enjoy wearing it EVERYwhere which is quite fine, but like most of us; we like VARIETY. IF i wanted a variety of gens, it would cost WAY too much $. I find it easier to buy a rep, and if you don't like it, can sell it w/o loosing too much $. Gen you can do that as well, but there you are dealing with thousands, not hundreds of $$. and sometimes you can take a hit. ( and you have thousands tied up). Similar concept with lease/buy yes you can buy and probably save in long run, but you will have thousands of dollars tied up in the car, until you sell it. but leasing, all you are doing is putting little bit of money each month. (yes will run more in long run) but you are not tying up all that cash at once, so you can use it for more important things etc. But in end, i think a lot of us want change/options. We strive to acquire new things that we want. A lot of times once we get them, we don't really want them any-more. You can go and buy a gen Sub/etc tomorrow, but once you bring it home, in a week or 2, you will say, i want something else. So now you would need to sell it to fund another one. Whereas with rep, even if you tired of it, you can still order another rep to keep you occupied, and put the first one aside, till you start to want it again . If I sold all of my watches, i could probably buy a nice Rolex, Pam etc. But i would be stuck with just 1 watch. Now i have a few, and i like it that way. will i ever get a gen? probably, thinking about a speedmaster pro ( cant decide which edition ). but for now reps are great for me and been fairly reliable as well ( my first pam 001, is still ticking after 6 years.) and like others said, its a hobby and being part of a group. learning. interacting etc. gnight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swdivad Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 I have gens and reps... I'm mostly leaning towards reps these days for several reasons, mostly mentioned already... I love gazing at them and I want multiple watches, but can't afford the ones I love... so, I steal them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxman Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Thats what Maxman says when he steps into the toilets !!! The toilet humor is some classy stuff mate....well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJGladeRaider Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 A picture is worth 1,000 words. How many of us would love to do this to a gen Rolex? You should have been more clear dude - most people don't know that you did that before you started wearing it! Animal! Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
permabull Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Champagne tastes and beer money maybe? No, just kidding. I'd add to some of the great points above that I like reps because I can wear them without worrying about getting a ding or scratch on them; I get too protective of any gens I own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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