paneraiguy Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Guys,knowing what you know about our great hobby and how great our Reps are getting, would you be so quick as to race out now and buy the real deal of the watches you have and spend the big bucks? Myself I am not too sure?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adeodatus Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I'd spend only on watches with in-house movements for their horological value. For stock ETA (even moddified) dress-ups - forget about it. Don't care if watch was assembled in Swizerland or in "Shitinerand" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asciwhite Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 If I had the cash.... This is the one I would use money on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tolis Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I'd spend only on watches with in-house movements for their horological value. For stock ETA (even moddified) dress-ups - forget about it. Don't care if watch was assembled in Swizerland or in "Shitinerand" why my friend?if you buy steinhart ocean 1 made swiss its original!why you must pay for replica ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain swoop Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I have a Gen Seamaster. I got into Reps because I wanted a replica to wear when I go fishing or I am working so I don't mess up the Gen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Q: Would you buy a gen? A: No Even if I had cash to burn, I simply couldn't justify the expence of the item. Reps have enough of the aesthetic of the gen to satisfy my desire to 'collect', and I couldn't care less if anyone was to think I was a wannabe poser for 'wearing a fake', so no, absolutely no reason for me to buy any gen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Yes, I would buy a gen. I buy them for those I think are life time keepers and also those which I think will maintain value. For everything else reps or frankens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adeodatus Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 why my friend?if you buy steinhart ocean 1 made swiss its original!why you must pay for replica ? Well, Steinhart's are also replicas, or homages, if you will, in a sense that Gunther uses other's design for most of his watches. If he would use his own design, in his price range, by all means I'd buy his watch if I liked it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtguk Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I have a couple of gens at the mo which I bought as I knew for sure I 'had' to have them, one is the SMP, I have had both movements and in the end settled on the Qtz for ease of use, the other is a Tag Grand Date which I just love to look at on the wrist, never see the time when I first look at it lol I did buy a Cal5 Aquaracer Gen too but after comparing it to the Rep I just couldn't justify keeping it the Rep is that good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dvn Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Yes, I would buy a gen. I buy them for those I think are life time keepers and also those which I think will maintain value. For everything else reps or frankens. +1 I might want to add it depend of the watch too. For Panerai I would not buy a gen since the rep of these are so good. Rolex is the one you should be buying GEN since it holds value well. My 2 cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justasgood Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Sure, but only if it's a great deal: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
automatico Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 "Would You Buy a Gen?" rolex... 'Unworn' from gray market...maybe, but only if I had it pre sold for a profit. Used rolex to use for parts to fix another watch...yes if the price was right. Used for resale...yes, if it was cheap enough. New from AD...never. Other brands with 'inhouse' movements... Not unless they sell parts. Your $2000 'bargain' can soon go DOA with no parts or into a $3000 watch after 'factory' service. Who sells common parts? (crystals, crowns, movement parts) I can think of three... Citizen Seiko Omega, but getting worse by the day. I am sure there are others and there are always a few gray market parts available. TAG and rolex crowns and case tubes for example. Try to find a new 'fish crown' for an IWC or a gold crown for a Patek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sul Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 When I will buy new Ferrari, then I will buy gen high-end watch also, not before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingkaiser Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Can buy, and have bought. There's something nice about NEVER worrying about being called out, but frankly our reps have nailed the aesthetic. Plus, as I see watches around town, I realize that I have never been close enough to see the tells; even if it's with someone I grabbed lunch with. Unless its an investment or a watch for which the rep didn't exist, I don't think I would go gen again (beyond the handful I already own). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain swoop Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 (edited) I have to say I don't know and have never met anyone who would be able to tell the current reps from original. I wear my original Omega and a Rep and no one has noticed at all. Edited January 19, 2012 by captain swoop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Of course. If for no other reason than to be able to attend gen GTGs with impunity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacob_coulter Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I own both, and I've come to the conclusion that genuine high end watches are beyond rip offs, especially in this day in age. Decades ago, brands like Rolex and Omega were more reasonably priced (though still expensive) The new prices now though are simply insane, they have absolutely no grounding with the actual cost to manufacture. There is higher quality obviously in Gens, but it's very subtle, especially compared to the Super Reps now available. When you buy an $8k to $10k new Rolex, you're buying a watch that probably cost around $500 to manufacture (obviously I'm excluding cases where there's precious metals involved) I've worked in a high end industry that was similar. It cost very little to actually produce the item, but you mark up the price well over 1000% because your customer WANTS it that way. If it was cheap, they'd run in the other direction, even if it was identical. My biggest problem with replicas is that the quality control is hit and miss, but that's mainly because most customers of replica watches just want something as cheap as possible so cartels chase after that demographic since that is where the numbers are. I will gladly pay more if the quality is there, but sometimes it's hard to know what if it's the same product with better marketing. If Seiko can make a quality mechanical watch that lasts for under $100, the $300-$400 replicas really have no excuse for quality control problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gran Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Genuine is better (but way too expensive) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabularasa415 Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 The only gen watches I buy are Rolex, Tudor and Omega (vintage -- before they were sucked into the vortex of mediocrity). A.) I value the in house movements from a horological perspective and B.) I don't think I'd lose any (if so, then little) money I've invested into them. Now, for the rest... I think the reps are the best bargains out there ;-) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txcollector Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I own gens, frankens and reps. I buy gens for function only and if i can find the same function on a rep, I choose the rep. I franken my reps to replace low quality parts with high quality ones (e.g. straps) or if the defects on the rep parts bug me too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiesn089 Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 (edited) Of course! My next one will be a Zenith El Primero directly from an AD. Imo replicas are a good way to testrun watches or watch styles in general, but overall the added value in craftsmanship and engineering you get from most higher end brands mostly justifies the markup you will have to pay (especially second hand). For me personally this of course does only apply to manufacturers with in-house or non-ETA movements. Modern Rolex on the other hand are completely ridiculous and nowhere near the price they are really worth. Good thing I don't like any of them (except the 116520 and while still very, very expensive, the movement makes it interesting for me) and won't buy one (except maybe a Daytona one day). Personally, I won't wear out of the box reps anymore. I love high-end frankens of vintage models and will continue building them, but that's mainly due to the ridiculous prices the gen models command nowadays (yes I'm looking at you VRF millionaires! ) and the fun it is to hunt for parts. It's a thing you have to experience I guess. When you've owned several well made gens (and frankens with a lot of gen parts) or really got to know some of the technical details of a few higher end movements for example, you don't want to go back to Guangzhou standards. That's at least how I feel. But one thing's for certain, you will appreciate and admire the small details gen watches excel in far more than anyone without experience in reps beforehand. Edited January 19, 2012 by wiesn089 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Of course. If for no other reason than to be able to attend gen GTGs with impunity. From what I've seen of gen forums, The folks at a Gen GTG wouldn't appreciate reps 'as watches' just because they were reps, yet would fawn over anything else just because it was gen, so not the kind of folks I'd want to hang out with anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I own gens, frankens and reps. I buy gens for function only and if i can find the same function on a rep, I choose the rep. I franken my reps to replace low quality parts with high quality ones (e.g. straps) or if the defects on the rep parts bug me too much. That's the first time I've seen someone mention franken work for reasons of functionality, rather than simply to bring the watch aesthetically closer to the gen, ie gen dial/hands/bezel to create the illusion of a gen watch... Always good to see a different perspective Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronin Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 I own Gen's and they have their place. I have recently sworn off high end Gens (even though I have some) from the Rolex/Omega/Panerais of the world and instead have fallen in love with the more Boutique brands like Doxa, Ball, Tutima, Muhle, etc. For the price of two or three REPS, you can have an awesome Gen from some of these makers. I'd spend only on watches with in-house movements for their horological value. For stock ETA (even moddified) dress-ups - forget about it. Don't care if watch was assembled in Swizerland or in "Shitinerand" Funny, I am actually just the opposite and look for the ubiquity of ETA power. The reason being, after they are out of warranty-- I can EASILY fix them myself. I have had horrible experiences with Ebel and Omega in-house movements recently. Also, when something goes wrong on an in-house, be prepared to be without your watch for months. Also, Vintage Gens are another great area to explore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miagi Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 i would only buy gens of watches that there arent any good reps of.. contemplating a longines legends diver now.. would love a rep of it, but its not overly expensive. other than that i find the inhouse movement point good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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