GEN vs REP Montoya Ti (latest ed) - opinions

[Smab]

Hi there folks. After 4 years collecting reps, I still haven't pulled the trigger on an AP ROO yet, but damn, they are beautiful

Mainly because of the price, almost twice that of a "generic" rep and doubts about the secs at 12 movements. Spending 500+ USD on a watch with a movement literary a "ticking bomb" bound to go off sooner than later, makes me very sceptic, so I write this post to try to convince myself that it is worth it, if I get some more input and info from you experienced AP collectors.

Since they are all A7750, which in generic should not be a very expencive movement for the makers to obtain, I reckon the high price tag is due to the high level of details and complexity on the case and dial design and overall delicate finish, as well as the need for modifying the generic A7750 movements, to make it a sec at 12 without beeing too unreliable.

After modding the movements over several years, how reliable have they become? Still bound to ship them to service once aquired?

The ones I eager most after, are sadly not talked much about on these pages.

They are the Montoya Ti and the T3 Grey dial (both in Ti, the latest creations from the makers).

Mainly because they are big, yet the Ti will probably not make them too uncomfortable to wear. Also because they stand out from most of the "mainstreem" ROO range, with muliple color variations.

Since there is little written about the latest creations, I tried to do some brief research my self.

Found great pics of a gen on ebay (http://www.ebay.com/...=item5d33b18f5e)

Compared to the one on Puretime, there are little to put the finger on. The hex bolts looks a little bigger on the rep (bezel bolts), also the crown sticks slightly more out of the case (is it a tad longer?)

The blue min counter hand is a little darker on the GEN, but it may only be due to lighting conditions.

Yellow and red counter hands looks spot on. So does the dial, apart from the subdials, which have consentric rings, but I do not see them on the pics of the GEN subdials. Maybe also only due to lighting conditions when photos taken. The font on the inner rehaut looks a bit thinner, sharper and more crisp on the GEN (the base tachymeter scale). The AP and Audemars Piguet logo on the dial looks like it is handapplied onto the dial on kind of a plate on the GEN, whereas on the REP the letters are applied directly onto the dial. I am not sure. But this is after studying macro shots.

On the wrist, I doubt there are any obvious tells, perhaps apart from the person wearing it (it is a 45000 USD watch!, limited to 1000 pcs w.w.). I also reckon the rep strap does not have the GEN feel and looks, but it looks similar in the photos, at least. But can be changed to a better strap anytime.

Regarding the T3 model, I have not done much research, but the latest real Ti edition on PureTime looks great in the video (the grey dial one). Only I dislike, is the way the strap is attached, somewhat untraditional to the usual ROO style.

So, any advice on why one should NOT pull the trigger on these beauties? Any obvious flaws I have not any knowledge about?

Again, since there is little to read about these latest realeases on the Forum (only some stuff about the older model T3 and not much about the Ti Montoya at all) I ask for your opinions, and maybe grant me the permit to step into the AP family?

Thanks and happy weekend to all fellow members

[flin0310]

IMO for AP ROO reps, If you want more GEN like than go for Diver V3, Rubberclad RG or Chronopassion, if you want the most beauty ROO on your wrist than go for JPM RG or GP RG mod with real forged carbon, if you want a big ROO than go for T3. Noob factory made AP ROO Sec @ 12 they are amazing reps and worth that price. I have a JPM RG and I have to say "it is the most beauty watch on my wrist" and my next ROO is GP RG with real forged carbon for almost $800 but it's worth. My suggestion for reliability is new stock better than old stock cuz Noob is always improving Sec @ 12 movement and prevent to play chronograph as far as possible.

Edited May 27, 2012 by flin0310

[flin0310]

I don't like Ti case cuz 1. It's scratch magnet and hard to remove it, if sandblasted Ti case scratched is almost no solution to repair it. 2. I like a watch with a bit heavy feel on my wrist