Super Reps for 2013

[sgtguk]

Saw this fantastic thread over on the other RwG and asked semaj if he minded me posting it here too, it's a great place to read up on the current 'Super Reps' that are available, enjoy 

 

Ok, let me start off buy demystifying the term “super-rep” because it’s banded about on the forums waaaaaay too much. The only way IMO it should be used is to describe a rep that is 99% 1:1, no rep IS 1:1 or they’d just be gens. This is instead, more of a list of “super good looking and quite close to gen” list. This list is the cream of the crop, the best of the best in terms of accuracy and also as a direct result, popularity. I don't want members, especially new members, thinking this is a list of all 1:1 watches, no, instead this is a list to help guid you to the cream of the crop but always remember that a rep watch will always have its flaws.

I have used MemberX’s original list as a base point and built on it. I have included the majority of his original choices, especially those which I’m not familiar with such as Concord etc

I have NOT included modders builds such as RA/Phong. I have only included those who only specialise in one brand, BK/TC/Concepta etc the watches listed are for the most part “out of the box”

Movements; Asian 2836 or swiss, unless the case back is see-through you get the same thing. All watches advised would contain either swiss or asian clone movements unless specified otherwise

Cases: I have included a few watches with gold/white gold/platinum cases in the gen. Obviously, the weight of the rep and gen will not be the same so keep this in mind.

I don’t profess to know this stuff as well as some other members, this is just based on my 2 years collection and reading online. If you have something to add or think something shouldn’t be there, shoot me a PM and I can update the thread.

NB some are better than others in terms of closeness to gen, however all are recognized as being very, very good and close to gen. Small differences from later versions may improve the overall 1:1 propensity of the watch but the earlier version, if applicable, should still be considered very good and accurate. Small differences to the gens such as the placement being off by a few millimeters of the “Swiss made” mark etc are inconsequential.

please note: Those marked *under review* are on the cusp of being removed from the list due to popular consensus that they may may not/should not be classified with the rest of the watches listed. This is a peer reviewed list and majority rules. The more people we have here giving input the better the list will be and more accurate. 

The "list"

Audemars Piguet (AP):

All the AP chronographs advised have seconds at “12” unless specified otherwise

• AP ROO Diver V3-3.5
• AP Montauk v2 & v1
• AP Safari (updated version with silver outlined numerals and rounded pushers)
• AP Rose Gold Rubber Clad (updated version with gold outlined numerals and rounded pushers)
• AP Stainless Steel Rubber Clad (Updated version w/ rounded pushers)
• AP silver theme (Updated version w/ rounded pushers)
• AP chronopassion (Updated version w/ rounded pushers)
• AP White themes (Updated version w/ rounded pushers)
• AP grey themes (Updated version w/ rounded pushers)
• AP black themes ((Updated version w/ rounded pushers)
• AP Rose Gold Don Ramon de la Cruz (Updated version w/ rounded pushers)
• AP Royal Oak Jumbo (current new version) *under review*

Breitling:

• Seawolf v2 all colours
• Super Ocean Steel Fish (SOSF) v2
• Super Ocean Heritage non-chrono v2
• Skyland Avenger chrono v4
• Super Ocean Abyss 44mm
• Super Ocean Abyss 42mm
• Super Avenger chronographs v4

Cartier:

• Santos 100 ultimate chronograph and chronometer

Ebel:

• 1911 discovery chronograph white panda & black

Rolex:

• Anything from TC and BK
• Rolex explorer II – N factory
• Ceramic sub –BP factory
• Sea Dweller - BP factory
• Ultimate DSSD
• Ultimate “Super” sea-dweller (SSD)
• Day-date 2 – N factory
• Date-just 2 – N factory
• Current versions of explorer 1 both 36 and 39mm
• MBW/MW9/MBK sub

Panerai


Too many to list, see below link for an in-depth model analysis done by Ale on RWI    

 

http://www.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/reference-pam-review-107365.html?t=107365

Chopard

• Chopard Mille Miglia GTXL Chrono – grey

IWC

• Ingy Laureus (blue) N-factory
• Portofino Ultimate Version (all colours)
• Mark XVII v2
• Mark XVI v2
• Big pilot 5004 *under review*
• Pilot chrono 3717 latest version
• Top gun chrono 3789 latest version
• Aquatimer Cousteau diver 2006-08 versions
• 3707 Ti Chronograph
• ingy (old version) w/ lello DWO
• Anything from Concepta

Patek

• Nautilus 5711 ultimate SW (blue and gray)
• Nautilus 3711 ultimate SW (black)

Omega

• Ultimate Planet Ocean (UPO)
• 42mm PO (latest ultimate version)
• Planet Ocean Professional (Ploprof) v2
• Ceramic Planet Ocean (latest version from N-factory)*under review*

   

JLC

• Navy Seals Diver (NSD)

Concord

• C1

Vacheron Constantin

• Overseas (latest ultimate Swiss ETA version w/ correct date wheel window)

Sinn

• Sinn U1
• Sinn U2
• Sinn UX
• Sinn U1000
• SoleBox U2

Graham

• Chronofighter

Dewitt

• Academia Chrono

Bell & Ross

• Bell & Ross BR02
• Bell & Ross BR03-92
• Bell & Ross BR03 type aviation swiss quartz

Tag Heuer

• Tag Heuer Aquaracer Chrono
• TAG Heuer Link Calibre 16 Chronograph
• Aquaracer 500M Calibre 5

Hublot

• Diver 4ooo – v4 ultimate
• caviar
• v6 hublot Big Bang stainless steel
• I’m sure there’s more but I know very little about HB’s, others input is needed.

Montblanc

• Montblanc timewalker chrono (new N-factory version)

These are available from our trusted dealers subject to availability and continuing production. Some are no longer being made.

Do NOT PM me asking where you can get blah blah blah etc, ask one of the Trusted Dealers.

 

You can buy these reps here http://www.rwgforum.net/links/category/3-dealer-websites/

 

 

Your input on the content of the list is greatly appreciated guys and I will try to keep it up to date with semaj thread too, thanks and a big shout out to James for getting this list going it takes time and effort to do it    

[Mike on a bike]

Nice find Sgt !    Well it would seem I need to increase my watch buying budget. :bangin: :bangin: !

[cougar1]

Great post sgt, nice to have an updated list. The newer IWC portofino and the Patek Aquanaut V2 could be possibly considered also, neither perfect, but as good as some in the list?

[Legend]

Thank you S for the list.

 

IMHO, the ROO models like the black themes,white themes etc need have further improvements to be considered a super rep. To me, its an instant tell even on the wrist 10ft away.

[semaj]

Thank you S for the list.

 

IMHO, the ROO models like the black themes,white themes etc need have further improvements to be considered a super rep. To me, its an instant tell even on the wrist 10ft away.

hey mate, can you elaborate a little on the themes? Having not (yet) had the privilege of owning all of these I'm basing a lot of the list on info I've seen online and sometimes those sources aren't as refined as they could be. The more input from those amongst the multiple forums, the better.

[Legend]

hey mate, can you elaborate a little on the themes? Having not (yet) had the privilege of owning all of these I'm basing a lot of the list on info I've seen online and sometimes those sources aren't as refined as they could be. The more input from those amongst the multiple forums, the better.

Hello Semaj

 

Firstly, thank you for the efforts in generating this list! It is easy for everyone else to come and throw comments and forget that without such a list, there would not even be a platform for those comments! So thank you kindly to you.

 

The AP ROO reps are good, in my opinion, but not super reps, given the fact that the hand pinion and date window placement and depth are dead giveaways upon casual inspections of the dial. Please see the attachment, gen on left, rep on right.

 

The hand pinion tell is hard to avoid when its smack dead center of the dial. Also note the datewheel position of the rep, its further to the ring, closer to the tachy ring, and the datewheel having not as much "depth". From the pusher/crown side, the linear alignment of the crown with the pushers on the rep, compared with the non-aligned crown and pushers on the gen, are also fairly obvious tells. The gen case is also thinner by about 2mm for most of the rep ROO models.

 

This is just my humble 2 cents.. many still pull off the rep ROOs well.

 

Once again thank you for generating this super rep list.. it is very informative for me.

[Legend]

hey mate, can you elaborate a little on the themes? Having not (yet) had the privilege of owning all of these I'm basing a lot of the list on info I've seen online and sometimes those sources aren't as refined as they could be. The more input from those amongst the multiple forums, the better.

and just to venture a bold guess, is your name James by any chance

[semaj]

Interesting, great info ill have a look over when I'm at a computer, I'm interested to see whether similar issues, the dw placement is more of an issue than the cp imo, whether it applies to all roo models, upcoming 57th included, which btw Toro just posted a sneak peak photo of on the geek

damn it! My cover is blown and name is known you'll be surprised how few people pick up on that though.

[martijnp]

Thanks for this list sgt! 

Still waiting for the new Breitling Navitimer and the AP ROO Chrono 26402 

[Legend]

Interesting, great info ill have a look over when I'm at a computer, I'm interested to see whether similar issues, the dw placement is more of an issue than the cp imo, whether it applies to all roo models, upcoming 57th included, which btw Toro just posted a sneak peak photo of on the geek

damn it! My cover is blown and name is known you'll be surprised how few people pick up on that though.

you're a cool cat. Yes SEMAJ looks familiar and I wondered about it for a while.. then it hit and I just had to ask!

 

A lot of guys would still find the regular ROOs a super rep. Just not me, and I think I am the minority. 

Some ROOs, like the diver, Survivor, some variations of the GP etc, I consider to be closer reps than the ones like black themes, navy, etc. 

[Legend]

Interesting, great info ill have a look over when I'm at a computer, I'm interested to see whether similar issues, the dw placement is more of an issue than the cp imo, whether it applies to all roo models, upcoming 57th included, which btw Toro just posted a sneak peak photo of on the geek

damn it! My cover is blown and name is known you'll be surprised how few people pick up on that though.

can you grab that sneak photo and post it here dammit!!

[semaj]

Oh I should also clarify the term "super rep" isn't used in my list as strictly as it is in say ALE's PAM guide. The main reason for its creation is to point noob members who may not know a thing about reps in the generally correct direction.

this is the reason I'm using the *under review* system/notification rather than just removal, so noobs can see that yes, xyz watch may not be as 1:1 as another on the list but its still a pretty damn fine watch.

 

 

http://www.repgeek.com/showthread.php?t=199987&page=30

 

Edited April 18, 2013 by semaj

[Legend]

Oh I should also clarify the term "super rep" isn't used in my list as strictly as it is in say ALE's PAM guide. The main reason for its creation is to point noob members who may not know a thing about reps in the generally correct direction.

this is the reason I'm using the *under review* system/notification rather than just removal, so noobs can see that yes, xyz watch may not be as 1:1 as another on the list but its still a pretty damn fine watch.

 

 

http://www.repgeek.com/showthread.php?t=199987&page=30

 

Thanks J!!

[FxrAndy]

I just read the linked panerai repgeek review and all i can say is WOW

[sgtguk]

Getting some more input via pm guys but everyone's views are more than welcome the more the merrier      post on the thread though so that we can all have input on this. I hope that some noobs have been reading the list today, if so could any of them comment, so we know the thread is working for them and is a useful exercise  

 

I'll do my best to update the list with James on the other RwG asap        

[Legend]

Getting some more input via pm guys but everyone's views are more than welcome the more the merrier      post on the thread though so that we can all have input on this. I hope that some noobs have been reading the list today, if so could any of them comment, so we know the thread is working for them and is a useful exercise

 

I'll do my best to update the list with James on the other RwG asap        

which brings me to the perennial question S... who has the best sub please? :lol:

[sgtguk]

which brings me to the perennial question S... who has the best sub please? :lol:

 

LMAO   

[billyfras]

which brings me to the perennial question S... who has the best sub please? :lol:

Lol.

Great list, James!

[ls0115]

On the Mark XVII,  I cannot find anything on this but a few TDs claim that the non "V2" version is the best (its the one priced at 338/328). Maybe its just an out of date thing? 

 

PT:

 

Made by the most recent correct Mark XVI maker, the best version at the moment.

 

Unfortunately Toro's site is down which is where I mainly got this info. Has anyone made a good comparison? Why the price discrepancy? 

[indywatchguy]

Way to go Sarge!!!!! I must say I own several of those  SUPER REPS  ENJOY TO THE MAX GENTS!

[Kal Vilmer]

I don't know about the newest ceramic bezeled PO's. The watch has a transparent caseback and the movement is beyond wrong.

[cougar1]

On the Mark XVII,  I cannot find anything on this but a few TDs claim that the non "V2" version is the best (its the one priced at 338/328). Maybe its just an out of date thing? 

 

PT:

 

Made by the most recent correct Mark XVI maker, the best version at the moment.

 

Unfortunately Toro's site is down which is where I mainly got this info. Has anyone made a good comparison? Why the price discrepancy? 

 

Not much info on either the mark xvi or xvii for a while, a few snippets here and there, but the other day I saw this nice review on RWI

http://www.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/iwc-mark-xvii-137437.html

 

Looks quality, now I want one!

[semaj]

I don't know about the newest ceramic bezeled PO's. The watch has a transparent caseback and the movement is beyond wrong.

yes, this has been raised on the other rwg as well, the clear CB is a problem but as a rep itself it is a step in the right direction. The CPO will be downgraded to *under review* but until a better version comes out it'll stay on the list, as a watch its still bloody fantastic.

[cougar1]

Great work Semaj, not sure on the CPO either, great rep but not sure it cuts it. What about the IWC portofinos? latest ones, they look pretty good, not sure if superrep but comes close. Also the V2 PP aquanaut suffers from the obvious open caseback, but surely up there with the nautilus?

 

Wonder if is worth putting star rating 1-5 to differentiate qualities and give an idea or how the reps stack up next to a gen. 1 being close but no cigar and 5 being get out the loupe etc?

[sgtguk]

yes, this has been raised on the other rwg as well, the clear CB is a problem but as a rep itself it is a step in the right direction. The CPO will be downgraded to *under review* but until a better version comes out it'll stay on the list, as a watch its still bloody fantastic.

 

Updated 

 

'Wonder if is worth putting star rating 1-5 to differentiate qualities and give an idea or how the reps stack up next to a gen. 1 being close but no cigar and 5 being get out the loupe etc?'  

 

Let's get some views on it, see what everyone thinks mate