Old timer here... how about all those old reps? ;-)

[Whatever123]

Hey guys,

 

some of you may still know me, I once was a pretty active member here and I also bought and sold about 50 reps in a couple of years in this hobby. 

Well at some point I wasn't really interested anymore... dived deep into my other hobby photography, bought an Apple Watch... (yeah I know lol). I haven't been online here for around 9 years I think.

Now of course I know absolutely nothing anymore about the rep market. I do have some nice old models though that were bangers when I bought them and I wonder if they still have some value now.

For example the original Noob GMT Master II, the IWC Ingy from around 12 years back, the Submariner that  was hyped so much... I don't even know where it was from anymore, I'll have to check old emails, maybe I find something.

So does it still make sense to sell those old models, or is everything much better now?

 

Cheers

W.

[Jimmythree]

So does it still make sense to sell those old models, or is everything much better now?

 

That's one good question with dozens of answers.

 

I always liked the understated vintage models...5512/13/1680, 1016, 1655, 1675, 5500 AK etc.  The newer Rlx watches, especially the latest 'flash jewelry' models do not interest me much at all.

'Flash Jewelry' = the 41mm DJ, oversized explorer, glitzy ceramic bezel submariners, GMTs etc. along with other latest models.  I like the new Daytonas though. 

 

That being said, it looks like there is a huge rush to the latest, greatest flashy models, both genuine and replica (mostly the replicas with 'phoney cloney' movements).  Maybe it is the newer generation of buyers with $$ to blow and not much (if any) appreciation for older models. 

Who knows?

Not me.

 

I saved a few 'classic replicas'. (Ha!)...unworn swiss ETA 16610 noobmariners, GMTs, 36mm Exps, AKs etc. all with new (now nos) swiss ETAs. 

Are they worth much $$ now?

Yeah, more or less.  Being nos helps a lot and since they have swiss ETA movements, they can be repaired unlike many of the phoney cloney movements in the newest models with no parts supply.  Besides that, the nos swiss ETA movements are worth some $$ now. 

 

I figure a nos swiss ETA 2836-2 powered  F520117 'noobmariner' is worth $475 to $500 USD (or more) today and all the 'replica noobmariners' similar to the swiss ETA powered F520117 models are worth nearly as much. 

The details make the difference, a few mush haves...

Hollow mid link bracelets.

Screws in removable links that pass all the way through the links.

The bezel insert lays even or barely below the bezel top and not glued in and/or sticking up above the bez.

Bezel with 120  clicks or close to it with very little lost motion.

Good crowns and case tubes.

Brass or aluminum movement spacers with screws/clamps...no plastic.

The reflector ring aka 'rehaut' fairly close to genuine, not too wide.  I have turned a few down to make them look better and they turned out Ok.

Date magnifier with the correct offset from center.  Some non noobs have approx. 10mm offset (compared to 9mm+/- on oem), but in my experience no one ever noticed.

Etc, etc.

 

Otoh...what do I know?  I've been wearing a quartz TAG Heuer for quite a while.

 

Typos are free, unlike noobmariners.   

Jimmythree is automatico. 

 

 

Edited Saturday at 07:48 PM by Jimmythree
typos!

[Buddhabar]

Welcome back forum friend....
Well...your question is not easy to answer.
It must be said that for certain models they no longer make replicas...and therefore it is not always a good idea to resell them. For more recent models, new manufacturers have appeared, with copies of the movements as well. The prices are therefore even more exaggerated.
For example, I have a Pam 286 made by Noob that I don't think is in production anymore.
So you have to see exactly which models yours are.

[Whatever123]

Thank you for your answers. Yeah you're right of course, my question was a bit general... I will take some photos of my remaining reps and I will definitely need your help to identify them as I forgot almost everything lol. I only remember they were expensive and good around 10 years ago. 😉