RWG Technical Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 Well I have seen a few of the HBB's and I have to say, they really dropped the ball on quality of parts issues. Although the case and strap etc may be correct and well made, the simple stuff that should be well made, is for the most part terrible. Some defects I see on these models: Poor quality, fit, finish, hands. Hands are such a simple item, you would think it's easy to get them right. The problems I see include: - hand fitment to the tubes/posts, hour and minute hands too loose or too tight on the posts. Subdial hands, fitting too high on the subdial posts, or too low and touching the dial face. - subdial hands breaking in two on removal, the actual hand comes off, but the hand tube stays attached to the post - subdial hands fitted so close to the dial face, you can't get a remover under them...so your left to work them off by lifting them with the dial - subdial hands attached to tight, the post breaks off the movement - hands slippage, not only is the chrono seconds hand poorly made and prone to slippage, the subdial hands slip all the time - paint/lume used on the hands in the strength of steel, meaning it's hard to remove to be able to apply super lume - lettering "H" and "Hubelot Geneve" on the rotor is attached with glue which has the staying power of teflon, a slight blow of the dust remover and the letters can come off... Other than this, it's a nice watch, just very frustrating to see the lowest cost, simplest parts, be of "Yugo" quality, when the case etc are of "Ferrari" quality... RG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 Yowza, am I ever glad I've held off on this one so far.... Thanks for the report from the bench, Zig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rek001 Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 Big Ouch! What a shame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b16a2 Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 Thanks for the info The Zigmeister, I find it hard justifying a purchase like that when we hear of how badly they are made. Il be keeping my $600+ for a gen!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manuel Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 Thanks for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 I knew it wasn't just me. Sorry for the agony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gran Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 Thank you very much for this important information The Zigmeister its seems reps are reps regardless of the price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 Yeap.. thanks a lot Rob.. Me too I am very glad I waited for the Big Bang because I just couldn't justify that much money when a FERRARI 1:1 super rep (008) is made as good as the genuine and costs 50% of the big bang. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 Fret not, friends... There is a very simple fix! 1) Go out and buy the genuine Big Bang 2) Remove the movement 3) Swap movement into the rep case 4) Enjoy your new upgraded Swiss frankenstein! See? Easy!! *smaffle* *smaffle* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pix Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 Thx for that ! That's just making me more confident in my decision not to spend more than 300 dollars in a rep... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gran Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 Thx for that ! That's just making me more confident in my decision not to spend more than 300 dollars in a rep... Now that is a wise decission Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 The only thing absolutely remarkable about the Super reps is the profit margin! Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slay Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 "the HBB is just such a GREAT watch and it is superb quality, thats why it is so expensive. you guys that mock about it being too expensive and way overpriced just shut up, this watch is just HIGH END quality!!!!111!ONE111!!elven!!!1!" I guess some members here feel like real turds now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crystalcranium Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 The only thing absolutely remarkable about the Super reps is the profit margin! Ken Here here!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 Ziggy, have you had any experiences with reps of the BB Aspen? I've got one on order for my sister in law, and wondered what kind of quality levelI could expect? It wasn't expensive, so I'm not expecting perfection, but if it was 'nice', that would be good... Thansk in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slay Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 ASSpen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregers Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 All this and a very iffy movement under the hood (unless Ziggified). It looks to be a very problematic purchase with big potential for big bucks repairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadog13 Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 Other than this, it's a nice watch, just very frustrating to see the lowest cost, simplest parts, be of "Yugo" quality, when the case etc are of "Ferrari" quality... RG what's wrong with Yugo?!!! I visited their company 1month ago...they still produce it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 Irrespective of the price my bigger fear is that it does not bode well for future watches which use different complicated movements. The HBB does move the sub dials from the standard layout. I will be curious to see how well the new moonphase and big date movements perform. And now you can't just swap out the movement. The aesthetics are getting better and better but as we make the necessary migration away from stock movements there will inevitably be some disasters. It took several generations of standard 7750's to get it right and they still are often bone dry. It would seem that now more than ever we will have to show patience when watches come out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gran Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 Irrespective of the price my bigger fear is that it does not bode well for future watches which use different complicated movements. The HBB does move the sub dials from the standard layout. I will be curious to see how well the new moonphase and big date movements perform. And now you can't just swap out the movement. The aesthetics are getting better and better but as we make the necessary migration away from stock movements there will inevitably be some disasters. It took several generations of standard 7750's to get it right and they still are often bone dry. It would seem that now more than ever we will have to show patience when watches come out. We have absolutely no control over how this will pan out . As long as people are willing to spend that kind of money on a replica it could go either way...more of same [censored]..or improved version 1, 2, 3 and then ending up in the ultimate version. I guess 12 months from now we will know where this HBB is heading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted July 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 @ TJ Have not seen an Aspen model, so I can't comment. I just can't figure out why they would make such crappy hands...and with the unique design of them, you can't buy replacement ones... Very frustrating for me (or anyone who is working on the watch), try removing a tube that is 0.20mm in thickness, and not much longer (0.007 in for the non metric folks, or about the thickness of two pieces of paper), not only do you have to remove the tubes, then you have to get them reinstalled in the hand, and on the watch. Or in the case of hands that sit too high, your left broaching them to make them fit correctly... RG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pv007 Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 Someone was right saying that poeple if they are still people willing to pay su much money for a rep. They still continue to use this kind of method. But it is also right to say that the it normally cost 13000 $ for a HBB Black Magic. Ceramic cost a lot of money and especially the work that has been done on it, such polishing,.... However it is really sad to see such poor movement part used...but this is chinese standart they don't ask for 100% quality (this is not the same way to see quality in China as we do in developped country such as America or European Union,... that's why they hire a lot of european in the big standart industy) we need to a 100% free of bug but it is not a standart industry and they won't change anything for us... But, yes, one day, perhaps we will have a version 2 with more enhancements but I'm really not sure about it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OiRogers Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 Well... sadly that settles the question of which HBB I was going to get... the answer is now None. I'd been struggling with my 300-350usd limit on rep price... now I know I put that limit in place for a reason... for 500usd one can source a pretty decent used gen with some footwork. If our dealers were to go back to the factory and up the quality of this rep quite a bit... I'd be tempted... but still that price is harsh. Kinda like the PS3 I guess.. I'd love to pick one up... but the entry fee is way too much to be worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo_till Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 @ TJ Have not seen an Aspen model, so I can't comment. I just can't figure out why they would make such crappy hands...and with the unique design of them, you can't buy replacement ones... Very frustrating for me (or anyone who is working on the watch), try removing a tube that is 0.20mm in thickness, and not much longer (0.007 in for the non metric folks, or about the thickness of two pieces of paper), not only do you have to remove the tubes, then you have to get them reinstalled in the hand, and on the watch. Or in the case of hands that sit too high, your left broaching them to make them fit correctly... RG Does that mean that the Breitling Superocean Steelfish is sh#t too? They are made in the same factory, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted July 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 Does that mean that the Breitling Superocean Steelfish is sh#t too? They are made in the same factory, right? Not to my knowledge does the Breitling have this problem, as for which factory they or any are made in...it's anyone's guess... I have had a few Steelfishe's in house, no problems noted. RG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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