Top Bargain Buys!

[Stephane]

Fantastic thread, great idea and for our community, it's should be pinned and maintained indeed...

May I suggest that Chrod compiles from all the suggestions this thread will receive and post a new, clean one ?

It should carry the dealer(s) information also...

I would love to add some but they all are listed already.

Many thanks.

Stephane

[azerbyjam]

Great idea Chrgod!! I've just bought a Pam 005 Asian movt, from a dealer on Repgeek for $75 shipped .. the best rep I've bought! I think the Silix Radiomir is next on my list Pug

[Pugwash]

I think the Silix Radiomir is next on my list Pug

It comes with a crappy strap, but you're replacing that anyway.

[chrgod]

Wow... I am amazed by the response this thread has received!

It indeed is a need to keep track of the "affordable" good replicas, which don't get as much postings and reviews. I can take the little challenge of expanding the list and include reviews and some basic dealer info. ( Guess I should make a new post??) Of course the stock and prices from the different dealers changes frequently. Smaller bargain-dealers as Silix, River and Ruby are usually cheaper, but the ordering process is often not as streamlined as the more expensive dealers with better web pages and smooth ordering process.

The PO "Ultra-light", PO Chrono, and Seamaster GMT are sure candidates for the expanded list!

@Pugwash: Yes the standard Panerai leather straps usually feels rubbish (like the stock FA Jones strap), but after the bleaching process you have a nice vintage leather strap. I added a picture of my Marina Militare with the bleached version of the stock strap.

[rek001]

I've bought some very nicely executed reps from dealer tonyxkf at cqout.

From him I have an AP ROO, a PO chrono, and a TT Navi. Each one was about $86 shipped, and the quality/price ratio is superb.

Sorry I don't have a camera handy right now, but I will try to take some pix soon.

[Victoria]

Wow... I am amazed by the response this thread has received!

You shouldn't be. This was a magnificent thread idea, and I'm surprised it hadn't been done as comprehensively (or at all?) before!

Thanks for your Air-King photo, too. It was the only reason I got it from Jay/Silix. I get so many watch ideas from this forum, if I had gotten nothing else in terms of info, it would've been worth the VIP upgrade ALONE.

[Guest Carl]

Awesome idea and great topic. Thanks!

Yes, the Air King from Silix was my first rep years ago and I have been hooked ever since.

But number two son has the blue dial Air-King now, along with a Cellini also from Silix, so I have had to move on. Great excuse to get some more watches and you will have to excuse me as that is what I am up to next.

Carl

[Defender110]

Omega Planet Ocean Seamaster Chronograph 3-6-9 quartz movement.... actually beleive it or not my daily beater and its well known i own a bunch of gens :-)

very solid watch. ;-)

i have the O R A N G E.

click the pics they e x p a n d ....

[predfan2001]

Reps under $150.00 have been my starting point for several projects (and some of my favorites).

The Omega GMT with asian movement. All I did was redrill the lugholes and install and gen. band. I wear this one daily:

The Rolex 5517 Royal Navy Submariner. Shaved down the cgs a bit, removed the pearl, bleached insert, smoothed up the bezel and changed the strap:

The coolest cheap watch I have, a vintage "no crown guard" Submariner from Silix. All I've done is swap the strap to a Bond NATO:

The red 1680 Submariner from Silix. At $130.00 it is a pretty good starting point for a few mods:

Edited September 18, 2007 by predfan2001

[philangst]

Frankly I think it is because the cartel has lots of pictures online, accepts many forms of payments, show their prices, and have a good reputation. Especially as a noob, these things make me feel more secure buying something that might be total crap. Pictures especially help reassure us that they (the cartel) have good stuff.

I'm sure Narikaa has fantastic stuff, but it's hard to tell the quality from the pics, and I don't see any prices. That creates a few barriers to ordering from Narikaa.

I take your point, but Narikaa also has a good reputation and is EU based (good for me). I'm still a noob considering my first purchase so this is a very useful thread.

[assasi9]

i second the suggestion to expand the list to top 20. i need more suggestion to burn through my paycheck!

[2sweetau]

excellent thread....my top three bargain watches are the unitas omega 45mm railmaster (great with better leather strap), the A21J Omega Seamaster black GMT(daily beaters favourite) and Tag Link chrono quartz (it sure is a fantasy - built like a tank, runs like a 4 cylinder sports car and all for $118 - it sure is one great fantasy I am living in).

ps.. Greatest bargain watch was the UPO Lite with the copy Asian 28,000bph movement for $120, im glad I got mine.

[ed11]

Nooooooooo!!! Damn, I think I'm in love with the Chopard Mille Miglia XL!!!!!!

[toddman]

SUPER Thread! Keep it going! Based on it, I picked up the Omega SMP GMT from Andrew..... I'm in love, I'd have paid twice as much for this, it is becoming a daily.....Please excuse my picture taking skills, not up to the level of some of you guys who take better pix than the gen advertising!

More ideas, keep 'em coming!!!

[professor_yaffle1]

Well, I'm surprised no one else has mentioned it, so let me be the first to nominate the Cartier Santos 100 SS - big, chunky and with an ETA 2824 movement (apparently), this is bang on the $150 limit, but next on my list when funds allow

prof

[Xyphis]

This thread has been on my Favorites drop down list for quite a while. I can't thank you enough.

Two watches that I have purchased in the <$150USD range and just love are the Vacheron Constantin Jubilee 1775 and the Franck Muller Crazy Hours. Both are rather good reps (No, not nitpicking Submariner "OMG, just LOOK at those CG's!" quality, but c'mon) and have some unique features. The VC has working dials including a reserve and makes a great dress watch. It is available in SS/YG/RG I believe. The FM hour hands work in such an interesting way, switching back and forth across the face, that it is a real pleasure to own. It comes in multiple guises for your color needs.

Hope this helps

[wannab]

great thread for us new guys

[smilingbear]

the Franck Muller Crazy Hours. Both are rather good reps (No, not nitpicking Submariner "OMG, just LOOK at those CG's!" quality, but c'mon) and have some unique features. The VC has working dials including a reserve and makes a great dress watch. It is available in SS/YG/RG I believe. The FM hour hands work in such an interesting way, switching back and forth across the face, that it is a real pleasure to own. It comes in multiple guises for your color needs.

Hope this helps

Does the rep FM Crazy Hours actually do the real thing where the hands jump to the next hour? I would have thought that movement was too hard to rep.

Edited November 6, 2007 by smilingbear

[Xyphis]

The FM hour hands work in such an interesting way, switching back and forth across the face, that it is a real pleasure to own.

Sorry if this wasn't clear. Yes, the hour hand flips to the appropriate number/innappropriate place on the dial. This occurs at the top of the hour and is lightning fast. The watch face numbers are placed in such a way that your watch will look like it is incorrect from a distance, thus giving onlookers a second stare. As in the gen, it will look correct through the 0100/0400/0700/1000 hours because of number placement.

Or to sum it up, YES, the hours ARE crazy

[Jawo]

Here are a couple I picked up from Andrew. They are both under a 100 bucks and he threw them in for me after a big order. The Patek has a functional power reserve. The Breguet has a fully functional perpetual calender.

[dylan]

Yes, but the ultra-lite is out. It's $98 and has an Asian movement and Mineral Glass, but is effectively a uPO, apart from that, for under a ton.

Anyone have a link for the $98 ultra-lite?

[piratedzeus]

it is not the ULTIMATE...do not get it.

[By-Tor]

I just pinned this excellent post.

I hope chrgod will keep this informative guide updated.

[Victoria]

I just pinned this excellent post.

Finally, he listens! I nominated this thread as Post of the Year when Terje was asking for info on cheap reps.

http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?s=&amp...st&p=363684

[capice]

very interesting post,

here's my cheapie 70 dollar PAM 005 from Deltick on TRC

or my 120 dollar Omega SMP from Reg