what's new in the replica world in the last year?

[dabom]

So I've been absent from the replica world for the last year after getting burned on a bad deal (watch was way under expectations).

I'm wondering: what's new in the last year?

For example

1) does the current crop of Panerais have spring-loaded crowns?

2) how's the quality of the 8850 nowadays?

3) what's new with the Asian Unitas?

thanks in advance!

[FxrAndy]

Well the one thing you have missed is the Steelfish Super ocean, but so far the asian unitas has good remarks about it, the new 7750 is also pretty good as long as the seconds are @9 (seconds @ 3 on the bently 6.75 is looks like a major step forward in quality) Spring loaded crowns? do you mean like the new ones with the ball bearing in the lever?

[dabom]

The original Luminors have spring loaded crowns. If you unlock the lever, the crown will eject out slightly because they are spring loaded. You can therefore press the crown in and feel the spring getting depressed. It is this spring that provides the tension in the lever.

Do the recent crop of replicas have this spring loaded crowns? 1 year ago the only one that had it was the Tantalium chronograph with the Seagull Venus movement. The Unitas based ones just had a crown without a spring load, therefore the tension in the lever was noticeably limp. This is the one biggest flaw with the replicas, and the biggest because it really is the crown and lever that give the Luminors their charm. I always liked the spring load, because if you unlock the lever the crown would eject out giving the impression of a waterproof lock. Since the crown doesn't move on the replicas, it doesn't give any impression that the lever is achieving anything at all.

So what is the ball bearing lever you are talking about? Thanks.

[FxrAndy]

My Fiddy and 177 both spring out a bit when the lever is released but this is just the presure being released on the O rings as far as i know and not a spring as such, both my CG were modded by me to provide a tighter closure by removing metal from the feet thus lowering the lever and increasing the presure on the crown. I read somewhere that the newer gens had a ball bearing set under spring tension in the lever so that it roles over the crown when closing and opening. BTW i have swam in both the fiddy and 177 with out problems

[plaifender]

So I've been absent from the replica world for the last year after getting burned on a bad deal (watch was way under expectations).

I'm wondering: what's new in the last year?

For example

1) does the current crop of Panerais have spring-loaded crowns?

2) how's the quality of the 8850 nowadays?

3) what's new with the Asian Unitas?

thanks in advance!

Since you seem half decently informed all ready, do a search and i'm sure you'll find the "headlines" of the last year!(i'm assuming you left one year ago this month).

such as (in no particular order): (although somethings might not be new to you that i'll mention)

1. Breitling SuperOcean Steelfish (best replica made to date)

2. Hublot Big Bang series

3. Breitling Chronomat EVO

3. Double sided AR crystals

4. Bell and Ross

5. Watch "cartels"

6. Ultimate Planet Ocean 45.5mm

7. Chopard Gran Turismo XL (undeniably the best rep under $80)

8. Cousteau Divers 2006 & 2007

9. IWC Aquatimer (soon to be released)

10. "new" asian 7753 movement good quality

11. "new" asian unitas seems to be solid

12. Great PAM253(for me at least.. hehe)

13. Quality Control (re: drop shipping)

14. Customer Service obligations

15. Josh and Andrew (trustytime & perfectclones)

16. Vbarret (the mighty mistress of Panerai straps that joined in june and already has 1,700posts under her belt)

Edited September 17, 2007 by plaifender

[Dizzy]

Dont forget the Noobmariner, the chinese super-sub.. and be sure to read about all the horror stories involving the daytonas with sec@6. BUT the new sec@3 (for the breitling Bently etc) was built properly according to our resident master watch maker The Zigmeister... You've got a LOT of catching up to do

Lonnie

[Guest Carl]

Well, plaifender has done a very good job of covering almost all of the major developments.

Doesn't sound like you are a Rolex fan, but some interesting vintage models are appearing recently and as we speak.

Carl

[jkerouac]

One other hotly debated term that you will see bandied out in many threads this year is the concept of the "Super Rep." The term is used to cover reps such as the Steelfish, Cousteau, and Big Bangs, and also used to justify the considerably higher prices people are paying for some of these models. If you have not shopped for a rep in the past year, you may be in for a bit of a sticker shock, with prices in the $400 and up range surprisingly common, and true bargains relatively rare.

By the way, on that cheery note.... welcome back.

[jdavis]

There is a new Tag Aquaracer that is really close to the gen.

Photo borrowed from Joshua's site.

[dabom]

thanks for the replies everyone. I'm a little disappointed that there aren't any new PAM crowns, but it's nice to hear the 8850 is improving.

The only reps to really do it for me are the Panerais and Rolexes and I really already have excellent samples of both, just not a Unitas Panerai with a spring loaded crown.

I think as far as time-only automatics go - everyone here is spoilt for choice. However, because I already have excellent genuine automatics, the reps don't really interest me. Except for the Rolex, and I only own them because I love the design, but don't really like the stigma attached to real Rolexes (go figure). Even then, I own the Rolexes as curiosity pieces and not as watches I really enjoy wearing on a daily basis.

Therefore the only reps to really interest me are the handwinds and chronos. I hate 7750s because I find them so ubiquitous, so I'm certainly not going to settle for an 8850. Therefore there are only two movements left: the Venus chrono and the Unitas - both of which I own.

[sssurfer]

It is this spring that provides the tension in the lever.

I am afraid that spring crowns will hardly be seen on reps as long as similar tension can be provided by the rubber gasket.

BTW, what is especially new in the replica world in the last year are prices hugely rising up.

[lysis]

Therefore the only reps to really interest me are the handwinds and chronos. I hate 7750s because I find them so ubiquitous, so I'm certainly not going to settle for an 8850. Therefore there are only two movements left: the Venus chrono and the Unitas - both of which I own.

Actually, you're missing some additional chrono movements. Other ubiquitous, "non-in-house" movements out there

include the Lemania 5100 and the Poljot 3133/Valjoux 7733. Although I've never seen a rep with a 5100, I have a Radiomir chrono with a Poljot 3133.

Besides the increase in prices, the other "new" thing with reps is the increase in the number of replicas with AR coating straight out of the box.