If you had a watch with an in-house movement...

[anton]

...would you let a watchmaker reverse-engineer it just to replicate the movement?

There had been a growing desire to finally have some great reps out there, like the IWC Big Pilot, Omega PO Chronograph or even the new Breguet Chronograph. Heck, even we want split-timer functions on our PAM253 or Top Gun Doppelchronograph rep!

And if the project was successfully reverse-engineered and engineered back again, at what premium would you pay for the replicated movement? Is it worth the extra bucks to finally have F.Piguet 1185 Copy or Rolex 4130 Copy movement(s)?

The only downside is to find a qualified watchmaker that will service your movement.

[phaedo]

I would love the Zenith El Primo movement repped, but on the othr hand that would make the gen a bit less desirable because the movement had been repped.

[jens]

And if the project was successfully reverse-engineered and engineered back again, at what premium would you pay for the replicated movement? Is it worth the extra bucks to finally have F.Piguet 1185 Copy or Rolex 4130 Copy movement(s)?

Not much I think, but depends on the quality of course. For a typical Chineese reverse-engineering of design only - nothing at all. A copy of the movement design itself represents at least for me no added value ('same [censored], new wrapping' ).