Hi and a few questions about rep quality

[Questions]

Hello to all here, you have a great forum! I like people who have a passion about design and mechanics.

I personally wonder about this ok, a replica, its not like the high end genuine watch, BUT, has it got the quality of a genuine watch with similar price - mechanism..? (like a Vostok - Aviator for example..)
A member here wrote that replicas with Asian movement are not reliable after 1-2 years..what does this mean? Do we have to drop in the garbage a watch that has a character and cost about 200 euros after 2 years because its a replica with a cheap movement or do we have to change mechanism every 2 years? I thought that Swatch watches had worst mechanism - quartz movement, but a Swatch can live satisfyingly as long as it has a battery...i know that a Swatch (big model) may not be an accurate watch, but,

Is a current B&r replica better than a swatch? Will it be useless after only 2 years? I read in trustytime that we better keep watches away from water. Is this a rule with all replicas? I'm used to wash my watches and i don't want to worry every time i want to wash my hands or clean the watch...

So, we pay around 200 euros only for the design copy or we actually get a watch with the quality of a genuine watch which costs 200 euros?

Iknow, the questions are many but if someone can answer them i'm sure that many people here would be thankfull for the info...

[J-C]

Hi SW,

I moved your post from Dimers thread to this section so you could get some additional feedback.

Totally no comparison at all - IMO, a swatch or Timex is a much more durable and robust watch then most rep watch you will find in terms of durability and reliability of the parts and the movement. Can you wash your hands? Sure, but swimming and showering is probably not the best idea.

Your next question - 'do we get a design copy for 200 euro or do we get the quality of a gen watch for the 200 euro'?

Most certainly, the first - we get an excellent copy of the watch for a fraction of the price. For ex, $350 usd for a $25,000+ usd genuine watch. What's the trade off? The durability and quality of materials and movement. While it will look flawless to 99percent of the population, it will not perform or be as reliable as the genuine version.

Welcome to RepGeek, enjoy, make yourself at home and let is know if you have any other questions.

Cheers!

[Medenblik]

Welcome to Rep Geek

ask any questions.........Members here are experts.....or atleast act like it

[roflwaffle]

also be aware comparing a quartz movement and a mechanical movement... the quartz is always going to win in longevity, unless properly serviced, etc.

actually, i would say in 90% of the cases, the quartz wins... kinda hard to say. quartz has been around for only 30 years...

but in practice a swatch quartz will last you as long as you want to keep it.

a swatch automatic will last you probably about the same, if properly serviced.

with a rep... if you go swiss.. hypothetically, since it *is* a swatch movement inside, should be no different than a swatch automatic.

if you go asian... not really 2 years... many will last forever... some will develop issues, but .. movements are cheap... asian 6497s are only 40 bucks to replace... a21Js are cheaper still... not the end of the world.

[Questions]

I personally wonder about this...ok, a replica, its not like the high end genuine watch, BUT, has it got the quality of a genuine watch with similar price - mechanism..? (like a Vostok - Aviator for example..I have a perfect gen Aviator which is sturdy, waterproof and accurate enough and cost me 240 euros..almost like a B&R replica with swiss movement)
A member here wrote that replicas with Asian movement are not reliable after 1-2 years..what does this mean? Do we have to drop in the garbage a watch that has a character and cost about 200 euros after 2 years because its a replica with a cheap movement or do we have to change mechanism every 2 years? I thought that Swatch watches had worst mechanism - quartz movement, but a Swatch can live satisfyingly as long as it has a battery...i know that a Swatch (big model) may not be an accurate watch, but,

Is a current B&r replica better than a good Swatch (generally speaking)? Will it be useless after only 2 years?

I care for a sturdy and reliable B&R clock which looks very close to the genuine but its not so accurate as the genuine and doesn't have the same materials. Currently i'm afraid of buying a replica because from what i read, replicas need service and they are not reliable as a genuine watch of the SAME Price. Is this true?

I read in trustytime that we better keep watches away from water. Is this a rule with all replicas? I'm used to wash my watches and i don't want to worry every time i want to wash my hands or clean the watch...

So, we pay around 200 euros only for the design copy or we actually get a watch with the quality of a SAME PRICE genuine? (for example, a 200 euros B&R rep has the same general quality with a 200 euros genuine watch or its just an "eye candy"?)

If I buy a genuine watch with the same money as a replica, will it last longer than a replica?

I know, the questions are many but if someone can answer them i'm sure that many people here would be thankfull for the info...

[roflwaffle]

didnt you already post this?

EDIT: yea, you posted like the same question

http://www.repgeek.com/showthread.php?t=19990

"I personally wonder about something else...ok, a replica like this, its not like the high end genuine watch, BUT, has it got the quality of a genuine watch with similar price - mechanism..? (like a Vostok - Aviator for example..)
A member here wrote that replicas with Asian movement are not reliable after 1-2 years..what does this mean? Do we have to drop in the garbage a watch that has a character and cost about 200 euros after 2 years because its a replica with a cheap movement or do we have to change mechanism every 2 years? I thought that Swatch watches had worst mechanism - quartz movement, but a Swatch can live satisfyingly as long as it has a battery...i know that a Swatch (big model) may not be an accurate watch, but,"

etc etc etc.


welcome aboard, but reposting the same topic is not going to get you better results

[Questions]

Oh, i'm sorry for double post i thought that admin deleted it because it was off topic so i made a specific topic for it.

[roflwaffle]

naw, i think they just moved it or something

no harm no foul

chek my reply in the other thread.. it may answer some of the issues.. or maybe its just me ranting... i do that.... all.. the... time...

[Questions]

So why someone could want to buy a rep with a mechanical movement?

Think of a rep with a quartz inside..it will look the same with genuine watch and it will last "forever" without services.. Sorry for the stupid question, i don't know much about watches, i care about durability and design and not so much if it looses some minutes every week etc. because i can simply re-set the time...

[roflwaffle]

So why someone could want to buy a rep with a mechanical movement?

Think of a rep with a quartz inside..it will look the same with genuine watch and it will last "forever" without services.. Sorry for the stupid question, i don't know much about watches, i care about durability and design and not so much if it looses some minutes every week etc. because i can simply re-set the time...

because it has a soul.

and quartz on the inside doesnt 'look' like the genuine watch.. quartz ticks once per second.. most of the reps we buy tick around 8 times per second, giving a smoother sweep just like the gens.. so it will be an instant give away that you are wearing a fake...

a quartz wont lose minutes per week... its a *lot* more accurate than a mechanical movement... but theres nothing amazing about them.. no soul.. no life... no mystique..

theres something to be said for mechanical goodness telling time on your wrist..

its a little of the romantic in us (or at least some of us)

or a fascination with gears..



does that not impress you?

or... you prefer



????

[john61]

Hi Superwatch and welcome to RG. I don't know if this will help you to understand the world of Reps but in my experience price and reliability seldom go hand in hand. Buying Reps is a crapshoot.

I have a Rolex Sub that I paid all of $78 for that I have literally tried to kill over the last six months!! I'm not a suit, I get my hands dirty for a living. This watch has been bashed, soaked, dropped, been on my wrist when I've had mud up to my elbows and it just keeps on truckin' And keeps time to within 3 seconds a day...

But, I've got watches that I've paid over $300 for that have been treated with kid gloves but still crap out and/or keep bad time.

Go figure!!

[Questions]

because it has a soul.

and quartz on the inside doesnt 'look' like the genuine watch.. quartz ticks once per second.. most of the reps we buy tick around 8 times per second, giving a smoother sweep just like the gens.. so it will be an instant give away that you are wearing a fake...

a quartz wont lose minutes per week... its a *lot* more accurate than a mechanical movement... but theres nothing amazing about them.. no soul.. no life... no mystique..

theres something to be said for mechanical goodness telling time on your wrist..

its a little of the romantic in us (or at least some of us)

or a fascination with gears..



does that not impress you?

or... you prefer



????

Surely it impresses me..I'm a sound designer - engineer and i can understand totally the part of the sound you write. Yes there is a romantic view in those detailed mechanisms and i like it, but personally, i'd look for these details in a genuine watch, because replicas have other flaws and at least i want to be sure that i have something reliable and its ok if it isn't so well built outside...Thank you very much for your reply!

[roflwaffle]

Surely it impresses me..I'm a sound designer - engineer and i can understand totally the part of the sound you write. Yes there is a romantic view in those detailed mechanisms and i like it, but personally, i'd look for these details in a genuine watch, because replicas have other flaws and at least i want to be sure that i have something reliable and its ok if it isn't so well built outside...Thank you very much for your reply!

Well.. at the end of the day... you'll usually know within a month if your watch is going to last forever, or die instantly..

when they work.. they work for a while.. when they dont.. they are either DOA or contract problems quickly with use.

And, ok, you spend X on a rep watch... depending on the model, a new movement if yours breaks will cost between 30 and 120 shipped to your door (for asian movements) we have a guy on this site that does repairs, costing between 25 and 100 bucks (i think, dont quote me).

a 'broken' watch.. honestly isn't the end of the world.. .it doesnt mean throw it in the bin...

and with reps.. and the wide variety avaialble.. you'll probably tire of the watch before it tires of you.

just be warned, the biggest thing with reps is they are notioriously not waterproof. at all.

its something yo uwould have to pay for after the fact (but nobody really ever does).

i dont take special care when washing hands or anything, but i dont shower with em, and i dont swim with em..

[Beowoulf]

So, we pay around 200 euros only for the design copy or we actually get a watch with the quality of a genuine watch which costs 200 euros?

We pay for the look. The mechanism ... ya takes yer chances. If you want something that keeps TIME for years to come, get a quartz (for next to nothing).

[TTK]

Why do audiophiles insist that vinyl is better than digital....valves are better than mosfets.....mp3 / vogg / aac etc doesn't compare with analogue....photographers lament the passing of great 'film' cameras such as Leicas / Rollei Nikon F2's etc etc.....why do they insist that trannies ( not Thailand or Mexican trannies )......are better than digital......?

Because there are many aspects to each....status...nostalgia....romanticism etc.....!

The truth is.....almost EVERY member here.....YOU included...went in search of a DREAM......the dream of owership of the 5x letters on the dial....Rolex....Omega.....Patek....etc etc.....you scoured the net...and found many places where you THOUGHT your 'dream' could be fulfilled.....Replicascamcenter......NO.....Fake-luxurygifts. com.....NO.....so you ended up here....or elewhere...where similar minded individuals found themselves before you...and similar minded individuals will find themselves after you....ALL......in pursuit of the 'dream'.....finding the item that quickens your pulse...and NOT having to pay an exorbitant price for an example of it.....a 400+ year old technology.....a technology that relies on the transmission of power by mechanical gearing...springs etc....a technology that lost it's way in the late 60's and early 70's...that was superseded by NEW technology which promised and ACTUALLY delivered a better tomorrow.....electronic or even atomic accuracy...superb reliability....flexibility in design and features that cost millions to develop in 'old mechanical' systems...at 'cheap' prices...mass produced and gobbled up by the hungry 'plebeians'...who were content with what was shovelled up to them........but those with 'patrician' tastes were catered for by the Swiss watch industry...who combatted and resisted this Asian led onslaught...by creating a romantic image of it's products...imbuing them with 'mystique'...'aura'...'exclusivity'..'status'....i n it's offerings and by the marketing of them.....all of which we succumbed to....!

The reality is as I often say......'people want the flash...but don't wanna pay the cash"......even those well heeled individuals who can afford the genuine item.....however one of the falsehoods that is presented and fostered on boards such as these...is that everything in the rep world is 'negative'...and evverything in the genuine world is 'positive'....!

The truth is that 'gens' can and often do have a poorer reliability record in relation to reps....I know...I've had my fair share of problems with gens,...and the obscene behaviour of major manufacturers and how they treat those who pay a small fortune for an old technology that shouldn't really exist nowadays.....!

When buying a rep...it isn't necessarily a crap shoot...I and many others here can testify to the good behaviour of many of our Asian reps...and given that they cost a fraction of what the gens do...and convey largely ALL of the benefits of 'gens'..." the 5x letters on the dial....Rolex....Omega.....Patek....etc etc.."....."'mystique'...'aura'...'exclusivity'..' status'."......i:e.....they are excellent value for money....if you don't think so.....take $150-$350 from your ATM and go to your local mall AD......and put it on the counter and ask him to fulfill your desire for 'mystique'...'aura'...'exclusivity'....and .....'status'.....you may get 5x letters on the dial....but nobody will give it or you a second glance....!

Point in case......I went on a visa run to Cambodia yesterday......I was wearing the RG IWC St Exupery.....a Norwegian guy on my mini-coach..couldn't take his eyes off it..fascinated by the 'blue AR coating'...when we stopped for a piss break...he walked straight up to me asked me about it...I was dialling a number on my mobile...so feigned disinterest....he asked ...'did you buy it in Thailand"...."how much was it"...."was it real gold or plated"...etc etc....I fended off his enquiries by issuing a few hmmms..ahhs...etc etc.....when we got into Cambodia and stopped...he approached me again...and began telling me that he was a collector and owned a number of gens...Rolexes..Pateks etc etc....and how good the copies were nowadays..how they had ETA movements....etc etc....I expressed surprise and said I didn't know what an ETA was....I thought that was 'estimated time of arrival'....soon I had a whole breakdown of the rep scene in Thailand...to which I feigned continued ignorance....!

On the mini-bus back home....I knew his arse was making chocolate buttons for me to take it off and hand to him...which I wouldn't do.....when we arrived back....he got off and approached and asked me specifically to do that....at which point I said..."sorry old chap...need to fly....and also that I never take my watch off for anyone...and a gentleman never asks".

$150+ buxx....you would never get that attention for a Fossil or Sector...or indeed any $150 genuine at any AD.....!

[WackoBirdKeeper]

[QUOTE=Superwatch;235628]

I personally wonder about this ok, a replica, its not like the high end genuine watch, BUT, has it got the quality of a genuine watch with similar price - mechanism..? (like a Vostok - Aviator for example..)
A member here wrote that replicas with Asian movement are not reliable after 1-2 years..what does this mean?
[QUOTE]

Hello Superwatch,

Whre did you hear that a rep with an Asian movement is not reliable after 1-2 years? That is pure rubbish.

Now, that being said, you must remember that a rep is just a rep. No matter what you do to it, it will never become a gen. It will always be a rep. Many have expectations that their new B&R, Rolex, Breitling, Patek, Omega, Panerai, Cartier, etc will be as good as the gen. No chance. The reps are getting better and better all the time, but they are NOT the genuine.

I do have reps that have Asian movements in them that are over 10 years old, and they still run great. The same holds true of reps with ETA movements. On the other hand, I have reps with both Asian movements and Swiss movements that have not lasted 1 year without being serviced.

Quality control, or the lack thereof is the price you pay when you buy a rep. Don't be surprised if your rep does develop problems. It happens. Just like the ORG, they can all be repaired. Of course, many people will not pay the cost to service a watch when they can get a new one for a little more.

I once did hear that if you want a better rep, work for it. That is VERY true. What does that mean? if you get a Rolex Sub. for example, you may want to oil the bracelet, polish the case, repalce the insert for a better one, and shave the insert so it sits more like the gen. You can also use a silicone sealer to grease the gaskets and enhance the water resistance.

If you are not well versed in doing such things, go check out the modders on the here. As is with the dealers, they are all forum approved, and have gained that destinction by the quality of their work, and the positive feedback they have earned.

So, I hope that this helps a little. In reality, buying a rep is a crap shoot. Not all are created equal. Some are definitely better than others. You can enhance your chances by selecting a dealer that does not drop ship, and inspects your watch before it ships to you. May of us do that. I (WBK Time) do, as does Sead, TTK, etc. (My appologies if I left someone out).


Also, some watches are a better choice. For example, if you get a 7750 Rolex Daytona with the 6:00 running second hand, don't be surprised when it dies. On the other hand, I have a Breitling Navitimer with the 1st gen 7750 and the running second hand at 9:00 that is going strong, and has been around for over 6 years now.

So, pick your numbers, throw the dice, and take a chance. You only live once. If you do it right, once is enough!!!!