Just got this today from Sead, so I'll do a quick review of my first impressions.
First of all, the watch is beautiful. My first impression was more positive than any other rep I've received. It has a very neo-vintage look, with the military dial, lack of a bezel, slightly domed crystal, lug holes, slight lugs, and ultra slim case.
The case really does appear as slim as the gen (very!); it's one of the aspects that attracted me to this model. Combined with the curved lugs, it melts into the wrist. Perfect for a smaller wrist like mine, but with a dial that goes to the edge of the case and no bezel, it looks larger.
The crown actually DOES protrude a bit when screwed down; it's due to the shape of the crown. The inner edge of the crown tapers into a little cylinder-shape, and this part is what makes it stick out. Actually, when looking at the watch from the back, it looks like this part of the crown bumps into the crown guard, stopping it from screwing all the way flush with the case. Maybe it can be filed down by a skilled modder.
The time and date set fine, but the hand winding remains engaged when setting the date. Not sure if this is due to the crown or stem... but anyway it doesn't cause any issue.
The bracelet looks excellent and seems to be built to gen style construction, with the links attached with a multiple screw and tube system. The end links are not so flush with the case though, and the bracelet could benefit from being oiled, as it's a bit squeaky/rattly. Also the inside of the clasp mechanism has a rough finish in one section, and the clasp lacks the satisfying 'snap' of the AP 15400 (BP factory) I had. Maybe others can speak about the bracelet, as it could just be QC issues.
The crystal is slightly domed and works very well with this watch. It feels very thick and has a great layer of AR coating, making it disappear on a lot of angles.
The dial is a work of art on this, and is the highest quality aspect of the watch. It alternates between a high gloss finish (on the seconds track), then radial lines where the numerals are, then glossy again in the centre. It was hard to capture in the photos. Dial printing looks very crisp. The beveled edge of the date window is also done to a high standard. The contrast between the bright white numerals and the liquid black ink dial is truly striking, especially through the AR crystal.
Summary
Pros:
Unusual ultra-slim case (reps tend to be too thick, but this one is just right)
Stunning dial
Unmodified Miyota 9015 movement (problem-free)
Great crystal
Cons:
Bracelet/clasp not to the same standard as the rest of the watch
Crown could benefit from some modification
Noisy rotor
Differences from the gen:
The end of the second-hand (not the red tip) on the rep has a square edge (instead of pointed)
The date window seems bigger on the rep
The date wheel font
The crown (?)
Overall, highly recommended. It's really refreshing to have a fairly sporty watch in this size. Especially one this nice.
Now, on to the photos!
First of all, the watch is beautiful. My first impression was more positive than any other rep I've received. It has a very neo-vintage look, with the military dial, lack of a bezel, slightly domed crystal, lug holes, slight lugs, and ultra slim case.
The case really does appear as slim as the gen (very!); it's one of the aspects that attracted me to this model. Combined with the curved lugs, it melts into the wrist. Perfect for a smaller wrist like mine, but with a dial that goes to the edge of the case and no bezel, it looks larger.
The crown actually DOES protrude a bit when screwed down; it's due to the shape of the crown. The inner edge of the crown tapers into a little cylinder-shape, and this part is what makes it stick out. Actually, when looking at the watch from the back, it looks like this part of the crown bumps into the crown guard, stopping it from screwing all the way flush with the case. Maybe it can be filed down by a skilled modder.
The time and date set fine, but the hand winding remains engaged when setting the date. Not sure if this is due to the crown or stem... but anyway it doesn't cause any issue.
The bracelet looks excellent and seems to be built to gen style construction, with the links attached with a multiple screw and tube system. The end links are not so flush with the case though, and the bracelet could benefit from being oiled, as it's a bit squeaky/rattly. Also the inside of the clasp mechanism has a rough finish in one section, and the clasp lacks the satisfying 'snap' of the AP 15400 (BP factory) I had. Maybe others can speak about the bracelet, as it could just be QC issues.
The crystal is slightly domed and works very well with this watch. It feels very thick and has a great layer of AR coating, making it disappear on a lot of angles.
The dial is a work of art on this, and is the highest quality aspect of the watch. It alternates between a high gloss finish (on the seconds track), then radial lines where the numerals are, then glossy again in the centre. It was hard to capture in the photos. Dial printing looks very crisp. The beveled edge of the date window is also done to a high standard. The contrast between the bright white numerals and the liquid black ink dial is truly striking, especially through the AR crystal.
Summary
Pros:
Unusual ultra-slim case (reps tend to be too thick, but this one is just right)
Stunning dial
Unmodified Miyota 9015 movement (problem-free)
Great crystal
Cons:
Bracelet/clasp not to the same standard as the rest of the watch
Crown could benefit from some modification
Noisy rotor
Differences from the gen:
The end of the second-hand (not the red tip) on the rep has a square edge (instead of pointed)
The date window seems bigger on the rep
The date wheel font
The crown (?)
Overall, highly recommended. It's really refreshing to have a fairly sporty watch in this size. Especially one this nice.
Now, on to the photos!
