I have owned several Gen FMs. So I come to this with some hands on experience with the brand.
GV do some great work and I have some of their watches already. I therefore had high expectations for this watch and had been awaiting its release.
It seems to be a rep of a 2010 model. I am fine with that. What is more important is that it is a great rep.
The case is perfect and frankly (NPI) better finished than any gen FM I have owned or handled. In particular the way the back is machined to fit the case is way above the tolerances I have seen in the Gen. FMs are fabulously designed watches but in all honesty not that well made. This probably helps.
The dial appears to have been made using a similar application technique as the original and is excellent
The fonts are very good print and applique is as it should be. There will be tiny details for the OCD among us. Yes the date aperture is either slightly large or the cyclops in it has slightly higher magnification. (Edit thanks to @antotony0203 The date aperture is perfect on the comparison photos of this watch the gen has the cyclops missing)
But I do see that as a minor detail in a watch which seems to be not only a great Rep but a great watch.
For the first time I am with one caveat prepared to say this is actually slightly better than the gen . That Caveat is that the Gen uses a Swiss 2892 and this uses a Asia 2824. Not a big deal but it is what it is.
The essence of the design is Reflection. It is made up of super polished highly reflective surfaces. Even the Arabic markers are very high gloss as is the rather magnificent and perfectly fitted crystal.
When I photograph a watch I normally do all I can to reduce reflection so that the viewer can see the watch.
However I thought carefully about how to photograph this watch and decided that to see the watch as it truly appears on the wrist I needed to allow some reflection to remain. TBH It is a bit of a pig to photograph.
The buckle is superb. The strap is better than most but truthfully still crap. It is an embossed leather strap which looks nothing like gator and will be replaced very soon.
The OEM strap is designed to sit close to the watch and has a small extension beyond the spring bar. In my experience however this watch case does look ok with a normal strap.
Reps are getting so much better and this is a fine example. This is already an interesting year. My guess is the next two or three years will provide us with some amazing Reps. It is going to be fun.
Once again thanks to Trusty for supplying this watch with their usual swift and perfect service
Enough waffling Here are some photos.
GV do some great work and I have some of their watches already. I therefore had high expectations for this watch and had been awaiting its release.
It seems to be a rep of a 2010 model. I am fine with that. What is more important is that it is a great rep.
The case is perfect and frankly (NPI) better finished than any gen FM I have owned or handled. In particular the way the back is machined to fit the case is way above the tolerances I have seen in the Gen. FMs are fabulously designed watches but in all honesty not that well made. This probably helps.
The dial appears to have been made using a similar application technique as the original and is excellent
The fonts are very good print and applique is as it should be. There will be tiny details for the OCD among us. Yes the date aperture is either slightly large or the cyclops in it has slightly higher magnification. (Edit thanks to @antotony0203 The date aperture is perfect on the comparison photos of this watch the gen has the cyclops missing)
But I do see that as a minor detail in a watch which seems to be not only a great Rep but a great watch.
For the first time I am with one caveat prepared to say this is actually slightly better than the gen . That Caveat is that the Gen uses a Swiss 2892 and this uses a Asia 2824. Not a big deal but it is what it is.
The essence of the design is Reflection. It is made up of super polished highly reflective surfaces. Even the Arabic markers are very high gloss as is the rather magnificent and perfectly fitted crystal.
When I photograph a watch I normally do all I can to reduce reflection so that the viewer can see the watch.
However I thought carefully about how to photograph this watch and decided that to see the watch as it truly appears on the wrist I needed to allow some reflection to remain. TBH It is a bit of a pig to photograph.
The buckle is superb. The strap is better than most but truthfully still crap. It is an embossed leather strap which looks nothing like gator and will be replaced very soon.
The OEM strap is designed to sit close to the watch and has a small extension beyond the spring bar. In my experience however this watch case does look ok with a normal strap.
Reps are getting so much better and this is a fine example. This is already an interesting year. My guess is the next two or three years will provide us with some amazing Reps. It is going to be fun.
Once again thanks to Trusty for supplying this watch with their usual swift and perfect service
Enough waffling Here are some photos.
