pfrist
Horology Curious
- 19/7/18
- 15
- 24
- 0
This is my first rep ever, so figured I should post some pics and my thoughts about it. Overall, I'm extremely impressed by the watch and very satisfied with the purchase. There are essentially two components I figure I should discuss: the aesthetics and the movement (Miyota)
Aesthetics
First, the watch feels very solid and well-made. It's light weight and a perfect desk-warrior watch. I'm trying to find a gen to compare it to IRL, but it has already received unsolicited compliments.
My pasty-ass skin serves as a great background for appreciating the colors of the watch. The Dial is a very deep navy that compliments the white accents of the numbers and hands very well. Some more pics:
Strap is solid, but not outstanding. I'm not in love with the color; merowinger absolutely killed it with that blue NATO, which I think is a much better fit.
Movement - Miyota 9015
As you may know, the Miyota movement seems to be the most controversial movement in the Rep world. It is polarizing in the sense that people generally either (a) accept it as a generally satisfactory movement, or (b) literally hitler. I will give my novice and layman’s opinion as to why I don’t mind the movement, as well as the singular drawback that is likely a dealbreaker for many.
Pros
- The movement itself. Especially for this watch, I had difficulty distinguishing the Miyota movement from the actual movement of the IWC Mark XVIII. I enjoy the fast paced rigidity of the movement, both staccato and smooth at the same time. Stop motion, kind of like a Wallace & Gromet movie
- Reliability. Miyota movements are reliable, as well as cheap and easier to fix. You can buy this watch, give it to your father in law, and not worry about it breaking down in a year. *Note, this is purely anecdotal evidence sourced from a seemingly reputable watchsmith in my area. Doubt there’s any real statistical support beyond word of mouth and internet stories.
Con - Noise
What do I mean by “noise”? The Miyota is loud, i.e., you can actually hear the winding and ticking if you move your ear close to the watch. The loudness of Miyotas apparently vary from watch to watch. For my Mark XVII, the range of hearing was about 3 inches from your ear if angled the ear directly at the watch. For me, although not ideal, the noise will not impact my daily life significantly enough to outweigh the beauty of the watch itself. But as a PSA, this will likely only come into play when your girlfriend, boyfriend or secretary is engaging in below the belt calisthenics. Remember folks, keep your watch hand high and dry if you’re rocking a Miyota.
Conclusion
Extremely well made Rep, beautiful to look at and comfortable to wear. My favorite aspect is that I can confidently wear it in any situation - it’s subtly beautiful to normal people without being an ostentatious display, yet is still impressively unique to those with knowledge of the watch world (i.e., nerds like us). Overall, very satisfied with the purchase.
Aesthetics
First, the watch feels very solid and well-made. It's light weight and a perfect desk-warrior watch. I'm trying to find a gen to compare it to IRL, but it has already received unsolicited compliments.
My pasty-ass skin serves as a great background for appreciating the colors of the watch. The Dial is a very deep navy that compliments the white accents of the numbers and hands very well. Some more pics:
Strap is solid, but not outstanding. I'm not in love with the color; merowinger absolutely killed it with that blue NATO, which I think is a much better fit.
Movement - Miyota 9015
As you may know, the Miyota movement seems to be the most controversial movement in the Rep world. It is polarizing in the sense that people generally either (a) accept it as a generally satisfactory movement, or (b) literally hitler. I will give my novice and layman’s opinion as to why I don’t mind the movement, as well as the singular drawback that is likely a dealbreaker for many.
Pros
- The movement itself. Especially for this watch, I had difficulty distinguishing the Miyota movement from the actual movement of the IWC Mark XVIII. I enjoy the fast paced rigidity of the movement, both staccato and smooth at the same time. Stop motion, kind of like a Wallace & Gromet movie
- Reliability. Miyota movements are reliable, as well as cheap and easier to fix. You can buy this watch, give it to your father in law, and not worry about it breaking down in a year. *Note, this is purely anecdotal evidence sourced from a seemingly reputable watchsmith in my area. Doubt there’s any real statistical support beyond word of mouth and internet stories.
Con - Noise
What do I mean by “noise”? The Miyota is loud, i.e., you can actually hear the winding and ticking if you move your ear close to the watch. The loudness of Miyotas apparently vary from watch to watch. For my Mark XVII, the range of hearing was about 3 inches from your ear if angled the ear directly at the watch. For me, although not ideal, the noise will not impact my daily life significantly enough to outweigh the beauty of the watch itself. But as a PSA, this will likely only come into play when your girlfriend, boyfriend or secretary is engaging in below the belt calisthenics. Remember folks, keep your watch hand high and dry if you’re rocking a Miyota.
Conclusion
Extremely well made Rep, beautiful to look at and comfortable to wear. My favorite aspect is that I can confidently wear it in any situation - it’s subtly beautiful to normal people without being an ostentatious display, yet is still impressively unique to those with knowledge of the watch world (i.e., nerds like us). Overall, very satisfied with the purchase.
