Had some spare time today and thought I'd spend it polishing my dive watches and taking some pics.
I love dive watches...can't work out which one in my 'collection' I prefer the best.
Here's a few iPhone pics together with my thoughts on each watch.
Let me know which you prefer and why:
1. AP diver, JF v7, kenNY lume dial/hands, guru X2AR, Domi service and spa:
This watch looks like a million bucks strapped to your wrist. The stock rep hands are often painted a few shades whiter than the hour plots. The mismatching hands were even more noticeable under a X2AR crystal, so I sent the watch to kenNY in Slovakia for a dial/hands relume. He did a great job as ever. I asked him not to relume the inner bezel (such mods always end up with the watch looking home made IMO).
The red alcantara strap looks sick!! It's custom made by smp_lover (supporting vendor). Much better than the boring black rubber stock factory strap. The size is not quite right for me so I will be selling this one soon and ordering a replacement to suit my wrist size/shape perfectly. I also have a JF st.stl strap and that too is amazing....takes the watch to a whole different universe.
Overall the watch is very very nice. It's HEAVY!! Looks and feels expensive/premium. The dial is amazing. Looks even better under a x2AR crystal. Great watch for weekends, holidays etc.
2. TC LV KH v6 (latest model with v2 insert)
Totally stock rep watch. Looks perfect OTB. Really don't see the need to install gen parts on this one....and that's coming from a die hard Rolex fan.
Crystal clarity is the best I have seen on any rep....actually looks better than my gen SD clarity. I can't get over how good the KH dial is....the hour surrounds actually look like white gold (as per gen). The pearl is too good to be true. There really is not need to add a gen insert. Love this watch. Looking at that beautiful green bezel really puts a smile on my face.
3. Gen 16600
Not much to say about this. Nice watch. Very iconic. The reps aren't that good hence why I still own this. I had a gen 16610 as well but sold it shortly after TC released his KH dial v6. This watch has some personal sentimental value which is another reason why I still have it.
4. Franken omega PO, v5 case, gen dial, hands, crown, tube, Sunnydale x2AR
What can I say about this master piece in repping? Well, it's bloody amazing!! I had a gen 45.5 PO (sold it earlier this year) and can honestly say that the look and feel of the case is indistinguishable from the gen in terms of quality and feel. The gen had a very blue tint to the crystal - this is completely colourless and looks much better.
Bezel turns nice and smooth - no major difference with respect to gen.
Caseback is unbelievably close (in my eyes anyway). Engraving ain't as deep but who gives a shit.
Overall a great beater watch I wear when at the gym, working in the garden or running errands with the kids etc. Will be a keeper!
5. Franken 1665, all gen except phong mid-case.
I love this watch. Arguably the best watch in my collection. Everything is gen except mid-case. I was lucky enough to find a gen NOS bezel ring which makes a huge difference IMO. The dial, hands and insert are also NOS. I love the vintage charm of this watch. The superdome plexy is so cool. This watch is very understated - no one will notice it on the wrist (unlike the AP or TCLV). In fact it's invisible on the wrist to 99% of the population. The phong case is spot on...correct serials etc. Doubt most watch makers could tell it apart from a gen ....not like the ordinary watchmaker comes across gen 1665s these days.
Group shot:
Hard to say which is the best overall. I like to wear the LV and 16600 with a suit. The AP (with red strap) is a great "smart casual" watch. The omega is unbeatable as a daily beater and the 1665 is good for EVERYTHING and anything!!
Thanks for reading....I enjoyed spending the afternoon taking pictures and thinking about each watch.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I love dive watches...can't work out which one in my 'collection' I prefer the best.
Here's a few iPhone pics together with my thoughts on each watch.
Let me know which you prefer and why:
1. AP diver, JF v7, kenNY lume dial/hands, guru X2AR, Domi service and spa:
This watch looks like a million bucks strapped to your wrist. The stock rep hands are often painted a few shades whiter than the hour plots. The mismatching hands were even more noticeable under a X2AR crystal, so I sent the watch to kenNY in Slovakia for a dial/hands relume. He did a great job as ever. I asked him not to relume the inner bezel (such mods always end up with the watch looking home made IMO).
The red alcantara strap looks sick!! It's custom made by smp_lover (supporting vendor). Much better than the boring black rubber stock factory strap. The size is not quite right for me so I will be selling this one soon and ordering a replacement to suit my wrist size/shape perfectly. I also have a JF st.stl strap and that too is amazing....takes the watch to a whole different universe.
Overall the watch is very very nice. It's HEAVY!! Looks and feels expensive/premium. The dial is amazing. Looks even better under a x2AR crystal. Great watch for weekends, holidays etc.
2. TC LV KH v6 (latest model with v2 insert)
Totally stock rep watch. Looks perfect OTB. Really don't see the need to install gen parts on this one....and that's coming from a die hard Rolex fan.
Crystal clarity is the best I have seen on any rep....actually looks better than my gen SD clarity. I can't get over how good the KH dial is....the hour surrounds actually look like white gold (as per gen). The pearl is too good to be true. There really is not need to add a gen insert. Love this watch. Looking at that beautiful green bezel really puts a smile on my face.
3. Gen 16600
Not much to say about this. Nice watch. Very iconic. The reps aren't that good hence why I still own this. I had a gen 16610 as well but sold it shortly after TC released his KH dial v6. This watch has some personal sentimental value which is another reason why I still have it.
4. Franken omega PO, v5 case, gen dial, hands, crown, tube, Sunnydale x2AR
What can I say about this master piece in repping? Well, it's bloody amazing!! I had a gen 45.5 PO (sold it earlier this year) and can honestly say that the look and feel of the case is indistinguishable from the gen in terms of quality and feel. The gen had a very blue tint to the crystal - this is completely colourless and looks much better.
Bezel turns nice and smooth - no major difference with respect to gen.
Caseback is unbelievably close (in my eyes anyway). Engraving ain't as deep but who gives a shit.
Overall a great beater watch I wear when at the gym, working in the garden or running errands with the kids etc. Will be a keeper!
5. Franken 1665, all gen except phong mid-case.
I love this watch. Arguably the best watch in my collection. Everything is gen except mid-case. I was lucky enough to find a gen NOS bezel ring which makes a huge difference IMO. The dial, hands and insert are also NOS. I love the vintage charm of this watch. The superdome plexy is so cool. This watch is very understated - no one will notice it on the wrist (unlike the AP or TCLV). In fact it's invisible on the wrist to 99% of the population. The phong case is spot on...correct serials etc. Doubt most watch makers could tell it apart from a gen ....not like the ordinary watchmaker comes across gen 1665s these days.
Group shot:
Hard to say which is the best overall. I like to wear the LV and 16600 with a suit. The AP (with red strap) is a great "smart casual" watch. The omega is unbeatable as a daily beater and the 1665 is good for EVERYTHING and anything!!
Thanks for reading....I enjoyed spending the afternoon taking pictures and thinking about each watch.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
