Obviously new to the rep community and truthfully would not be here if I could afford a gen 16610LV. Alas, I’m a 40-something middle-class mortal with a 3yr old and mortgage so the idea of shelling out almost $8000 for a watch is something out of reach. Could I ‘save for it’ or ‘set a goal for retirement’…sure. But I’ve wanted a gen Kermit for over 10 years and it never seems to rank high enough on the desire-to-cost scale.
Only recently did I find out that reps (like TC) had come so far – and cost so much! This said, I find the idea of paying $800 for a hand-made near perfect rep kind of a bargain as it’s 10% of gen and within my budget.
All this is background to the real question I came to ask and the dilemma I’m having. What do you say to the person who asks about your very expensive looking Rolex watch? Also, how do you reconcile the idea that you are wearing a replica trying to pass itself as genuine… therefore you are undeservingly putting yourself on a pedestal (those who can afford a Rolex).
After review with friends and wife (who say go gen or nothing) I’ve found there is a big difference in their mindset vs mine toward rep watches. This could be expressed (from my perspective) in other replica items like a fiberglass body 356 Porsche replica using a modern engine or canvas transfer Jackson Pollock with brush stroked added for texture. These items, to me at least, symbolize the same idea as a replica Rolex – I want the enjoyment of using/ seeing this thing daily but could never afford the price tag of a real one. To achieve my goal I’ll try and get the best possible reproduction at my price point. The problem however is the majority of people either don’t care or won’t ask if your 356 Porsche or Pollock is real as there is an assumption and an acceptance that it’s not. This somehow makes it OK to own one and it’s still just a cool thing of envy. No guilty feelings or hearing the whispered word ‘fake’.
I know better than to lie about the watch and ever say it’s gen. This just compounds the guilt… but why should I feel guilty? In getting a TC (for example) I’d be purchasing a watch with hand-crafted components, countless hours of meticulous thought and measurement, and individual assembly on a bench as opposed to a factory floor. A TC sub should be lauded as more of a custom watch than something mass produced by a multi-billion dollar company like Rolex. This concept unfortunately exists just in my mind. To the rest of the public (this forum exempted) a replica is seen as a cheap NYC street corner purchase for $50. This is the stigma I need help rationalizing before making the TC V7 Extreme purchase.
I know I’ll love wearing the TC every day and it will make me happy to look upon the Rolex design perfection of silver bracelet, green bezel with black face… until someone asks (which they always will) ‘Is it real’.
Only recently did I find out that reps (like TC) had come so far – and cost so much! This said, I find the idea of paying $800 for a hand-made near perfect rep kind of a bargain as it’s 10% of gen and within my budget.
All this is background to the real question I came to ask and the dilemma I’m having. What do you say to the person who asks about your very expensive looking Rolex watch? Also, how do you reconcile the idea that you are wearing a replica trying to pass itself as genuine… therefore you are undeservingly putting yourself on a pedestal (those who can afford a Rolex).
After review with friends and wife (who say go gen or nothing) I’ve found there is a big difference in their mindset vs mine toward rep watches. This could be expressed (from my perspective) in other replica items like a fiberglass body 356 Porsche replica using a modern engine or canvas transfer Jackson Pollock with brush stroked added for texture. These items, to me at least, symbolize the same idea as a replica Rolex – I want the enjoyment of using/ seeing this thing daily but could never afford the price tag of a real one. To achieve my goal I’ll try and get the best possible reproduction at my price point. The problem however is the majority of people either don’t care or won’t ask if your 356 Porsche or Pollock is real as there is an assumption and an acceptance that it’s not. This somehow makes it OK to own one and it’s still just a cool thing of envy. No guilty feelings or hearing the whispered word ‘fake’.
I know better than to lie about the watch and ever say it’s gen. This just compounds the guilt… but why should I feel guilty? In getting a TC (for example) I’d be purchasing a watch with hand-crafted components, countless hours of meticulous thought and measurement, and individual assembly on a bench as opposed to a factory floor. A TC sub should be lauded as more of a custom watch than something mass produced by a multi-billion dollar company like Rolex. This concept unfortunately exists just in my mind. To the rest of the public (this forum exempted) a replica is seen as a cheap NYC street corner purchase for $50. This is the stigma I need help rationalizing before making the TC V7 Extreme purchase.
I know I’ll love wearing the TC every day and it will make me happy to look upon the Rolex design perfection of silver bracelet, green bezel with black face… until someone asks (which they always will) ‘Is it real’.