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Why go Gen ?

innocenti

Renowned Member
16/8/16
705
155
43
Dropping my 14060M off today with Rolex for service and left wondering why go gen ?

£550 + any parts estimate for service / 6 x week estimated return

Looking around I wondered with exception of anything with gold (still not convinced reps have got there yet) why go gen ? Im still on the list for a Batman GMT and all that's available UK (& far east when recently there) are datejusts and full on gold. Browsing today I couldn't see any reason why Id replace my rep Airking / Black GMT or Yacht Masters with genuine items. I think any steel sports model rep are at a quality now that makes you question buying a gen when you can have a throwaway watch for less than the R services.

Tried on the oyster perp and was considering buying but at £4950 thought Id be better off buying the rep.

My new train of thought is to keep a couple of gens only and then just have a stream of reps coming and going.

Am I seeing the light or way off track ?
 

ExOmegaFan

Active Member
26/7/18
237
131
0
Germany
I‘m considering the same route. I haven‘t received my ARF Sub Date yet, but if it can keep up with my expectations I‘ll let Omega repair my genuine Speedmaster and keep it in a safe place and go reps from here. I‘m not (yet?) into gold models, therefore I don‘t care that much about them.
 

goldman555

Known Member
4/8/16
184
123
43
I have a number of genuine Rolex's and a couple of genuine German watches. I don't buy genuine any more I rarely wear my genuine versions. Only if I'm around really geeky watch people.

Rolex is doing what DeBeers have been doing for the longest time market manipulation. It all started with the Daytona Stainless Steel. By limiting the numbers they created a situation where the resale price was constantly dramatically higher than the recommended retail price. Permeating the legend that Rolex's go up in value in the last 10 years they've expanded this to all the stainless steel sports watches and it is super annoying.

If you walk into any Rolex boutique or official dealer around the world and ask for a stainless steel Daytona or any Stainless Steel GMT or Sub- Mariner they will laugh at you like you are crazy I really really hate this because it's so stupid. If you want to buy the solid gold version of any of the above you can get them from stock. In fact Ceramic Stainless steel Daytona's are now going for over $20,000. A good example is the GMT stainless steel I was offered one the other day for $22,000 you can get a nearly new yellow gold for that.

Rolex are upping the anti now with the stupid rules around not being able to resell the watch blah blah blah it's ridiculous.

Apart from the strap and clasp the new sub- mariner and ceramic Daytona with the 4130 movement are getting scarily close to genuine. And that's only if you are holding in your hand and kind of know what you're doing on the wrist I challenge even a Rolex specialist to really tell what's going on. I put Everest bands on my replicas, I also work with a whole bunch of watch snobs and no one has even questioned these new generation reps.

The only shame is that they haven't figured out the CHS GMT yet but if they do like they did with the 4130 I think the market will crash. The new Daytona from noob is scary good.

And as you point out you get ridiculous servicing charges which are pointless. I used to have an AP I had it serviced twice then sold it (at a loss of course) after I was charged well over $1000 per time for the service... Seriously it's a watch not a Bentley.

As with DeBeers and diamonds the replica/man-made versions are getting so good that even they are producing their own man-made diamonds to try and control the market.

I reckon in the next three or four years there will be sports Rolex's that are indistinguishable from the real thing. Minus the strap.

Their new policy of controlling supply and demand is going to blow up... It's just a matter of when not if.
 

innocenti

Renowned Member
16/8/16
705
155
43
Agree I think their current policy isn't working however I have heard a rumour that they are stopping the maxi case production and returning to the old shape cases ???

currently on the waiting list for a GMT and a Daytona. AD cannot tell me how long I have to wait and its been months already.

When I travelled to Asia I hoped to pick one up at Rolex in HeathrowTerminal 5...…….My logic that they might have in stock as customers are only passing through. They told me they rarely get steel sports to sell. Rolex Boutique in Korea told me that they get 1 x batman etc a month and that's not guaranteed to be every month.

Today the AD was embarrassed that I was there wanting to buy today and not only could they not sell me anything but they couldn't even order or put me on a list with a time frame of delivery.

No wonder sports models are currently selling for £2k over RRP even when used.

With regard to other points mentioned:

Warranty - only 5 years / 2 years after service - all at a cost
Reliability - are we talking with regular RSC costs or leaving unopened ?
Resale value - not really a concern
Accuracy - My noobs run as accurate as my gens (& some worryingly better)
The very fact that it's the actual real deal made by the brand on the dial - Make sure you carry the label not the other way around.

Also lets not forget Rolex aren't the best watches however they are the best marketers.
 

Silvester

You're Saying I Can Sell?
8/4/18
61
15
0
Warranty, reliability, resale value, accuracy, the very fact that it's the actual real deal made by the brand on the dial.

I can buy 10 superreps for the price of 1 gen. (jF oyster)
Lets say the watch works for 5 years.
Then i can do 50 years with reps, not worrying about damage, get lost, called out, expensive service by Rolex etc.

Real deal is Just overpriced. They let us pay for a feeling...
 

lcsrep11

Active Member
19/8/17
203
93
28
I can buy 10 superreps for the price of 1 gen. (jF oyster)
Lets say the watch works for 5 years.
Then i can do 50 years with reps, not worrying about damage, get lost, called out, expensive service by Rolex etc.

Real deal is Just overpriced. They let us pay for a feeling...

Ive owned my Daytona since 2012 and its more than doubled in value. I also own a 2002 GMT master ii which i paid peanuts for and nearly worth 3x what I paid for it. No matter how good they are you don't get that with reps. In 50 years time they could be worth 5 times the initial investment.

I think everyone has a dream watch for me mine was my black face stainless daytona and I still love it as much as the day I bought it. There are other watches I fancy in rep which I would probably not buy gen such as AP 15400 and a Batman or Hulk but I don't think i could settle with a rep daytona or stop buying gens its a totally different thing.
 

lcsrep11

Active Member
19/8/17
203
93
28
Agree I think their current policy isn't working however I have heard a rumour that they are stopping the maxi case production and returning to the old shape cases ???

currently on the waiting list for a GMT and a Daytona. AD cannot tell me how long I have to wait and its been months already.

When I travelled to Asia I hoped to pick one up at Rolex in HeathrowTerminal 5...…….My logic that they might have in stock as customers are only passing through. They told me they rarely get steel sports to sell. Rolex Boutique in Korea told me that they get 1 x batman etc a month and that's not guaranteed to be every month.

Today the AD was embarrassed that I was there wanting to buy today and not only could they not sell me anything but they couldn't even order or put me on a list with a time frame of delivery.

No wonder sports models are currently selling for £2k over RRP even when used.

With regard to other points mentioned:

Warranty - only 5 years / 2 years after service - all at a cost
Reliability - are we talking with regular RSC costs or leaving unopened ?
Resale value - not really a concern
Accuracy - My noobs run as accurate as my gens (& some worryingly better)
The very fact that it's the actual real deal made by the brand on the dial - Make sure you carry the label not the other way around.

Also lets not forget Rolex aren't the best watches however they are the best marketers.

I could have bought a ceramic GMT from an AD at Jumeirah Al Naseem hotel in Dubai in May this year, I couldn't believe it when i saw it. I looked straight online to see the prices of resale and was surprised there were loads around list and under list. I decided not to bother for that reason I would have only bought it to sell straight on. I have seen lots of GMT master II ceramic available online for list and under list price. Try Chrono24 there is even one on watchfinder now with box and papers for £6630 yes over list but cheap for them as they do like to rip people off.

As for the Daytona my AD told me the list is 20 years so if you really want one id just pay the premium. In 20 years they could be 30k RRP who knows ?? If they call you by some miracle sell your existing one and buy the new one from the AD you will probably make some money.
 

GregH

Known Member
25/6/18
124
15
0
In your opinion which is the Rolex (a part from the op from jf) most terribly close to gen?



Inviato dal mio iPhone utilizzando Tapatalk
 

peterpl

Put Some Respect On My Name
24/7/11
4,667
636
113
For base model Rolex's like the Airking, Explorer 1 and OP the reps are so good no need to go gen. The tells are minimal because there is no date and the SS feels identical to the gen. Where you can tell bigtime is when there is any kind of precious metal involved. The finish and feeling is just night and day difference. Just the shine alone you can tell from quite a distance in real life not to mention the weight of a full gold bracelet.

For Rolex reps stick to SS only and if you like ones without a date even better - one less tell.
 
Last edited:

pompompurin

:3
Patron
Certified
28/7/15
5,063
3,057
113
Hong Kong
I go gen for models that can't be replicated well enough to a level of at least 90%

e.g.
- 16710 GMT Master II = none of the reps are decent.. 2836-2 movement with bad handstack and bad crown/stem/tube height triggers my OCD
- 16570 Explorer II = this rep has the same problems as the 16710 GMT Master II
- Datejust Oysterquartz = no rep exist

I also go gen for models with two-tone gold or full gold because I don't believe in the gold content of reps and building a two-tone franken rep is very costly
 

muiramas

Erect Aristocrat
Supporter
18/1/17
5,707
7,025
113
Was going to go gen Submariner this year. But I can't - Rolex won't let me - I'll be damned if I'm going to kiss AD ass and buy shit I don't need to get on some waiting list, or pay £2,000 over the odds on the grey market. Then I got hold of the ARF Sub and realised that going gen would have been a huge waste of money. Sure, there are minuscule faults in the ARF, but there are minuscule faults on the real one too. I'm totally satisfied with my ARF Sub.
 

gareth

You're Saying I Can Sell?
20/11/10
93
18
0
Rolex release new watches that you can’t actually buy. I’ve been on a waiting list for the new Pepsi for months now and the dealer told me I could expect at least a 2 year wait - which is ridiculous.

So you can’t even buy a sports Rolex these days unless you’re prepared to pay over list price (which I’m not), so reps are the way to go IMO.

I have a genuine Submariner, plan to add a genuine GMT, but other than that I’m interested in building my rep collection. The reps nowadays are so damn good, and with a few gen parts they’re indistinguishable from the real deal. Plus you can get a more diverse collection of watches at a fraction of the cost.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

peterpl

Put Some Respect On My Name
24/7/11
4,667
636
113
I have a genuine Submariner, plan to add a genuine GMT, but other than that I’m interested in building my rep collection. The reps nowadays are so damn good, and with a few gen parts they’re indistinguishable from the real deal. Plus you can get a more diverse collection of watches at a fraction of the cost.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Agree some reps are really really good especially IWC/Panerai and some Rolex ND models (OP, Explorer I etc../5 digit models like the TC. I reckon though all these 6 digit ceramic models still have a bit to go. There are still many flaws on them + the qc can be really bad sometimes like the bezel play, rotations feeling, cyclops, misalignments (quite hard to get a good QC'd rep).
 

Cooldaddyfunk286

Active Member
20/6/18
323
219
0
NY
I think we are all very fortunate to discover the world of reps, I'm sure alotta guys in this for some years may not agree AS whole heartedly, but this is true shit. I almost spent the 5 gs on the oyster 39 a year or 2 ago, and I remember i just couldn't at the time, it would have been selfish of me and I had an engagement ring to worry about. I came back to it earlier this year, was going to buy the oyster 39, no, christmas is coming up, already had to stop working for family reasons, shouldn't and couldnt do it. Then SOMEHOW and I don't even know how, I found this world of reps. And I couldn't be happier. I'm more into watches than I EVER have been, more knowledgeable in horology in general...because of reps. This v9 feels like a Rolex. In my mind, it's a Rolex. I can't understand why anyone would pay these REDICULOUS prices when the reps are so close. V9 costs 500-600 bucks, actual cost of production of a six digit sub for Rolex...500-700 dollars. What would be the point on spending 10 grand after tax, on a watch that costs 500 to make, when you can get a near identical rep, for a realistic price point. The sub is a 500 dollar watch, gen or rep, no matter how you wanna justify it, it's branding and marketing and the warm glow in your balls you must feel knowing you actually spent that 10 grand??!! I'm not sure. Just speaking some TRUTH!
 

Cooldaddyfunk286

Active Member
20/6/18
323
219
0
NY
Crap hit post by accident ...I love it when you see the super rich wearing reps. Because THEY KNOW THIS. Why spend 40 grand on a watch when u can get it for 400 bucks, and still peel-off out of the gas station in your McLaren or Ferrari. No one will ever question that the watch on your wrist, driving that car, will ever be fake. How the rich stay Rich huh? I love it.
 

Cooldaddyfunk286

Active Member
20/6/18
323
219
0
NY
You know how I found this rep world? It's all coming back to me. I started looking into counterfeit Chanel purses as a graduation present to my sister, the guy that I was in contact with had some poor quality but still looked amazing reps, and I said shit, if the Chinese can pull this same quality and materials and LV, Gucci, Chanel...why not rolex's. I already knew this was being done but not to this level, a couple Google searches later landed me to rwi.
 
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mech500

Mythical Poster
6/4/12
8,253
3,593
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UK
Go gen in any watch you want if you can afford it and it makes you enjoy the watch more than rep.

Of course strictly speaking a lot of watches are NWBIG but if you have the cash then “gen is gen”