Why do you guys buy replicas?

[G30]

Variety. A lot of us could afford a few gens, but that would mean foregoing the pleasures of a Panerai today, an IWC tomorrow, a Breitling on Thursday. There are particular models that I absolutely love (in my case, a Speedmaster Professional), or can't be properly replicated (again, a Speedmaster). In those cases, I get the gen.

Also, to fund terrorism and child labor. I'm not really a fan of terrorism, but you've got to take the bad with the good.

:lol1: +1

JohnnyDeepSea are you back ? Why does this sound so familiar ?

Yeah, but the travel (Hong Kong, China, Thailand and Malaysia) is a tell. Johnny is probably holed up in his Batman/Ironman room, ogling his DSSD and masturbating in his own feces as we speak.

Compare conversations here Vs Gen forums, especially TRF. I'd rather mod a rep watch to gen quality or read about someone else that has done so than suffer through the dribble most gen owners muster in stroking each others egos for having purchased something merely because it was expensive. For me, it's all about the game.

I find this to be part of the enticement too although I haven't progressed beyond WR measures, replacing a PAM CG, fixing a CG lever and so on. I've learned a great deal though and it's done nothing but enhance my overall appreciation and love of timepieces.

For now, I'm really enjoying the fact that I can own every high end watch I've ever dreamed of without spending tens of thousands of dollars to do so. Straps, buckles, deployants, parts and modifications; it just adds to the fun and excitement. And even with all of this, I find myself searching for a brand of watch that takes me out of my comfort zone of Rolex, Omega and Panerai and inspires me to do more. Can't wait for that either...

 

[slimslim]

i don't think the gens are worth the money. or the upkeep. i like watches, if rolex and omega were still affordable and the reps were still crap (30yrs ago) i would buy gens. but rolex is off the reservation in my opinion. gold coated ceramic bezels on a sportwatch? a diver that goes past 10k feet? come on. the 2-300m subs made some sense. we are way out there now.

but it's your money.

look at a brand like panerai. i love them. i want more of them. but i would feel like a fool buying a gen. my 200 dollar 111j is great for me. what is my motivation to spent the extra 5k? what am i getting for that money? a case i can dive with? (never going to happen) and a better movement? i can jam a swiss mvnt in there for a few hundie if i want to. sure the case and glass is better. but i have 4 dogs. i play with them. among other risky watch activities. so if i wreck a watch i'm out 2bills. not 5k...

 

[murklemark]

Because I like pretending I have more money than I do.

 

[donaldejose]

It's a cheap thrill.

 

[phillycheez]

It's a cheap thrill.

Hmm... I wouldn't say its cheap really. Relative to gens I guess its true.

 

[frodostar]

reps are from china, gens are from unfortunate rich people who i stake out then hit over the head and steal lol!!!!
what a plum!!!! thought you said where do u buy reps from. jokes on me
think theres just a real buzz when you know what your wearing just cost you £7k, and you worked to get that piece of kit that makes you feel a great sense of achievement, god that sounds like a pile of shit,i just want to give it large to my mates and attract females!!!

 

[G30]

Because I like pretending I have more money than I do.

+ what he said...

 

[tracyl]

I was at an acquaintance's house this weekend, and he owns a 1970's gen omega speedmaster automatic. He said he paid $1200 for it used about 10 years ago. It is now broken, and wanted to get it serviced. His wife took it to the nearest Omega AD, and they said it would cost $500 just to have a look, and will probably cost about $1000 to service it. Of course he said no, and thought what a rip off. So I suggested he see my watch-smith. He said he would give him a free quote, and would not charge more than $175 to service this chrono. Big difference. The thing is, he didn't even know what he had, and what kind of movement was in it. I let him try on my rep 21j SMP 300, and he thought it was a gen. He really liked it, and could not tell the difference. I didn't bother telling him otherwise as I could tell he had no clue.

The point is, if you have the money, and have no clue what the value is, then buy the gen. If you see the value in a rep, then get the rep. Personally, I think the 21j watches are too cheaply made. I'll only buy clone ETA models from now on. They are very well made and will probably outlast most gen watches.

I do have a gen Oris TT1, but I got it used because it had just been serviced. To me that was money well spent. However, it is just a modified ETA 2824-2. Not really better than my rep ETA 2824-2 UPO. In fact both of these watches are +2 sec a day.

 

[ThinkBachs]

Because even the gen watch makers cheat...

http://www.luxist.com/2009/12/09/tag-heuer-new-caliber-1887-watch-movement-snafu/

This was certainly a sticky situation for Tag Heuer, the details are a bit murky, but the situation is clear. Tag Heuer recently announced their "new, in-house made and designed" Caliber 1887 automatic chronograph movement. All seems well with the movement itself, but the problem is that Tag Heuer didn't design it. Nope, they sort of cosmetically altered an over 10 year old Japanese Seiko movement design (Seiko 6S37). So after 150 years, Tag Heuer's anniversary surprise was on loan from Japan. I do understand that this was arranged with Seiko, and that Tag Heuer will actually be building the movements in limited quantities themselves. At least Seiko isn't doing everything.

Tag Heuer got caught red handed by the watch lover community who noticed the similarities between the two movements. This qualifies us as true nerds, seeing details such as this. Tag Heuer would have gotten away with it to, if it wasn't for us meddling bloggers! That's right, thank the internet watch lover community, who is responsible for this situation being discovered. A powerful indication to the watch industry of what the internet can do for them, or against them. In good taste, as a response to the situation, Tag Heuer CEO Jean-Christophe Babin himself went online to respond to the "accusations." He honorably admitted a "mistake" by Tag Heuer and that the movement was in fact "adopted" from Seiko.

The clear winner in this whole situation is first and foremost the power of the Internet watch lover community, second Seiko, and third Tag Heuer for responding to a sticky situation quickly and admirably. Seiko movements are pretty outstanding, and it is funny that here even the Europeans are rather tacitly suggesting that. Plus, Tag Heuer is a rather mainstream watch brand. Meaning that most people who buy their watches will never even know about this situation. Tag Heuer admitted wrong doing, hopefully a few heads will be caved in there in the marketing department, and they will go on their lives being good watch designers, not movement designers. Lastly, there are several watch forums and blogs that knew about this situation but refused to mention it even though they discussed the new Tag Heuer Caliber 1887movement. They lose the most in this situation for the destruction of valuable street cred among Internet watch lovers who simply expect more.

-Dec 9th 2009

 

[idontknow]

I do just because I like watches/timepieces.
Funny thing is that my BK SubC, and my Pb custom keep better time than my certified gen Bond SMP 300...

From my DX using Tapatalk.

 

[LHOOQ]

Very interesting, TB. I wasn't aware of that TAG/Seiko story.

What's even more interesting than the technical details is how apologists were trying to rationalize the deception. Calibre11: "Does it matter? The new Aston Martin is built in Austria." (Er... so what?) Then WorldTempus claims the story was spread by disgruntled journalist. (Again, so what?) I loved the quick, direct response that JC Babin gave to the websites, but pathetic performance by the TAG fans.

 

[ABC123]

Recently dropped $4k on a Speedmaster. But I still like the 2 reps I have. Gens' got their place and reps' got theirs.

If you can afford a gen, go for it. There is a certain satisfaction you get with gens.

 

[artsyguy]

Also, to fund terrorism and child labor. I'm not really a fan of terrorism, but you've got to take the bad with the good.

:biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh:

 

[mydnytrydr]

I love the look and design of high end timepieces, without the big investment ..

 

[frankt8242]

Because I like nice watches...>>

And I'm not stupid !!.....Why would I pay $4000. for a piece of costume jewellery that I could 99% duplicate for $200...???

 

[Pakz]

I do just because I like watches/timepieces.
Funny thing is that my BK SubC, and my Pb custom keep better time than my certified gen Bond SMP 300...

From my DX using Tapatalk.

Very true.

I love watches, so having more is better than less...

If I was sticking to a "gens only policy", I'd have what... 3,4 nice watches...
With a mix like I do, I have 15 and that grows.

I'm like "1/3 mid-level swiss gens (think Omega), 1/3 reps, 1/3 other mid to low level mechanical (Steinhart, Seiko, Yema, Hamilton... )"

But the prices do not correlate to wrist time... I'm wearing more my noob ceramic than my gen speedmaster...

 

[collector26]

Like Pakx I need a collection and a selection. I have spent more on my reps than a couple of nice gens might cost. I just know I could not be satisfied with a couple of nice gens. I enjoy a 20 watch collection and still take my family on vacation

 

[jeffmtbr]

I just spent more on landscaping in front of my house than a 16610.
I just couldn't spend that much on a stainless steel watch. Don't quote me on this but it might have been heard on Jake rolex watch podcast that the cost for Rolex to make
a Sub was 200-300 bucks and 100 of that was spent on advertisments.
Here in Canada they were approaching 8 grand before being replaced by the sub-c.

 

[etto09]

I coud buy some gen but some of the reps are soooo good!
And it doesn't hurt your wallet that much if you're selling them again.
So more watches for less bucks


Sent from my iPhone

 

[etto09]

Forgot to add: my beautiful wife doesn't think like me. She's just wearing gens. Actually 111h and GMT Master II.
So no new Speed Triple for me


Sent from my iPhone