A banker here

[tocqueville]

Hey guys,

I'm a new registered user. I've been lurking around this site for a few months though. I'm an investment banker in NYC (JP Morgan), but I like in CT right now. Currently my rep collection includes, a Rolex datejust (ETA), Omega constellation diamond bezel (ETA), 2 Ultimate POs and a Panerai 172(Swiss), all of which are from Josh. I work in a field where everyone wears amazing gens, just that i'm straight out of college so i can't afford gens myself. I'm thinking of selling my Ultimate POs because they're a little big for me, maybe buying some cartier. I'm more of a dress watch person and was hoping that some nice Breguet, Patek and Chronoswiss replicas would come out. Anyway, just saying hi. I'll be a very regular member, and although I'm a noob I'm already hooked.

 

[seank]

I'm just finishing up a project for JP Morgan Chase in Chicago right now. We're a plumbing contractor in the Chi-Town area and we're doing the build out for Turner Construction. Its been a great job so right now so I love JP Morgan. Welcome friend and it sound like you're in full addiction mode.




Sean K

 

[tocqueville]

Thanks man

 

[andreww]

Welcome

 

[gen]

Welcome, and enjoy your stay.

BTW, how are your reps holding out against your colleagues who wear gens? Do they know that it's a rep?

 

[tocqueville]

My reps are holding up really well. Especially the Rolex 18k from josh. I think the secret is modification. I got the $268 18K black dial from Josh, then quickly took out the bracelet and replaced it with a $125 dark lizard strap. It looks amazing. I wear it with great confidence infront of bankers that have been wearing the rolls for years. My only fear came when a really big guy here in wall street, a big shot in Blackstone group, asked me if he could take a look at my watch. He was wearing a black dial JLC. He looked at it and simply said, "you have good taste, this looks like an older model". Then he looked at the serial number and said "hmm F, so I guess it's around 2003". As for my omega constellation, although it's a high range rep, you have to be smart with the diamond bezel. The secret is to wear it at night with yellow lighting. Lighting is extremely important. When I wear my constellation at evenings with yellow lighting, it makes a huge difference.

 

[tocqueville]

No. I haven't told any of them that they're reps. No one doubts even the slightest that they're gens.

 

[piratedzeus]

Well if you pass them off as gen, take care with patek stuff...

 

[tocqueville]

You are right. I would never wear a rep of an 80k patek for example. Also I would avoid wearing too many reps, regardless of their quality. I think the main thing, however, is confidence. I mean i've gone to Cellini in NYC to get my omega constellation links resized. You guys know more about watches than 70% of the people that work in Cellini. If you want to pull off a rep as gen, confidence is 90% of the act.

 

[caravaggio]

In fact, I would say forget Patek. No way in hell is there a good enough Patek rep out there to match a gen Patek that one of your colleagues or clients may be wearing...

A good option: check out the IWC's.....

Also, some Breitling reps are easily passable now...

 

[piratedzeus]

If you want to pass over as gen... only buy the best... if you have to say once that one watch is a rep... you can forget it...

 

[tocqueville]

Hi Paneraifreak. Yea I was thinking of these three watches for my next buy:

1. Cartier Santos (SS, black leather, non chrono, ETA)
2. IWC F.A. Jones (the one that costs around $138 on Joshua's site, with decorated movement)
3. Franck Muller (White dial)

How do you think these would match up to my collegues? Do you think they would pass as gen? Let me know whic watches you think are gen-like. As you can see, I love the dress watches.

 

[Jumbie]

Given that you're straight out of college, do you think it's a good idea to be sporting multiple expensive reps?

If the people you're dealing with are always changing, they won't notice. But if you're regularly seeing the same clients and/or colleagues, they will probably question how someone that recently graduated has 6+ $3k watches.

I fully agree that confidence goes a very long way to pulling off a rep. Wear it like you own it. However, that only holds true to a point.

I'm in med school. When I graduate in a couple of years, if I notice a resident (who recently graduated like I did) sporting a Pam one day, a Rolex the next week, then a Breitling soon after I'm going to wonder if he came into some money or just spends all of his income on watches. The same wouldn't hold true for an older doc who's been in the game for a while. I'll figure they got the pieces over time or now have the disposable income to fund their hobby.

By the way, honest inquiry. Not trying to find fault.

 

[caravaggio]

Hi Paneraifreak. Yea I was thinking of these three watches for my next buy:

1. Cartier Santos (SS, black leather, non chrono, ETA)
2. IWC F.A. Jones (the one that costs around $138 on Joshua's site, with decorated movement)
3. Franck Muller (White dial)

How do you think these would match up to my collegues? Do you think they would pass as gen? Let me know whic watches you think are gen-like. As you can see, I love the dress watches.

Jumbie is right: wearing too many different reps in a single week is a giveaway for you right now.

Settle with two watches you truly love and alternate them every two weeks or so. Then, once you get a big money making dossier or a huge raise, add one more....

Ultimately, it is up to you...but handling this hobby in a suttle way is wiser....prevents public humiliation.

Like me, for example: I actually have only two reps. One is an UPO that i wear EVERY SINGLE DAY....for months....and a Montblanc I wear once in a blue moon....

But what i have acheived with this is that NO ONE questions the PO: it has become part of me on a daily basis so they dont look twice.... Since the PO is my all time #1 most favourite watch, i also feel it is part of me, my persona, my likes and dislikes....so much so that if i am to ever buy one new gen at an AD ever, it would be the PO....

So, get to feel that way about one nice watch, and the people around you will never question it....as long as the watch is an excellent rep....not a cheapie

 

[Jumbie]

If you take the above advice but feel the need to mix it up every now and then (but not too often), get a new rep and either sell the old one on this forum (or elsewhere) or store it.

Then tell them you sold your watch and bought a new one.

Obviously you can't let them see you wearing the previous watch.

 

[caravaggio]

If you take the above advice but feel the need to mix it up every now and then (but not too often), get a new rep and either sell the old one on this forum (or elsewhere) or store it.

Then tell them you sold your watch and bought a new one.

Obviously you can't let them see you wearing the previous watch.

Yes, that can work too :wink:

 

[denisegold]

Look at a Cartier ETA Seatimer. They are very close to genuine. Classy, but sporty look.

 

[maxse]

welcome to the dark side. That's very smart of you to get reps instead of putting yourself into debt just so that you can look good compare to your co-workers... I know too many people like that.

BTW, which undergrad did you go to? And congrats on the job.

 

[geo1nah2a]

Hi Paneraifreak. Yea I was thinking of these three watches for my next buy:

1. Cartier Santos (SS, black leather, non chrono, ETA)
2. IWC F.A. Jones (the one that costs around $138 on Joshua's site, with decorated movement)
3. Franck Muller (White dial)

How do you think these would match up to my collegues? Do you think they would pass as gen? Let me know whic watches you think are gen-like. As you can see, I love the dress watches.

1. Seen some bad reps of the santos.. Just by looking at the gem'ed crown is enough. Less is more, but plastic will never be a gem.
2. IWC Jones. Lovely watch. Gen dial is a bit warmer. Gen is thicker. The glass is s-h-i-t. You'll have to upgrade it before you wear it at this level..
3. Frank Muller. There you go. Very nice dials. Even gen-dials are floating around.. If you like the case, go for it. Works well with good leather straps.

May I add two more? consider the VC Overseas. Not 100% (but which is...) but a really solid watch. Sporty, but not too technical (a'la iwc ingenieur) or informal (a'la iwc aquatimer)
If you feel adventurous get a nice rose gold or carbon big bang. Bigger budget, and better be prepared to see people staring at your hand as if it was cleavage It is THAT provocative. The rose goldAND carbon model is coming soon. :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: Get in line :wink:

 

[vcowman]

Cartier Santos +1