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Best Graham closest to Gen?

integlspwr

Active Member
7/5/12
352
1
0
I really really love the Crown guards they have on their watches. It seems to be synonymous with Panerai CGs.

With that said, anyone can give me their top 3 Graham watches that are closest to Gen?

Looking to add one or two to my collection.

Thanks in advance!
 

jj69

Renowned Member
1/12/06
910
74
28
Most all of the Grahams are are very acurrate, but the best of them are probably the V2 Diver models. The V1 Diver is a nice watch as well, but the dial on most of those models is missing hash marks for the minutes at 29 and 31. It's a pretty obvious omission, so stick with V2.

The big issues with the Graham reps isn't acurracy, but quality control. The triggers aren't anywhere near as well made as the gen Grahams, so be sure your dealer inspects and tests the trigger housing throughly. Have him make sure it's not loose and floppy. The Swordfish movement (even the hi beat one) uses a module to move the minute counter, so your dealer should test the movement thoroughly before posting.

If you like the Classic Oversize models better than the Diver, I would stick with the V1. The AR is better on the V2, but the V1 is more acurrate overall. Also, and more importantly, the trigger on the V2 will scratch the back of your arm and drive you out of your mind. I couldn't stand to wear mine for more then 20mins without having to take it off. In contrast, the V1 is very comfortable. So for the Classic models, stick with V1. They're cheaper too.

If you like the Swordfish, be sure to get one of the ones that has the high beat 28,800 vph A7750 movement. Do not go ANYWHERE NEAR the models with the low beat 7750. The lo beat 7750's are generally hit or miss quality wise, but the ones they used for the Swordifsh are notoriously bad. I sent one back to the dealer 3 times for repair and still it never worked. It finally got lost/stolen in transit the last time I sent it back, and I was actually happy to see it go. Most of the hi beat Swordfish models have Serial #1893 on the caseback. Have the dealer check the movement on a timer to guarantee you're getting the high beat.

You can get the four "Ranger" models for a good price from Toro. The AR isn't great and the dials on some of them (yellow and white) have some minor flaws, but they're nice watches with hi beat movements for a great price. They have been sitting around for a while (hence the closeout price) you could get a "bad" movement, but Toro will replace it for you if you're willing to send it back.

There's also the four RAC Trigger models out there, but few dealers are stocking them. They have a lo beat 7750, but the two I own have been fine. It's not a 1:1 rep. There are some minor issues: dial doens't quite have all the sharp details of the gen, the date magnifier doesn't really have much mag, the AR isn't great, etc. But I really like mine. It's comforatable and well made, and looks different from all the other Graham reps out there.

Of course, avoid all the crappy quartz and A21 jewel reps. They're all a joke.

Hope this helps.
 

djole

Known Member
9/6/07
126
0
0
Thanks JJ for the nice reply here on Graham watches.
I also thinking of buying Swordfish, but I have big concern about
Movment.I read in the forum on these watches that there is no power
Reserve on it at all. If you leave it over night on the table it stops working???
Is this truth?
I do not attend to use chrono function at all.
I guess, my questions are :
Is this kind of watch is going to work OK if you you don’t play with
Chrono
And is it going to have enough power reserve to be on the night table over night
And still working before I put it on wrist?
Do I have to be extra, extra careful with watch (I usually take care of all my watches any way)
Thanks
 

Steelfish

Hǝɐpᴉᴎƃ ꓭɐɔʞ ᗡoʍᴎ Ոᴎpǝᴙ
Staff member
Administrator
Certified
Most all of the Grahams are are very acurrate........

Bloody awesome post mate........I now have some questions that I've asked myself answered........kudos.
4_19_21.gif
 

jj69

Renowned Member
1/12/06
910
74
28
I never had a problem with my hi beat Swordfish, but to be honest, I don't wear it often.

Adding a module to any movement can cause reliability issues if the module isn't designed properly. I have not heard any criticisms of the Swordfish rep module from our regular watchsmiths on the forums, so I would not avoid purchasing it for that reason. The modules that have serious issues are the ones that relocate the running seconds hand out of its native position (i.e. Rolex Daytona, IWC Portu, and AP Offshore seconds-at-12).

As for the power reserve, I don't see why that issue would be more common on the Swordfish than on any other A7750 rep. Any A7750 rep can show up with a "bum" movement with low power reserve. Did more than one person report power reserve issues with Swordfish reps? Just ask your dealer to test the watch for a few days to ensure PR is good. If you have a good honest dealer who is more than a drop shipper, it shouldn't be a problem. Just have patience and allow him a few days to test the movement befoe he ships it out.

I rarely wear the same watch two days in a row, so I would never notice a PR issue. I guess you would have to re-set the time every day if PR is low, so I can see how it might bother you. However, in my experience the movemets in most reps don't exactly keep great time (unless they've been serviced by a competent watchmaker). That means you really have to re-set the time every day anyway. If your A7750 movement gains two mintues a day, that's not really abnormal for an un-serviced rep movement. However, if you like to have the exact time on yourwatch, you would have to re-set the time every morning anyway.

I don't think you would have to be more careful with a Swordfish than any other watch with an A7750. It's the same movement. The Swordfish case is well made, and it doesn't have a trigger to worry about like the other Grahams.

I'm not one to avoid using the chrono function on any of my reps. With a few exceptions, I use my chronos all the time. Using it won't hurt the movement. You just run the risk of one of the chrono hands slipping and resetting to the wrong position. I only avoid using the chrono on reps that I know have a tendency to slip (usually older reps that need a service).



Thanks JJ for the nice reply here on Graham watches.
I also thinking of buying Swordfish, but I have big concern about
Movment.I read in the forum on these watches that there is no power
Reserve on it at all. If you leave it over night on the table it stops working???
Is this truth?
I do not attend to use chrono function at all.
I guess, my questions are :
Is this kind of watch is going to work OK if you you don’t play with
Chrono
And is it going to have enough power reserve to be on the night table over night
And still working before I put it on wrist?
Do I have to be extra, extra careful with watch (I usually take care of all my watches any way)
Thanks
 

djole

Known Member
9/6/07
126
0
0
Thank you JJ :cheese:
Finally I got all I needed to know about this watch
I've been looking to buy swordfish for I while and this would
Be my first watch with 7750
All my other watches are non chrono, and never had any
problem with any of them.Non of them were serviced.
In terms of keeping time ,I can live with watch being late for
a minute or so per day.
I've been reading on a7750 for a while , and it felt that most of the time
I would read negative review on this movement .

Thank you so much again for taking time to reply !!
Alex
:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:
 

silkmeister

Getting To Know The Place
5/12/12
18
1
1
I am currently waiting on the end of the Chinese holiday period to get a Graham from Toro. Took me a while to decide which to get as all my favourites are unavailable but really looking forward to getting QC pics and info. Gone for a black dial Ranger after all the info from these guys.
 

jj69

Renowned Member
1/12/06
910
74
28
I had a black dial ranger. Nice watch. I sold it only because I have so many Grahams with black dials. I kept the yellow and white Rangers, and I'd like to get a blue one.

Do you know if Toro still has blue? Are they $168 still?
 

silkmeister

Getting To Know The Place
5/12/12
18
1
1
Hey JJ, don't think he had blue when he sent me the available list, and price has risen again slightly to $198.

Really cant wait, then no doubt i'll be back to increase my collection with several colour options. I need to get a white watch, a yellow watch, and blue watch but strap has to be coloured too.
 

Mobius

I'm Pretty Popular
Hey JJ, don't think he had blue when he sent me the available list, and price has risen again slightly to $198.

Really cant wait, then no doubt i'll be back to increase my collection with several colour options. I need to get a white watch, a yellow watch, and blue watch but strap has to be coloured too.

You could try here:

http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/...ofighter-oversize-diver-on-blue-rubber-strap/

Blue dial w/ blue rubber strap. I have one and I love it! You can see mine here: http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/lets-see-your-141922
 

soze

Renowned Member
26/3/13
833
0
16
That's a stunning blue Graham you linked to Mobius.

I received my silver dial with black subdials Overside Chronofighter from Toro last week. It is beautiful, but I like this blue one even more.