Hello everyone,
While there are already tons of Aquanauts threads, Im gonna focus on this one on blue Aquanauts, whatever their size.
Having been a watch collector for about 6-7 years, I have built a (small) collection mainly based on blue JLC memovoxes (E875, Boutique, Timer, ...). Always looking for novelties on the market but never really convinced, a few years ago I found myself interested in the PP Aquanaut 5168G. I had the chance to try it on at the Paris boutique, but was told to have to put myself on a 6 years waiting list for a 35 k€. Kinda let it go and only recently got targeted, on social media, by a rep advertisment.
Didnt really know about Reps and all the underworld of it all but dug in, after that ad, and got to find this forum.
Been reading extensively about rep Aquanauts and figured that from pictures, quality seemed quite fine for 500€ pieces. After all, its roughly 1% of the price of the real watch now (47k€). So I read about TD and vendors, as well as about frankens and chimeras (is that the name ?).
So I recently ordered the following pieces :
- 3K 5168 from a TD, received the QC pictures about 10 days after the order and now waiting for the watch to be shipped (or has it already ?). My guess is that Im not gonna see it here until at least mid february
- KMF 5167 blue from a vendor who was able to source it. I read good review about this piece so I figure I could try it too, not being sure about the better size for me between the 40 and the 42. Should see some QC pics of that one in a few days.
I agree with the general wisdom about reps : they all have flaws and its never perfect. Im not gonna share QC pics because I believe its best to see the beast in the flesh... And I dont want you guys to spoil the surprise with all the new flaws you gonna see before me !
I might order a ZF 5168 version, just for the sake of it.
I want the watch to be a beater, just like the JLCs I use and ding and scratch all the time, so my understanding is that I will need to have the caliber serviced upon reception. Still have to find someone in Paris to do that for me, since Im not watchsmith (btw, very interesting to read all the technical threads on RWI).
I might franken it a bit, but I doubt it would go beyond a gen rubber and/or deployant, depending on how the rep ones feel on the wrist and the opportunities that may arise.
As for the piece(s) Im not gonna wear/keep in the end, I might just gift it to friends and/or family (they are not into watches at all, its all the same to them).
I'll share pictures whenever I get the watch(es)!
It will be interesting to have your comments on something that peaked in mid-2021 and how the factories have worked since. Will I get new production pieces or just leftover hastly put together?
Suspense !
Cheers
While there are already tons of Aquanauts threads, Im gonna focus on this one on blue Aquanauts, whatever their size.
Having been a watch collector for about 6-7 years, I have built a (small) collection mainly based on blue JLC memovoxes (E875, Boutique, Timer, ...). Always looking for novelties on the market but never really convinced, a few years ago I found myself interested in the PP Aquanaut 5168G. I had the chance to try it on at the Paris boutique, but was told to have to put myself on a 6 years waiting list for a 35 k€. Kinda let it go and only recently got targeted, on social media, by a rep advertisment.
Didnt really know about Reps and all the underworld of it all but dug in, after that ad, and got to find this forum.
Been reading extensively about rep Aquanauts and figured that from pictures, quality seemed quite fine for 500€ pieces. After all, its roughly 1% of the price of the real watch now (47k€). So I read about TD and vendors, as well as about frankens and chimeras (is that the name ?).
So I recently ordered the following pieces :
- 3K 5168 from a TD, received the QC pictures about 10 days after the order and now waiting for the watch to be shipped (or has it already ?). My guess is that Im not gonna see it here until at least mid february
- KMF 5167 blue from a vendor who was able to source it. I read good review about this piece so I figure I could try it too, not being sure about the better size for me between the 40 and the 42. Should see some QC pics of that one in a few days.
I agree with the general wisdom about reps : they all have flaws and its never perfect. Im not gonna share QC pics because I believe its best to see the beast in the flesh... And I dont want you guys to spoil the surprise with all the new flaws you gonna see before me !
I might order a ZF 5168 version, just for the sake of it.
I want the watch to be a beater, just like the JLCs I use and ding and scratch all the time, so my understanding is that I will need to have the caliber serviced upon reception. Still have to find someone in Paris to do that for me, since Im not watchsmith (btw, very interesting to read all the technical threads on RWI).
I might franken it a bit, but I doubt it would go beyond a gen rubber and/or deployant, depending on how the rep ones feel on the wrist and the opportunities that may arise.
As for the piece(s) Im not gonna wear/keep in the end, I might just gift it to friends and/or family (they are not into watches at all, its all the same to them).
I'll share pictures whenever I get the watch(es)!
It will be interesting to have your comments on something that peaked in mid-2021 and how the factories have worked since. Will I get new production pieces or just leftover hastly put together?
Suspense !
Cheers
