Deep down the rabbit hole...

[kvande5]

Hi everyone,

So a few months back I stumbled across the world of reps while looking for my next piece. First thing I did after minimal research was to buy a longines master collection moonphase from DH Gate. No listed factory, movement or really any detail except that hanbelson was procuring it and from what I could tell has a pretty clean reputation and the price was right.

Well, while waiting for that rep I kept diving deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole that is this hobby, found the reptime Reddit and absorbed what they had to offer, then naturally found this forum. With the clear and relatively concise faqs and instructions you all have provided I was able to find a TD that had what I was looking for in strong communication, fair prices, and good reputation (Chris at TOW). Narrow down my wishlist to some consensus NWBIGs for more piece of mind. Feel comfortable with the process and placed my order this morning for a Pelagos Black Titanium from XDF and an Aqua Terra Master in Blue from VSF with Chris.

Really I just wanted to thank all the OGs on here for making what is an immense amount of knowledge accessable and helping us newbs to get comfortable with the whole process.

Hopefully my hanbelson purchase works out but I feel confident that with the help you all provided my purchase with TOW will.

Thanks again

 

[Feefo]

Hi and welcome to RWI! Glad you found your way here.

The vsf at is a great watch, and so is the Pelagos (you meant XF?).

Please take some time to read the sticky threads in the new members area (all subsections), learn the basic forum rules and get some very good advice in the process. A number of questions has already been answered there, this is just an example:

Quick links to some of the more prevalent rules of the forum.

The First Constitution of RWI https://forum.replica-watch.info/for...itution-of-rwi QC Rules https://forum.replica-watch.info/for...tle-on-qc-pics https://forum.replica-watch.info/for...of-qc-pictures Glamour pics https://forum.replica-watch.info/for...r-pics-and-rwi Multiple Accounts...

forum.replica-watch.info

As a new subscriber, you've already been directed to this thread, please read carefully and look through the linked additional threads:

You are welcome

If you've just joined and are reading this, welcome to RWI. If you stop here, or read just the next few lines, that's on YOU, but don't ever say you weren't warned. If you are approached by ANYONE, absolutely ANYONE, offering you a watch, or a deal, via Private Message (PM), exercise common...

forum.replica-watch.info

Another good thread to read to understand where RWI comes from and some fundamentals is this:

https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/the-first-constitution-of-rwi.51989/

Most of the information you need to know to start is there. If you're preparing to buy, read the stickies before ordering. When you're finished, you can continue learning by reading the stickies in all remaining sections. If it's stickied, it's important information.

If you intend to sell, read the sales rules and all stickies in the sales section with particular care and make sure you understand each single rule. Sales rules infraction is taken very seriously here. As a new member you are not eligible to sell. Using the sales section is a privilege, eligibility must be earned, make sure you know and understand how.

For anything else, feel free to reach out to @eBoy or me, we're happy to assist, advise, direct, explain. Don't hesitate.

Don't be afraid to post noob questions in the new members area. In doubt, use the flame free zone. If you feel uncomfortable anywhere in the new members area, please reach out to @eBoy or me. Mutual respect is of utmost importance to us. On the other hand, we're grown-ups and are supposed to be able to deal with a bit of irony, don't take it personally, ever, a bit of irony never harmed anyone. If you laugh at jokes, you'll make friends faster.

This forum is a treasure trove of information and benefits from the engagement of all members who take their time to share their knowledge, help each other out and have some fun. We hope that you'll benefit and enjoy this platform as well as contribute positively to it.

If at any point you feel to contribute also on another level, feel free to pm the boss (trailboss99) to become a supporter and get some little perks with the status (editing rights, for example).

Enjoy the forum.

 

[kvande5]

Hi and welcome to RWI! Glad you found your way here.

The vsf at is a great watch, and so is the Pelagos (you meant XF?).

Please take some time to read the sticky threads in the new members area (all subsections), learn the basic forum rules and get some very good advice in the process. A number of questions has already been answered there, this is just an example:

Quick links to some of the more prevalent rules of the forum.

The First Constitution of RWI https://forum.replica-watch.info/for...itution-of-rwi QC Rules https://forum.replica-watch.info/for...tle-on-qc-pics https://forum.replica-watch.info/for...of-qc-pictures Glamour pics https://forum.replica-watch.info/for...r-pics-and-rwi Multiple Accounts...

forum.replica-watch.info

As a new subscriber, you've already been directed to this thread, please read carefully and look through the linked additional threads:

You are welcome

If you've just joined and are reading this, welcome to RWI. If you stop here, or read just the next few lines, that's on YOU, but don't ever say you weren't warned. If you are approached by ANYONE, absolutely ANYONE, offering you a watch, or a deal, via Private Message (PM), exercise common...

forum.replica-watch.info

Another good thread to read to understand where RWI comes from and some fundamentals is this:

https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/the-first-constitution-of-rwi.51989/

Most of the information you need to know to start is there. If you're preparing to buy, read the stickies before ordering. When you're finished, you can continue learning by reading the stickies in all remaining sections. If it's stickied, it's important information.

If you intend to sell, read the sales rules and all stickies in the sales section with particular care and make sure you understand each single rule. Sales rules infraction is taken very seriously here. As a new member you are not eligible to sell. Using the sales section is a privilege, eligibility must be earned, make sure you know and understand how.

For anything else, feel free to reach out to @eBoy or me, we're happy to assist, advise, direct, explain. Don't hesitate.

Don't be afraid to post noob questions in the new members area. In doubt, use the flame free zone. If you feel uncomfortable anywhere in the new members area, please reach out to @eBoy or me. Mutual respect is of utmost importance to us. On the other hand, we're grown-ups and are supposed to be able to deal with a bit of irony, don't take it personally, ever, a bit of irony never harmed anyone. If you laugh at jokes, you'll make friends faster.

This forum is a treasure trove of information and benefits from the engagement of all members who take their time to share their knowledge, help each other out and have some fun. We hope that you'll benefit and enjoy this platform as well as contribute positively to it.

If at any point you feel to contribute also on another level, feel free to pm the boss (trailboss99) to become a supporter and get some little perks with the status (editing rights, for example).

Enjoy the forum.

Yep meant XF. Read everything and noted. Appreciate it.

 

[kvande5]

7 days from inquiring to receiving on the two from theonewatches. Unbelievable service and delivery. Outstanding quality. Couldn't ask for a better first experience. So grateful to be a part of this community!

 

[APjumbo]

Two very good choices.
You are going to love them and wonder how they can make these for less than a tenth the price.

 

[kvande5]

Two very good choices.
You are going to love them and wonder how they can make these for less than a tenth the price.

Already baffled by the value. They are both perfect for me as far a quality. I'm sure they have some tells but nothing major or noticeable in passing. I finally understand NWBIG, didn't think it was possible that they have gotten this good but pleasantly surprised that I was wrong.

 

[Zero2]

And so it begins my thoughts and prayers are going out to your wallet

 

[APjumbo]

We know you’re already thinking about what’s next on the hit list.

You can’t be a RWI member without trying a panerai at least once.

IWC Mark XX ?

AP 15202

Glashutte SeaQ

Rolex Bruce Wayne

So many options

 

[asusundevils1971]

You are such a good influence APjumbo and surprised you didn't start him on a Franken for his next watch.

Nice choice in watches kvande5, they look good and wear them in good health..

 

[kvande5]

We know you’re already thinking about what’s next on the hit list.

You can’t be a RWI member without trying a panerai at least once.

IWC Mark XX ?

AP 15202

Glashutte SeaQ

Rolex Bruce Wayne

So many options

Bruce Wayne was already near the top. My wife does need a Christmas gift idea for me....

 

[kavorca1]

This will be you soon enough

 

[APjumbo]

Go take a look at the pam040 in the sales section so that 12 months from now you can kick yourself lol

 

[kvande5]

Bruce Wayne was already near the top. My wife does need a Christmas gift idea for me....

The clean 126710 Bruce Wayne on the oyster bracelet is definitely on the hot list.

Was also looking really closely at the PAM438 GMT Ceramic on ceramic from VSF. Any thoughts on it?

With how affordable all these great watches are it feels like the watch budget got a 10x boost, in reality I'm going to end up sending three times what I planned on this year

 

[APjumbo]

The 438 is cool, I sold mine because it didn’t feel super comfortable for some reason. Ceramic is lighter than steel, but on that bracelet and at 44mm it was a bit chunky. My 47mm pans on straps wear better.

For ceramic I love my AP diver, IWC spitfire, and my fav is my 43mm 2019 sea master with the titanium bezel.

The Pam and IwC ceramic are rounded and matte, where the AP and Omega have polished bits which really set the ceramic off and give it nice pop.

The 43 ceramic case seamaster is one of my favourite watches, so much that I bought another with Sedna gold bezel.

 

[kvande5]

The 438 is cool, I sold mine because it didn’t feel super comfortable for some reason. Ceramic is lighter than steel, but on that bracelet and at 44mm it was a bit chunky. My 47mm pans on straps wear better.

For ceramic I love my AP diver, IWC spitfire, and my fav is my 43mm 2019 sea master with the titanium bezel.

The Pam and IwC ceramic are rounded and matte, where the AP and Omega have polished bits which really set the ceramic off and give it nice pop.

The 43 ceramic case seamaster is one of my favourite watches, so much that I bought another with Sedna gold bezel.

Appreciate the recommendations, back to research mode! I have an AP diver on the wishlist but I was looking at stainless, will definitely check out the ceramic on it too. Any recommendations on factory? Saw some good feedback on XF, ZF and JF out there as far as a few different diver models. Like the thought of some polish to go with the natural matte of ceramic to get some striking contrast.

 

[APjumbo]

I sold my first stainless AP diver because I found it too top heavy.
Then found one on a bracelet which is heavy and chunky but more balanced.
It’s not a watch I would want to wear as a daily.

The ceramic diver is super comfy, I swim with mine. The carbon diver is nice but for whatever reason I don’t get mine wet, my brain doesn’t trust it to be waterproof.

I don’t know which factory is best for these. Mine are probably JF which they no longer make.
I think APSF makes divers now.

Pelagos titanium
Aqua Terra GADA watch

Then….
Bronze Pam1074
Carbon AP diver
Ceramic case seamaster
Rolex GMT on jubilee

There, all the materials and bases covered.

Just need a green watch, then that’s it….

Green JLC reverso

 

[Feefo]

Nor sure they do them anymore, XF FC AP divers are quite good.

 

[kvande5]

I sold my first stainless AP diver because I found it too top heavy.
Then found one on a bracelet which is heavy and chunky but more balanced.
It’s not a watch I would want to wear as a daily.

The ceramic diver is super comfy, I swim with mine. The carbon diver is nice but for whatever reason I don’t get mine wet, my brain doesn’t trust it to be waterproof.

I don’t know which factory is best for these. Mine are probably JF which they no longer make.
I think APSF makes divers now.

Pelagos titanium
Aqua Terra GADA watch

Then….
Bronze Pam1074
Carbon AP diver
Ceramic case seamaster
Rolex GMT on jubilee

There, all the materials and bases covered.

Just need a green watch, then that’s it….

Green JLC reverso

Then that's it. Collection complete my wishlist just grew from 7 to 10. Seems like a tip of the iceberg situation lol. Year end bonus just around the corner, now the painful task of narrowing down to the next one. Or two...