Getting started

[faultless]

Hello everyone,

I am new into this, can't even say "hobby" yet. Actually I have never owned an automatic watch before.
I was never a fan of smart watches like 90% of people around me, nor did I find quartz watches interesting.
Since I discovered rep watches and saw others experience of quality/price, I am getting more and more decided to get one (or a few) myself.

Though I am not quite sure if I should start with reps and am looking for, let's say a confirmation.
I have made a shortlist of watches I would love to get, in no particular order:
- Tudor BB58
- IWC Pilot Mark XVIII
- Tissot PRX Powermatic 80
- Longines HydroConquest
- Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba

I prefer steel bands and smaller watches, 40 mm or less, as I have a long and thin arm (17 cm ~ 7 inch).

I would like to hear your opinion, where would be a sensible entry point for a young guy like me (under 30)?

 

[Feefo]

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

You got some solid choices there.
The BB58 is a great rep (z Factory). Wears nicely on a wrist your size.
Mark XVIII also good with a couple of factory choices (research!)
Don't know about the others but I suspect that at least for the Tissot and the Hamilton you'd be better off buying gen given the relatively low price point. It's simple market dynamics, the more popular the watch, the better quality reps will be out there.


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:


https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/you-are-welcome.10935638/post-11179738
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/post-11252239


For anything else, feel free to reach out to @eBoy or me, we're happy to assist.


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.

 

[faultless]

Thank you for your quick answer, I will definitely look further into the BB58 and Mark XVIII, and check out those stickies!

 

[p0pperini]

@faultless welcome to RWI, and congrats on a first post that shows you've already been doing your research and have a shortlist of models you're interested in going for. I agree with everything Feefo mentioned, but just have a couple of additional points to make:
1. Buy them all.
2. There's a watch missing from the list. But I'm sure you merely wanted us to take it as read that you'll also be buying a Rolex Submariner.

 

[eBoy]

- Tissot PRX Powermatic 80
- Longines HydroConquest
- Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba

Hi & welcome again,

Those three are in the 3-digit price range (either new or at least as pre-owned) and except for the Hydroconquest, I don't think there are a lot of high-end copies of Hamiltons or Tissots in general and any copies of those models in particular available.

Watches in that price range are better bought as genuine anyway.

 

[eBoy]

PS: Of course, @Feefo already pointed that out. Silly me.

 

[faultless]

@p0pperini
Oh thats just my "Getting started" shortlist, Rolex will surely find its way there sooner or later
@eBoy
Since those three are in the upper range of three digits, I will most likely start my journey with a rep.
I think BB58

 

[eBoy]

I think BB58

Good and smart choice.

That's the one thing that's so great about brands like Tudor, Omega or IWC: The folks among non-watch people (roughly 99.99% of humanity) who know those brands will never assume it's a rep.

As opposed to Rolex, and to some degree also AP or Patek (if the person knows the two latter brands that is, of course)... You can wear a gen of those brands (especially Rolex) and they will still assume it's fake.

 

[faultless]

Yeah man, like you be reading my mind. I love Rolex. I mean, the Datejust mint is probably the best non Royal Oak looking watch ... but it just isn't sensible for me to own a watch worth as much as my car.

 

[p0pperini]

BTW, I'd also like to pop in a word for the Tudor Pelagos LHD. I loved the rep so much, I went gen. It's a fantastic combination of vintage nods and slightly quirky yet cool design notes.

Oh and the reps are pretty much NWBIG (Not Worth Buying In Gen).

 

[faultless]

Pelagos is really nice but, correct me if I'm wrong, the 39mm rep is not available? I might actually consider LHD though as my right wrist is a bit thicker.

 

[P..DR..D]

1. Buy them all.

Such an enabler but can't find fault

 

[asusundevils1971]

p0pperini gets kickbacks from all the factories and he will have you buying every model of every brand. Welcome to RWI and happy hunting.




disclaimer: p0pperini isn't affiliated with any factories and his name was used without his agreement.