I’d like to throw my input in to this. I’ve owned some reps in the past and have owned a Ginault OR2 for a year now. I’ve modded some reps and have tutorials up in the modded section to help fellow members get their watch up and going. I will let you know my thoughts and journey with Ginault.
Is Ginault better than most stock reps out there, simply put yes. But is Ginault worth the new price point compared to a rep with Gen parts? You can argue many ways but in the end I agree with Mari115 with him saying it’s really up to you and what your plans (most importantly budget) are with your watch. (Mari115 always gets the latest and greatest reps before anyone on this forum and so I have seen he does have first and a lot of knowledge on reps) If you get an OR2, with date, and ceramic insert in the used market for close to $1000 or less, I think this is a good deal. If you have discounts that you can apply to get it to this price point for new, that would be the best outcome but there is a wait for these.
I first purchased my Ginault date pre-owned for around $1000 (Ginault OR2 with an aluminum bezel). My first impression is, it’s a higher quality watch than a rep, out of the box. (I had the intentions of breaking it down and modding it right from the start) My first impression of the case design, bracelet, box presentation, were this is a very well made watch. The bezel operated smoothly with a gen-like aluminum insert. I wasn’t too fond of the dial mainly because the one I had purchased had superluminova lume and smaller indices. It was what was in the used market for $1000 and available to me. If I wasn’t mistaken, there was a wait time for them. The best part of the watch, to me, was the crown and bracelet. The Ginualt crown comes with the flower logo, and the bracelet was solid, no rattles, not hollow links, and bezeled finishes so you don’t scratch or cut yourself. The solid end link tolerances are so tight, it really takes some watch skills (huge force) to remove them. But looking at the aesthetics of them (SEL) and overall of the watch it was pretty good quality compared to the others in it’s price range. Most other watches didn’t even come close in this area.
My goal was to create a fantasy Rolex/styled watch that had the slim case with modern appearance and function. I wanted the chromalight lume, large dial markers, and 3d hands as I couldn’t do the Milgauss styled hands and the small markers on the dial that came from factory. Some people would say why would you put rep parts on a gen watch per say? Those that know me know I’ve owned many Rolex’s and have a passion for watches. I do not go around telling people I wear a fake as a real one. I simply tell people it’s fake, even my gens, and the actual truth is, no one cares! Let me repeat, no one cares! I have my reasons to do this but the biggest reason simply was I had the spare parts in my parts bin (free) and there is no forums or ways I can get Ginault parts. The only thing I had to order was a LV insert right from Ginault with chroma light blue pip. After a couple of days I had sent the watch over to KJ2020 (my friend and a master at his craft) to put on the ARF parts and inspect the movement (ETA 2824). Most importantly I wanted to get his personal take on the watch. You can see he commented on page two. (Shout out brother!) When the watch came back I installed the green LV insert. I will also show a how to swap insert and what I had found interesting about my Ginault watch.
Well, onto the pictures as you can use it as a tutorial as well. DISCLAIMER- mod your watch it at your own risks-and there are some steps I did not list nor picture but this is the logistics of putting on the insert on an OR2. Watch water resistance will be compromised if you do not have it pressure tested or use crystal presses, tools, or other methods of watch making. I found it similar to putting on any rep or Rolex six digit styled watches. You be the judge and look for yourself. OK on to the PICTS!
HERE IS THE INSTALLATION TUTORIAL
USE BEZEL REMOVE WITH PLASTIC SO IT DOES NOT SCRATCH THE WATCH
CRYSTAL POPPED OFF ALONG WITH ASSEMBLY
RECOMMENDED TO DO THIS IN A BAG SO THE CLICK SPRINGS DO NOT FLY EVERYWHERE
PICTURE OF CLICK-SPRINGS IN GINAULT CASE
REMOVE CLICK SPRINGS
CLICK SPRINGS
I HAD CHEATED AND HAD SUPER GLUED THE CLICK-SPRING AHEAD OF TIME-A TECHNIQUE I HAD LEARNED FROM KJ2020-THEY COME IN TWO PARTS UNLIKE ROLEX
ALL THE PARTS OF THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE CRYSTAL WITH GASKET, RETAINING RING, BEZEL ASSEMBLY, AND INSERT
WITH CLEAN RAG YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO POP OFF CRYSTAL AND RETAINING RING WITH YOUR HANDS. YOU MAY HAVE TO USE A SMALL FINE SCREW DRIVER BUT IT WAS NOT NEEDED. JUST USED MY FINGERS AND OFF IT WENT
PUT ON CRYSTAL MAKING SURE IT IS CLEAN, DUST BLOWN, ETC
ALIGN DATE
PARTS TO INSTALL
FIRST IS TO FIND RETAINING RING
INSTALL WITH STEP GOING DOWN
USE PRESS, IN MY CASE AND OLD BEZEL, TO PRESS RETAINING RING DOWN AND SEAT
RE-INSTALL CLICK SPRINGS
INSPECT GASKET ON BEZEL ASSEMBLY
INSTALL BEZEL ASSEMBLY-USE CRYSTAL PRESS-IN MY CASE I WAS ABLE TO APPLY FORCE AND BOOM
INSTALL INSERT-SNAPS RIGHT IN-FRICTION FITTED
INSTALLED PICTURES
Here was my findings after I had done this install. I find the process the same as most six digit reps of Rolex and Rolex itself. During the installation it did not take any force to install the retaining ring. I could literally install it with minimal pressure, did not have to use crystal press. Most reps and Rolex, you will literally have to use a crystal press and there is much resistance even using the old gaskets (not recommended) and they still had passed the pressure test. Most modders I know, understand you have a chance to bend the retaining ring and so most will hand fit the retaining ring onto the crystal by hand and then will use the crystal press to seat it. To me, this compromises the water resistant and left a salty taste in my mouth. I already knew the Ginault would fail in the water pressure test and it failed miserably, the crystal blew out, no surprises. I was shocked as I wonder if I just had a bad Ginault or if this was the way it was from the factory? The watch was only three months old, per the manufactured card and from the date I had received it. The other thing I had found, on the OR2 vs Reps, is that it is finicky when you have to put on the bezel assembly. If you use a crystal press to push the retaining ring all the way down, you can’t turn the bezel on the Ginault. It was almost like the retaining ring was made too short for the watch. The retaining ring, on OR2, has to sit a hair above the case for the bezel action to be smooth and operate. Unlike reps and Rolex it has to be put on there with all force and will operate without issues.
After a year I find my only complaint is the bezel gets very hard to turn after a short while. Hard to turn as it will not move again. I had to retake the bezel assembly apart and realign the retaining ring to sit a hair higher than the case. I have an ETA 2824 and it runs solid without missing a beat. I love the glidelock bracelet and the Ginault does what I need it to do. I still love it. I wear it when I go to sketchy places and it makes an interesting conversation. Another factor to consider is putting insurance on your watches. I have insurance on my jewelry pieces and I can throw my Ginault on there. Cost on it is so cheap if I lose it or get robbed, it’s replaceable. You can’t do that with a rep with gen parts and risk losing everything.
I hope this adds value to the group.