UPDATE ... How has it stood the test of time !!
Having worn this rep in rotation with the original and as part of my own curiosity of how it will stand up to real life I thought it good to report the following.
The movement :
I have established it is a SW200 clone made by seagull or rather a 2824 clone with one extra Jewel made by sea gull. It has been adjusted after I wore it for a week and it has flawlessly kept about + 3 second a day and it is still in that range. The original after adjustment has kept about + 5 a day so really no complaints about either "engine "fitted .
The Bracelet.
The original has been flawless in every way , but the rep has had to have the catch posts repaired and the two pins in the catch assembly replaced ( they both fell out ) . The pins of the links are also working loose ( not good ) and I had to repair those too . The rep watch and bracelet also gets much dirtier much quicker, that would suggest it is of a much lower grade SS and I have to wash it every day to keep it looking good .
My guess is it is no more 316L than I am, but it has not gone rusty so it is SS. What I do find interesting is when you wash it is smells of metal as if you are in a metal workshop handling metal .. This is the only watch I have that does this . It actually smells like fresh steel each time you wash it with or without some soap. Truly weird
The watch:
The original has retained its "bright "well made look but sadly the rep has dulled down to a large degree . My original pictures show very little difference but now anyone could tell which is which , and easily when side by side .It has just got very very dull, the hands, the indices , the face and the date wheel it has all just got dull .. I might add it really does not show when standing alone but side by side .. .Its like a different watch .
The Bezel
Once again the original flawless and the rep has stood up well not a scratch or mark but one of the "glued "in nut metal heads on the top of the bezel fell out ( as luck would have it when I was typing so I found it ) a bit of super glue and all is good now . The color is a tad lighter than the original but only a tad , so it still looks good.
The Crystal.
Gen 100% perfect , the rep once again not a scratch but it has dulled down and just does not seems as clear . I have cleaned it inside and out but like the hands and the rest of it it has just dulled down
Overall
It has stood up well it looks a little tired and works with precision many of my original watches don't achieve, but sadly its not as durable as the original and after nearly a year the quality compromise is beginning to show when compared to the gen .
It cost ten times less and that is clear to anyone that looks now but in my world I still wear it and enjoy it and after all whats wrong with that
