Indeed.
I even went to try a gen on a while ago at the mall and the rep easily compared.
The weight is freakishly similar, the thickness is freakishly similar and even the bezel insert color is dead on.
The dial on the gen for sure feels better finished but you need to keep the watch near you and have experience or a WIS feel for the Swiss finish to be able to notice.
My wife, who know shit about watches, who thinks a $99 Timex is a luxury watch, would probably say that the rep has the same finish feel as the gen and in fact, if both watches are next to each other on a table, she would not know which is which....
And that is true for 99% of people.
That is because Swiss watches are not common like the Tomex at Walmart so the knowledge is limited to those who seek the Swiss items and manupilate them regularly.
Between rep collectors, the pleasure is not in fooling each other with reps but sharing our passion for quality watchmaking.
Between gen collectors, the passion is shared also.
Between rep collectors and gen collectors, a certain code of silence is expected and accepted...
Between rep collectors and 99% of people, your secret should be divulged as honesty will give reps more credibility...
Between gen collectors and 99% of people, who cares, your $10,000 Rolex will have to prove it's genuine status, anyways...
Sooo...
It is us rep collectors who win in the end....
we've beaten any good sale or discount price any Swiss makers could ever hash out and we still can look good to 99% of people, just like the gen collectors but for much cheaper...
The rep hobby....yeessss, just like savouring sweet gooey candy you just stole from the corner store...
Ahhh, childhood....To be young again with your neighborhood buddies, standing on the corner with your small candy loot, bragging about how easy it was to fool the old greek store keeper.
Luke