petrofsko: I could be wrong but i really doubt if the huge "A" sticker is a QC sticker. it's just stuck on for the watch market customers as a gimmick? better to test the watch first. mine leaks from the He valve. i'll probably seal mine when i start work on it.
nycreplica:
I have a 45mm UPO with the A2824 in it and it's a very good looking watch. the crown on mine hasn't stripped yet but i'm going to franken the watch soon. parts are in, and i'm sort of waiting for the crystal AR.
i've noticed that the 5th Gen 42mm UPOs have a beveled date window, but on the 45mm UPO they are still staight edged. i think the Gen has a beveled date window. you can swap the dial out with a Gen dial i think. other tells are hand lengths which are slightly off.
bezel is not interchaneable easily. there are articles on the fora that show exactly why so if you're planning to go for the most accurate one you're better off buying the size you want, then franken the watch with gen parts that matter to you. after trawling the forum i've come to sort of spot the UPO tells easily. the bracelet looks different. the links on the gen bracelet have a less curved profile while the rep ones are more rounded. the clasp is a bit thicker cmpared to gen, and like everyone says, the SELs are gappy.
mine actully came with a dented bezel insert, but it's not obvious and i didn't want to make a fuss out of it because returning it was too much of a hassle, especially if i might one day do the bezel mod.
i don't know if the 42mm version takes a gen bezel without mods. 45mm does not if i remember correctly. other than that they all share the sam8e crown and tube parts if you're swapping them out with gen parts.
Make of that what you will. to have a 45mm UPO really accurate i think a gen dial, hands, datewheel, crown/tube, possibly He valve ar in order. this is if you're really picky.
to have a 42mm accurate you could relume the dial and get gen hands and datewheel, crown/tube and He valve. in other words the 42mm rep dial seems to be more accurate than the 45mm rep dial.
i chose the 45mm because i liked the size. i think you should pick one based on the size and style you like, then mod the watch as you go along ifyou're really after the accuracy. i think the other option is to buy a used gen.
