Although a teensy bit less Gen like, I actually prefer the proportions of the v1 Rep strap to the Gen! Good for you for not obsessing about the minutiae; a nice watch/strap is a nice watch/strap - no matter what version - and that buddy, is a nice watch!
Yes, I just like nice watches. I tell anyone who asks anything about them that they’re a replica. So how close to gen isn’t a big factor for me. How beautiful the watch is, is everything. Part of my decision (before receiving qc pics) to choose the watch regardless of bracelet was thinking how disappointed I would be if I red lighted a great specimen because of the bracelet and ended up having to accept a watch not quite as good just because of the bracelet.
The first qc pics were great on every aspect except if I zoomed in massively on the pearl there seemed to be a tiny hairline fracture in the ceramic where it was drilled to fit the pearl. It was so small that it couldn’t be seen on the picture taking up my screen, but could on zooming right in.
I asked the dealer if another angle on the pearl could be supplied, but please don’t send it back as I suspect it cannot be seen in real life. He replied okay, give him some time to do this. Next day my 2nd watch in the order arrived and qc pics sent, along with another 300m asking if I preferred this one. It looked near perfect to me. I had the thought that if he hasn’t returned my first 300m yet and was asking if I prefer this one then it may be one someone else has red lighted, and the watch is so damn nice then they surely rejected on the bracelet.
I considered going back to this thread and getting my eye in on picking bracelets and then slapped myself and said take the damn watch, it’s beautiful. I like both bracelets and can’t tell the difference until I see them side by side anyway. And I love it. My favourite watch.
The dealer is ‘the cartel’ because I only recently came upon the rep scene and began at reptime. He was the first I read enough reviews of to trust it wasn’t a bogus site. I was later led here. And I confess I still sometimes shop in supermarkets, sometimes buy packaged food from multinationals, and often put fuel in my car so boycotting price fixers is hypocritical of me. I’m looking at TDs now though to ensure I support this site.