Which HBB to get

[Moncho]

I have been looking at the HBB and have norrowed it down to the SS model. I'm not looking to spend a fortune, but would like a nice looking (and running watch). These are the two I'm considering:

http://www.bigbigwatch.com/Hublot-Big-B ... -2717.html

and

http://www.timeshops.net/HB6730_-_Big_B ... mic_Rubber)_Aisa_7750_21_600bph_2169-203.htm

It seems to me they're very similar. The difference appears to be the slower movement vs AR. My question... which is more important/better.

I have used both dealers with good results, so that probably won't guide my decision.

Thanks for the help.

M

 

[SpankyHam]

I've been wondering the same thing lately. I'll have to see what the verdict is. Oh, btw, the second link's not really working, at least, not for me.

 

[Moncho]

Hope this one works...

http://www.timeshops.net/HB6730_-_Big_B ... mic_Rubber)_Aisa_7750_21_600bph_2169-203.htm

 

[Moncho]

I can't get the link to work. This is the HBB page:

http://www.timeshops.net/Watch_Hublot_B ... SERIES.htm

The model I'm looking at is HB6730.

 

[jayFlyer]

The Big Bang from the first seller (BBwatch) is made by the best HBB maker and is superior in terms of build quality and feel but AR is very important with this watch. So, i suggest you get the model without AR and send the crystal to chieftang for coating. You won't believe the result!

 

[Moncho]

primetime has a lite version with optional AR. Is this one made by the same manufacturer as the one from bigbigwatch. This looks like a good option.
M

 

[jayFlyer]

You mean puretime? His AR is single-sided, works more like a blue hue than proper AR - it's definitely better than nothing but can't be compared to Chief's work.

 

[Pix]

Regarding HBB manufacturer 1 vs n°2.
If it's true that manufacturer1 has an overall better quality, I would not qualify manufacturer 2 as way inferior.
For owning both types, the manufacturer 2 has following "drawbacks" :
- low beat movement (which I personally don't take as a drawback) and coloured screws, which is wrong against any gen model
- when carbon fiber texture on the dial, manufacturer 2 has an inferior quality, probably nothing to do with CF
- manufacturer 2 has always the same caseback, so often wrong
- I found the screws quality to be inferior on man.2
- I prefer the rotor on manufacturer 2, as it has thinner bars and is engraved (instead of stickers), even if the engraving is poor. It's still better IMO

So if you look for a more accurate replica, man.1 is the way to go. If you look for a more than decent (I would say good) quality and unbeatable prices, go for man. 2

BTW, as far as I know, Timesshops has ONLY man.2 models.

 

[Moncho]

Sorry... It's Puretime.

 

[jj69]

I can tell you from personal experience (I have 5 HBB reps), don't even THINK about buying one without the high beat movement. You can either live with or mod any other problem with the watch. The low beat movement is totally inaccurrate to the gen, and notoriously unreliable. Most of them come through filthy, so you're looking at the cost of a complete service right of the box, then you end up with a movement that still beats at the wrong rate.

PureTime is known as one of the best dealers for HBBs. He has plenty of "Lite" models with the high beat movement, REAL CERAMIC bezels (not PVD coated steel), and he offers single sided AR on his Lite versions for a minor fee - you get all of that for under $300.

Another dealer to contact for an HBB is Hont. He can source most anything, including the new models that come on gorgeous bracelets. His prices may be lower, but I'm not sufe if he get source Lite models with the high beat movement AND the AR like PureTime.

BTW, the single-sided AR is fine. Much better than no AR. As for getting AR added later, I'm sure Chief's AR is outstanding, but who is going to remove the crysal for you and put it back in later? That's the problem I ran into with getting crystals AR-ed. No local watchmaker is willing to remove a rep crystal for fear of destryong it.

 

[guru]

@jj, I totally agree with you.

 

[jayFlyer]

I can tell you from personal experience (I have 5 HBB reps), don't even THINK about buying one without the high beat movement. You can either live with or mod any other problem with the watch. The low beat movement is totally inaccurrate to the gen, and notoriously unreliable. Most of them come through filthy, so you're looking at the cost of a complete service right of the box, then you end up with a movement that still beats at the wrong rate.

PureTime is known as one of the best dealers for HBBs. He has plenty of "Lite" models with the high beat movement, REAL CERAMIC bezels (not PVD coated steel), and he offers single sided AR on his Lite versions for a minor fee - you get all of that for under $300.

Another dealer to contact for an HBB is Hont. He can source most anything, including the new models that come on gorgeous bracelets. His prices may be lower, but I'm not sufe if he get source Lite models with the high beat movement AND the AR like PureTime.

BTW, the single-sided AR is fine. Much better than no AR. As for getting AR added later, I'm sure Chief's AR is outstanding, but who is going to remove the crysal for you and put it back in later? That's the problem I ran into with getting crystals AR-ed. No local watchmaker is willing to remove a rep crystal for fear of destryong it.

Low-beat movement inaccurate to the gen? I believe it's much more accurate than high-beat movements. Some of the low beats have perfectly correct rotor bearings wheras you still can't get a high beat HBB without the hideos saw in the center. The fine adjuster is also present in the low beat and the screws are often silver instead of black. Of course you can mod any movement but if we stay with out of the box scenarios, low beat has to be better looking.

Than there's the whole "beating at the wrong rate" thing. So ridiculous. I've owned both movements and NO ONE EVER NOTICES THE SWEEP. If it's for your own good feeling of owning a watch that beats at the same pace as the gen than ok, you need to get the 28k. Otherwise, don't worry about it.

I'm geting tired of people categorically claiming low beat movements are unreliable. Right now, i own two 21k HBBs and one with high beat movement. Both 21ks keep more accurate time than their high beat counterpart. Sure, you can have bad luck and get a crappy example. But that is no different with 28ks. Just ask the dealer to make sure the watch keeps good time before shipping it out. They will do it. If not, pick another dealer.

Oh yeah, jj69, what was your point of saying PT has REAL ceramic bezels? Others dont?!

Cheers

 

[jj69]

Low-beat movement inaccurate to the gen? I believe it's much more accurate than high-beat movements. Some of the low beats have perfectly correct rotor bearings wheras you still can't get a high beat HBB without the hideos saw in the center. The fine adjuster is also present in the low beat and the screws are often silver instead of black. Of course you can mod any movement but if we stay with out of the box scenarios, low beat has to be better looking.

Than there's the whole "beating at the wrong rate" thing. So ridiculous. I've owned both movements and NO ONE EVER NOTICES THE SWEEP. If it's for your own good feeling of owning a watch that beats at the same pace as the gen than ok, you need to get the 28k. Otherwise, don't worry about it.

I'm geting tired of people categorically claiming low beat movements are unreliable. Right now, i own two 21k HBBs and one with high beat movement. Both 21ks keep more accurate time than their high beat counterpart. Sure, you can have bad luck and get a crappy example. But that is no different with 28ks. Just ask the dealer to make sure the watch keeps good time before shipping it out. They will do it. If not, pick another dealer.

Oh yeah, jj69, what was your point of saying PT has REAL ceramic bezels? Others dont?!

Cheers

I believe my points were all quite clear in my previous post. Just to reiterate:

(1) PT has REAL CERAMIC bezels on his LIte reps, as opposed to PVD coated steel like many of the other dealers (as I clearly stated in my previous post)

(2) When I discuss the high beat movement being more "accurate," I'm referring to its beat rate, not its appearance. The gen beats at 28,8. If you want an accurate rep, I would think you'd want it to beat at the same rate. You call matching the beat rate of a watch movement "ridiculous." I call nit-picking about the mere appearance of a rep movement ridiculous. To me, the appearance of a rep movement is TOTALLY IRRELEVANT. Exactly who is going to see the UNDERSIDE of your rep? I automatically assume that any moron who removes a $9,000 watch from his wrist and hands it to a total stranger is wearing a rep anyway. And that fine adjuster on the low beat movement is faux. It's totally non-operational.

(3) I can categorically state that in my personal experience, the low beat A7750 movements are UNRELIABLE. It is a well known fact that they most often arrive FILTHY out of the box. Unless you're willing to pay for a complete service on brand new rep movement (I'm not), then it's an inferior movement for all practical purposes.

A final point on the low beat movement. Any honest dealer will tell you that the high beat movement costs the rep factories THREE TIMES as much as the low beat movement. That's why the low beat 7750 is so common in "lite" reps. You are getting far more for your dollar with the high beat movement.

 

[Pix]

As far as the dirtyness is concerned : Ziggy mentionned that and you're right JJ saying that it's not worth having a low beat serviced to be sure you get a perfect movement.

In fact I'm wondering if today's low beats are still concerned by this remark, knowing that they disappeared for a while (we had not seen them during a certain time until the HBB came out).
My conviction is that they are just from an other manufacturer, the same way there are different high beat and low beat manufacturers.
My 2 HBB are both low beats and look different from the finishing point of view.
Same remark applies to my high beats.

I have owned quite a lot of high beats, and 3 low beats (including my 2 HBB). None has died, none has had major issues, and which is obvious is that we do not have more testimonies about low beats meeting more problems than the high beats these days. I am really convinced that the past discussed unreliability of low beats... well, is past

Things evolve, and I guess it's more a question of cost than reliability.

All problems which we see reported are common to both : chrono not resseting, stuttering seconds hand (I had this on my first OCC, not on my second), small minute hand not resetting. These are most common complains appart from the D.O.A. movements.

Each and every rep collector has his priorities on movements. Wanting a 28.8 k is a step I fully understand, but I personally don't think it makes a huge difference. We're talking about subtle things.

The aspect of the movement is, for me, more important, as it affects the visual flaws on a rep, which are the first to be remarked when reviewing. In my approach it's as important as a correct DW, a correct dial or whatever.

All in all, I'm trying to fight against the idea that low beats are crappy movements, just because I'm convinced of it. I have no technical argument to oppose, as I'm not a watchsmith.

Remaining 7750s in my collection :
- 2 HBB low beat
- 1 Porsche Design high beat
- 1 Baume & Mercier Riviera high beat
- 1 Breitling BB high beat with sec@3
- 1 IWC Portofino with high beat
- 1 Montblanc Sports Chrono High beat

My humble technical contribution to the low beat / high beat discussion is visual :

[youtube:17a4xwsv]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg-vnhH2FDo[/youtube:17a4xwsv]

Back to the HBB topic : I would be more concerned by the different level of finishing between manufacturer 1 and 2 than by movement beatrates.
My second HBB (Polo Gstaat L.E.) has real ceramic bezel. I paid less than 300 for it (must be lucky ), whereas dealers like Angus continue selling the bezel alone for 258. Different ceramics ?

My very conclusion about all of this : if you look for a cheaper solution, you won't be disappointed by low beat and/or manufacturer 2. These reps are one step below the manufacturer 1 reps, but the price difference is worth thinking about. And one step below does not mean bad... at all.

 

[Moncho]

Thanks for the great info! I think I'm leaning toward the puretime model. It seems to be the same watch as the bigbigwatch one, plus I can get some sort if AR without having to take apart the watch and still come in under $300. I'll look into the Hont models, but they all look very similar.
M

 

[LP640]

Hublot's are so nice, I wanted to get either a Luna Rossa or the rosegold with carbon fibre face.

if you want a rep that is spot on, make sure you look at the size of the text on the rotor. the thick black text is what most reps have, a genuine Hublot has thin black text. that is one major difference a dealer would be able to spot out.

apart from that, the bezels may be made of PVC rather than Ceramic. or the watch may be slightly heavier opposed to a genuine.

 

[basler30]

Back to the HBB topic : I would be more concerned by the different level of finishing between manufacturer 1 and 2 than by movement beatrates.
My second HBB (Polo Gstaat L.E.) has real ceramic bezel. I paid less than 300 for it (must be lucky ), whereas dealers like Angus continue selling the bezel alone for 258. Different ceramics ?

My very conclusion about all of this : if you look for a cheaper solution, you won't be disappointed by low beat and/or manufacturer 2. These reps are one step below the manufacturer 1 reps, but the price difference is worth thinking about. And one step below does not mean bad... at all.

I was trying to find something about HBB Polo Gstaat ,at least some pictures from the rep but after searching through the boards this is the only result.
How do you like this HBB Pix ? Did you get it from Mark ?

 

[guanaco]

What I've always wondered is why the big price difference between the low beat and high beat... both are a >$100 movement for crying out loud!

 

[Pix]

I sold it in the meantime (yes got it from Mark). It had flaws against the gen (colour of the logo, missing luminova, caseback) and the version of man.1 was better replicated. But as a watch, it was really nice, and the all black look is just sexy on HBB

 

[basler30]

I sold it in the meantime (yes got it from Mark). It had flaws against the gen (colour of the logo, missing luminova, caseback) and the version of man.1 was better replicated. But as a watch, it was really nice, and the all black look is just sexy on HBB

Thank you for the quick response I `m getting one of those for sure I don`t mind the flaws as in other replicas that I have I just like to enjoy in nice looking watch