anton Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 Last week I picked up a Blackbird, because my dealer had one available and after reading forum topics on it, I had to see it for myself. So here it is: a wrist shot of two: 1) The Crosswind Special "Gold Wings" from 2000: 2) Windwider Blackbird (Apparently the successor to the CWS): And a side-by-side shot: ...and I'll be damned if I put any more $$$ on the gens when I can get a rep @ 1/10th the secondhand price. Here, I'm not following the rep vs. gen argument, but if you readers can remember, I posted a movement comparison (2894-based B44 vs. Modified A7750) and I wanted to follow up with live pics of the two side-by-side. The big date complication is an improvement for this movement, even if it's not intended to be used this way. The datefont (save for a little print bleeding) looks spot on with the gen. It also moves and flips over like on the gen. FYI, it's in this configuration: Left side - 0/0/1/2/3/0/0/1/2/3 Right side - 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/0 The only flaw with this is the date is slightly wider on the rep than it is on the gen. Fortunately, the maker of the rep also printed the dials with the optical illusion of the words "CHRONOMETRE CERTIFIE" with slightly wider spacing so it would look spot on with the gen. Final thoughts: Even though I've been cursed with a slightly off-center pearl (which is not AR coated sapphire like the gen and be careful if you unscrew the rider tab; the pearl comes off), I've been blessed the most aesthetically pleasing rep I've ever owned. No decessed datewheel issues, a literally perfect "B" center seconds hand, and very strong AR (but still not like gen; gen has a purplish tint; rep has a blue), This is one of those reps that I'm proud to own and one of those that make me think twice about buying gen or rep. EDIT: I've recently noticed some flaws that I consider to be HUGE and they may or my not affect the Blackbird that you may receive from a dealer...Thanks to Lanikai for bringing this to me and finding them myself. 1) Bezel rider tabs may be misaligned with the cutout placeholders on the bezel. Also, rider tabs may not be evenly cut on both sides. Methinks this is due to the hand-cutting of the rider tabs. 2) As I just noticed on mine, the bezel screws are glued in. I attempted to remove my bezel to refinish the watch case up to snuff, but trying to remove the screws has thus far proven difficult. Lanikai, could you attempt to remove them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltatahoe Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 i was wondering when someone would post a review of this one; it looks like a top-quality rep. i'll be honest -- it's going to be hard to hold off on this one given your pictures and review. i think this one could look great on a gen black rubber strap (which i happen to have sitting in my watch drawer) deltatahoe btw, just noticed your avatar picture is of the blue angels; they are here in sf this weekend for fleet week -- always a good time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15DOC Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 That looks excellent. How good are the chronograph movements? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton Posted October 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 I'm all for getting the gen rubber strap. Reason being is that alough the rep and gen are technically the same (printing, markings, branding, etc.), the rep strap (at least the ones I've used) were dust wh**es, didn't play well with stretching, and tle last point is hard to explain, but the gen keeps the black color with use, whereas the rep tends to to go slightly gray with use. ------------------- I posted a topic regarding the movement here: "Big Date" Movement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15DOC Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 Outstanding, looks like a nice watch, I agree with the black strap it would be great... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raijor Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 I have spent a lot of money on Gens in the past and will never go back unless I were to win big in the lottery because of the quality of the new reps coming out. You have a beautiful watch there.... I wish you well - Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b16a2 Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 Good to see some words about this replica, has been very quiet seeing though it is such a beautiful piece! Could well be my next purchase! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desuetude Posted October 6, 2007 Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 Anton, great review! PS, don't get bent out of shape about the AR, the AR on my gen Navi World (bought new from an AD) was very blue, not purple. I think there's just some variation between various AR coating runs. The Blackbird looks great, if only they could rep the bracelet! The pilot bracelet for the Blackbird(brushed with the angled links) is really spectacular on the gen (friend of mine has an '03 blackbird), and would do wonders for this piece. Definitely a temptress! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rxus Posted October 6, 2007 Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 If the rider tab with the pearl comes off..would it be too difficult to replace with gen part? In my opinion that allingment of the pearl is the main drawback to this rep. And I don't mean to rain on your parade anton, you have a beutifull watch there.. So my apologies in advance. Just trying to get feedback from the pro's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanikai Posted October 6, 2007 Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 can you tell me if your tabs (pearl excluded) look like a better fit than the ones on my blackbird ?? the 5 and W and E .. seem a better fit on your BB... that is a little uplifting as I am asking my collector if these can be replaced ... it is rather obvious ... thank you lanikai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton Posted October 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 @ Defacto: I've got the CWS on the angled bracelet. Too bad it's polished, though; because then it would be perfect for it. Currently, I'm trying to source a angled bracelet for the BB, but price is 2.5X watch! I may end up getting a rep pilot bracelet and brushing it myself or a Pro II. @ Rxus: If I picked a gen rider tab, I may also have to get the entire bezel because most likely they are cut or angled differently. But I do know that on the gen the pearl is contained within the rider tab; on the rep it's two separate pieces so it makes you lose the part fairly easy or riun the lume. @ Lanikai: I can't make a proper determination, but you should ask your collector to replace the entire bezel as it looks as if the placeholders for the tabs are slightly off by a couple degrees. Please reference by my two macro shots below: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
italiano17771 Posted October 6, 2007 Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 thanks for all the info anton...im seriously thinking about getting this one, but will wait until the bracelet comes out, which should be within 2 weeks. so maybe you can hold out until that comes out. one quick question...you said your pearl came off?? did you have to glue it back on? can you explain this a little bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton Posted October 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 thanks for all the info anton...im seriously thinking about getting this one, but will wait until the bracelet comes out, which should be within 2 weeks. so maybe you can hold out until that comes out. one quick question...you said your pearl came off?? did you have to glue it back on? can you explain this a little bit. The pearl comes off when you unscrew the rider tab off the bezel. The pearl itself is built as a upside down "T" shape; so it's held in place by the screw. The known flaw of all the bracelet reps is the endlink...they don't seem to be engraved deep enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickey Padge Posted October 6, 2007 Report Share Posted October 6, 2007 It seems the bad pearl is present on all of these watches, I have a spare bezel from an EVO, I wonder if I could just swap the pearl section over? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanikai Posted October 7, 2007 Report Share Posted October 7, 2007 Joshua wants to replace the entire watch after seeing the pic.. i was asking for the tabs .. but i think both of you are correct .. the cuts in the bezel do appear to be quite "off" line ... thank you Anton, Lanikai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mezzanine Posted October 7, 2007 Report Share Posted October 7, 2007 This one's growing on me... I wasn't too inspired about it at first. I would still prefer a Skyland black steel, but between this and the Evo, I'd probably go with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanikai Posted October 7, 2007 Report Share Posted October 7, 2007 I actually like the dial of the Breightling Evo Graphite dial... "maybe just one more"..(seems to be our mantra) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton Posted October 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2007 I actually like the dial of the Breightling Evo Graphite dial... "maybe just one more"..(seems to be our mantra) That one's turning me on too...but alas, the wife steps in... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mezzanine Posted October 7, 2007 Report Share Posted October 7, 2007 I have spent a lot of money on Gens in the past and will never go back unless I were to win big in the lottery because of the quality of the new reps coming out. You have a beautiful watch there.... I wish you well - Cheers Yeah- that's my feeling as well. The 'super reps' are close to perfect and allow watch nuts like ourselves to be able to have a collection of awesome watches, rather than having to limit our collections to less watches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanikai Posted October 7, 2007 Report Share Posted October 7, 2007 That one's turning me on too...but alas, the wife steps in... Yes, man was never meant to have the best of both worlds ... life would be too perfect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astiz Posted October 9, 2007 Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 Oh my god...this pearl is.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anton Posted October 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 This pearl is...what? Uneven? This is what you should expect with a rep. There's some detail that's going to be off. If you want it to be perfect: 1) You could buy a gen bezel. But good luck finding that anytime soon. 2) Buy a gen. Then you wouldn't have to worry about inaccuracies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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