Steph Deux 0 Posted May 25, 2016 Forgive me if this has been discussed, but Google search never returns any results for my searches. Which is irritating to say the least. A link to a thread would be fine if you have one. Why don't we see any reps for Cvstos or Devon Treads. I have my own theories, but I don't want to colour the discussion first. Any thoughts? :suck: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piccolo 673 Posted May 25, 2016 I presume because they are niche, so unlikely to make any return on buying/borrowing one then dissecting it to copy. If it needed a new movement making to work in one it would be very expensive. Cvstos look very much like most RM models to me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rickyrosey 2 Posted May 25, 2016 The devon thread is way to difficult to rep Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steph Deux 0 Posted May 25, 2016 Thank you, Gentlemen. That is what I assumed as well. Piccolo, I thought that as well Cvstos=RM. Or, as I am new to all of this, maybe RM=Cvstos...? Chicken or egg? Rickeyrosey, complete agreement. I would think the Tread 2 would be significantly easier, but still, very few off the shelf components. Whoever does it, a 1:1 super rep, not an $50 toy, will make a killing. Thank you both. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
onionbag 1 Posted May 25, 2016 Yikes....... I can beat that though. I give you the Cabestan....... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Robin195959 2 Posted May 25, 2016 Yikes....... I can beat that though. I give you the Cabestan....... Looks like an old bus conductors ticket machine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
onionbag 1 Posted May 25, 2016 Looks like an old bus conductors ticket machine. 'Tis troo dat. Though I prefer to think of it as the love child of a comptometer and a windlass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piccolo 673 Posted May 25, 2016 Whoever does it, a 1:1 super rep, not an $50 toy, will make a killing. Thank you both. That's the problem - it would cost them so much in new parts and new machining tools that they would have to either: 1/ sell thousands of them at a $5-800 price, or 2/ sell them at the same price as a used gen... Either way, neither is going to happen... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steph Deux 0 Posted May 25, 2016 Looks like an old bus conductors ticket machine. 'Tis troo dat. Though I prefer to think of it as the love child of a comptometer and a windlass. Holy crap. That's nuts! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyRock 0 Posted May 25, 2016 Personally I like the look of the Devon Tread far better, but even if I had the money to afford one, it would be the first generation watch, due to the look and it would not be an every day watch. The gen is VERY heavy and not very comfortable. The Rep, if fully functioning and properly operational would run $2K at the least, and I'm fearful that I've underestimated the total cost of reproducing that watch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steph Deux 0 Posted May 25, 2016 Whoever does it, a 1:1 super rep, not an $50 toy, will make a killing. That's the problem - it would cost them so much in new parts and new machining tools that they would have to either: 1/ sell thousands of them at a $5-800 price, or 2/ sell them at the same price as a used gen... Either way, neither is going to happen... Hmmmm. My thought would be that they should do the 2, the 1 is NOISY as I hear. I'm not so sure about the cost, but of course I will defer to the experts. Look at the blow up below. While there are oddball parts, they are solid and easily-scanned, most (all?) could come off a CNC easily. Similarly it's just a mechanical watch, without a "movement" per se, a little quartz movement to time the stepper motors. I'm betting those are off-the-shelf parts. Or could be anyway. Compare that to all the fiddly bits in automatic movements, the balancing act, the secs@(wherever), the "don't use your chrono (does anyone actually do that on a rep?)", the "don't reset your chrono with hands at", the "don't change your date when", et cetera. Given the labour costs and likely the ease of assembly, I don't know that they would need to be any more expensive than the good, high-end reps we see now. Mostly, it's not a watch. It's a little mechanical gadget with stepper motors instead of springs and flywheels and all the rest. There's absolutely no reason whatsoever that it must price like a car. None. Thoughts? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piccolo 673 Posted May 25, 2016 They would still have to sell them... Yes (I think) it's a cool design and it's clever. But how many units make it worthwhile, and why would a rep 'factory' go through all the hassle? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steph Deux 0 Posted May 25, 2016 Personally I like the look of the Devon Tread far better, but even if I had the money to afford one, it would be the first generation watch, due to the look and it would not be an every day watch. The gen is VERY heavy and not very comfortable. The Rep, if fully functioning and properly operational would run $2K at the least, and I'm fearful that I've underestimated the total cost of reproducing that watch. Given what I've said above, why so expensive PhillyRock? There is no incredible balancing act, no real need to try to approach single-micron tolerances (I have *no* idea what types of tolerances are used on reps, or gens for that matter), no forcing a movement into doing something it wasn't designed to do, no complicated configurations. Again, take a look at the below photos. The whole thing just screws together and works. Without fiddly bits and springs and all the rest of it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steph Deux 0 Posted May 25, 2016 They would still have to sell them... Yes (I think) it's a cool design and it's clever. But how many units make it worthwhile, and why would a rep 'factory' go through all the hassle? If they were to rep that Star Wars version for $750 or so, they would sell like hot cakes. As far as actual numbers, I have no idea obviously. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steph Deux 0 Posted May 26, 2016 I took a look at the How It's Made segment on ; they used Panerai watches as an example. Yes, I think that very high quality reps of Devon Treads could be made. No fiddly bits, no ultra fra-gee-lay ("I think that says 'fragile', honey.") springs, balancing acts, cloning movements, or ultra tight tolerances. Screws, gears, steppers, almost all of which could be modified from off-the-shelf parts, bolted together. It's just assembly of a little gadget, not watchmaking. Devon *may* mill nanometer tolerances on unbinilium, but an exacting rep certainly doesn't need it, and we all know where the price comes from. Let's go folks! 1:1 Devon Tread 2! Available as a Super rep by Chinese New Year 2017! "Let's work the problem people. Let's not make things worse by guessing." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piccolo 673 Posted May 26, 2016 Let's go folks! 1:1 Devon Tread 2! Available as a Super rep by Chinese New Year 2017! "Let's work the problem people. Let's not make things worse by guessing." Go for it! I'm sure if the parts are available then you can buy them... Make a proto for yourself and get them sold off the back of that! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted May 26, 2016 What you're missing is that rep makers do not design and manufacture movements. They buy in off-the-shelf movements (sometimes adding complications). A rep of a movement of this compliexity isn't going to happen - mainly because there's no wider application for it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piccolo 673 Posted May 26, 2016 What you're missing is that rep makers do not design and manufacture movements. They buy in off-the-shelf movements (sometimes adding complications). A rep of a movement of this compliexity isn't going to happen - mainly because there's no wider application for it. I was trying to avoid saying this There's not really any application for it - Devon have got the one and only made up as a watch... And I don't think they sell many! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steph Deux 0 Posted May 26, 2016 Go for it! I'm sure if the parts are available then you can buy them... Make a proto for yourself and get them sold off the back of that! This discussion concerns what is possible and the costs involved, not my plans for entering the replica watchmaking industry. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steph Deux 0 Posted May 26, 2016 What you're missing is that rep makers do not design and manufacture movements. They buy in off-the-shelf movements (sometimes adding complications). A rep of a movement of this compliexity isn't going to happen - mainly because there's no wider application for it. That's certainly true. Though having looked through that abortion thread, if someone did make one, it wouldn't be long before someone else crammed it into a Timex case with a rep dial and called it a Rolex. HA! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites