kanerich

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that the law in France and other European counties still doesn't punish mere possession -- possession with criminal intent also needs to be proven in order to successfully prosecute. I can't imagine that the French prosecutors have the resources or inclination to grab everyone with a fake rolex and try to build a case around it.

I do think that eventually, IP enforcement is going to get to a point where rep buying will be nowhere near as easy as it is today. Unfortunate from a purely selfish viewpoint, but in the grand scheme of things I tend to think it's a good thing. Which is actually my excuse for indulging my rep fetish now . . . you don't really know what kind of later there will be.

I don't sell reps, like I said I only buy them. So the cheaper they get without a loss of quality, the better as far as I'm concerned. I only point out the diminishing prices as a counterpoint to the long-held, rather silly argument that reps are a reasonable "investment" because they can be sold for around what was paid. Actually, this is largely nonsense, especially with the price wars and ever-increasing quality. This doesn't personally trouble me but it seems like the simpleminded "Reps rule, Gens suck" breed (the next evolutionary step from posting "who has the best sub," it would seem) have often used the fallacious "reps hold their value reasonably well" thing as an arrow in their quiver so I felt like pointing it out as I happen to dislike that particular line of thinking. Still, I honestly can't say aspire is my favorite dealer as I've had some problems with the watches I received from there. Call me superstitious but I've had a good run of luck with River's watches and I don't believe in messing with a good thing, even if it means paying a couple bucks more. That's just my experience, your mileage may vary.

I'm annoyed by the guy who apparently threatened to have a junior employee fired for showing off his rep, claiming it was a "crime" to own it. Mere possession is highly unlikely to be a crime and isn't in Japan, US, Korea or any of the jurisdictions I'm familiar with. Besides, you could just say you thought it was real when you bought it, and that's the end of the story. It's not a crime to be gullible. Selling and transporting reps is obviously another story but once the bad boy is in your hands there's not a lot to be done about it. You know what probably will get someone fired is baselessly calling people criminals and threatening to get them fired because it makes him feel like a big shot.

Well, Paul's killing the used watch market on the rep boards, that's for sure. I don't sell watches anyway, but now I truly can't be bothered to since to meaningfully undercut Paul I'd have to sell them at a fraction of the price I paid.

Well, I managed to think about it for an entire day but I ended up grabbing one. EL's deal for repeat customers is very reasonable I think for this quality of rep. I'm not too concerned about the Asian 7750 -- this is the improved b1 and I haven't had any problems with the ones I got to date (knock on wood)

Obviously it would look better with it, but the OEM rep strap doesn't have contrast stitching and psymetry was just trying to improve it in a quick and dirty (in a manner of speaking), it's not clear to me how he would do this without it being more trouble than it's worth. I think the mods look great considering how horrid the OEM rep straps are.

Maybe buying reps does fund terrorism, but as many people point out just about everything does, and more directly. The largest donor to al-qaeda? The Saudi Arabian monarchy. The largest investor in the American stock market? The Saudi Arabian monarchy. They are also the largest minority shareholder in Citibank, which I believe is the first or second largest financial consortium in the world. So you have a credit card, bank account or loan from Citibank? You're funding terrorism! Let's not forget where our gasoline comes from, not just Saudi Arabia but more overt supporters of terrorism like Syria and Iran. Buy gas? You're funding terrorism! Somewhat ironically, if it wasn't for Swiss banks it would be a lot harder for terrorists to get and keep their money, not to mention the Kim Jong Ils and Robert Mugabes of the world. So I don't think the Swiss should really be pointing fingers at anyone, their famed neutrality isn't doing democracy or world security any favors.

Man, Eddie put the 187 on sale all of six hours ago and people are already demanding the new and improved model. The dealers are right, there really is no satisfying the members of this board. Just kidding. Well, not really but I don't mean the above in a mean-spirited way. Hell, Kruzer00 is probably supporting like 200 families in China by himself.

Don't mind me, just making a joke for my own amusement.

I agree with the last bit. I mean, if calling someone out on a rep is 6 out of 10 for inappropriate public behavior, cursing people out or inflicting bodily harm in retaliation for being mildly embarrassed is what, 18 out of 10? Better to just let things slide, you'll save yourself a stroke down the line. I was once called out in Vegas for wearing a gen TT datejust, a graduation gift from my father. The guy saw me, a guy in his mid-twenties playing blackjack at a $10 table and decided to give me a hard time. I just shrugged and said "think what you want, we both know you can't tell real from fake so this discussion is a waste of my time." He didn't have any response to that because he knew that was true.

I don't need any of these watches, my wife bought me this BEAUT for my birthday. I know it's not quite perfect but I'm happy with it, that's all that counts. After all, who cares how "accurate" a rep is.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I was finally gonna get some non-Pams . . . I got my 005 and 183 modded by The Zigmeister this month and figured I was set with Pams for a while . . . I love my 212, I don't need any more Pams . . . I had my next purchase all figured out, Breitling Chrono Avenger and 4th Gen Planet Ocean, and now this NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

It sounds to me like the guy was trying to be friendly but just had a warped idea of how to go about it. It doesn't surprise me, having met a lot of people with better intentions than social skills. This Chris sounds like one of those insecure guys who has to gab with someone every second he has and tell them how great he is, and implodes when left with only himself for company. Annoying. As a non-Type A, one reason I like living in Japan is that pretty much everyone understands that it does very little good and usually some harm to walk up to strangers and point out things that are none of their business in clumsy attempts to be "friendly" or show how astute they are. What it shows in Japan is that you have no concept of proper public conduct, which negates any positive impression you might make by being friendly or even astute. While people are jumping on what a moron this Chris guy is, I have read several posts by members bragging about how they picked out some rep wearer and showed him up. So it's not just an uninformed person's problem. Rule of thumb on commenting on other people's fashion, stuff, girlfriend, job, whatever, and not just reps: If strangers, don't. You're being either a jerk or a bully, there's not that much more to it. Exception if said stranger approaches you and raises the issue himself in an obnoxious way, but that's about it.

It definitely is true that I have received many compliments on Pams from people who simply appreciate their striking designs and don't know Pateks from a bologna sandwich. My personal observation is that men tend to be particularly impressed by the 212 and 196 (guys like lots of dials) and women dig the Ti Pams (118, 177) and the Black Seal, probably because of their somewhat funky, retro designs (chicks like funky and retro).

Personally I think the Explorer I pretty much works for any occasion. At 36mm it's certainly understated and dressy by modern standards. I have the TT Santos 100 rep and wouldn't really recommend it . . . it's very blingy and will probably distract your coworkers and clients and the cheap ass strap is hard to replace. I almost never wear it although I like the quality of the piece. Just my 2 cents . . .

Bought a TW best Explorer I from River -- damn near indistinguishable from the real thing.

I had the TW best sub. Yes, the dial print was too faint. Oddly, depending on the lighting it would look fine, but in general it looked too light. I eventually gave it to my brother because it bugged me too much.

Well, I certainly wouldn't buy the current rep, since it looks like an big automatic anyway. If there was a perfect rep of the 42mm big speedy pro, that would be worth getting since at 38mm the 3510.50 is a little small for my tastes. But I agree that the existing speedy reps, while OK, aren't must buys by any means.

I'm more surprised when I occasionally see members who sell their watches on this board for more than the dealers charge . . . don't get me wrong, they can charge whatever they want. I'm just surprised, even factoring things like customs, that there are people would pay more for a used watch from an individual than a new one from a dealer.

Here are some pics. I know these are bad, but I'm no photographer. But you can see the watch is looking pretty good and the lume is much better than on my unmodded 177, which is not that bad. The A/R is pretty subtle in the pic but it actually looks very good on the watch. The cannon pinion is excellent too, no gap at all. All in all I'm pretty satisfied! Cost some time and money but it was worth it. This was originally bought from River last year. It's got the incorrect caseback but that stuff doesn't really bother me.

Just wanted to say I sent two of my pam reps (183, 005) to The Zigmeister for lume, cannon pinion work, lello crown installation, davidsen crystal installation . . . the good stuff. He got the watches May 25, I am now holding my newly gorgeous 183 and 005 as I type -- I got them yesterday. That's less than three weeks from Canada to Japan, and only because I was too cheap to spring for EMS. A consummate professional, great work, reasonable prices. Could not recommend him more. Too bad he's booked until September. I gotta say, with the A/R davidsen crystal, Jimmyzfu CG, lello crown and The Zigmeister's magic on the dial, the 005 looks FANTASTIC. I don't think the gen has a patch on it.

I agree. I imagine you'd be pretty embarrassed if a gen owner smugly pointed out your watch as a fake. Why do something like that to a fellow rep owner who says the watch was a gift from family. Maybe he's lying and maybe he's not but it's not worth pursuing. Would you walk up to strangers and doggedly demand they admit they got a cosmetic surgery or whatever? I don't think so.

Isn't it the same one that aspire has for $169?

I'm not going to argue with your preferences. My point was merely that gold alloys are valued for their gold content, and it would cost basically the same amount to make 18kt rose gold as 18kt yellow gold of the same quantity. It's a rational assessment and I don't see why you should take it personally. After all, I don't take it personally that you made up some stuff I didn't say in order to explain it away.