Raijor

Hi - sorry to hear about your troubles. I think the problem started with FedEx. I am in Canada and have found that FedEx will encourage customs to inspect any package that it believes will generate duties and taxes, after which FedEx will offer to act act as the customs broker to clear the item through customs. FedEx generates a large amount of money acting as a customs broker. If I were you I would nit lie to customs. I am unsure as to the laws in Italy but the consequences can not be good. Good luck.

I have black and gold sub purchased from Andrew. It is the 14k version I usually wear it a couple of times a week and so far looks good. I have about a dozen watches so none get worn any more than a couple of days in row. I believe based on limited wear it should stand up very well. It has about 5 microns of gold plate. When competed to other plated watches I have had 5 microns is about half the thickness of say a Longines. I wore a 10 micron 14k Longines 3 years before the base metal showed through. This was wearing that watch every day. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how well your gold plate will wear. I am assuming you have the 14k version rather the 18k version as I have now experienced with that version. Cheers I have black and gold sub purchased from Andrew. It is the 14k version I usually wear it a couple of times a week and so far looks good. I have about a dozen watches so none get worn any more than a couple of days in row. I believe based on limited wear it should stand up very well. It has about 5 microns of gold plate. When competed to other plated watches I have had 5 microns is about half the thickness of say a Longines. I wore a 10 micron 14k Longines 3 years before the base metal showed through. This was wearing that watch every day. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how well your gold plate will wear. I am assuming you have the 14k version rather the 18k version as I have now experienced with that version. Cheers

Doesn't look very impressive - 1 guy - 1 box of reps and recycling shredder - a publicity stunt to make it look like the authorities are doing something about reps?

This illustrates the power of branding and marketing. The following quotation shows how deeply the marketing behind luxury goods has penetrated the minds of some people. "Through years of studing fakes and talking with people about them, we have never heard any good justification for buying or wearing them... only excuses why some people believe they deserve the perception of owning 'luxury' products without having to go to the effort and expense to buy the real things." I do not understand how people can or can not be "entitled" to buy anything. what a bunch of knee jerk simpleminded thinking. This kind of thought process creates an assumption that luxury consumption must somehow be earned. Following this form of logic - any genuine item purchased with anything but earned funds is undeserved - lottery win, nope can not use that money, inherit money from your parents estate, no way you deserve to buy a new watch because you did not earn the money yourself. IN TRUTH SUPPORTED WITH FACT - Consumption is one of the few democratic areas in a person's life. Consumption is simply and complexly the exchange of value for goods or services. It has no meaning and confers privilege on none. If the case were not so, providers of luxury goods have a litmus test other than ability to pay to decide who can purchase their product. Perhaps. Imagine going into a Rolex dealer with cash to buy and being turned away because you were a taxi cab driver. It just would not happen. Rant Over. Cheers

Very nice indeed !!!

Thanks for clarification and no concession necessary. Different jurisdictions have different priorities. Cheers

I think you are misinformed. Canada's national police force the RCMP makes it clear on its website that Canadian law does not make it illegal to buy or own replica merchandise if it is for personal use. I direct you to the attached link - Royal Canadian Mounted Police Department's own web site which details legality of buying and owning Replicas: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/fio/intellectual_e.htm Points number 5 reads "5. If I contact the police or the company because I think I’ve purchased a counterfeit product, can I get into trouble? The implications of purchasing a product knowing it is counterfeit are outlined in the response to question #1. Possession of counterfeit items is not a criminal offence in Canada as long as there is no intent to distribute them." Point number 1 reads "1. Why should I worry about buying a counterfeit product? First of all, if you purchase a counterfeit product, you are hurting the legitimate economy – this means lost jobs and lost tax revenue. Second, you may be funding organized crime or a terrorist group. Finally, counterfeiters spend nothing on quality control and therefore do not care about what happens to consumers who use counterfeit products such as electrical devices that catch fire, pharmaceuticals that contain no active ingredients, or children’s clothing that is not fire retardant." Do not take my word for it that it not illegal to purchase and own counterfeit items in Canada - check out the RCMP web site. It is not even a crime to download and copy music from the INTERNET in Canada - refer to point 6 on the RCMP web site. "6. I have a friend who downloads music from the INTERNET. Is he breaking the law? Downloading music for personal use is currently not a criminal offence in Canada. However, this legislation is constantly being challenged and it would be wise to check often to ensure that the laws concerning this practice have not changed" The RCMP protocol for counterfeit investigations deals with commercial operations in this area. "8. When does the RCMP investigate counterfeit products? According to the RCMP's protocol with Justice Canada, our priority for investigating counterfeit products targets commercial manufacturing, importation and distribution. Investigations at the retail level are generally dealt with in the private sector through civil processes. " As you can see for yourself the Royal Canadian Mounted Police makes it clear that in Canada it is not illegal to purchase or own replica merchandise if it is for personal use and not for re-sale. Cheers

Bewawe - I had this tried on me in 06 when selling a watch on eBay. Was contacted later by eBay that the acount was hijacked. Good luck

In Canada it is not illegal to purchase or own replica merchandise, It is illegal to purchase or own Narcotics in Canada. I note that you are from France and perhaps your laws are different, but in Canada it is only illegal to sell replica merchandise. It may be an illegal hobby in France but in Canada the hobby is not an illegal activity for buyers and owners. Each country has their own laws respecting copyright infringement In the U.S. it is even a violation of American copyright law to import a legit Rolex watch by mail unless you are an authorized Rolex dealer. U.S. customs will interdict and seize the offending legit Rolex when ever one is discovered. I do find it very interesting that an American can purchase a Rolex in another country and wear it home without fear of seizure, however, if coming by mail from out of country not. As long as the laws in Canada remain as they are, people in Canada are not engaging in an "illegal hobby" when they buy and own replica merchandise but Rolex et al could however bring a civil action for damages on the basis of copyright infringementagainst a buyer / owner of a fake Rolex. This action is not a criminal matter, but rather a civil one and the action would only be for monetary damages with no governmental fine or criminal record and punishment being levied. The issue is not a matter of smuggling in Canada. Value is placed on the item and duties and taxes are applied to the imported item. I have had 2 Rolex replicas purchased from Joshua that were inspected by Canadian Customs and Revenue and forwarded on to me. I imagine this is not possible in the EU generally. I really am happy to read about the replica situation in other parts of the world - it puts things into perspective for me. The following quotation is taken from James Dowling's web site. "Rolex & USA shipments In an attempt to protect their trademarks Rolex USA have registered their name & designs with the US Customs. Because of this US Customs will seize all Rolex watches which have not been bought new from an authorized US retailer. There are only two possible exemptions to this rule: When the watch has been bought overseas and is being imported by the purchaser in person and is declared to the US Customs on entry to the US. This exemption is at the discretion of the individual customs agent and normally covers only one watch per person. If the purchaser can produce a letter from Rolex USA or the company’s attorney authorizing them to import the watch. Please note in over ten years that I have never known any collector or dealer to be able to obtain such a letter. Because of these restrictions I am not prepared to ship ANY Rolex watches to a US address, however if you are able to provide an address outside the US or are prepared to collect the watch in person or via an agent then the transaction can proceed. Please note that the 72 hour approval period starts when your agent collects the watch, NOT when you eventually receive it." http://www.ukwatches.com/frame.html - link to Dowling's web site In Canada there is no such problem vis a vis importing a genuine Rolex watch either. Cheers

It is not illegal to purchse or own replica merchandise in Canada. The sale is illegal however. All prosecutions in Canada have been for the sale of counterfits. The purchase of counterfit items falls under copyright law and counterfit items can be seized by customs. The buyer can not be prosecuted. Rather, it would be up to the copyright holder to take civil action against a buyer. I am in Canada and have recieved watches from Josh that customs has inspected and allowed through. Advice to all: Do not use Fedex or UPS as they will inspect and report counterfit items to Customs agents. It is likely Fedex that caused your probelms by reporting the watch to be counterfit to customs. Regular mail provides the best option for shipping replicas. Good luck in the future!

What a shame - efforts would be better spent catching actual criminals such as drug dealers etc. In Canada it is not illegal to purchase or own replica merchandise. Keep you heads down EU members.

IMHO Contraband in all its forms has existed through history. A unified global effort will be needed to just reduce it. and stopping it will never be possible A unified global effort can never happen because individual countries only care about their own economic interests. For example - the U.S. has no dog in the Replica watch fight - it is almost a completely a European issue. America has pressured China respecting counterfeit items - but focusing on music and movies. If the Chinese follow traditional values it too will press forward only Chinese interests. Do the Chinese care about what Germany, France, Switzerland et al think about its economic policies ? I do not think China does. All the photos of the Chinese cracking down on replica sellers are really nothing more than publicity shots. As for the effect of China hosting the Olympics - it will have no real impact on Chinese economic or human rights policies. The world is begging for access to the internal Chinese economy. The Chinese hold the winning hand. Push and a country is shut out at the sole discretion of China. If Europe pushes too hard on a crack down on China regarding counterfeit items the U.S., Canada, Russia, Australia, South America will use that as an opportunity to strengthen economic interests with China. If the U.S. pushes too hard regarding counterfeit movies and music other countries will use that as an opportunity to strengthen their economic ties to China. The western economies can not push China around less they lose favored trading status with China. Billions upon billions of dollars in new business are at stake in being able to do business within China and this potential dwarfs the revenue lost to counterfeits. The world economies will never present a unified force in an effort to force the Chinese to make a real crackdown on contraband. There are just far too many disparate interests involved. China will rule the 21st Century.

Hit me !!!! Great collection

When dreams meet with reality - what a rush - earned success is the best success - it is yours and can never be taken away from you - best of everything to you in your new endevour !!!!!!

help requested for my mod on my TT Sub dial and bezel upgrade. I am preparing to buy a gen dial and gen bezel for my Blue TT sub and have a choice between two different dials. There is a difference in color between them - one is very dark blue and appears almost black from certain angles, and the other lighter as on the current Gen models. Both are advertised as genuine and I like both sellers feedback on eBay. My question is - should I go for the dark navy which is advertised as coming from an older model or go with the current blue which is advertised as coming from a newer model? I know that the newer blue will maker my watch look more accurate. Did Rolex ever make a TT Sub with a dark navy dial or is this possibly a re-dial? Thanks - here are pics of the two dials.

Deal with Luenfat and expect the worst: Wrong items shipped, items never shipped after months. This eBay seller can be very difficult. Buyers are better off finding another supplier. Just my experiences dealing with Luenfat.

Contact the seller and ask him to provide you with a repair invoice. This combined with a Paypal receipt will do the job. Good Luck !

Great people = Great forum!

I have searched extensively for a white gold plated Rolex Daydate and only found all stainless or yellow and red gold plated versions. Have white gold plated versions ever been available in the past or are they now available? Would appreciate help on this. Am I looking for a Unicorn or are they out there?

I go for the Rolesium Yacht-Master. IMO The most beautiful watch out there with the possible exception of the Platinium Daydate. JMO - as beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Yes - please post your thoughts on this watch. It looks terrific in the photos. Does it have the same visual impact in person? Thanks

I like the work you have done.

Now that is ironic. Crazy world.

Have you ever been called on your replica? I have been wearing my new Trusty Sub LV for over a week and nobody has commented on it. I get the feeling most people are just not into watches and that they are rarely noticed.

I am new to the rep collecting world and new around here. The reps that I have purchased include an LV SUB which has been received and SS YACHT-MASTER I am waiting for. Both are from Andrew at Trusty Time. The LV SUB is amazing for a $188 U.S. watch. I have read about the differences between the current Rolex reps and the Gens and that has led me to wonder when reps began to get so good. I remember seeing the old quartz Rolex watches in the 80's which were easily seen as fakes but nothing between then and now. Does anybody have the history to share some of the evolution of the rep? Thanks in advance for your time.