TeeJay

MILFtastic

My wife got her card cloned a few years back and had about £300 taken out of her account by an online gambling site. Ironically, the last time she'd used her card online was purchasing goods at an 'ethical' clothing store

Magic And definitely an Oyster bracelet

:tu: :tu: :tu:

As a side note, I think it's kinda funny that this is the first rep using snowflake hands

Fantastic Love the concept drawings as well

First TJ if I have failed to reply it would have been for non related issues and not because of any sense that I would be wasting my time, so I apologise for letting you slip through he cracks like that.

I was meaning that my friend stopped discussing the bags with me (the one I mentioned to you from an advert featuring Sir Sean Connery a while back) You didn't drop the ball on me, Adam did, so you have nothing at all to apologize for, sorry if that read negatively about you, I'll amend the post to clarify

But more to your question I should point out that all the dealers on these boards sell soft goods, the only difference between me and the other guys is that I don't sell watches.

I knew that WatchEden did a line in bags, and possibly belts, but I didn't know that the other dealers did soft goods as well... That is indeed interesting to know

I can get most of these gym shoes but they fall into the grey area (quality) that I am simply not comfortable with, I can also get most goods in generic branding but they require a buy of X amount and not single items, they also tend to be the same prices are the replica's.

Totally understandable As with my watches, I'm not after 1:1 replication in terms of precision, and with regard the Air Jordans, I can't really remember precisely all the small details to be able to point out any flaws even if there were any, (although I could probably give a vague description) afterall, we are talking 22-23 years since I last saw them I really would just love to have a pair [of something similar] at some point as a treat to myself, as I never had them as a child thanks to my mother's tight-fistedness As for the multiple order on the Converse, that wouldn't be a problem, as I would ultimately want a pair in: Black, white, red and Lakers Purple, as well as a pair of black low-tops. The only problem, is the price that would tally to, is not something my piggy-bank can rattle to at present (but hopefully in the New Year ) With the Converse, generics would be fine, it's really not about the brand at all, as I've only ever worn generic ones, it's just that at the moment, no where locally is even selling those in my size

[Edit to add]

Out of curiosity, what kind of quality are the rep sneakers like? My days of shooting hoops are long gone, but if they'd stand up to a few months of walking a few miles every other day, then I would be interested in some when funds allow

It absolutely amazes me when people take offence to me defending my business, imagine if the OP had said he was looking for cheap watches because the Trusted Dealers "Were just too expensive" or this other guy was to pop up and say 'Replica watches, talk about pissing you're money away". They would have been tarred and feathered but not so when aimed at my trade....because the vast majority of members simply do not know...so yes I do have to make a defense because these people, even if it is inadvertently, do damage my business.

Imagine you work for a Ford dealership and someone walked in and started telling all the other customers that Fords were 1) To expensive 2) Shit, how long do you think they would last before the police were called in?

I don't have a problem with constructive criticisms but I do have a problem when people pull their facts from their backsides.

Ken

Totally agree with all that, Ken, there's absolutely nothing wrong with defending your business whatsoever Likewise, it pisses me off when people accuse off-site dealers like CQout as 'being scammers', when they've never actually ordered from them to know either way I wouldn't mind if they had ordered, had an issue, and were reporting it so others wouldn't fall victim as well, but when they're literally pulling opinions from their asses, it's pretty irritating

Well, close. Since the early 50s & until the current millennium, Rolex produced/sold a range of professional & luxury watches. Today, the range is biased towards the luxury side, with their tool watches wrapped in bling.

Essentially abandoning their tool-watch past

Unfortunately, you are quoting someone who is quoting someone, who 'said he read this somewhere'. With all due respect, I would ignore this & similar references as being unreliable, at best.

Not a problem Of course, it is not a truly verifiable comment, but as I mentioned before, it's the kind of thing I can quite believe someone saying

Today, and for the last few days, I've been wearing this...

Not that it's hot here in the UK, but on Wednesday, as a birthday present to myself, I had this done, and don't want to risk a bracelet knocking the ink out...

What is the tattoo, you may be asking? It's a Vulcan mantra...

As in most cultures, Vulcan religion and philosophy have many important symbols with diverse histories and meanings. No single symbol means the same thing to every Vulcan. However, there is a series of three symbols which appear with great consistency and across many different professional boundaries in Vulcan society. These are called Rata, Tafar and Tapan. Usually, these symbols are worn on the chest in a vertical column. Their meanings, translated into English, are Rata: Concept, Tafar: [Mental] Discipline and Tapan: Process [of thought]. According to some, a poetic form may be associated to the unity of these symbols:"Brances entwined form the tree"

What I've had done, is the hand-written form of these symbols, rather than the stylized versions which appear on clothing. The reason I've had this done, is that my earliest memory is watching The Doomsday Machine, and I've wanted a tattoo of Vulcan writing since I first saw it written... Like the dude in the photo, I've always had an appreciation for Vulcan culture, all I need now, is the hot Vulcan wife...

I would also be interested in additional sources for soft goods. Please note I have said 'additional' and not 'other'! Ken and I have transacted business in the past, and he is a pleasure to deal with. I am ashamed to say that when we have done business, issues have always arisen at my end which have impeded smooth transactions, but they have never been from the other way round, and I would not hesitate to recommend Ken and his products to anyone. (Last time I did so, my friend simply lost interest in the transaction and 'went dead' on me, leaving me feeling like I had wasted Ken's time by discussing the item with him and then no follow through from my friend). However. Just as there are more than one watch dealer listed on the forum (and countless others on the net) it would be nice to be able to see what else is out there at reasonable prices, and with reliable sellers, just to have some options and to know what is available in general... I'm no brand-worshiping consumerist, but there are a few branded goods which I would like to acquire, and it is logical to do so via replicas eg. 90s Air Jordans: I want the ones my Jewbitch mother would never buy me while I was at school, and which are now long-discontinued... Converse High-Tops: Probably my favorite style of shoe. I don't care about the name, but at the moment, it is impossible to track down non-branded versions in my area in my size. Sizes for women, no problem, every color I want, but in my size? Fuggedaboudit! I've seen a few sites selling the goods, but would always value other's experiences in reliable sources. I just wish I had more disposable income, or I would buy all my soft goods from Ken

[Edit to clarify]

Ken doesn't drop balls when it comes to communications, my friend did

I know the episode you are referring to & I agree that Rolex's marketing has changed. But this is neither the 1st time, nor will it be the last time that a change in marketing strategy has put off Rolex's older customers (like me). The reason Rolex has been the most successful luxury watch company for most of the past 100+ years is because they are market leaders, who carve their own path instead of following the winds of contemporary fashion. Sometimes their path intersects with current fashion & sometimes not. Whether or not you like their latest marketing/design strategy, you have to give them credit for the fact that, with hindsight, it is usually a winning strategy, profit-wise. And profits, whether politically popular or not, are what for-profit companies are all about.

But, like you (& Feinnes), I wish Rolex could find a way to include a handful of traditional tool watches in their current/future product line-ups.

That really is a fine piece

I think it's the anti-consumerist in me which finds the unnecessary profiteering so distasteful on the corporate aspect, and the safequeening as completely against everything a watch should be used for. Sure, I can understand collecting, and even understand wanting to keep one's collectibles in a nice condition, but at the end of the day, watches belong on wrists, not in safes And in turn, that's what makes me think that folks are forgetting that back in the day, Rolexes were accessible (if expensive) professional pieces, rather than the [relatively] inaccessible luxury items they're considered to be today

I found the post I mentioned... It may not be verifiable, but it has a certain ring of truth about it which I find very believable...

Couldn't agree more with automatico's very funny post. Now, I don't know if this is true but a friend of mine said he read this somewhere and it kind of sums it up. Apparently some years ago the ceo of Rolex was at Wimbledon tennis championships here in London and he was talking to Steve Jobs. Steve asked him how the watch business was and ceo replied "I don't know, I'm not in the watch business" Draw from that comment whatever you like but in my opinion when the ceo of a company as so lost sight of what his business should be about then it is ultimately sunk. I suppose they now look upon themselves as a "brand" rather than a watchmaker. A similar thing happend to the theatre here. Producers stopped referring to plays as plays and started calling them "product". These people are the sputum of satan and should be ridiculed and lambasted for the destroyers of all things good that they are. Was that a little strong? Oh pardon me I'm so sorry.....

If you want a more complete analysis of marketing and advertising than do check out the routine by the great man who I have the honour to use as my avatar. I'm sure you'll find it on you tube.

That does not sound like something anyone at Rolex would say (or think), especially upper management. No offense, but I have been hearing things like this for decades, but never from an official (or verifiably knowledgeable) source. What they might have said is something along the lines of Rolex being in the jewelry business, which they are, but never to the exclusion (or ahead) of watches, which is where the vast majority of their (not insignificant) R&D costs have always gone.

I'll see if I can dig up the comment to re-post...I agree, it's not the sort of thing one would expect from the head of a company, but equally, it is the kind of comment I can see someone making off the cuff, especially if it was to someone they might not really have liked, or who they didn't want to get drawn into conversation with... Either way, comment or no, the perception of Rolex, and Rolex's own target market has shifted in the last 70 years, and there have been numerous instances I've read about how someone will keep their watch 'for special occasions', rather than just wearing it daily and subjecting it to wear and tear. I caught a re-run of a Top Gear episode yesterday, and it briefly showed Sir Ranulph Feinnes trying to educate the Three Stooges on arctic survival. He appeared to be wearing an original model Explorer (1610? ) on an abused grey NATO strap, which had clearly never received any 'special treatment' during his ownership of it, and it just made me smile to think that the watch was being worn and used as intended, rather than being babied and safequeened

All I can tell you, is that is one really nice watch

Who said what & what is the source?

I'm sure I read it on here a few months back, that someone approached the current head of Rolex at Wimbledon, asked how the watch industry was going, and the guy replied that he wasn't in the watch industry... Sorry I can't be more specific, it was just an off-hand comment I saw

I am not sure that any of Rolex's aims/goals have changed, but I think it is safe to say that they have refocused their marketing towards the east with less reliance on sales from the US & EU, which, traditionally, have been their target markets. And Rolex is not alone.

When the head of the company denies that he's in the watch business, I think it's safe to say that Rolex's aims and goals have changed from what they were 60-70 years ago

Yes, I would definitely agree with that. At the time they were for sale, they were considered good, quality watches; mostly for professionals (in the case of Rolex tool watches). They were not budget or commodity items by any means. But neither were they treated like the icons they are today.

At the end of the day, that's essentially all I was meaning, that Rolex's company profile has considerably changed in that time, and their current aims, goals and target market is quite different to what it used to be

Actually, that is not quite accurate. True, the 62xx Daytona, being a manual-wind chronograph, was often a tough sell at the time (& often sold at a discount), but neither was it ever considered a budget model. Certainly, it was not priced anywhere near Timexes, Benrus or even early Seikos (most of which were priced between $19-$50). In 1965, a $200 watch was an expensive luxury item, even if it was also a tool watch that someone involved in a relevant trade or sport could rationalize paying its hefty price for.

That's a fair point, but would it also be fair to say that while it was an expensive item, it was not attributed (as an item or in terms of brand recognition) quite the same status as today?

Rolex wouldn´t be the same if there weren´t also the celebrities (Ian Flemming, Paul Newman, Steve Mcqueen ...). They have created a unique appearance around wearing a Rolex as result we all want to be part of that history.

I agree and disagree... I agree that Rolex might not have the recognition/presence today were it not for the above mentioned, however, I think one must bear in mind, that the Newman Daytona was an unpopular budget model... It wasn't purchased as a premium piece...

An important part of maintaining a cult Brand is the loyalty to the customer.

That's not something I see in their practices...

The problem with the wholesale frankenstein-ing of gen Rolexes is that you end up turning them into Coach bags--a nice product that is (price) accessible to all (as opposed to an exclusive luxury item). Once the price of admission falls to the level where just about anyone can afford 1, they lose their aspirational appeal & fewer people actually buy 1.

I think you've forgotten that Rolex were originally tool watches which were accessible... The way the company operates today, and some of the bejewelled abortions Rolex have released, Wildorf is probably spinning in his grave

id rather have my wallet raped than having my mind and attitude [censored], like we can see here

You'd rather be ripped off of your hard-earned cash? You think that marketing isn't mind manipulation? Okay then

nothing more than marketing?

Pretty much. Why is Brand X viewed as better than Brand Y? Marketing...

and wtf is alpha watch

You're joking? Have you not heard of them before? They're a company who rips off designs from the Big Names like Breitling, Omega and Rolex, tweaks a couple of minor details (such as a Planet Ocean with no HEV) and then slaps their own label on it, and sells them for the same prices as budget reps...

yeah then why do rep makers rely on popularity of gen brands, instead of creating their own and be succesful?

I'm not saying that companies like Alpha are successful (because people like the brand names, not the homages) just that they are an example of manufacturing process and price point As for why do they rely on the popularity of the gen brands, well, that's pretty obvious, and that it's a way of making money

Why dont they invent their own reliable complicated movements with top high finishing.

Same reason as above... They know better than to try competing directly with the Big Dogs, so go about it in a different way...

if you think most "gen owners" buy the watch to brag about, unfortunately thats case for most "rep owners", most people who buy gens just buy a watch, instead of buying swatch or similar, they buy something better because they can afford, simple as that. thoese who cant afford, buy reps, in most cases.

I don't think they all necessarily buy the watch to brag about it, but there're certainly those who do brag about them once they own them. Same with rep owners, I guess

yeah man its just a swanky brand name to show off, nothing else just a crappy watch with marketing brand on it a true watch ethuasist will certainly appreciate the copying skills of rep makers and chinese ETA movt's after having appreciated the quality and finishing of patek, lange or similar calibers.

Exactly.

and thats why this is a lonely hobby.

Yeah, no one else on this dead forum for me to talk to

and that desperate desire to bring "replicas" to equal level of "gens".....

Now that, I agree, is taking it too far, and comes across as the desire to (be able to) pass the watch off as genuine. I can appreciate the artistic skills required to achieve such levels of forgery in a project, but I do wonder why the builder feels the need to go to such lengths... Maybe it is just the appreciation for the hobby and the desire to use the correct parts, but personally, I do often feel that such watches would be passed off as genuine if questioned in person (even if there is no intention of selling them as thus...)

both are just watches and show time dont they?

Yup, so why pay more?

so u like being decent and can afford gens then why dont you buy any. The reason you buy reps because you love the brand? The brand doesnt love you back for buying the replica.

The brand doesn't love you back for buying the gen either, it just continues to rape your wallet every time you need a service

And do you know the difference between what it takes to create a sucessful brand, design from scratch, and to build a copy

Nothing more than marketing presence. There is no functional difference between say a rep manufacturer, and a clone manufacturer like Alpha Watch. There's no real difference to even a gen manufacturer either, other than higher-end components and slicker tooling set ups. Why don't people buy Alpha Watches instead of reps? For the simple reason that the branding is different, and thus is not a replication of the gen (and for those who need the ego boost of the name, cannot provide that...)

and have you ever wondered why would you receive disdain and disgust? if you enjoy reps why do you want to be accepted by watch enthusiasts (gen owners and collectors) anyway?

Who doesn't want to share their hobby with like-minded enthusiasts? A true watch enthusiast will appreciate any nicely made watch, not just a swanky brand name

I tried to leave a comment pointing out that Rolex exists to make money from people stupid enough to pay £3000 for a watch which costs less than £300 to make, not to verify provenance of everything ever sold. It hasn't been approved, so I guess Nick didn't appreciate that feedback

Will you replace the watch every time it becomes less than box-fresh? If so, then yes. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it could get costly quickly if you're going to replace the watch every time it gets dinged or scuffed... As mentioned above, these are signs that the watch is being worn and used as intended, rather than being safe-queened (which angers me beyond my ability to explain) Personally speaking, I don't feel like a watch is 'mine' until it's picked up its first ding, but of course, it's what's right for you

So since they are a trusted dealer what steps do I take since they screwed me over?

We ordered two pieces, only received one and now they are ignoring me?

The usual advice is to send one polite email and allow two weeks for a reply...

Personally, I think that's giving them more leeway than they deserve.

Not really sure what to suggest, but sorry that you've been screwed over, sometimes all you can do is swallow the loss, take it as a lesson and move on

I think it looks fantastic (strap mod included) Congrats

Things like this are a perfect example of why I love custom Stunning project, amigo