TeeJay

this definition of Contraband items clearly states "possession" as illegal with import and exporting of the goods..

goods whose importation or exportation or possession is prohibited by law

I wonder if this definition applies to having it on ones person ?

So I still question weather it is legal to own once it passes Customs..

just a thought ?

L

It's an interesting point to be sure, but, I'm sure someone once posted up some local laws which stated that reps in themselves, weren't illegal to simply own, only illegal to import, or sell on.

This really has been the point all along. You could get the law involved, but it has the potential to cost you more then $300.

I have seen this a handful of times. Maybe 5-6 times over the course of about 3 years at one AD I go to. Twice I saw the rep owner Try to trade their rep in for a gen. On both accounts the sales person doubted the authenticity but still gave the potential customers the benefit of the doubt. The sales person called the manager over (who I was talking to as he was a personal friend) to take a look at the piece. The manager stated that the watch was “of dubious” origin, but still gave the customers the benefit of the doubt, even asking them for papers and items to prove authenticity. Since they could not provide any type of paperwork, the manager called out one of his watch techs. The tech did not even look over the piece, he simply removed the case back and verified the pieces to be fake in front of the customer and even pointed out why (I know one was a Rolex GMT, the other I do not know). The sales person stated they are confiscating the pieces and asked the customers to leave the premises. Both did a about-face and walked out the front door with their tail between their legs. They said nothing.

The time I saw the rep watch being picked up off the counter by the sales person, and studied, the sales person stated “this watch is fake, we have to confiscate it”. The owner in a very cocky voice said “Yeah. Pretty good one isn’t it.” The sales person tossed it in the box with the rest and nothing more was said, the gentleman walked away.

I just sat their and laugh thinking what dumba$$! Thinking how stupid some people wearing a rep into a AD.

I have gotten to know the assistant manager at my local Tourneaus very well and I have asked him, “What they do if someone comes in sporting a rep.” He simply replied, “If we can verify and take it we will but avoid escalated confrontation.” Jokingly I told him I would bring mine into show him. To which he just replaied, "Go ahead, I will pair it up with the real one and I know you will buy it." I called him a bastard for taking advantage of my weakness.

Being write or wrong this has happened. I live at my AD’s as my friends work their in one way or another so I get to see some good stuff other then just the watches. I also recall this being discussed over at TRC where the same had happened.

Great thread by the way!

This is quite a different matter than someone simply wearing one on their wrist when they are on the premises and then getting it confiscated, as if someone was trying to trade them in as gen, then yes, they were breaking the law, but so were the ADs for confiscating the goods. I would love to see an AD taken to task over that.

At the end of the day, reps (in the US and UK) are not illegal to own. Illegal to sell, yes, but not illegal to own...

The parts are made with no general controls. Then thrown together. Ther can be gaps and distortions. So even if they have all the gaskets it still won't matter if the parts are misfit. The only way to get around is to hand select the parts and make sure they go together right.

TJ. That pool water looks kinda scary.

In which pic do you mean? The one with the vintage sub where it's a bit murky, the filter hadn't been running a few days, but the weather was too hot for me to care If you mean the photo with the PAM, that was coastal waters of the Mediterranean.

Slight change... I couldn't stand the NATO strap any longer

I took the case from this:

And swapped in the dial/movement and insert from this:

And wound up with this:

No chance for me

That's absolutely terrible, to think someone that's sworn the Hippocratic Oath would behave in such a way... I hope they throw the book at the parasite

It would have worked better with He said, but that's not the quote

I know, I guess it just works best to take the sentence as said by a guy, and think that the lady involved might have had an affinity for extreme insertions Certainly saves any bruised egos

That's what she said ?

Hopefully not what she said (but that is an awesome retort to just about anything)

I feel bad for saying this, but he did ask for brutal honesty .. I feel this is akin to a "Canal Street" quality replica, and is probably sold for $25 at stalls in Gz.

It does have a nice dial, tho, as TJ says .. and you did get a box!!

I'd have to disagree there, those kind of reps really do have chrome plated brass cases, but I'd be willing to bet that this watch is a solid SS case In terms of quality, I would say it is easily in the same league as the watches which 'forum trusted' dealers sell in the $108 range. In terms of replication, no, it's not great, but, and this is a big but, it is clear which watch it is supposed to be, rather than a total fantasy model, and, chances are, the things like the insert and bracelet could be replaced, to bring it closer to the true DSSD specifications

As mentioned before, the

I don't feel anything when I try to push in the hole

That really is a gorgeous watch

I think I'll do a bit of research into removing and re-setting the bezel. Do all DSSD (current and past) utilize a ceramic insert?

Yes, the ceramic insert is one of the key features of the DSSD. The method I use to remove a bezel insert, is to remove the caseback, remove the movement, push out the crystal, and then very gently raise up the inner edge of the insert with a thumbnail (so as not to damage it incase you'd want to use it again)

To be honest, I'd be happy to wear the watch as it is, because only someone who knows the details of the genuine watch would be able to identify it as a fake 'by sight' (although of course, anyone seeing 'Rolex' on the dial will get immediately suspicious ) Another thing which I actually quite like the look of, is the case looks to be thinner than on other DSSD reps (but again, I'd say that's a good thing, as I think the DSSD looks too chunky )

Brutally honest, you say...

Well...

In terms of flaws in replication:

The bezel insert isn't ceramic, and, as you point out, not correctly indexed...

The clasp isn't a glide-lock clasp...

The caseback is also not correct for that model...

In terms of viewing it 'as a watch':

You've got what looks like a very nice watch Maxi dial and hands, correctly spelled and crisply printed dial printing. It might not be 1:1 perfect, but it's certainly a nice watch in its own right, and not an unreasonable price either Wear it well, my friend

Of course, the flaws in replication which I mentioned above, might all be correctable with replacement parts

Good points TJ ...

accuracy is a good goal .. in fact we should strive for perfection in everything we do..

but the love and personal passion for watches supersedes what others may or may not think of them ....

AC

Lani

Absolutely so, I'd like to get Snowflake hands for my project, simply so I can say that I've built a project 'to specification', rather than just cobbling something together, but, as you say, love and personal passion, and my appreciation for the Snowflake dial itself, that supersedes any need for accuracy to gen

Exactly Mike

I have to admit, I can't see anyone here trying to pass a rep off as a gen (unless the person making the enquiry is a complete ass-hat, thus not deserving the courtesy of the truth anyway) but there're definitely those out there who would try and pass off a rep as a gen. My wife's bio-dad (who had the good grace to die before we got married, so I've never had to call him my father in law ) was definitely the kind who would pass off a rep as a gen. The scumbag left my mother in law in a load of debt when they divorced, and has now done the same thing to his widow, who never saw through his lies... People like that get found out in the end, and payback's a bitch

Nice

It's still very much a 'work in progress', but thanks, bro

They know how accurate reps have become. Look at Hublot's site, they compare gens to the reps to keep thier customers informed. I have seen this same information passed along to their AD's along with other brands following suit. If someone is worried about being called out for wearing a rep, then maybe they should reconsidering wearing it because obviously they are not wearing it for themselves.

Absolutely spot on, brother I wear watches which I like because I want to wear them, not because I'm looking for 100% accuracy, or to attract the attention of others... If I was bothered with accuracy, I wouldn't wear my Snowflake dial Tudor without the Snowflake hands (which I do plan on obtaining eventually for the project) but I like how it looks, the dial is clearer, and more luminous than the baked dial on my vintage Sub, meaning that's the watch best suited for my needs, so that's what I'm wearing

Nice Tudor TeeJay. Personally, I would just get rid of that lousy pearl. Lots of vintages out there without pearls.

I'm wearing...

Thanks, the credit really must go to Slartibartfast for his awesome dial The pearl is looking better now, than when it arrived It was a huge bubble of lume which looked terrble, so I filed it flat... I know it's not ideal, but I do like to have a pearl in place for night use I think a sheared off pearl will look better, but that'll have to wait a while I'm just pleased I got the timing accurate

Once again, the watch in your picture looks better than when I tried one on

Yes TeeJay,

we have just opened a European Postbox for very special customers and cases like the one with Paolo...this way our customers gets his goods quicker as then I can inspect the defects and tell our team in TH or Cn we have

received the defects please send asap the "replacements" either directly or if to Eu via our Eu forwarder...this way our customers will not have to wait for his defects until it reaches TH or CN first.

before shipping from there.. Shipping to EU takes only max 3 days...within in Eu and from US, Canada about the same as well.

I think that's a fantastic idea I had to send a watch back to China a few weeks back, and as yet, I still don't know if it actually arrived, or if the replacement is on its way... I'm sure the dealer will contact me in due time, but, a system like yours, certainly will help to speed issues for clients with returns

Thanks for your reply, guys, and I'm sorry for having been so rude. I've been a VERY happy customer in the past, and I still wish the best for ETZ. What I meant was that you didn't give me any support with this bad transaction, and I don't want to take any further risk with customs sending the stuff back and forth. If you don't feel fair sending me what I paid for and didn't receive, it's OK for me, the loss is not that worth, apart that I have to find those endlinks and proper LV bezel and hands and installing it. Let's go on guys, all the best.

Paolo

Sorry to intrude into your business, but did I not read that you had been offered a European address where you could return the goods without (or at least with less) customs risk? I have never seen any other dealer offer such a service before, so I would say that they are going 'above and beyond' to help you. Best of luck in getting your issues resolved

I'm still wearing this, and very happy that I've managed to manually regulate it to what appears to be +/- 0 per day Now time to observe that over a longer period and see how close I got it

Got my strap, I like it alot. Ill post some more pics of my dads with a different nato strap i got for his sub later.

Looking good I have to admit, NATO straps are comfortable, and give a great casual look, I just wish they didn't take two hours to dry when they get wet

just a thought .. but what if dealers could set repair work of minor defects (as TJ alluded to) in different regions.. such as misaligned DW,.. keyless works .. loose hands .. or to swap movements if it were defective..

such a network would bode well for the cost of shipping and return .. if you had someone in the US or EU .. you may already have this functioning .. but it's just a thought since the cost of shipping these items and the turn around is both quite consuming.

L

That's a great idea, bro, awesome suggestion I can't see someone who worked directly under the dealers screwing people over on work done, such as the Rocketeer fiasco, it just wouldn't be worth their while

I have made it very clear in the checklist that comes with every of our watches (eventho it's in my online policies as well). This is to protect myself as well. That is also why I can test it for them, but I nonetheless dont want to take responsiblity, how can I tell how you will wear your watch in the water, or maybe (devil advocate) you will delibertly make it wet (with crown unscrewed) and put the resonsibility on me.

That we take no responsiblity as I was getting [censored] by a few customers and treating e-mails because they swam with their watch, and it got "rusted" or claim that the movement died and was magically had a rusted dial... and upon return... we found that the client swam with it without even telling us.

Or missing parts that was "our" fault because we had to QC, example a small pearl let loose, or something else.

Well we cant QC that it could withstand a BANG (as when we received some watches back, the watch was FULL of dents/scratches/damages)

So even dealers must protect themselves... it is in my experience not just an one-sided thing, as most members look at the customer side and often forget the dealers-side

I quite agree.

I think that the level of watch-making skill which a buyer has must also be considered during 'complaints', as issues which one person might require to pay a watch smith to fix (such as installing new hands) another person might be able to do for them-self quite easily. For example, I recently acted as 'courier' for another member, who had their watch shipped to me, (from another dealer, not yourself) so I could forward it on to them in Europe. We had agreed that I would wrap the watch (in its bubble wrap) in gift paper, so when the watch arrived, I unpackaged it to do so, when I heard a rattling/scrape. Very carefully (and VERY aware that this was someone else's property) I removed the caseback, and found that the rotor screw was on the verge of falling out of place, and the rotor was loose. I'm no expert on movements, but given it had a metal movement retaining ring rather than a plastic one, I'm making an educated guess that it was a Swiss movement (or maybe an ETA clone). Certainly not the kind of appearance I'm used to seeing on Asian movements I tightened the screw back up, re-secured the caseback, and the watch was fine (sent on its way that day, and arrived with it's owner yesterday morning) Now, I would by no means class myself as an 'expert' when it comes to watches, but I found that a very simple and quick fix to perform. For someone else, however, that might have meant the watch required a return, or needed a watch-smith to examine it, so I think the skill level certainly must be considered, as that can significantly color an issue over what is 'fixable/acceptable', or what is indeed unacceptable, and requiring of a return...

Just my .2c

As above, that trio is pure class What fantastic watches