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Patek Philippe 5135 Gondolo Calendario in either Platinum or Rose Gold.

Well, if Thomasng got asked the equivalent of $1586 USD on the street, it shows that even if he was expected to bargain down the normal 50% it would still be an $800 watch, even in China. The only way these are going to keep demanding a high price is if it remains one sole manufacturer and that manufacturer limits production, highly unlikely. Lets hope it goes the way of the first good Panerai pricings a few years ago. It also shows that the trusted dealers from our collectors forums do not have exclusive selling of the product and that the high price is not limited to them and our forums. Thanks for the insight Thomasng. These super-reps have got to be pissing off Hublot & Co.

I agree with you somewhat on a face value of the high pricing. However, you forget that these replica collecting sites do discuss with very open reviews, the different replica sites and in-house trusted dealers with no mercy, that is way different than the scam sites and scam forums. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that these are consumer advocate forums with unbiased views so I see no danger of RWG.cc losing out to the scammers. People will stay because truth is spoken and it shows. Besides, this place has good moderators.

I do respect your opinions Ken, but here is where I have to differ with you, so don't take offense my friend, its a forum for discussion. I don't think the two or three people in this thread that have expressed their intent to purchase this watch are elitist. They just want this watch, not to outshine others on the boards but merely from the fact it rocks their boat. I agree, this hobby for some has changed and put a sour taste on it with the higher pricing of the new reps. Greed or another term (profit margin) may be driving some dealers, but it is not driving the hobby. I haven't heard too much crap about the watches nowadays like we did from years past, they are getting better, so now everyone expects better, but somehow with that big advancement in manufacturing, we don't want the pricing to change. You can speculate until you're blue in the face on cartels, price fixing, taking advantage of limited inventory, but the fact is the pricing on the replicas, or for that matter, any product is going to be market driven. Hell, I'm in real estate, I oughta know about setting prices based on inventory and what the public is willing to pay and have no guilt, its my living. Ken, I know you sell replica (knock-off) products on the side and pretty much price them where you can sell them but I don't think you are really doing us any favors or you wouldn't be selling them to just be a nice guy. Its what we are willing to pay you, or what you think we are willing to pay you for the products that sets the prices. Its a little hypocritical to grouse about these dealers becoming rich, its capitalism, they should be shot for what they are doing in a communist country, making a better living far beyond the average worker. Why do they do it, because they can, why do we buy from them, because we can. It would be nice if the replica watch industry was regulated with price controls like other legit items, but its not. The first computer for my home cost us $6,000 in 1992, we had to have one, yeah it felt great but not elitist. Today computers are like candy, we purchase for peanuts and toss out when they break rather than fix them. The supply became so great, the prices have dropped dramatically. I just wish the same was for Aston Martins!

Not much to understand, its called supply and demand, I think that was the arguments being made all throughout this thread. There is no cost for the gold plating that should warrant this price difference. These will stay a rare model as long as the "high price" and "popularity" hold.

Been following this thread for awhile since I have the replica RG bezel version. I think you have two honest camps of opinion here and the usual "economics" opinions thrown in. 1. A couple of people see this as a work of art regardless of the going market price and the A7750; much akin to those that purchase an expensive copy of a painting; a fiberglass replica ferrarri body on a toyota, etc., etc. Having a very near facsimile in your collection is a must. 2. The replica afficionados (RWIS) that frequent these forums have vast knowledge regarding the QC of the replica watches, the pricing & quality of the parts and maybe some knowledge of the engineering, setup and manufacture expenses of putting these out to market, and those rare breed that mod and build. The price for all this knowledge is the dissatisfaction when the watches become geared to the market forces rather than manufacturing prices. Common sense based on wallet economics prevails. However, they forget that when we all started purchasing reps. outside of these forums, many of us did buy our first watches based on the looks with no knowledge of QC, movement or what the right price was. Now that we are wise, we tend to be very picky and prickly which is the natural progression from clueless to clued-in. Does it irk them that the sellers are making huge profits on the backs of the masses? Obviously yes, and I don't really see it as bashing but more rather a feeling that it hurts the hobby supporting pricing that is out of the reach of the common replica collector. Even though many can afford this replica, many don't see it worth the price. 3. Genuine buyers are having the same arguments as the replica buyers. I have several genuine watch collecting friends who asked me where they can get a good fake HBB like mine. This surprised me and changed my opinion on the watch. Although they all agree that it is the "latest & greatest" universal hot fashion statement to wear right now, they don't want to pay the market price. These are people that can afford genuine watches and have some working knowledge of watches in general. (And probably would buy this HBB rose gold case replica, myself included) Its funny, Panerai started out as a fashion statement but nobody who can afford the gens ever thinks they are not worth the price, unlike the HBB. That tells you that even the HBB genuines are so overly inflated in price a lot of genuine buyers have reservations shelling out the dough. I have to agree, I'd rather buy a genuine PP Annular for almost the same price.

Like many who have posted in this thread, lots of fast excited replica collecting got me interested in watches just a couple of years ago, but, after acquiring the WIS knowledge from all the rep. & gen forums, it is all gen now with the occasional rep. purchase to feel how the gen. would be on the wrist after a period of time rather than a remorseful quick purchase at an AD. I'm at the end of my career so watches for show no longer appeal or make sense. I buy watches mainly for the appreciation of the mechanical art now, as it should be, rep. or genuine.

V, that is an example of the best eye I've seen looking at a scam. I didn't even notice that not really speculating on not being able to enlarge the vital pictures. My hats off to you from an expert eye. "It it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

I finally got to hold, wear and inspect a couple of BB at the Horologio in the Venetian in Las Vegas this week. Besides the date font, one noticeable flaw with our reps. that you cannot see in pictures but is quite evident when you have the genuine in your hands is the chrono pushers. The gen. pushers are solid, brushed on edge and the finish better. The rubber is better. But the good thing is, only us rep. guys would probably notice this. The movement of course is a no brainer, the gen. is far superior in quality just by sight alone.

Ari's watch is a Ritmo Mvndo Palazzo.

That's so good.

Third that, both are gen.

Nice freebie from Ubi. Good to see pay it forward exists.

Does it have to be an actual copy of an actual model watch, as that Rolex didn't look as bad as this.

Michael, When you stopped by my office to have a drink in the bar, you may not remember that all the handicap parking stalls were in front of my entrance door. Yet they still refuse to give me my handicap sticker for hollowleg syndrome, what a crime.

Just make sure you didn't leave the chrono running, that always saps the power reserve, even on genuines.

I've had a Steinhausen Burlwood Quad Winder for over 2 years so according to some of the guys here, it should be dying about now. Its still going strong and quiet. But I did pay a pretty penny getting it shipped here from the West Coast, that's the paradise tax you pay for living Hawaii. As you see I'm on Maui.

Gee, I need to check in more often, topics I can relate to. Those last two bottles are always in my bar, at home and at the office, but also don't forget Centenario Anejo, the Gran Reserva is exquisite. I agree with ekhunter, any cheapo tequila will give you any cheapo headache. I have a rule, never drink cheap booze, if you're gonna have a headache, make it an expensive one.

Thanks for the link.

In my world he only drinks Vodka, but to see him you have to drink Tequila. Why would God play golf, a most uninteresting game if you can make a hole-in-one with every swing.

There's a simple solution to not having to set it on number 3, (both directions). Trial and error which I did when I got my 4 quad watch winder. I put the watches on the winder for a few days, if they kept wound clockwise I left it at the clockwise setting for that watch. If the watch stopped I reset the winder to go counter-clockwise. Agree with Pugwash, makes no sense; spinning your manual-wind is not going to keep it better lubricated. However, if you have a multi-watch winder and you want to fill every slot, it won't hurt your manual-wind to put it in the winder either.

I think the most comments I get are curiousity driven: "Is that a Panerai?" since it is now a known brand but doesn't show up on people's wrist as often as other watches, like Rolex, Omega, etc. So anything out of the ordinary will garner a comment. My reply is enthusiastic motor-mouth spilling out of Pannie WISdom about the watch, which then tends to get the "That's more than I wanted to know" look from the hapless victim.

Interesting topic I'm sure with different reasons for each person. I consider my watches an extension of my wardrobe, (men's jewelry some say), so the match to my belt, shoes or color of wardrobe usually determines my choice for the day, whether it be strap or dial color since some have SS bracelets. So I guess simple coloring seems to be my main determining factor for daily choice rather than the type of watch.

I have the RG BB from Angus. It came with a floating second hand which my jeweler reattached with no problem. This is the most accurate rep. I've ever had after 3 years and 26 reps. It is the only rep. I have currently and rotate with all my gens. It is that good, bar none, as long as you don't show the movement in the display back, you can't be called out if you are of the type to pass it off as gen.

So, you don't have enough sense that you are going to repeat the same mistake twice. How to make a woman celibate, marry her. Just kidding! Congratulations on 10 years Ken.