What features/quality need to be checked when buying your first AP

[AndyS]

Hello Everybody,

I'm new in your forum and new in that rep theme at all.- so thanks be a part of this .

I'm in Thailand at the moment, found already Dealers in Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket.

I would like to buy a AP Royal Oak, Classic Black in the best rep- condition, Swiss movmemt, waterproove.... What I've read alreadY is the fact of several qualities of the rep types, which I've already Seen in the back of some shops.

But as you know: they can tell you a lot of it, but I personally dont know If this is an ETA movment, stainless Steel screws, waterproove etc.

I found a shop in Phuket at the moment, talking about best rep quality, price between 500-700€. Indeed that wont be the final, as i haven't start to deal with.

So my question to you RWG specialist, what do I have to take

Care about when buying ?

I mean I can check the measurement, design at all, but what happens inside. Should I take the watch in front the Dealer and put it into water for 2 minutes ?

How do identify the Swiss movment ? Are there checklists which I have to take into consideration ?

What price to pay finaly ?

Maybe somebody has already a reliable adress in Phuket or Bangkok to buy best reliable quality ?

Thanks for your help

Andy

[Legend]

Dear Andy

 

Firstly, 500-700Euros is too expensive for most AP reps.

 

It is highly likely that the reps are produced by the same factories that distribute them through the dealers here.

It would be more useful for you to post pics of the watches you are keen on and we can comment on them.

The "features" you mentioned are too vast too list, and varies from model to model and for different movements. 

If you are able to post the watches, we would be able to tell you what variant it is likely to be, which factory its from, and most importantly, how much you should pay.

 

Phuket is a place where the street vendors would fleece the foreigners whenever they can.

 

Just one word of advice to you: ALL current ROO reps, even the best ones, are NOT ETA movements. Most divers come with Asian 2824 clone movements, or Miyota movements. Royal Oak 15400s CAN come with ETA movements or Miyota movements or Asian 2824 movements. So you can see, the chance of you getting an actual ETA movement is slim or non existent, depending on the model you are keen on.

 

Your question is just too generic to answer, so if you want to get real help, post some pics, or at the very least, name the model you wish to buy.

We can help you more specifically from there.

[AndyS]

Dear Legend,

Thank you for your reply in that. Let me take some pictures this evening and load them up.

I cant hardly wait to see your comments on that.

Thank you for your support

Andy

[Legend]

Dear Andy

 

No worries at all, this is what the forum is for. Sharing and learning and taking the occasional glee at members who overpaid for the same watch

 

Just kidding.. we await the pics.  

[swdivad]

Hi Andy... Be careful:

 

I've lived in BKK for many years and the dealers of good quality reps are EXTREMELY FEW and FAR between... So much so that I buy all my reps from the trued dealers here, whether it be Joshua/Andrew, Angus, Sead, or Toro.

 

The best rep dealer I know of here asked me if I can source reps for him!

 

With you being new to reps, you will be an easy target.... The shop in Phuket selling reps for €500-700 saw you coming from far away, please stay clear no matter how many beautiful deep blue crystals they show you can be scratched with their crappy little screwdrivers!

 

There are a few shops in MBK that have some 'OK' reps... they'll still be more that what we'd pay through the trusted dealers here.

 

Getting good reps into Thailand is very difficult... I've been hit by customs several times this year alone.

 

Bottom line is that the very best address in Thailand to source your reps is right here on the rep forums (take your pic)... or right in Guangzhou after much research and good contacts!

[panerai153]

Andy,

Before you spend one Euro for a rep, you need to first decide exactly which model you want. Then you need to get very familiar with that model in the genuine watch. Only after you are very familiar with the genuine can you spot the flaws in the reps. If you go into a shop and are dazzled by all the pretty, shiny watches, you are going to end up with a rep that is full of flaws, at a very high price.

You said you were in Thailand for the moment, which indicates that you are from somewhere else. Buy some local souvenirs to take home, when you are not in that vacation "I have to buy something to take home to show off to my friends" mode you can take the time to do your research and end up with a nice watch at a reasonable price. Buy on impulse and you will more than likely end up with a crappy rep at a big price!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AndyS]

Hi All,

thanks again for all your Input here. After the visit in the Shop yesterday, I agree your opinipn on that. Before moving there, I took a look on the trusted Dealer websites from RWG to get a first Impression on features of the different reps.

Finaly the mentioned "Swiss quality"

seems to fit in some watches, but especially the AP I still doubting. I mentioned my doubts, so the guy will organize something for this evening...:-x

As Legend mentioned yesterday, I will put the watches online in this discussion ( doesnt work from my mobile anyhow ..), but more and more I'm thinking to put my holiday spending sprees under control to have more fun afterwards.

So hey- thank you so far. Lets see your inspection of the pics I took yestetday.

Andy

[AndyS]

Here we go with the AP rep "Swiss Made" from Phuket...thoughts ?

[Legend]

Here we go with the AP rep "Swiss Made" from Phuket...thoughts ?

The dial is not good Andy. Between the A and P on the logo, the white bit is missing. 

The movement is also ugly beyond belief, and definitely not a Miyota, but could be an undecorated ETA 2824? The color of the movement should be silver and not gold, though the rotor color is correct. Bezel screws look like the dog tried to use them as teething toys and found them unpalatable. This watch is ugly and screams rep even to the half-blind, 80 year old woman passing by 20m away, even if she knows nothing about AP. 

If you happen to lose this watch in a seedy alley in Phuket, chances are that you can still find it in the same spot the next morning, as it could be too tawdry looking even for the street urchins prowling the streets at night..

 

I wouldn't if I were you.. you would do much better to order a 15400 from our dealers online. 

[AndyS]

Thanks Legend,

I agree, movment i already found the mistake..:.

Finaly I will take your suggestions and order one by the RWG contacts when I'm back in Germany again.

Thank you all

Cheers

Andy

[Legend]

Thanks Legend,

I agree, movment i already found the mistake..:.

Finaly I will take your suggestions and order one by the RWG contacts when I'm back in Germany again.

Thank you all

Cheers

Andy

No worries Andy,

 

In brevity, stay away from the Phuket reps.. buy one when you are back in Germany. You would then at least know what you are getting, and also facilitate future sales of the watch, as you are then able to describe the watch and its source accurately.

[panerai153]

Andy, Our good friend legend has pretty well summed up this one!!  this is pretty much on par with the ones you see in those cartoons where the guy approaches you on the street, opens his coat wide and the inside is covered with watches. "Wanna buy a genuine ROLEX, fellow"? " I can give you a great deal on one"!!

AFA the movement. I would expect that this is a very cheap copy of the 2824, certainly not a Swiss ETA.

[scotjackson]

hey mate just letting you know there are some realy good 2824 movements for AP reps decorated to look similar to the gen, they are also very well made and can be found in the new AP divers on must TD websites. very stable movement. i been buying reps for few years now and cant go wrong with 2824