OrientVisiter Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 I travel to China from time to time and each trip I spend a day or two in either Shanghi or Beijing. I like to go to the copy markets and hunt for good deals. I've picked up a half a dozen watches most before I knew what were the popular reps. I don't have a clue yet on how to tell what is a good movement. I always tell them at the copy markets that I want highest quality watches. I have a green bezel SUB which I love. I've also been taken such as my "quartz" Sea Master. I'm trying to learn as much as I can before I go back to the Shanghi market in about two weeks. Sometimes they have to remove fake bottoms in drawers to get to the higher quality watches. Is this a waste of time and money or might I find a great deal once I know what to look for? So far the most I've paid is $30 for a watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Damn i would love to know this too! Anyone?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dropbear2008 Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 For high quality reps you better stick to the board dealers. Most of the watches you buy in the market are way inferior. You can get high quality reps in a few places, but you mights pay more than here. In Beijing there are a few sellers on the top floor of the Silk Market, and some of the sellers in Hong Qiao market have offices in the Hutong behind the market where they have better quality. From experience it's not worth the effort. You can get somehting more decent in Guangzhou, especially for parts. But you better know what you are looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polexpete Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Dropbear is right, i live in Beijing and have never seen anything worthy. Stick to the dealers here and do some research its well worth it Cheers P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Thank you very much for the replays guys. I have read a lot before i made my first post and i'm trying to figure out a couple of things. One of them is, how does the dealers/collectors here get a hold of these watches? They do get them from china, right? Do they get them directly from "their" favourit factory? Do they themselves order reps according to their specifications? Anyone knows how it works? Raptor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trailboss Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 If you can get to Guangzhou you are made! PM me and I can set you up with a dealer in the markets there who will take care of you. Quite a few folk here have done very well on trips to GZ. $30 is about right for a good rep in CN. Luthier? This is your department bro. Where are you? Col. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 So what you are saying is that those watches we buy from dealers here for >$200 cost them around $30? I would love to know if thats the case. That won't frighten me to buy from dealers here though since i need the light QC. I'm a total n00b. Raptor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxman Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Welcome to our Orient visiter . Interesting topic Good luck and happy hunting Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spider87 Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Nobody answered the 2 questions that were seeming important: Don't all the dealers just get them from these markets anyway or do they get them from their favorite factory? Also, are these watches people are paying like 100$USD for and stuff really just $30 watches from the markets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Nobody answered the 2 questions that were seeming important: Don't all the dealers just get them from these markets anyway or do they get them from their favorite factory? Don't know about the mark up...but the dealers here are working directly with the factories making the watches. Other online vendors are doing the same. There are many factories...some making junk...some making the good stuff. The thing with the dealers here is that you are: Going to get the good stuffYou are going to get a watch (as opposed to a scam site)If /When a problem arises they will address wrong shipment issues, major QA issues, etc A handful of the dealers here actually commission items directly from the vendors and/or buy gen watches for them to copy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxman Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Thanks Toad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Thanks Toad. Your answer answers my second question which was how much they buy the replicas for. It really doesn't matter since dealers have more or less monopoly on good stuff (and other reasons). And the price is probably the manufacturing price. This is very interesting. Raptor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poondog Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 For high quality reps you better stick to the board dealers. Most of the watches you buy in the market are way inferior. You can get high quality reps in a few places, but you mights pay more than here. In Beijing there are a few sellers on the top floor of the Silk Market, and some of the sellers in Hong Qiao market have offices in the Hutong behind the market where they have better quality. From experience it's not worth the effort. You can get somehting more decent in Guangzhou, especially for parts. But you better know what you are looking for. Ok, I'm a complete noob, I admit it. So, who are the "board dealers" and where do they list what they have for sale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxman Posted February 11, 2009 Report Share Posted February 11, 2009 Nobody answered the 2 questions that were seeming important: Don't all the dealers just get them from these markets anyway or do they get them from their favorite factory? Also, are these watches people are paying like 100$USD for and stuff really just $30 watches from the markets? Relax, dont get your spidy drawers in a bunch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dropbear2008 Posted February 11, 2009 Report Share Posted February 11, 2009 Ok, I'm a complete noob, I admit it. So, who are the "board dealers" and where do they list what they have for sale? <http://www.rwg.cc/members/Watch-Collectors-f198.html> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dropbear2008 Posted February 11, 2009 Report Share Posted February 11, 2009 Nobody answered the 2 questions that were seeming important: Don't all the dealers just get them from these markets anyway or do they get them from their favorite factory? Also, are these watches people are paying like 100$USD for and stuff really just $30 watches from the markets? The "Super Reps" available from the Board Dealers are commissioned pieces from a handful of factories. Quite often the genuine watch has been used for the replication. You will have a hard time finding these models in the GZ market. Other run-of-the-mill reps especially with Asian movements can be found cheaper in GZ. But as there is at least 95% crap for sale there you really need to know what you are looking for. Problem is most of the sellers don't know too much about their products either, so it turns into a very frustrating experience. Especially since mostly generic models are on display and they have to get every rep from some distant warehouse.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spider87 Posted February 11, 2009 Report Share Posted February 11, 2009 (edited) lol Thanks for the responses toad and dropbear. I guess the other thing you're paying for is the ease of access lol If I lived in New york I could go down the Canal Street every other week and buy up a bunch but I don't and I don't live in GZ or CN or anything so I guess that's the other thing accessibility. And like you guys said in most cases they're dealing strictly with their own factory of choice. Edited February 11, 2009 by spider87 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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