Are Rotary just copying ?

[IceBoy]

Hi All,

Walking through the high street the other day, I saw a huge poster in a shop window (well know high street jewelers)

So I poped in.....I saw a Rotary watch which looked 95% like my Daytona.

Then my brother purchased a watch from a different high street jewelers again a rotary....guess what it looks like a navitimer !!

What the hell is going on ?

Here is a link to Roarty watches. where there is an example of the Daytona look-a-
like......they shop has a stainless steel like mine Daytona and look pretty close !

IceBoy

http://www.rotarywatches.com/uk/catalogue/watch/ro...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-LEATHER-ROTARY-CHRONOSPE...

the item number is : 330304255541

[Revs_Addiction]

I think it's fair to say their designers have been a bit lazy recently!

[andy tims]

Can't believe they haven't been sued yet.

[Revs_Addiction]

Richard Mille for the masses?!?

http://www.rotarywatches.com/uk/catalogue/watch/ro...

[JDH1]

They do a 'reverso' too which is laughably clumsy.

[sparkyhx]

....................cue the Fake/Replica/Homage debate

all three of those would fool someone at a glance.

[Odie]

I had a look at the rotary daytona and thought it looked nice and was a good size and weight BUT the build quality was rubbish (not comparing it too a rolex but in comparison to similar priced seikos)

[funkyol]

Haha, this one: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-LEATHER-ROTARY-CHRONOSPE...

is just ridiculous!

[IceBoy]

So basically rotary are just copying lots of other brands almost to the T !!!!

IceBoy

[GC8]

Its a bit Breitlingy; isnt it?

[funkyol]

GC8 said:

Its a bit massively Breitlingy; isnt it?

[iain_cam]

Why? And more to the point, how are they getting away with it?

I quite like some of the Rotary Edition stuff. . . but even that takes a little nod in the direction of Hublot.

[eccles]

funkyol said:

Haha, this one: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-LEATHER-ROTARY-CHRONOSPE...

is just ridiculous!

And very expensive, only £68 from Argos.

[StevenJJ]

I have one of these tucked away:




Looks well when worn with a French cuff - the outer casing is a bit basic with the finish and plating as it is though. Definitely recommended for use with the aforementioned French but it is exposed as the £70 watch it is when worn with a t-shirt.

Edited by StevenJJ on Friday 5th June 00:15

[glazbagun]

It'll probably make em a pretty penny, but I cant help feel it's a cop out which will backfire as they get a name for making cheap knock-offs of more expensive watches. Rotary have been around for long enough, and have a good enough name that they dont need to be knocking off higher brands. Who owns them, out of curiosity?

[StevenJJ]

Not sure who they're under.

I would imagine at this end of the market the majority of buyers will take recognition of the name as 'a good thing' (as opposed to something by someone they've never heard of) and will not know which models are 'originals' and which ones are, er, 'inspired by'.

Edited by StevenJJ on Friday 5th June 00:46

[Shuvi]

glazbagun said:

...Who owns them, out of curiosity?

They have always been independent, owned by the Dreyfuss family. Although they manufacture 'Swiss' timepieces, the company is British. They recently re-named the company Dreyfuss Group Holdings.

Rotary were always one of the better manufacturers at the budget end of the market, competing with Seiko, etc. Recently however, they've decided to concentrate on the Dreyfuss brand, while producing bunch of blatant copies and calling them Rotary 'Editions'.
Why? quick bucks?

They do continue to sell none fakes though...

[aruck]

Been fancying one of these cheap Rotary chronospeed 'Breitling rip offs' recently. Had a look on eBay and there seem to be a hell of a lot of them selling as 'returned items' or 'excess stock'. Are the watches just rubbish and a lot were returned or did they just not sell? Can anyone shed any light?

[Odie]

aruck said:

Been fancying one of these cheap Rotary chronospeed 'Breitling rip offs' recently. Had a look on eBay and there seem to be a hell of a lot of them selling as 'returned items' or 'excess stock'. Are the watches just rubbish and a lot were returned or did they just not sell? Can anyone shed any light?

I had a look at a few of these rotary's when they came out, out of interest and the build quality and material quality is shockingly bad.

[al1991]

Will you buy me watches too Nemesis?

I'm a poor student too

There must be something in relatives giving cheap Sekondas to students, here's the one my Step-grandad gave me

Edited by al1991 on Monday 31st January 15:01

Complete with a scratch on the face, which appeared after a very heavy night out.

Edited by al1991 on Monday 31st January 15:02