I'm conducting an experiment - you may be interested...

[AB]

Well after the drunken purchase of the other night, I have put my Citizen Eco-Drive and Carrera up for sale. Will be putting them in the classifieds in due course. They don't get worn anymore anyway.

Now, we are all against replicas, even super reps - as i think they are known.

So, a friend of mine has ordered a replica of the GMT Master 2 from these boys...

http://www.tt88time.com/index.php?main_page=produc...

He has gone for the black and red bezel. This guy has more money than sense and already wears a Panerai of some sort (not sure which one but crown is on the left and he wears it on his right hand).

He sent me a picture this morning saying he had bought a real one - it took all morning for him to admit that he was buying a copy just to annoy me!



The above is the picture he sent me. Frustratingly in my lesser wisdom I can't see an awful lot different to look at. I'm hoping that the difference is in the weight and it just 'looks fake' when it arrives. I'm certain the bracelet will give it away.

For reference, mine looks like this...



I need a few pointers in order to defeat his argument that the Rolex is not worth the money because replicas are so good these days.

Of course when his arrives, it will be extensively looked at and differences reported!

[AB]

Hmm, looking at the two pictures like that, is it me or are the small hour markers the same size as the minute markers on the rep but not on the real one?

[Slagathore]

The Bezels are completely different for a start

[StevenJJ]

I think the counterfeit will have a movement with fewer beats-per-hour than the Rolex.

[AB]

Slagathore said:

The Bezels are completely different for a start

Wow, are you a watch expert?

If the movement is the only thing different then Im not going to be happy. Knowledge alone is not worth £3k ha.

[StevenJJ]

I've only seen a couple of genuines and a couple of counterfeits; one was an easy call (stupidly big crown and poor detail) the other not so. I think the counterfeit is likely to have a 28,xxx bph Chinese movement whereas the Rolex will have 33,xxx in-house? Can't comment with any authority though.

[Soft Top]

I wouldn't worry.

When his doesn't turn up and his card is charged for 25 Caribean holidays by a Nigerian scammer then you can laugh.

[Invisible man]

You'll be able to tell when the cardinal points fall off and rattle about under the glass.......give it 3 weeks

[fade2grey]

I suspect thought the replica may indeed be a lovely watch, under close scruteny, the attention to detail & the final finish will be lacking to the real thing (at least that's what I hope.. I regularly sit & stare at my SD & marvel how it's resisted scratches lol)

[MarkoTVR]

The Rolex font is different on the copy. Smaller and narrower.

[Lil' Joe]

Can anyoone explain 'super-replicas'? I thought that replicas were always dodgy fake Rolex's that the numbers fell off of, I didn't know there were 'decent' replica's that actually worked??

Do people buy these?

[StevenJJ]

Joe there is a whole sub-culture dedicated to obtaining (attaining?) indistinguishable counterfeits and of course factories trying to supply them. To be fair to them the enthusiasts try and keep it all on the D&L and don't appreciate being overly exposed for fear of having their hobby clamped down on.

The idea of wearing a counterfeit does not appeal to me in the slightest but some of the top-end counterfeits are stunning in their accuracy. There is a 'rep' site for 'geeks' if you're interested in more info.

As other people have pointed out - buy a genuine Seiko and be happy with the craft you have obtained. In my mind I can see a situation where someone who you carry in high regard is going to ask "Is this real?" and you either have to reply no, which exposes you as a charlatan or yes, which makes you a low-level liar.


Edit - I can't tell the difference between 'yes' and 'no'

Edited by StevenJJ on Tuesday 28th April 12:23

[Lil' Joe]

Thanks Steven. Could you direct me to that site. I can be a bit 'geeky' myself...

Also, does anyone know much about Seiko's? As per the thread a few days ago, I found one on eBay that looked good and aftera few people on here agreed with me that it looked like a winner I bought it. I was wondering if anyone new anything about this model, its workings etc?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

[ShadownINja]

Yes, there's an issue with the fonts on the bezel as well as the face.

It'll probably have a better bracelet than the real deal, too*.

• - I hear Rolex bracelets are annoying cheap but this could be nonsense.

[Pesty]

Doesnt seem much difference in teh pictures but I'd put moeny on you being happy once they are compaired.

I hear people talk of copies that are identicle. That may be so but the ones I have seen you can spot copies from meters away.

[CommanderJameson]

Lots of super-macro pictures please!

[deejuic]

I had a similar GMT fake back in college. It's damn close, but you'll notice that the bezel numbers are a different font, the Rolex writing on the dial may be a bit tilted and also not as clear in the fake. Most clearly, you'll notice the weight as being less.

My fake lasted for 4 years before the metal started to wear off and look dull. I bought it for $50 in NYC and it was such a good knock off that others with real Rolex's thought that it was real on the wrist.

I ended up selling it online for 80 bucks a few years back. I couldn't believe it. It still worked and the buyer was happy with what he got. I don't think I could wear a fake now that I'm an adult, but I will say that the GMT knock off was dang close to the real thing. Not to mention you could go through 100 of them before coming even close to even in terms of price.

[olic]

Has he got it yet?

[GC8]

Accepting for the purposes of argument that 'good' copies exist: then I understand that Trusty Time are known for photographing what they sell and selling some of the better examples.

This is only what Ive heard: and bear in mind too that it was heard from someone who called them 'replicas' (copies id the most charitable term that I'll use) and who was adamant that some were really "as good as the real thing..."

[deejuic]

GC8 said:

Accepting for the purposes of argument that 'good' copies exist: then I understand that Trusty Time are known for photographing what they sell and selling some of the better examples.

This is only what Ive heard: and bear in mind too that it was heard from someone who called them 'replicas' (copies id the most charitable term that I'll use) and who was adamant that some were really "as good as the real thing..."

Not a chance. none are as good as the real thing. None use real ETA movements, none use high quality steel. What sense would it make for a "replica" company to invest the type of money and technology to create a high quality piece? If they were busted by the police, they would lose their investment. The only goal of these outfits is to create a product that will pass muster with whatever public market exists for these items. Just barely good enough is what they're after. Nothing more.

Now I'm not saying that their products aren't good. Like I mentioned before, I had bought a couple of these and they worked for a long time, but they weren't anywhere near as good as my current "REAL" watches. They are better in every single way (build quality, time accuracy, etc.).