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#1
15-01-2005, 07:23
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Good Imitation watches
Does anyone know of a good place to buy high quality imitation Rolex, Tag etc watches? And if so how much would you expect to pay?
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#2
15-01-2005, 07:33
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Street Watches
It helps to speak Thai (ie take GF) and go to the back of the shop. The front stuff is for the Tourists and the "good stuff" is at the back usually in a locked cupboard or drawer.
I bought a very good imitation Rolex which held its own against the real thing in the City. No-one could tell the difference. I paid THB 1200 - asked THB 4000. I thought that the fake sports watches were actually better than the more expensive brands. As to the actual shop I went to one on the Beach road near MacDonalds, now probably unfortunately destroyed, but there are several around and about. Mac
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#3
15-01-2005, 08:22
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OH yes - speak Thai but speak it well.
The traders are so clever. First Price for Japanese - say 1200 B Second for Americans 900 B Third Europeans (no English) 750 B Europeans (english speakers) 650 B Regulars with some Thai lang. 500 B Good Thai and complain that we can't buy rice for our kids at these prices 350B Standard disclaimer - Depends on start price of watch - weather, alcohol and 'arom' (All prices give or take a few hundred Baht  )
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#4
15-01-2005, 09:22
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No way you will get a quality jeweled movement, saphire glass, waterproof copy at that price..
I am a bit of a watch fan and have real watches of a few high end names, a few years ago I used to pick up quality copies here in Patong (and take back 4 or 5 every trip for sale or mates) but since they have cleaned the place up I have not seen hardly any that pass close inspection down here.. there are still lots on BKK of course.. Lets use a basic stainless steel Rolex submariner as an EG. All prices AFTER haggling hard in Phuket. Crappy light ticking <500 - 800 Crappy light basic sweep 800 - 1200 (this would pass if no one took it off or knew watches) OK quality, near right weight, smooth sweep (cheap jeweled movement, usually japanese), saphire glass, claimed water resistant.. Really depends on quality 1000 - 2500. Perfect weight, exact strap links, screw in link adjustments, saphire glass, quality jeweled movement, correct crown pull out for date, time, with screw down crown, fully water proof approx 10m (swimming) etc.. Basically put this down next to a real Rolex and swap them around a bit and you have to look real hard to find the difference.. This can be anything from 2500 in BKK (not seen these in Phuket for a long time then best price was 3.5k down from 8) to 4 or so.. My brother got one in BKK for 2500 last year that he uses as a work watch when he does not want to damage his sub. This kind of copy would fool anyone (even a watch fan) who did not take the back off and check for rolex movement, or did not have a real one for comparison. These go for 200 - 300 Euros back home easy. At this price bracket you should also be able to find good GMT Master II's with the 4th hand (independantly settable) for additional timezone.. Lastly (I have only seen these once in BKK).. All of the above plus using either a Tudor movement (same as Rolex) or a specifically copied rolex automatic, comes in Rolex Green leather box with all papers (either bought second hand or forged) with a Rolex hologram sticker on the back and all serial numbers correctly in hidden places (under strap etc).. These will usually pass a fence or watch shop and even confuse a genuine Rolex dealer (but expect it to come up fail as they will check serial).. Obviously lots of these are sold as genuine and minimum price would be 500 or 600 plus Euros back home probably more.. The one time I saw a package like this I could not haggle him down below 15k baht (4 years ago) !! Used to see these quality packages in HK a lot more I am told. Basically you get what you pay for.. You can get a basic rough copy at cheap prices but at the upper end (lets say the last two) you are getting something thats 99% of a watch costing $2500 and up for way less.. Factor in Brietlings etc are often cheaper (though god knows why, it must be just as hard to make) ad gold you should be very carefull of.. The best of the best will use 9c gold but most are just thin plated.. Wears off fast... If anyone sees REALLY good copies in Patong PM me as a mate wants a President and SS sub.
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#6
15-01-2005, 09:58
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 not really.. Just watches were an interest before.. Also got WAY too much time online currently as I am (supposed to be) working online daily !!! As I said I have not seen many good ones down here for a long time.. Not been looking really though as I use my mobile for a watch 99% of the time.. They joys of being out of the rat race..
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#7
15-01-2005, 09:59
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Who's saying you will?Damn! If I was paying for quality - I wouldn't be buying from a street vendor. Many of them recognise my TAG which is fairly rare and they have NO copies at street level. I would never pay good money for a *copy*!
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#8
15-01-2005, 10:35
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OK sure perhaps I was putting words in your mouth but the poster was asking for 'high quality' Rolex copies.. you dont get those at the kind of prices quoted.
Personally I have split opinions on the subject.. Wearing a copy watch (especially a poor quality one) is a sure way to be taken for an fool amoung people who count watches as a status symbol or in business dealing, just shows a desire to pretend to be something you are not and who wants to be seen as a pretender ?? Though if you can get a really good copy that is not distinguishable from an origional at 5 - 10% of the cost of the same watch ?? Who is the fool ?? I wear my favorite watch rarely (Platinum Yachtmaster) and managed to scrape the bezel and crystal in a bar brawl that will cost at least 20k to fix (not had enough time in BKK to have it done and was reluctant to leave it there long term) but it is a piece of kinetic art that I really do love (it rings.. it doesnt tick).. However out of the rat race its a little too ostentatious for Thailand and if you work physically or wear a watch always, having a (top quality) copy you can trash a bit and not care is not a bad move.. Also if you like trawling around the gutters of the world and get hammered to the point of not remembering how, or who you came home with, a copy is also a smart move.. Prime example is my little brother.. Gave him a SS sub for his 21st birthday yet he is wearing his BKK copy sub as he heads into the jungles of indo (surfing).. Smash it or get robbed for it, and he is out 2500 baht.
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#9
15-01-2005, 12:42
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The copies in Patpong I find are the best
There are so many dealers in Patpong(Bangkok) that you can see alot of watches but you have to go at night as it's the night market they set up everyday. Buy the watches your first day there, make sure they keep good time for a couple of days before you leave Bangkok that way if they are crap you can go back to where you bought them for something better.
In Patong across from Ocean center on Bangla is an art gallery with a little hidden room in the back where he sells watches, some are good. He will start you at 4,000.bt but you can get almost any watch there from 1200 to 2000bt. Just bargain hard as he gets a little nasty.
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#10
15-01-2005, 14:23
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Ha -ha, I buyed a fake "rolex", who lookede quit well and worked really fine!
When I went on holiday in Greece next summer, I had my house burgled. They took my golden ring, I never wear, my chain, I normally wear all the time, but they left.... the fake rolex!l 
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#11
15-01-2005, 18:33
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Yes he was wasn't he..... It was late and I think I read it like this... Quote:
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#12
15-01-2005, 20:23
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Crap copies are cheaper, if you want something with a decent weight, good movement and saphire crystal your looking at a litttle more. It's allways worth spending a few mins looking the watch over for defects which you may only notice later, such as lettering off place etc. You can expect to pay 1500-2000 for a decent copy watch, there is a lot of tat which can be baught cheaper, but it's tat I have found KL to the best place for fakes...
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#13
15-01-2005, 21:34
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The copies I have seen in Patong are nowhere near as good as the copies available in the souks in Abu Dhabi & Dubai. These are shipped in from Bangkok though, and with hard bargaining can be had for £25 /2000bht/150dirhams.
I got an Omega Seamaster for £30 which fooled the Omega dealer here in UK and has a Seiko movement.Good copies can be found,but if its really cheap then be assured its probably a piece of tat. I had a good look for copies in Patong and there were very few good ones available. I don't speak any Thai and could only get the seller down from 4000baht to 2500 for a watch for my daughter.
__________________
I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Granddad Not screaming in fear like his passengers
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#14
15-01-2005, 22:00
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Really doesn't matter much..
As long as the darn thing works
Bought my fake Omega in Patong 4 yrs ago and it still works as a charm, never done anything with it and it has had to endure a lot. Also had a lot of fake Rolex's through time that have been ok, working as a engineer has a tendancy to put a strain on watches tho.. I paid just over 1k for my Omega, think I'll be looking for a replacement for more formal wear next tour. If LivinLOS is present in Patong at the time I might ask for some expert opinion since watches for most part ( for me ) is just a device telling me when I can go home from work Buying the real deal is of no point as I'd prob loose it in a month, besides this Omega I don't think I've had a watch for more then a year..
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#15
16-01-2005, 13:24
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I am not watch expert only having had a few brand watches I know what to look for is sizing up a fake.. Also I would never wear a fake that would not pass very close inspection due to the 'pretender' issues I mentioned..
Have not bought a good one on Phuket for ages.. To be honest all this cleaning up of Phuket (giving the watch and DVD sellers hassle, copy good etc) is a shame IMHO.. Of course rolex looses a little but reallly who buys a 25 USD fake instead of a real one.. If they are going to buy a real one they buy the real one..
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#16
16-01-2005, 13:42
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Hi Dawsey. Can you recommend any particular shop in Dubai? I know most of them don't have names over the door, but if you just give general directions, I'm sure I'd be able to find it. I've mentioned this before, but I once bought a moody Bulova watch in LOS. Two days after I came home I went in a sauna, forgot to take it off, and when I came out of the sauna all the numerals had dropped off the face! I've still got it and it still makes me chuckle when I look at it.
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#17
16-01-2005, 18:35
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Totally agree with you. Can't see the point in spending a lot of money, just to know you are wearing a fake. Spend a couple of hundred and thing will probably last for years anyway. ...and it doesn't matter if you scratch the damned thing whilst doing a bit of diy.
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#18
16-01-2005, 20:50
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Hi Paddy, I went to Dubai first in '98 and all I can remember was I saw the watches of good quality at a market in Diera.Sorry I can't be more specific but my memory isn't so good.Abu Dhabi however I have been to every year for the last 8yrs. I got my Omega from the Hamdan Centre in Hamdan Street.Go upstairs to the clothes shops and in one called Golden Falcon,they have some great copies.Rolex,Tag Heure,Omega,Phillipe Patak they have them all.Even the guarantee was good as it stopped soon after bringing it home and my sister was visiting the UK took it back and they exchanged it no problem.Its been running fine with the same battery for 4yrs.There are also copies in the old gold souk but you have to ask as the good stuff is under wraps.Sorry about the info for Dubai though
__________________
I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Granddad Not screaming in fear like his passengers
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#21
17-01-2005, 14:07
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I bought a watch in 1998 and it still works. It was 500 bath this time. But if you want a "good" copy its about 1500 to 2000 bath. To buy or not to buy? There`s only one answer: Up to you, its your holiday.....
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#22
17-01-2005, 22:03
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Watches!!!
As those who were there would know, I bought a few watches the last time i was in Phuket to sell when i got back! The watches i bought was mostly of a good quality, ranged from 1800 to 2000 baht a watch. These were rolex's, bretling and cartier watches. I most of them within a week of getting back for between £50 and £90, to different people.
What i found when looking for "good" watches last time, was they were alot harder to find then the time before (2 years before). Even when they sellers bring you to the 'secret' area of the shop or when they bring out the 'real' bag of them. The vast majority of them were complete crap! I even told some people who were looking with me, not to buy for the agreed 5000 baht another trader had agreed with him, they were that bad. But, as others has said, if u just want a watch that keeps time, and doesnt really matter if it stops working after a month, then any of these would do fine for less than a 1000 baht! Just my opinion!!!
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#23
17-01-2005, 23:46
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You aren't supposed to take them in the tub.  They are copies and are probably not completely waterproof.
__________________
I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my Granddad Not screaming in fear like his passengers
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#24
18-01-2005, 07:51
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Great info Livinlos. I have a genuine omega speedmaster, the james bond special! Wore it for 3 days and already quite a few scratches. Thought I might be able to wear the genuine less and use the fake for more every day use. Where would you suggest I look when in Bangkok?
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#25
18-01-2005, 10:48
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