http://groups.google.com/group/alt.horology/browse_thread/thread/50e46aef20b28030/5776080c0c7e220c?lnk=st&q=how+to+spot+a+fake+patek+philippe+watch&rnum=3&hl=en#5776080c0c7e220c
Remember that article was written in 2003 and in 2007 I definetly have run into many of those well made ... and I mean very very very well made replica watches.
All I can say is, It cost me ~50-70 and it has stood up to water, impact in some cases, kept time, and retained the energy they are supposed to from wearing. 38 hours is what a swiss watch is supposed to work after you let it sit. I have several that are 48 hours in and working and the worst of the lot was 44 hours. Heck it even felt like the real thing cos its got a characterstic Panerai wobble evidently.
OK so the original swiss watch makers have been built since 1875 on average, most of the original owners have done sold it and they are now owned by conglomerates in europe, and yes the high end pieces are hand assembled by craftsmen spending several hours on each watch.
Now bite me if you think some snooty swiss clown deserves to me $300 an hour at my expense ... but asian hand made (if you can find it) is prolly also made the same way. mass produced swiss is made with machine made parts assembled by hand, just like the chineese/asian types.
So is there a reason to buy a original swiss watch over a good fake ... yes I will know how good in a few years ... but considering I bought stainless steel simple watches and have dunked them all in water already (and the stores are far from weather tight) tell me if there is a reason to buy the real deal.
Hand fitted - yes fakes are, machine made cases and mechanism - yes. Jewels at pivots etc - time will tell, but I think so cos I know of even bad fakes working several years.
So other than tossing some over paid snoot in switzerland out on his ass in the snow ... what else you got ???
Cool.
Srinath.
Nothing is wrong with it if it works.
They all work, over a week, several dunks in water they all keep time quite well. Maybe gain a few seconds a day overall good for a automatic.
One of them loses a few seconds a day ... must figure out how to adjust its regulator and make it gain.
Anyway, they all worked between 42-49 hours on a full wind (wearing it for 8 hours or using the crown and wnding it). For now, I am happy with them.
Lets see how they hold up or not in the next few months :icon_rolleyes:
Cool.
Srinath.
i don't wear a watch... never ever.
Well then ... you'd definetly not want to buy a real switch wass ... O0
Cool.
Srinath.