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I've just seen this - looks like the rep factories read RWI, and have seen the modded vintage watches for sale on M2M, the threads etc and have decided to profit from this.
The 6542 they were selling, when it was $350 or whatever it was, wasn't a bad deal - you get what you pay for, and for $350 it was OK. Now that the price has gone up to $670 this is much less of a deal.
It's still less than the cost of a Viet' based 6542 - and there are no alternatives, so if you want a 6542 and don't want to spend $1300 then this is your only choice. But the dial looks awful and will start to irritate almost instantly, so you'll need to spend another $250 or so for a Viet' 6542 dial and if you can't change the dial yourself you'll have to pay someone to do it . . . add on shipping costs etc and you're close to $1000 and there's still lots of things wrong with the watch - if you didn't get one when they were $350, then it's too late now.
The other vintage stuff they are selling . . . LOL. Where to begin. The 5513 is based on a Cartel 5513 - the case is the same, the bracelet, the insert, bezel ring, all are Cartel/BP. They've changed the dial - it's not better or worse than a Cartel dial, it's just different.
The inner edge of the crown has been chamfered and they've softened up the CGs on a polishing machine - that's about it, other than that it's a standard Cartel which sells for $225 with a clone 2836.
The 1675s are quite obviously Cartel/BP (who source many of their parts from the same factories, so the 2 are very close), they've softened up the CGs, added some truly fucking hideous sticker type dial and relumed the hands. Again, these sell for $240 or so, standard, unmodified, direct from a TD.
The 1016 - these are hideous, the dial is just incredibly bad, the case looks about a foot thick, the lume apparently glows neon blue . . .
Aside from the 6542, which has to be considered because it's the only alternative to a Viet build, all these watches are a rip off - you are paying an extra $350 - $400 for really minimal changes - note I didn't use the word improvements - because they aren't improvements, they're just changes.
The dials are pure crap, and will need to be changed.
The cases are still inaccurate and will need to be reworked.
The crystals are still low end filled-with-micro-bubbles junk, and will need to be replaced.
The movements are all high beat 2836 clones, so the tube isn't positioned correctly meaning it will never look or be close to 'gen' spec'.
The hands are still Cartel/BP hands and will need to be replaced . . You get the idea.
A Cartel 5513 with a DG movement costs $120 plus shipping. Change the dial ($120 - $200), change the hands ($20), the crystal ($30) - If you can do those things yourself then for $250 max' you've transformed the watch.
If you can't do them yourself then add on another $250 - $400 (depending on who you go with ) to pay a modder who'll change those parts and rework the case shape for you - total cost would be around $650 - $800 for a truly hand built watch.
The 6542 they were selling, when it was $350 or whatever it was, wasn't a bad deal - you get what you pay for, and for $350 it was OK. Now that the price has gone up to $670 this is much less of a deal.
It's still less than the cost of a Viet' based 6542 - and there are no alternatives, so if you want a 6542 and don't want to spend $1300 then this is your only choice. But the dial looks awful and will start to irritate almost instantly, so you'll need to spend another $250 or so for a Viet' 6542 dial and if you can't change the dial yourself you'll have to pay someone to do it . . . add on shipping costs etc and you're close to $1000 and there's still lots of things wrong with the watch - if you didn't get one when they were $350, then it's too late now.
The other vintage stuff they are selling . . . LOL. Where to begin. The 5513 is based on a Cartel 5513 - the case is the same, the bracelet, the insert, bezel ring, all are Cartel/BP. They've changed the dial - it's not better or worse than a Cartel dial, it's just different.
The inner edge of the crown has been chamfered and they've softened up the CGs on a polishing machine - that's about it, other than that it's a standard Cartel which sells for $225 with a clone 2836.
The 1675s are quite obviously Cartel/BP (who source many of their parts from the same factories, so the 2 are very close), they've softened up the CGs, added some truly fucking hideous sticker type dial and relumed the hands. Again, these sell for $240 or so, standard, unmodified, direct from a TD.
The 1016 - these are hideous, the dial is just incredibly bad, the case looks about a foot thick, the lume apparently glows neon blue . . .
Aside from the 6542, which has to be considered because it's the only alternative to a Viet build, all these watches are a rip off - you are paying an extra $350 - $400 for really minimal changes - note I didn't use the word improvements - because they aren't improvements, they're just changes.
The dials are pure crap, and will need to be changed.
The cases are still inaccurate and will need to be reworked.
The crystals are still low end filled-with-micro-bubbles junk, and will need to be replaced.
The movements are all high beat 2836 clones, so the tube isn't positioned correctly meaning it will never look or be close to 'gen' spec'.
The hands are still Cartel/BP hands and will need to be replaced . . You get the idea.
A Cartel 5513 with a DG movement costs $120 plus shipping. Change the dial ($120 - $200), change the hands ($20), the crystal ($30) - If you can do those things yourself then for $250 max' you've transformed the watch.
If you can't do them yourself then add on another $250 - $400 (depending on who you go with ) to pay a modder who'll change those parts and rework the case shape for you - total cost would be around $650 - $800 for a truly hand built watch.
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