Confirmed your swiss movement?

[mit1980]

Has anyone who has paid that extre for Swiss ETA from the likes of replicamake/MR/Timeshop actually looked inside their watch to confirm what they got?

Just wanted to know if I was to pay for a swiss eta what was the likelyhood of actually getting one from these dealers

 

[trksh-bzr]

it's one of the darnedest things - most people couldn't tell, even if they opened it, but in that light, that just means that the clones are very good too

 

[levelmanroger]

When I was more of a Noob and didn't know any better, I ordered two watches from Hont and paid extra for gen ETA movements (no way of knowing if they are "Swiss" or Chinese made gen ETA movements), and have confirmed through my watch smith that they are both indeed actual ETA movements.
Although I probably wouldn't waste the money on "gen ETA" movements again, I would say that my experience with Hont was excellent and that he delivered as promised.

 

[Wiz]

No extensive study has been done yet, and between the swiss movements of various eras, the clones from various factories, and the ones with parts of various origins, it's virtually impossible to tell. Actually I would be more interested by an extensive study on this subject than on knowing which one is the best sub

 

[frigpig]

I have confirmed Swiss etas in my wifes rolex, and my seawolf.

Nice crisp stamp!

 

[mit1980]

Frigpig so who sold you that? it would be interesting to know which dealers are consistantly getting swiss movements, I know MR shows pictures of the movement before sending

 

[nielsen]

A couple of years ago I bought an Ultimate Planet Ocean from D4M when he was selling. I paid extra for a genuine Swiss movement. At that time, there were people on the forum who said that one essentially never got genuine ETAs even when paying for it. Francisco offered a tutorial on how to tell the difference. I opened mine up and, lo and behold: a Swiss movement! I was (and remain) a happy guy--and the watch keeps superb time to boot. Whether it is worth it or not is an entirely different matter......

 

[KBH]

I've spent a lot of time studying the differences and reading tutorials and I've found that in most cases you do indeed get Swiss Eta movements. Though a lot of them are old and in many cases used. I've taken several of the metal stickers of the rotors and found that they cover up the names of other gen watches. Whether they are pulled out of old watches or just surplus, I don't know.

 

[levelmanroger]

I also believe in most (but not all) cases you will get what you pay for from our Trusted Dealers.

However, you may get a gen ETA movement made in China (yes - ETA builds movements in China as well!), or you may get an old re-conditioned (not to new, but to working condition) ETA movement. Or I suppose it's possible (though VERY unlikely!) that you'll get an actual Swiss made ETA movement.

But the real question still to be answered is this: Is a old but working ETA movement better than a new Chinese clone? What about a Chinese-made ETA movement? Is that one better than the clone?
Other than the infamous A7750 failures (primarily sec @6 but not exclusively) and some really low-end 21J movements, I've only seen a very few threads about problematic 2836, 2824, 6497, etc. clone movements. They seem to be very reliable and easy to get into COSC compliance.

So rather than asking "Do you get what you pay for?", maybe we should be asking "Are you getting MORE for your money?" or "Is it worth what you paid for it?"

Just my $0.02, and in no way intended to be viewed as valued input.

 

[Wiz]

I also believe in most (but not all) cases you will get what you pay for from our Trusted Dealers.

I trust our dealers, but they basically tell us what the factories tell them, and I have no trust for these dudes

 

[Txr]

I trust our dealers, but they basically tell us what the factories tell them, and I have no trust for these dudes

I tend to disagree here ...

I am sure if a dealer really really really wanted, he could be sure to only get ETA movements or god forbid, could check himself. If not every watch then at least a few samples and not buy from dealers who scam him.

However it just seems to be more convenient to simply claim that they are "told" its real ETA and have to trust their dealer and have no control over it whatsoever. In fact it seems that getting very cheap "ETAs" from their dealers would simply mean extra money as they could claim ignorane and innocence.

After all, rep dealings arent drug dealings and even there you get what you want as long as you get the right source and check the merchandise.

Tx

 

[frigpig]

I've spent a lot of time studying the differences and reading tutorials and I've found that in most cases you do indeed get Swiss Eta movements. Though a lot of them are old and in many cases used. I've taken several of the metal stickers of the rotors and found that they cover up the names of other gen watches. Whether they are pulled out of old watches or just surplus, I don't know.

100% agree.

I have removed both My rotor stickers and found Russian brand watch names.

Eta movements made ANYWERE in the world are made to the same standards as "swiss" ones and therefore it does not matter where they are made.

The question really is are they NOS, NIB, or used seconds that were discarded.

I really believe that they are used or "factory seconds". My wifes rollie lasted 3 months before I had to send it to Katt. That tells me it had run for a long time previously or didn't work and was "repaired" in our favorite country.

 

[levelmanroger]

100% agree.

I have removed both My rotor stickers and found Russian brand watch names.

Eta movements made ANYWERE in the world are made to the same standards as "swiss" ones and therefore it does not matter where they are made.

The question really is are they NOS, NIB, or used seconds that were discarded.

I really believe that they are used or "factory seconds". Katt rebuilt one of mine and said it was o.k. It lasted 3 months. That tells me it has run for a long time previously or didn't work and was "repaired" in our favorite country.

I'm not aware that the Russians ever used ETA movements. They were QUITE good at replicating them - the old Cornavins (after moving from Switzerland to Russia) used a 25 jewel copy of the Rolex movement. It was dead-on! And the old Russian movements are known for reliability.
Can anyone correct me here? Have Russian built watches ever run actual ETA movements, or just Russian-made clones?

 

[P4GTR]

Being familiar with the differences between clone-ETA and gen-ETA for a while myself, I cannot reasonably believe that the factories making them have not distinguished the differences by now. A few minute, subtle alterations provides for a gen-ETA premium markup.

Also, I wouldn't put a lot of emphasis on all of these posts where members claim their local watch smith affirms gen-ETA. I am doubtful that many of these smiths could tell a gen-ETA from a clone-ETA to save their life.

Without a doubt, gone are the days when gen-ETA prices netted nickle plated gen-ETA movements.

 

[frigpig]

I'm not aware that the Russians ever used ETA movements. They were QUITE good at replicating them - the old Cornavins (after moving from Switzerland to Russia) used a 25 jewel copy of the Rolex movement. It was dead-on! And the old Russian movements are known for reliability.
Can anyone correct me here? Have Russian built watches ever run actual ETA movements, or just Russian-made clones?

I just googled the name and found this brand that appeared to have a Russian heritage. I don't even remember what it was........ Dammit! I'll break out the kit tomorrow.

 

[Wiz]

I tend to disagree here ...

I am sure if a dealer really really really wanted, he could be sure to only get ETA movements or god forbid, could check himself. If not every watch then at least a few samples and not buy from dealers who scam him.

However it just seems to be more convenient to simply claim that they are "told" its real ETA and have to trust their dealer and have no control over it whatsoever. In fact it seems that getting very cheap "ETAs" from their dealers would simply mean extra money as they could claim ignorane and innocence.

After all, rep dealings arent drug dealings and even there you get what you want as long as you get the right source and check the merchandise.

Tx

I can undestand why you think that, but believe me, 99% of the dealers can't tell the difference between a gen and a clone ETA.

We also had some examples in the past of factories fooling dealers.

 

[trailboss99]

Guys, the only dealers I would recomend buying gen ETA equipped watches off are MReplica, Hont, Time4Direct and of cause bklm1234.

The first two have proven they can tell a genuine ETA and check to make sure that is what it is while T4D and BK install gen ETA's themselves.

If Robert sells an ETA watch the MVT has been bought from a legit ETA authorised wholesaler in Hong Kong and installed in his own workshop in Thailand. According to him it is the only way he can say for sure it's real. BK of cause also installs his own MVTs or checks to make sure it's a real one.

I have bought gen ETA watches from other dealers but these guys are the only ones I can vouch for where you are 99.9% sure of getting what you pay for.



Col.

 

[Txr]

Guys, the only dealers I would recomend buying gen ETA equipped watches off are MReplica, Hont, Time4Direct and of cause bklm1234.

Col.

and of course they dont have the watch I want

 

[Wiz]

and of course they dont have the watch I want

None of them can gt you the watch you want!?
Are you sure it has been repped?

 

[Txr]

None of them can gt you the watch you want!?
Are you sure it has been repped?

I want the best version submariner with even DLC coat, black/white nato strap and no alignment issues with pearls and so forth ...