Hello people:
I have been going crazy trying to decide what watch to purchase ever since I found out that there were replicas above the $20 off the street category.
I first learned of this when a Japanese friend told me that if you can get a reference, a guy - triad, or yakuza afilliated - will come to your hotel with a breifcase and a pretty good choice of popular autos and quartz for about $120 USD. This was about 15 years ago, and even though I was told by several people that these were pretty much identical to the AD watches on the outside as well as size and weight - especially if you stayed away from gold and diamond embellishments - and pretty good on the inside, I still chickened out.
Now we have the internet and lovely sights like this. Excuse my wordiness, but I just want to say thanks for having me.
And by the way, if anyone is interested in how one does this kind of business in most of the major Asian cities, I have some interesting stories and some surprising insights into how these items are viewed in the Tokyo, Hong Kong underworld.
Finally, my question is: if I want an automatic Breitling chronograph and the seller advertises a Japanese made automatic movement, can I trust even a reputable dealer with good feedback. I ask this because I was told the Japanese made autos are made almost as wall as the Swiss, at least as far as polish and workmanship.
Also, should the large minute hand sweep smoothly on an auto as opposed to the normal "ticking" movement of a quartz.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can put up with all my preamble - it IS my first post - and answer my question.
Hakuho
Sorry I have no pics as of yet.
I have been going crazy trying to decide what watch to purchase ever since I found out that there were replicas above the $20 off the street category.
I first learned of this when a Japanese friend told me that if you can get a reference, a guy - triad, or yakuza afilliated - will come to your hotel with a breifcase and a pretty good choice of popular autos and quartz for about $120 USD. This was about 15 years ago, and even though I was told by several people that these were pretty much identical to the AD watches on the outside as well as size and weight - especially if you stayed away from gold and diamond embellishments - and pretty good on the inside, I still chickened out.
Now we have the internet and lovely sights like this. Excuse my wordiness, but I just want to say thanks for having me.
And by the way, if anyone is interested in how one does this kind of business in most of the major Asian cities, I have some interesting stories and some surprising insights into how these items are viewed in the Tokyo, Hong Kong underworld.
Finally, my question is: if I want an automatic Breitling chronograph and the seller advertises a Japanese made automatic movement, can I trust even a reputable dealer with good feedback. I ask this because I was told the Japanese made autos are made almost as wall as the Swiss, at least as far as polish and workmanship.
Also, should the large minute hand sweep smoothly on an auto as opposed to the normal "ticking" movement of a quartz.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can put up with all my preamble - it IS my first post - and answer my question.
Hakuho
Sorry I have no pics as of yet.