So Disappointed. Should I send back this Cousteau Divers?

[Tommy Tom]

Having already got an '06 I thought i'd pull the trigger on an '07 as I'm thinking about getting a gen CD and want to check both reps out on the wrist first.

I received the package this afternoon and immediately noticed some issues. Now before we continue I know these are not major, but you all know what it's like you wait for the post (16 days in my case) and then you're disappointed. I also think that for more than $300 you should expect more.

So, here we go.



As you can see the chrono second hand is slightly misaligned to the right. You can also see that the inner bezel is misaligned to the left. If you go one click back....



It's misaligned to the right. To get a correct alighnment it has be be resting between clicks, but eventually with wrist movement it flicks back to either left or right.

Next...



Can you see this black dust - it looks like someone's flicked it with ink. I am sure this wasn't here when I took it out of the packaging, but appeared from nowhere after a few hours of wear. Does anyone know what this is? My guess is paint dust from moving the inner bezel.

Moving on..

Ok i'll admit that I could have lived with these had the other issues not annoyed me so much but they're still there.



The left red circle is a hair on the inside of the crystal. Doesn't really show up in this image but I can assure you it screams at you. The right red circle, is I hope just a bit of grit or dust, but it might be chipped paint and not removeable.

This next image is a mark on the subdial - again very small but noticable at a glance.



finally - this is not really a complaint as such but a question. My strap looks a bit, well, shit. Maybe they're all like this but I thought it wouldn't look this faded and have so many white markings on it. I have a feeling they are all like this but let me know.





What do you think I should do? I know that the dealer (who shall remain anonymous) is highly respected and will replace it, but I have only ever sent a watch back to China once and it never arrived (china has watches on its list of prohibited/restricted items to import so if it's stopped by Chinese customs it'll be confiscated)

Can these issues be fixed easily. I know simply removing the mechanism and dial from the case would solve the dust/mark issues, but what about the misalignments? I really really don't want to send it back as it'll mean another month or so to wear the watch. It's a shame because the date and day wheels work perfectly almost in unison.

Please can you give me some advice.

Tom.

 

[swissaddict]

These issues seem to be common... To be free from bezel misalignment, miniscule unintended markings, specks of dust, etc. you must usually do cleaning and modification yourself, I think.

Which dealer did you buy it from?

 

[Tommy Tom]

I'd rather not say as I haven't spoken to him about it yet, but it's one of our top three so I know if I do choose to send it back he'll replace it. I don't know though whether he'll pay for all the shipping costs which will be incurred.

 

[R2D4]

Send it back as a metal toy puzzle or watch for repair and get another. Or have it serviced or put an ETA in it. These new reps are either right on or off on more than one count. I like Genuines now more than ever, especially on Chronographs.

 

[swissaddict]

I haven't met a dealer yet who pays for return shipping. If he does in this case, let me know so I can cite your example and insist on it next time

 

[Klink]

These issues seem to be common... To be free from bezel misalignment, miniscule unintended markings, specks of dust, etc. you must usually do cleaning and modification yourself, I think.

Which dealer did you buy it from?

unfortunately, agree with swissaddict.. especially as concerns some particular models..

wishing you good luck.

dealers never pay for shipping back, not that i have seen...

Klink

Life is Good!

 

[daytona4me]

Have you ever taken a movement out of a watch? If so, pop this one out, remove the hair and use a dust blower to blow out some of the dust (the piece around the 4 will blow out easily) obviously the hair will too... use a q-tip and see if you can hit that subdial.
Inform the dealer that you are going to attempt to do this yourself, I bet the dealer will be happy to take it back if you cannot remove everything and are very unhappy still.
If the dealer knows you are going to attempt this, he wont complain about it if you have to send it back still (if you mess something up).

The worst you could probably do is jack up the keyless works and you could still send it back to the dealer and the dealer can have that fixed in china for $10 (really much less, Narikaa had a watch fully serviced for $20 in GZ).

People need to learn to do things like this themselves. Your comment on "I expect more for $300" is common,, but more exclusive to these forums. Think about the day you were going to spend $400 for that shitty 21J Rolex that you found on BestSwissReplicaA+++ website.. lol... you thought that was not too bad.. but now... we expect red carpet, for a far better watch. Not specifically saying you but the mentality of forum members leans pretty far to the left this way.

I guess I just got tired of it all and decided to learn the stuff myself... I encourage everyone too! You will be far better off and not have to worry about shipping things back to China.

just my $0.02

 

[Klink]

just my $0.02

and a valuable $0.02 indeed...

8)

 

[Tommy Tom]

Have you ever taken a movement out of a watch? If so, pop this one out, remove the hair and use a dust blower to blow out some of the dust (the piece around the 4 will blow out easily) obviously the hair will too... use a q-tip and see if you can hit that subdial.
Inform the dealer that you are going to attempt to do this yourself, I bet the dealer will be happy to take it back if you cannot remove everything and are very unhappy still.
If the dealer knows you are going to attempt this, he wont complain about it if you have to send it back still (if you mess something up).

The worst you could probably do is jack up the keyless works and you could still send it back to the dealer and the dealer can have that fixed in china for $10 (really much less, Narikaa had a watch fully serviced for $20 in GZ).

People need to learn to do things like this themselves. Your comment on "I expect more for $300" is common,, but more exclusive to these forums. Think about the day you were going to spend $400 for that shitty 21J Rolex that you found on BestSwissReplicaA+++ website.. lol... you thought that was not too bad.. but now... we expect red carpet, for a far better watch. Not specifically saying you but the mentality of forum members leans pretty far to the left this way.

I guess I just got tired of it all and decided to learn the stuff myself... I encourage everyone too! You will be far better off and not have to worry about shipping things back to China.

just my $0.02

Sensible advice. I can do this myself and will give it a crack, but I'm not sure how to realign the bezel and chrono second hand. Believe me the last thing I want to do is stick it in the post again. I know what you mean about what we expect and what the reality is, but it sticks somewhat when the dealers say they will QC it before it's sent. I know this is never true but i'd rather they didn't pretend it doesn't come straight from the factory to you....that though is a thread well trod and not to be discussed again.

 

[Klink]

chrono second hand common problem, fix is remove and replace aligned.

dunno bezel - someone likely does, is common problem

 

[takashi]

You are right on the bezel. It seems that you are quite unlucky this time to get misaligned bezel. It happened on my piece but there is a metal plate on movement retainer ring that you can file it and bent it inwards a bit. I did it on mine and now it's fixed. Right on the dust problem, open it up and clean it up. Sad that it happens to you. I thought this watch is already priced below 300USD mark?

 

[R2D4]

Sensible advise indeed however with soo much wrong including the strap, this just isn't fair to Tom IMHO.

 

[takashi]

Agree I think will do a swap. But you have to pay for return shipping I guess.

 

[brtelec]

I would personally just fix it. But you should not have to do so many corrections in my opinion. For what the watch costs I would also be reluctant to attempt these things if I were inexperienced. Just contact the dealer and arrange an exchange. The return shipping thing always sucks but that is what I feel you should do. Good luck my friend.

 

[Klink]

sad, but as river would say, 'replica is replica'

imo, the percentage of screw ups is fairly small...

does not lessen the pain, but maybe is price we pay for being faking pirates...

quality control does seem to be something that is ignored, non-existent or arf arse.., esp. with drop ships

overall is good news.. but overalll does not including bad happens

 

[horologie_unitas]

i think the dealer should take it back and replace it with a new one.
there are really good ones out there...i saw some.

you really pulled the asshole card getting this shit watch.

 

[Klink]

shit happens

unfortunate..

 

[Klink]

test

"shite"

 

[Klink]

ok, is clear

board set to censor yanks

not brits!

 

[Pix]

The CD is known for having many issues of this type. No QC is the reason for getting this watch as it is. If lack of alignment is common, these dirts and dusts should not go through a very basic visual QC.

I would send it back.