Enter The Dark Side: My Dip Into DHgate (Extremely Picture Dense)

[TimesASpinnin]

Hello everyone! Now, now. Before everyone reports, deletes, pickard facepalm and "Literal Box of Rocks'" this posting, I would like to say this was done by a trained professional, using a closed course, and for experimental purposes only. I, along with everyone here urge everyone to use a TD (trusted dealer) whenever possible. I knew full well the risk I would run up against by doing this. I did this for fun, and to bring fun to this forum. No, I will not provide links, no I am not endorsing DHgate. Onto the story.

One night, two to seven weeks ago, time blurs together, I was about three drinks in and decided to go to my favorite place for buying crap. I managed to stumble my way to the keyboard, clumsily click on my favorites, navigate to "Jewelry, Wrist Watches" section. I saw many bad AP Nautilus, probably fake/scam Noob V5, V6, V7, and even a RARE V8 Submariner for sale. I passed those up. I was looking for something different. Something . . . darker. I then came upon a "great quality, silver, high AAA product high fashion black circle dial pam watch 001 111" for sale. The seller had a staggering . . . 3 feedback and over . . . 30 sales. The watch was $180. Luckily I had my first time buyer super coupon that got me $100 off. So, sinking $80 into this, I clicked "Buy". Then that was when the fun started.

A few hours later, my phone buzzed. I had a message from an unknown caller.

It went like this, word for word.

Him

Hello
Friend
Nice to see you


Me
Hi?
Who are you?
Um, how are you?
Do I know you?

Him
Yes
Friend
I am fine
Please check
*picture of watch*

Me
oh, hi.
They look fine. Very good quality.
Is this the watch that You will be sending?

Him
Yes
Good watch
Very good
AAA

Me
Oh good!
How accurate is the watch?
Is the design good?

Him
*laughing emoji*
I do not know what your standards are friend. Are they high?
Please check video
*video of him showing off the watch*

Me
Ok, that looks great.
Thank you very much.

Him
Good! I will send it out now.
Thank you.

Four days pass, then suddenly I get another message

Him
Friend! Hello? Are you there?

There is issue with watch. Friend?

Me
Hello.
What is the issue?

Him
The color
It is out of stock.
We cannot send
Sorry friend.

Me
The silver?

Him
Yes. No silver any more
Ok friend.
No silver.
We have black. Good black
Color is very good.

Me
Can I see pictures?

Him
*sends pictures, videos, etc.*

Watch looks good. I agree to have it shipped. Even though I was sorta wanting the silver Pam.

*Watch shows up yesterday*

Here is my pictorial unboxing and review.

View attachment 94844
Ok, box looks good. The outer box that is. Let's see how the "pear wood" box is...View attachment 94845
Oh...um, looks like we had "Art Class With Ping" Ok, it is technically gold...pear...ish...color...maybe they swapped it out for an ArchieLuxury box :biggrin-new::biggrin-new:View attachment 94846
Ok, the latch is incorrect (too small of a peg and hole), but the plush insert feels ok. I guess. But we're not here for the box...View attachment 94847
The plaque seems to be unscathed. It was covered with plastic to keep it from scratching. Good touch. I guess..
View attachment 94848
Ah, finally. Here we are. The watch . . wait, is that a Ferrari screwdriver with a supposed Pam 111? Eh, whatever. Upon further inspection, it wasn't even the right blade size to remove the strap screws.
I already have a jewelers screwdriver kit, so that didn't bother me.View attachment 94849 View attachment 94850
The sports straps looks fine to me, sure if I were to compare them to the genuine I might find out that the inner depth of the E was 0.5mm shallower than on a genuine.
View attachment 94860 View attachment 94862 View attachment 94861
Ok.... looks fine to me, so far.

 

[d4m.test]

Now onto the real meat and potatoes. Once I extracted the watch from the case, I set out to inspect it for glaring issues..
Stamping on the buckle seems to be ok. Stitching on the strap seems well done.

View attachment 94863
The material seems to be some kind of a suede calf leather, could be fake. Very, very soft. Very comfortable.

View attachment 94865
One small issue I did notice was some rough cutting of the material on the side. Look near the fourth hole.
View attachment 94867
Ugh, the printing and engraving looks ok. I guess. but the incablock is wrong. As always.
The swan neck screw seems to be ok, maybe. I need to get a macro lens on it to check the length. I honestly don't remember what type of screws the gears should have. they seem to have a slight dome shape the tops, I believe that's how they're supposed to be.

View attachment 94869

The dial is a sandwich dial. The depth seems ok. Looking at the 3. The pin for the CG seems to be slightly sunken, and a bronzeish color. Not black.

View attachment 94870
Can't tell if the angle and curve on the CG lever is correct. Looks slightly off.
View attachment 94872
The CG screws seem to be coated also. Interesting.
The strap pin screw heads are slightly sunken, are they supposed to be flush in a gen?
It doesn't show up very well, but the lugs seem to have the angular cut to them, as well as the curve. I haven't measured the exact degree of curve yet.

Final verdict: won't fool the seasoned panerista, mainly because a Luminor 1950 never came in a PVD "coating" (Mr. Ping in his garage with a can of rustolium), and the movement is not correct for the fiddy. As a fun project that was one of the best outcomes of doing something drunk, heck yeah.
Now, feel free to tear me apart. I had fun. I hope you did reading this.

 

[Midnightx]

To me DHgate isn't about the watch, it's about searching for the experience you'd have if you were in the actual markets in Guangzhou without having to leave your computer and it seems to me like you definitely got that experience And for 80 bucks it seems like you got a pretty good deal to me

 

[etcl1203]

Nice! Much better outcome than drunk dialing your ex ))))

 

[d4m.test]

I think the thing I like the best about it is how comfortable the strap is.

 

[d4m.test]

Ok, the hands do not look like they're far enough down on the stem. Can it be fixed?

 

[Natas78]

that's a lotta watch for 80 bucks!

 

[d4m.test]

that's a lotta watch for 80 bucks!

Thanks! I love it to bits, but, do you think it is Noob? Maybe old stock V1 or V2? I'm no Noob expert, so forgive me if I keep thinking something is old stock Noob.

 

[d4m.test]

Update: I just now tried the rubber strap. The strap width is too narrow, so it shows a little bit of the silver screw. I compared the width to the leather strap and the leather strap is considerably wider. But not by much. I can live with it, but it is noticeable.

 

[TimesASpinnin]

Update: Just about six months later, the watch is still keeping perfect time, and holding up. I even dropped it a few times, it has some battle scars. Though, for the price I paid, I think I got my money's worth.