If only I had found RWI - GMT IIc purchase

[advuk]

If only I had found RWI - GMT IIc purchase -Arrived!

Hi all,

firstly, what a great forum - I've spent a large amount of the last 3 days reading with complete interest and absorbing as much info as I can, but I can easily see that reading here every day, I would always be learning something new.

I'm hoping this is in the right section, and may or may not be of interest to anyone - if it is I'm happy to post pics (I've already noticed "everybody likes pictures") and after seeing D4M's post on buying outside RWI and dont waste the forum, I'm happy to help this forum in any way buy posting pics of my new purchase.

Background - go to *** if not interested in this part

For some reason I did a lot of research before buying (I can procrastinate about things and spend hours on the web researching when it comes to something new) and only after I made my purchase did I find this forum, stumbled across it more like, which is unusual as I would think it would show high up in search engines.

Anyway, back to the point, I'm lucky enough to have a GMT II, red/ black that I bought new 12 years ago, its something I always wanted (I think from seeing James Bond wearing Rolex's and a classic style in my opinion). When it came to the point I could afford one, as a luxury item, my uncle managed to get me a staff discount from Goldsmiths through contacts and I paid £1700, I think their list at the time was around £2100, so I was happy.

It's off my wrist right now and needs to go for service, I think the rotor axle is worn as it has just started vibrating when it spins - this watch has been worn every day since I got it (apart from service times) and I still think it was worth the money it cost.

*** so, I needed a replacement watch - a weeks research later and a few questions, clicks and moments of madness (still not finding RWI!!) I forked out what is a heck of a lot for a replica GMT IIc off CQout.

If its of interest to anyone, when I receive it, I will be happy to assist RWI in any way for the experts here with photos, etc to learn from my mistake - the seller is supposed to be waterproofing it, and it even says Swiss ETA (unlikely from what I've read) so it may not be best for me to take the back off, but I'd be interest to know if its as described. (all credit to the seller, although he's making plenty of money on it, his contact is excellent and he's just emailed me as I write that he's despatched it).

I wasnt sure if its a good idea to post the link, so here's the main points of the watch description:

ROLEX 50th ANNIVERSARY GMTMASTER II 2008 GENUINE CERAMIC BEZEL WITH ORIGINAL SWISS ETA 2836-25
THIS IS A HIGH QUALITY HAND BUILT WATCH
HERE ARE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE GENUINE SWISS ETA 2836-2-25 JEWEL MOVEMENT
This is a gold plated automatic self winding/manual wind movement
Sweeping seconds hand with Hacking Feature
It has a shock resistant Incabloc,
Anti-magnetic, ball bearing winding rotor,
ETA SA. is the name of the Swatch-owned Swiss company that produces high quality automatic movements for all kinds of watches,
It is NOT a type of movement; ETA is the name of a company that makes watch movements
Its customers include Omega,Tag Heuer and many other well known brands
The 2836-2-25 movement is part of the ETA Mecaline series of movements
The 25-jewel movements are able to make 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz).
The same output as the actual Rolex HOURLY output
All operations on the 2386-25 are per genuine Rolex Models
Quick-set date
Date clicks over in one action at 12 o clock exactly,
Does not drag on for minutes, even hours in some examples
ETA has an extremely durable construction produced through over 200 years of ETAs solid movement making heritage.
As a matter of fact, ETA has recently just produced its 200 millionth movement
The ETA movement is simply amongst the finest in the world

ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER ROLEX
MODEL ANNIVERSARY GMTMASTER II 2008 MODEL WITH GENUINE CERAMIC SANDWICH BEZEL
SIZE 40.5mm x 13 mm thick
WEIGHT 154.30 Grams
FINISH 316L STAINLESS STEEL
CRYSTAL SAPPHIRE
TYPE OF MOVEMENT AUTOMATIC
ORIGIN OF MOVEMENT SWISS ETa 2836-2-25
JEWELS 25
WORKING CHRONOGRAPH NO
DIAL COLOUR BLACK
GUILLOCHE NO
BACK OF WATCH STAINLESS STEEL (ROLEX HOLOGRAM STICKER PICTURED IS NO LONGER APPLIED ON LATEST MODELS)
WATERPROOF WATER RESISTANT
ADDITIONAL ATTRIBUTES AN EXCEPTIONAL FACSIMILE OF THE 2008 50th ANNIVERSARY MODEL GMTMASTER II. NOW WITH A BI-DIRECTIONAL 24 CLICKS AROUND THE DIAL SANDWICH CERAMIC BEZEL. FULLY INDEPENDANTLY ADJUSTABLE GREEN GMT HAND INDICATOR, BLACK NUMERAL DATEWHEEL, ROLEX ENGRAVED AROUND THE REHAULT (CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE DIAL) AND THE CORRECT 'Z' SERIES SERIAL NUMBER ETCHED ON THE REHAULT AT 6 o' CLOCK. THE 'Z' SERIES SERIAL NUMBER IS ALSO ENGRAVED ON THE END CASE. ENGRAVED SOLID END LINKS. IT HAS THE ROLEX CORONET MICRO ETCHED INTO THE SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL. NEW VERSION ROLESOR STYLE BRACELET.
YOU CAN BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO OWN A HIGH QUALITY EXAMPLE OF THIS EXCEPTIONAL AND RARELY OFFERED WATCH.
*PLEASE NOTE*
THIS WATCH HAS A GENUINE SWISS ETa MOVEMENT INSIDE
MANY SELLERS ARE OFFERING A CHINESE CLONE OF THIS MOVEMENT
IT LOOKS THE SAME BUT IT IS NOT ETa AND IS NOT THE SAME QUALITY AS THE ORIGINAL
IT IS A COPY MOVEMENT & IT IS MUCH CHEAPER
WHICH IS WHY OTHER SELLERS CAN SEEMINGLY OFFER AN ''ETa'' EQUIPPED WATCH AT A MUCH LOWER PRICE
MAKE SURE YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
IF SAY ITS SWISS ETa, I GUARANTEE THAT IT IS SWISS ETa NOT A CHINESE CLONE OF IT!

Let me know if anyone would like any info about it when it arrives.
cheers,
Alex

 

[ThinkBachs]

Welcome Advuk, looking forward to following this.

 

[ahw676]

Welcome to the forum. We're happy to have you here.

As you rightly surmised, everyone here likes pics. They mostly like pics of hot chicks, but watches are good too.

Yes, we would like to know of your experience buying from the other dealer (and thanks for NOT posting the link). Hopefully it turns out okay for you, but the good news is that if it does not, you have a whole community of friends to help you with future purchases!

 

[rooster133]

Welcome mate! Hope things work out ok, and as AHW said, no matter how it goes you have now found a great community of friends dying to help you with any future rep purchases. Have fun!

 

[advuk]

thanks all.

without jumping the gun, is it worth me sourcing a case remover tool in the mean time, to get the back off and see the movement, or would I be better leaving it on.

If so, any recommendations, seen a few styles on the main auction site.

cheers,
Alex

 

[ThinkBachs]

I say, what you don't know won't hurt you.... or, ignorance is bliss. Take your pick.

 

[advuk]

fair enough

it was more if it was a poor quality movement, with a view to be able to get a reduction in price from the seller.... and for interest of RWI members to see whats being put in the watches being sold outside of here.

Although it would be an interesting conversation, as I suspect the seller would void any right to return/ reduce cost if I've opened the watch - I could probably get it x-rayed in the post room for the building

 

[hk45ca]

you can use duct tape to open the case back but if it has a eta clone you probably won't be able to tell it from a gen eta. jewelers can't hardly tell. the clones work just fine and i stopped paying for a supposed gen eta's because of it. none of them were ever swiss eta's anyway. they have always been chinese eta's.

 

[jy6221]

I know this topic has been spoken about a lot. Though, didn't think dealers recommended on this forum advertised real ETA and actually sold watches with clones.

Can anyone clarify??? As i've always thought they supplied real ETA's.

If they're all clones i'll stop paying for the SWISS versions Therefore, more money left over to buy another

 

[hk45ca]

real eta's are still available if you want to pay for them. i know ruby can still get them. i just don't see the justification to pay extra for them, the clones have seemed to work out just fine and like i said, they were chinese eta's to begin with.

 

[advuk]

well, I've paid over the odds anyway, but if its a decent movement, whatever it may be, and lasts a year, I'll be reasonably happy.. I'll post up pics when it arrives.

my only regret is I could probably have had 2 watches from respected dealers here for the same price.

 

[fakemaster]

Lesson learned. Wear it in good health.

 

[advuk]

yep, I actually only wanted one while my GMT goes off for service, but looking at it now on my desk (its been my daily watch rain or shine, any activity for over a decade) its looking a bit "used" and I know it will come back from service looking like new, I'd thought about actually giving it some respect in its old age not sure how a replica will stand up to being battered about daily, theres been a few times when Ive bashed it on something like a wall or sink or similar hard surface and not wanted to look down at it for fear of the damage.

I've read loads of your posts in Fakey's Corner over the last couple of days and I must say I think I'm getting a bug for wanting some of the watches you've built - they are awesome watches!

 

[Anopsis]

As you rightly surmised, everyone here likes pics. They mostly like pics of hot chicks, but watches are good too.

Here, I'll get you started off right:

Welcome to RWI, and I look forward to finding out exactly what is in that case. Ball up some duct tape and it will twist right off without marring the case back. Take photos, post for us to see.

 

[advuk]

:biglaugh:

gorgeous bird!!

unfortunately I'm at work, so cant post any pics of anything, whether it be birds, girls or watches.

Apparently the watch will be in a poster roll containing a "family painting", hopefully it gets through customs without issue, cant wait to see what family is on the painting!

 

[advuk]

thought I'd take a few pics of my gen watch prior to getting the rep, I nearly fell off my chair when I looked at them.

The flash obviously shows up all the sins - including 2 scratches to the sapphire, all of which cant normally be seen.

Looks like I dont care for it, but its my pride and joy, I guess thats what happens when you wear it daily.

not sure if people are really bothered, but I'll stick 2 pics up anyway - the scratches on the sapphire are on the cyclops and between 8 and 9 on the bezel.

obviously got some things to learn about watch photography - I did see a thread somewhere about that, so I'll have a read. I can see I need to increase the depth of field as the writing is out of focus.

 

[fakemaster]

What year is this watch? You bought it 12 years ago but was it new? It looks like a 16700 transitional.

 

[advuk]

Im from the UK, but working in Europe, so Im not with my certificates, but working backwards Im pretty certain it was 1998, as it was a year or so after starting my first "real" job after uni, the company I'm with now, but I may be out by a year or 2.

I'm pretty sure that numbers not correct, its something like 16710, I could take the band off and check the serial number, but I would have to do it at home as I wouldnt want to scratch the case (any more than it is), I've never had the band off before.

From memory (I could be way off, but I'm 99%) its an "A" serial

It was last serviced about 4 years ago at goldsmiths, a chain in the UK, and they sent off to Geneva due to it being a GMT?! but it came back like new.

 

[fakemaster]

Ah 98'. So it's a 16710 transitonal. The Swiss T<25 Luminova and Swiss Made Superluminova dial crossed over.

 

[advuk]

right, so I'm off to find out what that all means

are these considered improvements on the previous ones, or is that one of those things that causes differences in opinions