magick1 said:
Yea its always fun and games until someone gets shot in a hobby store :lol: :lol:
But jersey is very well known for its association to the "family" and its not just the show.
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- Thread starter TheTokyoKid
- Start date
Yea its always fun and games until someone gets shot in a hobby store :lol: :lol:
But jersey is very well known for its association to the "family" and its not just the show.
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Panerino said:
True, my brother is in construction, my step-dad in demolition/clean-up. I have 3 Waltham pocket watches from him that he "found" cleaning up people's basements. Or, as often happened, someone calls him in to clean up the house of a deceased relative. They haul out the couch and find the cushions stuffed with cash. Old people don't trust banks and don't have the mobility to go all the time. My Italian grandmother hid cash all over the place.
People can't be bothered to clean up. They call in cleaners to do it. In the process of cleaning you find things. When I was home from college (ironically I went to college in Waltham) I used to go on jobs with my step-dad. Amazing what people will neglect and throw away! My grand Seiko Automatic came to me via an old desk that I happened to look into before throwing it into the dump! Ditto some nice Nikon cameras and lenses.
there aren't that many fakes in japan as they are illegal to import. not sure about owning though. i just visited an d at the airport i kept seeing signs that said DO NOT BRING FAKE THINGS IN in japanese. i'm pretty sure 99% of the rolexes are real, or they're knockoffs. i saw a lot of them at yodobashi camera in the watch section along with real rolexes.
there's at least 1 japanese rep site that I know that sells the same quality reps as our forum dealers do. wonder how well they do.
my sister-in-law is japanese and she dispises fakes. she said japanese hate fakes. i think she's generalizing.
-bk
my sister-in-law is japanese and she dispises fakes. she said japanese hate fakes. i think she's generalizing.
-bk
bklm1234 said:
That she is. I know lots of Japanese who tour Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, and China buy fake Rolexes over there - and wear them.
Reps in Japan
TokyoKid, I was in Japan in Feb. and saw some of the Isrealis selling reps at Kawasaki station, (Keihin Kyuko station, not JR). They hang out right in front of the exit of the station until about 9:00pm and then move to the covered arcade area where all the Izakaya's and Karaoke joints are. The quality of their reps was not nearly as good as what's sold her. For example, none of the chronos were true functioning chronos.
TokyoKid, I was in Japan in Feb. and saw some of the Isrealis selling reps at Kawasaki station, (Keihin Kyuko station, not JR). They hang out right in front of the exit of the station until about 9:00pm and then move to the covered arcade area where all the Izakaya's and Karaoke joints are. The quality of their reps was not nearly as good as what's sold her. For example, none of the chronos were true functioning chronos.
wow i didnt realize there were that much reps in japan.. LOL! i just see the knockoffs and such over there. akn where did you stay?
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ken1 said:
Nope. They are fakes. Honest to goodness fakes. I have lived here for nearly 9 years now, I know. The cops don't do much of anything. Trust me. The Yakuza control the street vendors. They import and sell the fakes. Most of the street tables are gone from Tokyo but they are very active in other parts of the country. Some of the fakes are made right near Tokyo in a factory in Kawasaki.
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Re: Reps in Japan
Yes. In general, the fakes here are not very good and they sell for about 25,000 Yen ($230.00-ish). The price is negotiable and the average salaryman knows nothing about what a real Rolex is supposed to look like. Even if you were wearing a glaring fake out here, no one would say a damn thing about it.
You can go to a silver shop in Shinjuku and buy pretty decent Breitlings with proper case-backs and working chronos for 20,000-30,000 Yen. They are not as good as the ones sold by dealers here. They are mineral glass, for example and don't have proper dials or case markings. For some reason they got the case-back right though!
And if you want to know about the fakes, just go up and start a conversation with the Israelis. They pretty much tell the truth to Foreigners. They will tell you where the watches come from, what is inside of them and what a rip-off they are. I used to have this conversation all the time with the Israeli and Pakistani crews in Ueno and Kashiwa.
You gotta keep in mind that that "crew" at Kawasaki pays "protection and street-rights" money to the Yakuza for the privelige of doing business, or, they pay a percentage of their earning. One of the main knock-off factories in Japan is in Kawasaki. Some of the other watches come from Korea and, of course, China.
Korea is a very short plane trip from Tokyo!
akn said:
Yes. In general, the fakes here are not very good and they sell for about 25,000 Yen ($230.00-ish). The price is negotiable and the average salaryman knows nothing about what a real Rolex is supposed to look like. Even if you were wearing a glaring fake out here, no one would say a damn thing about it.
You can go to a silver shop in Shinjuku and buy pretty decent Breitlings with proper case-backs and working chronos for 20,000-30,000 Yen. They are not as good as the ones sold by dealers here. They are mineral glass, for example and don't have proper dials or case markings. For some reason they got the case-back right though!
And if you want to know about the fakes, just go up and start a conversation with the Israelis. They pretty much tell the truth to Foreigners. They will tell you where the watches come from, what is inside of them and what a rip-off they are. I used to have this conversation all the time with the Israeli and Pakistani crews in Ueno and Kashiwa.
You gotta keep in mind that that "crew" at Kawasaki pays "protection and street-rights" money to the Yakuza for the privelige of doing business, or, they pay a percentage of their earning. One of the main knock-off factories in Japan is in Kawasaki. Some of the other watches come from Korea and, of course, China.
Korea is a very short plane trip from Tokyo!
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As for the Japanese not liking fake or used things. That just is not true anymore. If you speak to Japanese who have moved to America in the 70's and 80's they may say this. Those were the bubble years. But now, used books shops, cd-shops, furniture shops are very popular. There is a very healthy used car market out here. The "Hard-Off" company has a chain of used goods stores and they even sell used watches!
The Japanese Govt. has to post signs and things to keep the retail stores and the manufacturers happy. However, there is a ton of fakeage out here! I will say, however, if a Japanese girl has a Louis Vuitton bag or purse, it is probably real. I can't say the same for the Chinese or Koreans. I teach at a University so I have Japanese, Chinese and Korean students. The foreign students don't seem to mind the knock-off bags. The Japanese girls think that they are "distasteful" but they admit that they can't tell a fake from a real one. A lot of the Chinese male students wear fake Rolexes or Bulgaris. The Japanese male students tend to wear Japanese watches from Citizen, Casio and Seiko. The Fakie Rollies I see on the train are almost always on businessmen.
I saw a nice, fake Frank Muller yeaterday on a college kid!
The Japanese Govt. has to post signs and things to keep the retail stores and the manufacturers happy. However, there is a ton of fakeage out here! I will say, however, if a Japanese girl has a Louis Vuitton bag or purse, it is probably real. I can't say the same for the Chinese or Koreans. I teach at a University so I have Japanese, Chinese and Korean students. The foreign students don't seem to mind the knock-off bags. The Japanese girls think that they are "distasteful" but they admit that they can't tell a fake from a real one. A lot of the Chinese male students wear fake Rolexes or Bulgaris. The Japanese male students tend to wear Japanese watches from Citizen, Casio and Seiko. The Fakie Rollies I see on the train are almost always on businessmen.
I saw a nice, fake Frank Muller yeaterday on a college kid!
Really an interesting post! I live in HK & right now I got a descent Job -----> China-base enterprise "Operations Controller". I don't have degree; but I use a lot of time to get my position. In HK there are so many RICH people who wear famous watch: Rolex, PP, VC.... However; I don't think they know too much about watch. For me; I love watch so I'll goto learn more & know about watch. I don't think " got money to spend" = " Worth to spend " = " Know-how to spend "
At this moment; I don't have one gen for myself, But I got 4 rep already..(Green-Sub, EXPII, Daytona, IWC Pilot Chrono). As I know more about watch; I really can't make myself to spend 10X money VS rep to buy Gen which they got exactly the same function + almost the same outlook..... Maybe something wrong in my brain as I think like than :twisted: :twisted:
sorry for my terrible english....
RCKH
At this moment; I don't have one gen for myself, But I got 4 rep already..(Green-Sub, EXPII, Daytona, IWC Pilot Chrono). As I know more about watch; I really can't make myself to spend 10X money VS rep to buy Gen which they got exactly the same function + almost the same outlook..... Maybe something wrong in my brain as I think like than :twisted: :twisted:
sorry for my terrible english....
RCKH
ken1 said:
Hi Ken1, I used to live in Tokyo during the bubble years, ('86-'91), and now come and go, (home is San Diego now), about 10 times a year for business. For the last 13 years or so I have been staying at the Royal Park Hotel in Nihonbashi, right next to TCAT. I have been staying there for so long that they let me keep a bag of clothes and my golf bag there.
Until I found this website along with RWG, I had bought many gen's and a few reps when in Hong Kong. I was actually thinking of making a watch run to HK until I found these sites. Now, I can get quality reps from quality dealers. So far I've purchased:
IWC Pilot Chrono from Eddie
Daytona, Frank Muller, Chanel (for wifey) from Joshua
and trying to force myself from indulging any more since I'm thinking of buying a new home... :lol:
Not to go off topic, but TokyoKid, where's your favorite Ramen shop? Mine's Jangara, (multiple locations), since I'm a tonkotsu guy...
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AKN,
Right around the corner from my Katsu-Shika Ku home, a place called Sei-Ryu. Nice, family run place. It is a bit dirty and most of the guys who work there can't even read, but it has amazing character. The guy who owns the place is a retired construction worker. I have some great late-nite conversations with him. I have a running bet with him that I can solve any puzzle that he gives me in 15 mins or less. If I do, I get free gyoza. He keeps buying these amazing cast-iron puzzles for his restaurant. I just barely made the last puzzle in 14 mins. My mind works well for solving puzzles so I can normally get them in 5 mins or less. These guys just think it is a hoot to watch me go to work over these things. If I do receive free gyoza, I make sure I buy a beer and something else to equalize the "giving." To not do so would be to appear greedy.
My favorite chain is OOtoya (but it is not ramen)
rckh had mentioned that just because people have money, does not mean that they have either taste or knowledge. Well, there is a lot of truth there too. I know a lot of wealthy people who own Bose stereo systems because they believe that they are the "best." Now PLEASE don't start flaming the Bose name. Regardless of if we like them or not, the normal guy knows the Bose name but does not know Dali, Sonus Faber, Talon, Alon, Martin Logan, Wilson Audio, ATC, etc. Popular consensus does not equal the best. Many people tell me that the best watches are from Rolex. People in specialty professions say otherwise, my scuba buddy swears by Suunto. Another scuba friend would not give up his Doxa for all the wrist computers in the world.
When I used to play in rock bands, some idiot would inevitably come up to me, look at my MusicMan Stingray bass and say, nice bass man, but it ain't a Fender. Nope, it ain't a Fender, but it was designed by Leo Fender after he left Fender. It costs more than a Fender and has better electronics and build quality and, most importantly, a totally different sound. For me, it is the better bass. The truth was, the only thing that guy knew was that "Fenders" are supposed to be the best. Good thing he didn't see my MTD or the F-Bass 5-string that I borrowed that night. If the Fender Jazz could be likened to a Rolex Explorer, the MTD would be a Vacheron Constantin Tourbillion (the stingray would be an LV SUB).
So yeah, research and education are part of it.
Right around the corner from my Katsu-Shika Ku home, a place called Sei-Ryu. Nice, family run place. It is a bit dirty and most of the guys who work there can't even read, but it has amazing character. The guy who owns the place is a retired construction worker. I have some great late-nite conversations with him. I have a running bet with him that I can solve any puzzle that he gives me in 15 mins or less. If I do, I get free gyoza. He keeps buying these amazing cast-iron puzzles for his restaurant. I just barely made the last puzzle in 14 mins. My mind works well for solving puzzles so I can normally get them in 5 mins or less. These guys just think it is a hoot to watch me go to work over these things. If I do receive free gyoza, I make sure I buy a beer and something else to equalize the "giving." To not do so would be to appear greedy.
My favorite chain is OOtoya (but it is not ramen)
rckh had mentioned that just because people have money, does not mean that they have either taste or knowledge. Well, there is a lot of truth there too. I know a lot of wealthy people who own Bose stereo systems because they believe that they are the "best." Now PLEASE don't start flaming the Bose name. Regardless of if we like them or not, the normal guy knows the Bose name but does not know Dali, Sonus Faber, Talon, Alon, Martin Logan, Wilson Audio, ATC, etc. Popular consensus does not equal the best. Many people tell me that the best watches are from Rolex. People in specialty professions say otherwise, my scuba buddy swears by Suunto. Another scuba friend would not give up his Doxa for all the wrist computers in the world.
When I used to play in rock bands, some idiot would inevitably come up to me, look at my MusicMan Stingray bass and say, nice bass man, but it ain't a Fender. Nope, it ain't a Fender, but it was designed by Leo Fender after he left Fender. It costs more than a Fender and has better electronics and build quality and, most importantly, a totally different sound. For me, it is the better bass. The truth was, the only thing that guy knew was that "Fenders" are supposed to be the best. Good thing he didn't see my MTD or the F-Bass 5-string that I borrowed that night. If the Fender Jazz could be likened to a Rolex Explorer, the MTD would be a Vacheron Constantin Tourbillion (the stingray would be an LV SUB).
So yeah, research and education are part of it.
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