OEM Panerai Aligator Strap, is this a rep or gen?

[couleur]

Dear RWI members,

I've been browsing around and just realised that some of the members are selling rep Panerai straps that comes with an officine Panerai plastic zipper bag with label - this is a rep. I'm just shocked because I thought reps do not come with these OEM's clone plastic zipper bags. I contact the RWI seller to ask and he told me that it is true that reps also have the plastic zipper bags with printed label specifications. I could only find one thread discussing about a rep vs oem strap.

http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/...04?t=116104&highlight=strap+comparison+thread

However, I am very very worried now, because I just paid $300+ plus with shipping for an authentic officine panerai strap from a ebay powerseller - as he claimed it was authentic. The thing is, I just checked his feedback late last week after paying for the item for more than one week ago and there were a few people complaining that it wasn't authentic on his feedback.

This is the seller and same strap, do you think its authentic? Have I been conned?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Authentic-P...476?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2327700a64

I send a message to the seller on eBay, and he responded to me that it is authentic, and that he sells many of them so there could be a small possibility that some customers were not satisfied or mislead by other information. He told me not to worry about it.

I have not yet receive this strap, still waiting for it since it was just shipped last week from US, to Australia. So i'm expecting it maybe end of this week or sometime next week.

 

[xav06]

Well, to me it looks fake, especially the clasp I can put up a photo of the real deal if you like, i have one at home. If the clasp is new, it should come in a small box.

 

[mvyzfr1]

As I told you via PM, a gen deployant costs $450 and the gen strap is $390. The old adage that "if a deal sounds too good to be true it probably is" holds true most of the time.

That and the fact that even with the low quality photos on the ad the finish of the alligator looks "cheap" IMHO.

 

[Esavy]

Yes it's a fake, the "OP" insignia at the bottom of strap is not in the right place

 

[Niek]

Fake for sure

 

[StrapDaddy]

Sorry mate, i am 99% sure it is fake. Sorry.

I deal with straps all day long, and i am very familiar with panerai, unfortunately from what i can see in the pics the strap is a rep.

My advice is stick to the forum or paneristi for any Pam strap or accessory purchase. Luckily you should have recourse with paypal. I would email the powerseller after recieving the strap and tell him that an AD told you the deployant and strap were not genuine. Give the seller an opportunity to refund you before starting a dispute. I know a few watch people that have sold rep straps unknowingly, the seller is not necessarily conning you. He may have been conned himself.

Regardless, good luck and come check out my section next time your in the market for a strap.

Best,
SD

 

[Wacker23]

You would think that when you go to buy something you do a little research before bidding or paying. The first thing i did is i looked at this persons feedback,just like i do if i buy a 1 dollar item or a 100 dollar item. As soon as i saw that he has 9 negative and at least 3 neutral feedbacks with panerai products that listing would ave been skipped over. But im sure you learned your lesson. Try to get a refund by paypal and you see the guy that posted above me? Go to him and buy yourself a nice real Panerai strap. Btw welcome to RWI.