I got interested in mechanical watches just about the time that the Corona virus was beginning to break out in China. More specifically I became fascinated with the whole replica culture thing just as the world was about to go mad. I threw caution to the wind and took a punt with Trusty Time, even though at that point they were not on RWI's trusted dealer list. They have a great website and there were enough positive reviews about Andrew to give me the confidence to have a go.
To cut a long story short, I received my 2018 Omega Seamaster 300 about three days ago, and very nice it is too. It looks beautiful and is keeping good time. I can't fault it. What a journey it has been on though. Trusty Time sent it out for delivery by courier some time in mid February and I tracked it's progress on a daily basis as it went from Guangzhou on the southern coast of China to some sorting facility in a 1000 miles north only to be mysteriously stall and eventually return the way it had come! Clearly there were logistical issues going on as a result of China going into lockdown as result of Covid 19.
When I contacted Andrew at Trusty Time he responded immediately and gave a clear update as to what was happening in China. All current buyers were offered refunds but I kept the faith and trusted the idea that 'where there is a will' there is a way' to do business. The same thing happened a second time with my watch going through a long journey to be sorted and processed only to end up back at the dealer again.
Having read enough on the forums to understand that this is not a guaranteed process and you are doing a bit of gambling in trying to get a rep, I kept calm and simply checked out with Andrew what the next best move for us both was. He politely reassured me that he would get the watch out despite the difficult circumstances in which China, and by now half the world was now in with Covid 19.
I was really chuffed when I checked the tracking on my package a few days ago and. realised that, third time lucky, it had made it through to England.
The watch is great and the whole process has been quite a journey of hopes and disappointments. I think the fact that it has not been like ordering from Amazon has made it that bit more interesting. I'm now looking to get my next rep, probably an IWC Pilot's watch. It's definitely becoming an obsession, and not just for reps but for mechanical watches in general which I now have a much greater appreciation of.
Here are a couple of images of my well travelled timepiece.
To cut a long story short, I received my 2018 Omega Seamaster 300 about three days ago, and very nice it is too. It looks beautiful and is keeping good time. I can't fault it. What a journey it has been on though. Trusty Time sent it out for delivery by courier some time in mid February and I tracked it's progress on a daily basis as it went from Guangzhou on the southern coast of China to some sorting facility in a 1000 miles north only to be mysteriously stall and eventually return the way it had come! Clearly there were logistical issues going on as a result of China going into lockdown as result of Covid 19.
When I contacted Andrew at Trusty Time he responded immediately and gave a clear update as to what was happening in China. All current buyers were offered refunds but I kept the faith and trusted the idea that 'where there is a will' there is a way' to do business. The same thing happened a second time with my watch going through a long journey to be sorted and processed only to end up back at the dealer again.
Having read enough on the forums to understand that this is not a guaranteed process and you are doing a bit of gambling in trying to get a rep, I kept calm and simply checked out with Andrew what the next best move for us both was. He politely reassured me that he would get the watch out despite the difficult circumstances in which China, and by now half the world was now in with Covid 19.
I was really chuffed when I checked the tracking on my package a few days ago and. realised that, third time lucky, it had made it through to England.
The watch is great and the whole process has been quite a journey of hopes and disappointments. I think the fact that it has not been like ordering from Amazon has made it that bit more interesting. I'm now looking to get my next rep, probably an IWC Pilot's watch. It's definitely becoming an obsession, and not just for reps but for mechanical watches in general which I now have a much greater appreciation of.
Here are a couple of images of my well travelled timepiece.
