Rolex or TAG

[MTB_Patrol]

I'll be vfisiting the Philippines shortly and I have been saving up my lunch money to purchase a watch when I'm there(Just donlt tell my wife :-)....

I have the name of a vendor ther who several folks I know have purchased (verified) authentinc Rolex's and TAG's at pennies on the dollar.

My quandry is do I go for the Rolex Submariner, or the TAG Heuer Formula One F1.

First off, I need something "street tough", and secondly I'm an avid SCUBA diver.

[Sandles2Sidearm]

I would say go with the citizen....:D


If you are an active diver, look at the aqua land!!!

If you are dead set on the watches listed go Rolex.

[Time Traveller]

Originally posted by MTB_Patrol
I have the name of a vendor ther who several folks I know have purchased (verified) authentinc Rolex's and TAG's at pennies on the dollar.

My quandry is do I go for the Rolex Submariner, or the TAG Heuer Formula One F1.

First off, I need something "street tough", and secondly I'm an avid SCUBA diver.

I have travelled the WORLD and I have NEVER FOUND SOMEONE WHO SELLS AUTHENTICE ROLEX'S AND TAGS at pennies on the dollar.

I have seen some perfect copies....especially in Hong Kong. But all the real ones have been pretty pricey....believe me, I know, I have both Rolex's and Tags...In the case of Rolex, they know everyone who is authorized to sell them... ..so be VERY VERY careful. But then again, if you get a great copy for pennies on the dollar, you might be okay...and no one will notice....

Not criticism, I'm just saying be careful....else you will pay top dollar for a sheet metal and wire spring wonder.

[MTB_Patrol]

so be VERY VERY careful.

Indeed, I would not even consider this unless folks I know personally have purchased watches from this individual and then had their watches verified authentic back here in the States.

Maybe pennies on the dollar is an exaggeration, but certainly less than 60% ;-)

The are not new but are authentic.

This individual buys these watches from Service Members who for one reason or another find themselves to be short on cash.

(One guy I know had his watched checked and found another service members name and ID engraved on the inside of the case. He was able to contact him and sell him his watch back a few years later when he returned from active duty.)

[nyfop]

wow sounds great if its true, im a big watch collector and would love to hear some examples of these prices there

how much would a rolex daytona be? stainless steel white face is very hard to get and people pay a big premium on them

how much is a presidential or submariner? get the rolex tag are very boring played out watches
thanks very much

[Reservoir Dog]

My opinion: go with the Rolex Submariner. Although they are good quality watches, I have never really liked Tags due to their styling. I prefer the more classic styles of Rolex and Omega. I have a Rolex GMT Master, and I love it. The Submariner is a tough watch and should serve you well in any activity. And I will second TT's advice: be very careful regarding good deals on Rolex, especially in the that area of the world. Happy shopping!

[modareguy]

I'll second the submariner. Just be aware that you have to get the watch serviced every couple of years if you want it to last a lifetime. That is something you don't want a strip mall jeweler handling. It runs around $400 to get it factory serviced....

[nwohsy]

You are not going to get an authentic Rolex for pennies on the dollar anywhere. Even if it is authentic, and heavily discounted (25-40%) the serial #'s will either be ground off, or they will come back to #'s not recognized by north american dealers, so there will be no warranty, and in some cases even a refusal to perform any work. I would suggest either the 1. Marathon SAR built for the Canadian Coast Guard. A Mil Spec watch that is big and tough, an automatic built using the ETA 2824-a2 movement comes with a nylon band, metal band available. or 2.
CWC (Cabot Watch Company) SBS (Special Boat Service) a quartz Mil Spec watch built for the SBS ( UK equivilant of the navy seals) fixed lugs so you must use a nylon band. PM me and I'll give the web addresses of where these watches can be found as they are not available everywhere, but trhey are both unique. I own both, and have yet to come across someone in the street with one. There are others, also good for even less money.

[dmclark]

You will NOT get a Rolex cheap. You might get a Rolex case and cheap guts, and you'll have no clue. Rolex is REALLY tough with their product and spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on investigations into knockoffs. DON'T do it.

Do a search on the Forum under "watches"....it wasn't more than a few months back that Gonzo was searching for some recommendations and got some good ones.

I'm a Rolex guy and strongly vote for the Submariner. I've been wearing a GMT I for years, which I bought used. DM

[JonathanE]

Although I am by no means an expert on watches, I would agree without what most everyone stated. My opinion is, "if it looks to easy or to good to be true then most likely it is."

I think about the only people that buy Rolex's and such cheap are the pawn brokers and they know full well how much they can sell that watch for if it is real.

On a side note, someone was telling me that when you leave the country, you are actually able to bring back a small quanitity of fake merchandise with you.

I was wondering if any of the CBP knew if that was true or not? I saw this thread and that was a question I was meaning to ask. It's not as if I am looking to bring back anything illegal (heck outside of Canada, I don't even do international travel) I was just more curious that Customs lets people bring a small amount of fake items (watches, purses, luggage, brief cases, etc) into the USA.

[dmclark]

If you bring a fake Rolex back, it is in violation of numerous laws. When I traveled outside the US, I carried my copy of the Certificate of Authenticity in my name for my watch.

[snpusmc]

If you do search for used watches you will find a dealer. I bought a used Sub back in 1998 and saved about $700.00. Of all the places to look for one I ended up seeing an add in the Robb report magazine. The place was in PA and after a few phone calls I went with them. For me it was (and still would be) a large purches so I took the time to shop around. I have found a tune up to run around $200.00 and I only wear mine outside of work.

[dmclark]

I paid $350 for a cleaning, tuning and re-cert from a Rolex dealer in VA several years back! But this is every 10 years.

[snpusmc]

After reading dmclark's last post the light bulb went off. Be sure to have any type of service completed by a ROLEX DEALER.

[CanineCop]

Customs policy allows the importation of a single item of counterfeit merchandise for the personal use of the importer. IE you can bring back a fake watch and a fake LV hand bag (don’t ask me to spell it). If you bring back 5 watches and 3 hand bags, then you would be trafficking in Intellectual Property Rights violations and you would be in hot water.

"There is an exemption that allows United States residents traveling abroad to bring back trademarked or even counterfeit merchandise for personal use. Any person reentering the United States may bring back items bearing trademarks that would otherwise be restricted from entry, i.e., those bearing counterfeit marks or restricted gray-market goods. (Not all trademarks are entitled to gray-market protection.) This exemption allows each person to bring in one item of each type, for example, one handbag, one scarf, one camera. The personal-use exemption can be used once every 30 days. Items brought in under this exemption must be for personal use (i.e., for use by the person bringing it or as a gift) and cannot be sold within one year of entry."
For more information about the personal-use exemption, see 19 U.S.C. 1526(d)(1) and 19 C.F.R. 148.55.

[dmclark]

CanineCop: So legacy customs will ignore US copyright laws for importation for "personal use"?? So why would we seize other counterfeit items if they were in bulk? Different laws?

I've had to furnish proof of authenticity on my Rolex numerous times when entering the US. Why would I have to do that if I was "allowed" to bring in a fake watch? Import duties? Thanks, DM

[mmagoo]

I have to say, a lot of people talk about LE salaries being low, yet somehow you can all afford to buy Rolexes? Can't be doing too bad! :)

[CanineCop]

DM, I know it seems strange but it is true. I edited my post to include the law/regs but you were too quick for me.
I'm having trouble setting these up as links but I'll see what I can do.

Paste this to the address bar and you'll get the law:

www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/19/1526.html

And this was the most recent Customs directive I could find:

CUSTOMS DIRECTIVE ORIGINATING OFFICE: OR&R
DISTRIBUTION: S-01 CUSTOMS DIRECTIVE NO. 2310-011A
DATE: JANUARY 24, 2000 SUPERSEDES: 2310-11 July 30, 1991 REVIEW DATE: JANUARY 2002 PERSONAL USE EXEMPTION: UNAUTHORIZED TRADEMARKS
1. PURPOSE. To clarify Customs policy with respect to the proper application of the personal use exemption.
2. AUTHORITY. Generally, Section 526 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. §1526) and section 42 of the Act of July 5, 1946 (60 Stat. 440; 15 U.S.C. §1124) (the Lanham Act) proscribe the importation of goods bearing counterfeits of trademarks which have been registered with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and recorded with U.S. Customs.
3. BACKGROUND. According to the statute (19 U.S.C. §1526(d)(1)), such restrictions do not apply to the importation of articles accompanying any person arriving in the United States, when such articles are for his personal use and not for sale, provided such articles have been approved and enumerated by Customs, and that such person has not been granted a 1526(d) exemption within 30 days immediately preceding his arrival. However, 19 U.S.C.§1526(d)(4) also authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out that law. 3.1 At 19 CFR §148.55, Customs has promulgated regulations which provide for the importation of one article of a type bearing an unauthorized protected trademark. Importations of quantities greater than one article of a type bearing an unauthorized trademark are subject to the provisions of 19 CFR §133.24.
4. ACTION. Customs officers shall permit any person arriving in the United States, to import one article, which must accompany the person, bearing a counterfeit, confusingly similar, or restricted gray market trademark, provided that the article is for personal use and not for sale. 4.1 Customs officers shall permit the arriving person to retain one article of each type accompanying the person. For example, an arriving person who has three purses, whether each bears a different unauthorized trademark or whether all three bear the same unauthorized trademark, is permitted one purse. 4.2 Imported items over and above one article are subject to disposition under either 19 CFR § 133.21 (counterfeit) or 19 CFR § 133.24 (gray market and confusingly similar). Under 19 CFR § 133.21, counterfeit items, in the absence of permission from the trademark owner, must be seized and forfeited. Gray market or confusingly similar goods are subject to detention under 19 CFR §133.24(a). Upon such a detention, Customs officers should orally advise the person(s) arriving that the articles are subject to detention and that in accordance with 19 CFR §133.24(c)(2), such articles may be: 4.2.1 Exported or destroyed under Customs supervision; or 4.2.2 Imported if the mark is removed or obliterated to Customs satisfaction; or 4.2.3 Released if permission to import the goods is obtained from the trademark holder. 4.3 Where the trademark holder consents to the importation of goods bearing unauthorized trademarks in quantities above the regulatory exemption, Customs officers shall allow the greater quantity to be imported. 4.4 Where the importer has failed to obtain release of such detained goods after 30 days from the date of presentation to Customs, said goods shall be seized and forfeiture proceedings instituted. 4.5 In the past, there has been confusion over whether the personal use exemption contained in 19 CFR §148.55 applies equally to crew members. 19 CFR §148.55, and its governing statute, 19 U.S.C. §1526(d), state that the personal use exemption is available to "any person." This includes crew members.
5. RESPONSIBILITIES. Customs field officers are responsible for following these guidelines. Area/Port directors, assistant port directors (trade operations), supervisory import specialists, and supervisory inspectors are responsible for ensuring that their staffs are aware of the content of this Directive and adhere to the guidelines provided.
-Commissioner of Customs

I hope that this will answer any questions. If it doesn't I'm a lowly GS-7 and I did my best.
Best of luck, John

[UN_Cop]

I have been looking at the Rolex Submariner w/date. The price is going to be around 3700.00 give or take a couple of 100.00 either way. I would NOT but a rolex from anyone other than an authorized dealer in particularly from anywhere in the far east. The fakes are very good and many jewelers can not tell till they open the watch and look at the movement. I suggest you save a few more pennies and buy the Rolex from authorized dealer in the US. Oh, I guess you could tell I would get the Rolex over the Tag.

Take care and be safe.

UN

[Time Traveller]

Originally posted by mmagoo
I have to say, a lot of people talk about LE salaries being low, yet somehow you can all afford to buy Rolexes? Can't be doing too bad! :)

I can afford Rolex's and Tags for a couple of reason. One, I bought Qualcomm at 25 and bailed out in the mid 500's....I used to bill at over $200 an hour and my wife still does.

[dmclark]

I spent 20 years in Timex's and finally bought a used GMT Rolex at 50. Gee, HOW did I do it??? I put 6 kids through college and decided I could afford $1500 for me.

Who said LE has low salaries? As compared to what? Donald Trump? Federal LE Agents earn a damn good wage and have some outstanding benefits.

[JonathanE]

CanineCop:

Thank you for the information, I was almost sure that an individual was allowed to bring back into the United States a small amount of fake merchandise.

Again thanks for the information. I just find it a bit odd, that's all.

[strider214]

Just my 2. Go Rolex. Had my Sub for about 20 years, serviced once for about $350. I wear it everywhere and believe me it's taken a hell of a beating.

[snpusmc]

It's just something I wanted so I saved When you avg 180 hours of OT a month it helps along with the fact that I was single and no kids and had a good little stash saved from the Marines.