Grand Bazaar Istanbul and replicas

[Solar]

Yikes!

In the Grand Bazaar and saw a number of replicas, or reps. Some of them are sold in small out-of-the-way shops, and the sellers are upfront about it, and others are sold in more elaborate jewellry shops where the display set up, lights etc makes it look like the Rolex is authentic until you notice the quartz tic of the second hand.......

The cheaper reps are about $200 USD with Japanese movement, not great plating on the gold models, and the better reps with reportedly ETA movements, better plating and more water resistance are about $700 clams!

It was interesting to see so many reps in the flesh. You can really spot them in the flesh, the weight, the bracelets, etc etc just like The Rolex Report details. I've seen some pretty impressive looking replicas in photos and used to think I could be taken in, but after seeing even the more expensive reps in person, well, anyone on this forum would never likely be taken in, those reps were pretty obvious, even the more expensive ones.

So, I spent too much on gold earrings and some gifties for the wife though, but I figure I may as well pump some money into the local economy!

I didn't bother with any pix of the reps, why would I? They had the Daytonas with the engraving on the caseback, the crappy bezeled Subs and the DDs had horrible clasps...

I will try and post some pix in the non-watch part of the forum when I get back, no image file manager here. This is an amazing city with great sights and beauty, and those are the images that deserve to be posted.

Best,

Chris