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My Watch

June 27, 2005 08:02 PM

I am a bit of a watch fan, but I quit buying expensive watches when my Audemars Piquet Royal Oak broke on me. But, I have always admired the Audemars style, far better than the too popular Rolex in my opinion.

I came across a replica of the famous Royal Oak Offshore Terminator edition (yes the watch Arnold wore in the movie, which I didn't see). I liked the Offshore (non-Terminator version) ever since I saw it in London years ago, but couldn't/wouldn't part with the $11,000 to buy it. It may be more by now, I don't know.

Here is a picture of this great looking watch.

rus8035.jpg

It keeps better time than any watch I have owned but for an atomic watch and it is a mechanical movement with mineral crystal crystal. It feels like titanium too.

I saved about $11,000 on this watch, but I would have bought it for even less than Audemars' price because I am not after the exclusivity. It isn't the price, which renders it unobtainable for ordinary (and sensible) people. So, it isn't a statement about me, it is the style and function that I like. That is to say, it is about me to me, not to others.

It is now available for less than I paid for it; it is $137 instead of the $141 I paid. It came in a string wrapped paper package right from Russia with great looking stamps on it. I got it at a place called Rusplanet.com and there were no hassles at all. I suspected I might get charges to my credit card, but none. But, I had planned to cancel the card anyway and did a few months after buying this watch.

OK, it is a fake and I don't like ripping off designs. But, they could pay a small royalty on the design and make a cheap copy. That would be a win win situation. The copies are not likely to diminish demand for the low volume real thing, but by licensing the design, Audemars might get more revenue from its great looking designs. Buy a genuine Audemars replica authorized by the factory. In contrast, movie and music downloads do diminish demand substantially (I have done the research on the movies, but won't publish it yet).

If the license fee were modest, there would be a small incentive to copy without paying it so long as there are any copy right protections in Russia at all. They exist even in Hong Kong where software pirates go to elaborate lengths to avoid being caught with inventory. They have only empty boxes on the shelves.

It cost Audemars nothing because I would never buy one at that price and I have not been all that happy with the very expensive one I did buy. It is still in the drawer, not running.

· Everything

Comments

Posted by: Flower Online [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 11, 2006 2:11 PM

Art
Nice watch thanks for the tip.
Barry

Posted by: barry bocchieri at June 29, 2005 8:12 AM

Audemars.....lovely. If ever in London go to Garrad in Regent St and ask for Mr Neumeister.

Posted by: simon fellows at June 27, 2005 9:41 PM

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