It's a long time since a fake 14K Constellation case has surfaced and this one is one of the most crude, rednecked examples I've yet to see.Powered by a cobbled together calibre 561 with parts of various hues, this is one of many examples of the Asian 'Slight of Horological Hand' industry.
Movements from old Seamasters and other lower shelf brands are removed and inserted into these poorly made cases. Most of them emanate from Vietnam and China.There are just too many things wrong with this case and fake dial to itemise in this post. But, for those who are interested, check out my essay about fake gold cases and down load this essay on dials and then make some comparisons.
Ebay seller lolo-dealer claims that the case condition is "(F)rom very good to mint". Well you got that right lolo-dealer as its not long out of a cheap casting factory! Lolo-dealer goes on to proclaim that the case is "(S)howing all the stars of the observatory". Yep, so it does, but it just has the wrong obervatory roof, and the stars, well, they aint configured correctly for a solid gold Constellation.
I don't know if lolo-dealer knows s/he's selling a dud, but if s/he does then the name lolo-dealer is apt, because you can't get much lower that trying to flog a fake gold watch to some poor unsuspecting neophyte, can you?Ive reported this as a fake, so let's see what happens.
I'm afraid it's too late: this fake is on its way to a new home. A shame.
ReplyDeleteA pity indeed.
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping the poor buyer may chance upon this post rapidly and seek some redress.
Cheers
Desmond
Another fine Constellation denigrated by you Desmond.... how could you!
ReplyDeletehehe
What I dont get is why Ebay dont get more pro-active in these things. I am sure they know who the seller and the poor seller are, surely when you report that the item is a fake, they could then stop the transaction immediately?
I guess its still caveat emptor though...
Yes, eBay claims that it has a very pro-active "EMR program" and that "Trust & Safety" review these listings for frankens and fakes.
ReplyDeleteWell, the fact that this one went through to the keeper - an obvious fake that any decent watch retailer would pick up in a minute - indicates that for all its bluster and claims to the contrary, buyers are not being protected against these obvious frauds.
I repeat a lament I previously posted, "It will take enormous pressure (and probably litigation) for eBay to move away from its ultra-capitalist "We're just a market" goonery and recognise that there is a moral and, increasingly, a legal obligation to ensure fairness, equity and a lack of criminality in what is a global marketplace."
"We only have to look at the poison that has spread from Wall Street and the American financial system to know that loosely regulated and irresponsibly policed markets can bring the world to its knees."
"And so it's only fair that if eBay wants to rake in its billions from auctions, Paypal and associated businesses then it has to show the world that it both regulates and polices its now global marketplace to ensure that it operates for the "good of the good" and doesnt turn a blind eye towards, or offer protection to, the skulduggery and criminality that always happens in Laissez-Faire markets"
Now that the Europeans (where litigation has gone against eBay) have been successful in demolishing the 'Washington Concensus' (read: the licence for American ultra-captialism to manipulate markets in any way they desire) maybe we will see some more responsibility sheeted home to eBay to guarantee a "free and FAIR" marketplace.
We can live in hope....but I think in protection of its business model (a licence to print money) there will be much reticence in eBay management to do much more than pay lip service to a free and FAIR market philosophy.
Cheers
desmond