Bi-PolarBear 0 Posted August 8, 2010 I'm curious to know if anyone has ever tried or know anyone who tried to pawn one of their reps. I watch that show Pawn Stars every once and a while and a couple of times they've talked about their help taking in fake Rolex's. Can you imagine them loaning 2 or 3k for a rolex rep only to find out it's actually a rep! Just curious to see if anyone has any interesting stories. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baldrick 1 Posted August 8, 2010 I pawned at least three reps way back in the late 90's early 00's, a Rolex Day Date and two Seamasters, got approx 400 GBP for all of 'em individually, got letters asking if I wanted to redeem 'em, never responded, they sent me a letter telling me what they realised at auction B) You can't do it now, I always wonder if I was responsible for them checking all future drops! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnG 41 Posted August 8, 2010 I have never tried it, nor would I. But I am less sure about a scenario I read about on another forum - a member was at a casino playing poker. Another player noticed his fake something or other and complimented him on it. The member claimed it was a gift and that he didn't know much about it. To make a long story short, the guy offered to buy it from him, at a price that would be ridiculous if the watch were real. This guy was trying to scam him out of the watch, thinking it was real. The member claimed that he was very tempted (he was offered about three times its value as a rep as I recall) to sell the watch, as the guy obviously thought he was going to get one over on the forum member. Nevertheless, he decided it would be wrong and did not sell it. I am not sure what I would do in that situation. One thing is for sure, they are right that the success of a scam relies entirely on the greed of the victim. Make someone think they are getting one over on YOU, that is how it is done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ska 11 Posted August 8, 2010 I've never done it myself but oddly enough I walked into Cash Converters (A british Pawn Shop Chain to our friends in the US) the other day to see if they had any nice watches. They had a few gen Breits and a Lorus but also had what looked from a distance to be a very tidy looking Tag Aquaracer in the window for only £500. I asked the guy if I could see it and knew the instant He dropped it into my hand it was a VERY cheap rep. The bezel was tinny and clicked in a very sad, loose fashion. The pearl was laughable and the dial was just terrible. The bracelet almost hung off the SELs which were loose as fuck. Oh and it ticked. I asked the guy if I could open it up and found a lovely quartz movement inside which must have cost about $2. Odd I thought given the word "automatic" on the shitty dial. You should have seen the cashier's look of dismay as I showed him. He said he'd got all the proper documentation for it along with a receipt (which turned out to be a hand written one on headed notepaper from some backdoor jeweler's in the East End.) so I asked him if I could see it. Lets just say that on the warrantee card the word International was spelt "Internashonal" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sfa437 0 Posted August 8, 2010 There are a few reps that I know would pass muster at a Pawn Shop.... Breitling SOH & SOHC V2, SOSF and Seawolf for sure. Grahams of course but less known and a few of the Ultimate Panerai models. I wouldn't necessarily walk into a Pawn Shop with one although I sure as hell was tempted with my SOH since I've been fucking broke lately. UTTERLY different story if someone is feeding me a line of bullshit trying to buy it off me like the guy in the anecdote above. The fucker would get what he deserved B) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nunu78 1,743 Posted August 8, 2010 I pawned at least three reps way back in the late 90's early 00's, a Rolex Day Date and two Seamasters, got approx 400 GBP for all of 'em individually, got letters asking if I wanted to redeem 'em, never responded, they sent me a letter telling me what they realised at auction B) You can't do it now, I always wonder if I was responsible for them checking all future drops! Good 1 ,i dont know whether its right or wrong but im thrilled tht u made those idiots fool who dealt with the watches all the time Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
barkingtoad 2 Posted August 8, 2010 I wouldnt think twice if someone offered me top money for my SOHv2 Id sell it like a shot ( as long as i didnt know them ) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sfa437 0 Posted August 8, 2010 I wouldnt think twice if someone offered me top money for my SOHv2 Id sell it like a shot ( as long as i didnt know them ) Hey fucker- I got dibs B) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ska 11 Posted August 8, 2010 That's the spirit!! B) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AustinTech 0 Posted August 8, 2010 Pawn shops ought to know how to determine if a watch is real - we are in the age of the internet. I could see getting ripped off 15 years ago, but now there is no excuse. That being said, no, I would not do it. It ain't right. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bi-PolarBear 0 Posted August 8, 2010 I don't think I'd have the guts to see if I could get one to pass just for fun. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ska 11 Posted August 8, 2010 big risk "just for fun" I guess you could use the "My late uncle left it to me in his will but I'm broke...." excuse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chronograph 0 Posted August 9, 2010 he decided it would be wrong and did not sell it. Not sure why anyone would think it is wrong to turn the table on some jackass trying to rip you off and rip them off instead. I would have sold him the watch in a heartbeat. He deserved it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trailboss99 994 Posted August 9, 2010 Yup, plus one. There is no shame in scamming a scammer. That is one of the world's highest arts. As for what is going to fool a Pawn Shop owner these days, verry little due to the fact most of 'em open them up. You may get away with a very good Pam rep with a perfect MVT copy or something a bit out of the norm like the Discovery but that's about it or the MVT will give you away. Col. PS: it's bad, Mmmmmmkay? he decided it would be wrong and did not sell it. Not sure why anyone would think it is wrong to turn the table on some jackass trying to rip you off and rip them off instead. I would have sold him the watch in a heartbeat. He deserved it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ferret 0 Posted August 14, 2010 (edited) I am a pawnbroker, actually We get a good fake watch atleast once a month. I mean really good, the $250-350 "ultimate" versions, along with some other shitty Cartiers and Rolexes with clear casebacks and trash like that. I've witnessed a loan being made on an ultimate deep sea, $1200 they gave him, and I louped the dial afterward and told them to open it up. OOPS. Panerais and Breitlings are the hardest to determine, in my experience. Honestly, I've looked at gen Breitlings at Tourneau here in NY, and that is something I still hesitate to loan against. They're so close. So: lots of the reps here can pass, but be careful because there might (and probably will be) a rep expert in any shop that lends high dollar on watches. Plus keep in mind, you're screwing whoever made the loan/buy, it usually comes out of their salary. Not everyone's an expert, haha. Also, while some pawn operations are definitely seedy and horrible (I worked for one here in the city, promptly left), a good number who will give a fair loan on a watch aren't scamming anyone. It's just another way to loan money out, charge higher interest for the risk, and cover your ass. BUT if someone tries offering to BUY a Panerai off you for 500-600 bucks, that's ripping you off, and they should get stuck with a fake :x Edited August 14, 2010 by ferret Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
