newtothisthing 0 Posted September 4, 2010 How good are the asian clones in terms of reliability, timekeeping? Is going for one of them instead of a swiss eta movement worth it? Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KeNnY 29 Posted September 4, 2010 Asia Clone ETA, because the SWISS ETA is really hard to find, or to be sure if is the SWISS ETA and not the Clone repair me if I am wrong Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eiderdaus 0 Posted September 4, 2010 nothing wrong with asian clone Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
newtothisthing 0 Posted September 4, 2010 nothing wrong with asian clone Thanks for info. Looks like I will go for asian clone, that will also keep my costs down! No reliability issues? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KeNnY 29 Posted September 4, 2010 search forum, there was some topic about one movement how you will be working with the watch, the reliability depends on your working with the watch Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brightlight 0 Posted September 4, 2010 Experience so far shows the Clones have scrappy QC and can benefit from a service early on. I've had a couple in with loose/missing screws from new, like this example below - Given a strip down, clean and service they should be good movements. They regulate nicely and seem fairly bulletproof. The 'Swiss ETA' movements provided by the dealers seem to be a bit questionable as it seems often they are used, rebuilt movements or assembled with some asian parts. I would say get the clone and put the extra you would have paid for the swiss into a good service. It should then last you for years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
newtothisthing 0 Posted September 4, 2010 Experience so far shows the Clones have scrappy QC and can benefit from a service early on. I've had a couple in with loose/missing screws from new, like this example below - Given a strip down, clean and service they should be good movements. They regulate nicely and seem fairly bulletproof. The 'Swiss ETA' movements provided by the dealers seem to be a bit questionable as it seems often they are used, rebuilt movements or assembled with some asian parts. I would say get the clone and put the extra you would have paid for the swiss into a good service. It should then last you for years. Without been an expert, how do I know from looking at that picture that it is a clone? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brightlight 0 Posted September 4, 2010 Without been an expert, how do I know from looking at that picture that it is a clone? You can't really tell from that particular pic, but the differences are here - http://www.replica-watches-guide.com/forum...?showtopic=7305 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luthier 1 Posted September 4, 2010 Without been an expert, how do I know from looking at that picture that it is a clone? You can't really tell from that particular pic, but the differences are here - http://www.replica-watches-guide.com/forum...?showtopic=7305 BL, I think it's the pic. of ETA, look on the wheels holes. Also, I don't think chinese will put army of people to make clones from old used ETA parts with additional clones parts. Factories make thousands of watches a day, it's just impossible. I personally saw the boxes with clones and with ETAs unpacked, directly from chinese and Swiss factories, so, I don't think they make movements from used parts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted September 4, 2010 Without been an expert, how do I know from looking at that picture that it is a clone? You can't really tell from that particular pic, but the differences are here - http://www.replica-watches-guide.com/forum...?showtopic=7305 BL, I think it's the pic. of ETA, look on the wheels holes. Do you mean the pic with the missing screws? That's my 2010 Explorer 1 BL is kindly servicing - Robert sold it as clone so Bonus!!!! if it's swiss lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luthier 1 Posted September 4, 2010 Without been an expert, how do I know from looking at that picture that it is a clone? You can't really tell from that particular pic, but the differences are here - http://www.replica-watches-guide.com/forum...?showtopic=7305 BL, I think it's the pic. of ETA, look on the wheels holes. Do you mean the pic with the missing screws? That's my 2010 Explorer 1 BL is kindly servicing - Robert sold it as clone so Bonus!!!! if it's swiss lol Yes, it is Swiss. Clone is here: http://www.nnsbc.cn/english/Products_Show.asp?id=15 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted September 4, 2010 If it is swiss then someone needs to tell Robert, he's selling them at $127 reseller prices! lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 83 Posted September 4, 2010 The Asian clone movement is a good one. I'd only consider buying ETA from Mary or Robert - from the majority of other dealers you may well still get an asian clone even if ordering swiss as the difference is difficult to spot and most dealers rely on the factories to tell them what is fitted (which is not always accurate). The other factor is that some swiss movements supplied in reps turn out to be second-hand or refurbished units and are not always in the best condition. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RolexAddict 1 Posted September 4, 2010 Chinese, Swiss, Brazilian, Mongolian, Congolese, .... etc.etc... ETA is ETA. Period. Stop mastarbation. Take care of your wife, your family, your friends, Have a regular and normal life, Dont care about Swiss/Asian, ETA MOVEMENTS ARE ETA MOVEMENTS, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted September 4, 2010 lol Fair point :facepalm: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brightlight 0 Posted September 4, 2010 Chinese, Swiss, Brazilian, Mongolian, Congolese, .... etc.etc... ETA is ETA. Period. Stop mastarbation. Take care of your wife, your family, your friends, Have a regular and normal life, Dont care about Swiss/Asian, ETA MOVEMENTS ARE ETA MOVEMENTS, If only............ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brightlight 0 Posted September 4, 2010 Without been an expert, how do I know from looking at that picture that it is a clone? You can't really tell from that particular pic, but the differences are here - http://www.replica-watches-guide.com/forum...?showtopic=7305 BL, I think it's the pic. of ETA, look on the wheels holes. Also, I don't think chinese will put army of people to make clones from old used ETA parts with additional clones parts. Factories make thousands of watches a day, it's just impossible. I personally saw the boxes with clones and with ETAs unpacked, directly from chinese and Swiss factories, so, I don't think they make movements from used parts. Look at the shock spring, definitely a clone. Looks like they've caught up on the reverser gear holes though! I have heard stories of the factories buying part movements and finishing them off with asian parts but don't know how true this is. I don't know about the 'gen swiss eta' from the rep factories but I have seen pics of movements that have been obviously refurbished which were sold as Swiss. I have also seen Swiss ETAs which appear genuine. This refurbishment may of course be the dealer making a quick buck. Therefore I assume the clones are more 'honest' in that they are definitely new, asian made, units. Quality control is a big issue though. Ultimately if the clones start using the Novodiac shock, or a copy of it, which is probably inevitable, we just will not be able to tell the difference. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted September 4, 2010 The thing is, if they are literally indistinguishable, does it not add weight to the argument that they are just as good as swiss if serviced properly? Which will therefore mean less of this 'genuine swiss!!' sales pitch from certain dealers? Ultimately it could probably be seen as a good thing for the rep business although I wouldn't like to be the person attempting to buy definitely swiss, either for a rep or a gen watch... lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GC 4,524 Posted September 5, 2010 You all know I did a comparo on two movts, one sold as a Clone the other sold as an ETA... link: http://www.replica-watches-guide.com/forum...ic=5100&hl= I pointed out the differences I found between the two movts, but recently Robert has mentioned that there are several different grades of Asian Clones. The pics he posted of a movt he sells as High Grade Asian Clone is spot on with a movt I bought as Swiss. That taken into consideration, and because I trust Robert's word, I believe that all movts sold either as a Clone or ETA are in fact Asian Clones. The ones dealers sell as "Swiss", which we know not to be true i.e. at the very best they are ETA but assembled in Asia, I believe to be the Higher Grade Clone movts (better QC) and the movts dealers sell as "Clone" movts are the Lower Grade Clone movts (lesser QC). That's what I have come to believe... take it with a grain of salt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedzmaster 0 Posted September 5, 2010 Chinese, Swiss, Brazilian, Mongolian, Congolese, .... etc.etc... ETA is ETA. Period. Stop mastarbation. Take care of your wife, your family, your friends, Have a regular and normal life, Dont care about Swiss/Asian, ETA MOVEMENTS ARE ETA MOVEMENTS, If you're going to masturbate, do it the correct way! As BL says, after a cleaning and regulating, the Asian movements are fine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
