We found most of our featured watches this week, with the very popular exception of the cover girl, a replica Rolex chronograph in superb condition. To round out the selection, we conclude with a dressy Vacheron Constantin model, which comes with full set.
For quite some time vintage Gallet have been on the rise, with the MultiChron Decimal chronograph being one of the most popular models around owing to its catchy good appearance. Interestingly, the manual-wound chronograph movement found in those watches is the Excelsior Park EP40, which helps to explain the unusual branding of this dial. 
Actually, Excelsior Park is mentioned on the dial, but it is not the only name there as “Sinn” can also be spotted. It is not surprising given the close relationship between the two brands; Sinn often depended on the Excelsior Park calibers for its chronographs. The Decimal quite a rare one – the only recent trace of the watch is from a listing from five years ago, although another one seem to been sighted in 2003. This example is preserved in excellent general condition despite some aging to the dial (and some spotting), and it comes on a vintage bracelet, obviously made by Gay Freres.
The Daytona is apparently the most popular replica Rolex chronograph, but it was actually not created from a completely blank slate. The use of an Oyster case pre-dates the launch of the first Daytona watch, as the references 6034, 6234, and 6238 already benefited from it. This explains why those are often nicknamed “Pre-Daytona,” although they very obviously do not carry a scale on their bezel – the real design change that led to the Daytona as we know it.
The present Rolex watch shows an almost perfect dial, which allows us to experience the original beauty of its design. Its external scales are typical of the 1950s, in their printing and coloring, when the 3/6/9 demarcation on the minute counter was used for international calls paid in three-minute increments. The case condition matches; it is described as unpolished and judging from the thick lugs, it very much looks that way. The radium lume has taken on a very nice patina, which matches on both the hands and dial markers.
The KonTiki name comes from the fascinating expedition led by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl who was reportedly wearing an Eterna back in 1947. The name was used on many replica watches by Eterna, some of which were even military-issued divers. The present KonTiki is an often-forgotten model originally launched in 1958, just a few years after the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms and the fake Rolex Submariner. Its design underlines the focus on legibility, therefore, the generous application of lume on the hands and indexes.
Top Quality 1940s Breitling ‘Pre-Premier’ and a 1984 Rolex GMT-Master II
There is something about vintage Breitling replica watches, and that’s not enough for us. This “Pre-Premier” watch is no exception. First introduced by the fake Breitling way-back-when in 1939 with a black dial, the 734 boasts clean lines and a classic tool watch demeanor. This chronograph does not feature the word “Premier” on the dial like its younger sibling, but it is just as appealing. It has become one of the more desirable vintage replica Breitlings on the market recently. You can read more about this fake watch here.
It seems impossible for someone not to love a dive watch. There is something so rewarding about a classic tool watch, with its clean lines and rugged exterior. When the Aqua-Lung “Skin 666” was first released in 1962, it cost $100. Fast forward to today and this quintessential automatic dive watch is more expensive, but it packs the same punch. It was built to withstand pressures up to 660 feet deep and has a rich black dial fitted into the stainless steel case. You can read more about it here.
The GMT-Master is a classic watch that just keeps on giving. Here we have a GMT-Master II “Fat Lady” replica watch which got its unusual nickname from the fat stainless steel case that is much bigger than previous iterations. This later transitional reference also has the index surrounds that add something extra to the black dial. There are many reasons we are addicted to the GMT-Master II, including the Pepsi bezel and the comfortable Oyster bracelet.
Monthly Archives: November 2017
Popular and Elegant Replica IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Edition
The Schaffhausen-based factory released two unique edition models from the Ingenieur collection so as to celebrate this year’s Rallye Passione Caracciola. It is a regularity rally for historical cars made until 1980 which is open to all brand and car models. The Passione Caracciola rally is dedicated to the racing driver Rudolf Caracciola and the fake IWC Schaffhausen is the official partner of the event since the last year when the special regularity rally has been held for the first time. 
The top quality replica IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “Rudolf Caracciola” is dedicated to the German star driver of the 1930s. At the time, the Mercedes driver won three European Championship titles and took the chequered flag in 144 of the 204 races he finished. Caracciola was also known as the “King of the Rain” which was an allusion to his driving skills on wet tracks.
This special edition timepiece exudes with the simplicity and elegance of the case which differs from the technically inspired design by Gerald Genta previously used for this collection. The fake watch is housed in a sporty, stainless steel case measuring 42mm in diameter and 15mm in thickness. I must notice that the cheap watch looks much larger than it actually is because of its wide bezel.
There lies the slate-colored dial which is perfectly rounded with a tachymeter scale underneath the front sapphire glass. The dial comprises rhodium-plated hands and appliques that give the fake watch a technical, but totally elegant look.
The second special edition timepiece named Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “W 125” recalls the legendary Silver Arrow from Mercedes-Benz. Seventy-eight years ago, at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz W 125 with a V12 engine, the legendary German racing driver recorded 432.7 kilometers per hour on the Frankfurt-Darmstadt autobahn. So it is the highest speed ever driven on a public road at present.
This replica watch characterizes silver-plated dial contrasting starkly with the black hands and appliques. Both are chronograph sub-dials, the small seconds and the tachymeter scale imitate the instrument look found in the cockpit of a W 125.
The Ingenieur Chronograph fake Edition “Rudolf Caracciola” features a brown calfskin strap, the embossing of which is the reminiscent of the seats in racing cars of good old days, while the Ingenieur Chronograph Edition “W 125” is held to the wearer’s wrist by a luxurious strap made of black calfskin. Both models are issued in the limited series of 750 pieces each.
Top-Quality Replica Patek Philippe Calatrava with a Special Engraving
All the watches come with interesting stories. And working with pre-owned watches, we hear quite some of them at Crown & Caliber. The journey a watch takes before it gets to us has many twists and turns, and maybe even an unexpected name attached.
The watch in question was a replica Patek Philippe Calatrava. We were disappointed at the very first beginning. There was an engraving on the case back that we hadn’t known was there. This meant we would possibly have to remove it or sell it as-is, which could hurt the resale value. 
One of our watchmakers looked over the watch and decided that the engraving was in fact done in the Patek Philippe factory. It was fine and delicate, reading, “Patek Philippe Pour Gobbi 150 Ans 1842-1992,” simply translated to “Patek Philippe for Gobbi 150 Years.” This could only be a reference to Gobbi Milano, the luxury fake watch retailer in Milan, Italy. The Gobbi name is associated with the highest quality of service along with one of the finest selections of high-end watches anywhere in the world.
Knowing we had a special timepiece on our hands, we dug further into the boutique’s history. Raimondo Gobbi opened the very first shop in 1842, and it’s been family-owned ever since. Its first services related to pocket watches and pendulum clocks. Ten years later, Raimondo Gobbi became the “Clockmaker of the Royal Court”. This distinction planted the roots for a prestigious factory. In the 1930s, Gobbi added jewelry to its already-stellar range of luxury Swiss watches. The original establishment was damaged during WWII. But, the Gobbi family opened a new boutique in 1949 in Milan, where it stands today.
Through years of satisfactory service and selling fine time pieces, the Gobbi name has obviously become one of legacy and luxury in today’s market. Present-day brands available at Gobbi include Patek Philippe, Rolex, Tudor, together with Gobbi’s jewelry collections.
Something made the watch different. First, it was the third example of this cheap replica watch in pink gold sold at public auction. Second, it was only the second known example of that reference in rose gold with a blue enamel dial. Therefore, the Gobbi Milano signature made this watch the rarest of the rare and certainly helped it sell for a high number.
The Gobbi signature clearly holds a special value. And for the typical watch we sold, the Gobbi engraving made a run-of-the-mill Calatrava into something really special. It’s interesting to run across an unexpected detail like that every now and then.