Used Rolex Guide For Watch Enthusiasts

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Used Rolex Guide for Watch Lovers

Retail Isn’t Everything

Used Rolex watches are kind of like cars. You can spend almost any amount on them, and some cars either appreciate or depreciate based on their rarity and popularity. People who buy lots of cars rarely buy brand new. After all, we have heard many stories of someone buying a luxury car brand new, only to lose ten thousand dollars in value just driving it off the lot. Smart car buyers know to buy cars at market value. The same goes for a used Rolex.

Sticker Shock

sticker shock, surprise, used rolex sticker shockIt can be somewhat shocking to go to a retail jewelry store and see the prices on a new Rolex. Not to mention the intimidation factor can be quite real when dealing with pushy sales people, practically shoving past each other to try to earn their commission. That commission also makes it difficult to negotiate for a better price. After all, there are plenty of people willing to pay full price, so why should they discount it for you?

Start With Reputable Companies

gmt, gmt master, submariner, 50th anniversary, used rolex

Make sure you purchase from reputable sellers.

It used to be so easy to tell the difference between a fake Rolex and an authentic one.  However, as manufacturing  becomes ever more precise and automation more prevalent, more and more excellent fakes are flooding the market. While there are many websites dedicated to spotting fakes, the only true protection you can have is to buy your watches from a reputable merchant. Do your research. Check their Yelp reviews, you can guarantee if someone sold a fake, chances are that person will write a 1-star and explain why! You can also seek out a business’s reputation in other ways. Are they a member of the Better Business Bureau? Does this merchant have an eBay store? What is their rating on eBay? How long have they been in business?  Do they offer a warranty? These are important questions, and ones that can arm you properly against being swindled when searching for your used Rolex.

 

 

How to Spot a Fake Used Rolex

loupe, used rolex, rolex box

Use a loupe to inspect your potential watch

While fakes are indeed getting better, here are a few tips to help you avoid  a replica used Rolex:

  • The Price: First off, you should always keep the old adage in mind: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If someone is offering a six thousand dollar watch for six hundred, the alarm bells should be ringing in your head. While it is possible that a private seller may not know what they have in terms of value, in the information age we live in, that is highly unlikely. It is even less likely that a dealer doesn’t know what they have.
  • The Ticking: Rolex watches typically don’t “tick” in the conventional sense. As they utilize high quality mechanical movements, Rolex automatic watches tend to “sweep” or look like smooth motion unless you look up real close. If you see a Rolex “ticking” like a quartz watch, chances are it isn’t real.
  • Weight: Many fakes can look really close to an authentic piece, but in many cases, as they use cheap metals and other materials, the weight will be way off. Pay attention to how dense it feels in the hand.
  • Serial Numbers: In many cases, fake watches may have serial numbers on them, but the quality of the engraving is usually quite shoddy. If a watch has serial and reference numbers that look, well, off, it can be an easy tell. Many a used Rolex  can include the original box and papers. This provides a point of comparison to allow you to look up the numbers and authenticate the piece.
  • The Dial: The watch dial should be essentially flawless. The spacing between the markers should be perfect, the color should be even with no marks or lines. You can use a loupe to check up close. Your dealer or store should have them available for the asking. Learn how to use a loupe here

We Hope This Helps You Find a Used Rolex

used rolex, turnograph, datejustAt Watch & Wares, we have sold authentic used Rolex watches for over 26 years. We have painstakingly built a reputation of quality and excellence in customer service.  Our Yelp, Google, and eBay reviews speak for themselves. If you are in the market for a used Rolex, Watch & Wares would be happy to help you find your new dream watch! We offer fair pricing on all our watches, along with a 2 year warranty (parts and labor) so you can rest assured that you are buying a high-quality timepiece. Check Out Watch and Wares

Used Watches: How to Shop for a Pre-Owned Watch in Orange County & Surrounding Areas

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Shopping for Used Watches or a Pre-Owned Luxury Watch in Orange County

Shopping for used watches can feel like a daunting task at first. With so many variables, knowing what to look for when searching for the perfect pre-owned watch can be tricky at first. But if executed properly, there are many benefits to buying used watches.

With over 35 years buying, selling and trading used watches in Southern California, we’ve been able to put together a list of do’s & don’ts to help you with your search. Let’s explore how to find the best used watches and watch stores in Orange County & surrounding areas.

How Does the Watch Store Acquire their Used Watches?

luxury used watches at Watch & Wares

Come shop the largest selection of used watches in Orange County

Most savvy watch buyers are elated to find a watch store that sells pre-owned watches. For many, buying a used watch is like buying a used car. Some pre-owned watches have been cared for so well you can’t tell they’re not new.

A good place to start is by finding out how the used watch store acquires their timepieces. Find out if they’ve got a long lasting reputation in the industry and community, and whether the watches come from reputable sources. The last thing you want is to buy a used watch and to find out it wasn’t taken care of.

Does the Watch Store Service & Restore their Used Watches?

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Make sure your shop restores their timepieces the RIGHT way.

Because there are so many watch dealers in Orange County, you’ve got to make sure you’re doing your homework. Find out if the used watch store has an in-house watchmaker. Furthermore, find out if they service the used watches they sell. If you want to buy a vintage watch, find out their watchmaker restored it to OEM specs. Of course, some people don’t want them to get rid of the coveted patina or character, you simply want to make sure the movement is properly-tuned.

A good used watch store should have an in-house master watchmaker who knows the ins-and-outs of watch movement. Therefore, the watch store should service the used watches they sell and restore vintage watches to their manufacturer’s specs.

Does the Watch Store Offer a Warranty on Used Watches?

warranty, pre-owned watch, watch bench, watch repair

Make sure your pre-owned watch is backed by a warranty.

Find out if the watch store offers a warranty on their pre-owned watches. When buying a new watch, the manufacturer will usually provide the service warranty. Unfortunately, on some used watches, the manufacturer’s warranty may not still be active.

A warranty on your used watch will also ensure that the pre-owned watch store stands behind their product. Many used watch stores in Orange County don’t offer warranties or offer limited warranties on used watches. Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to ask about the pre-owned watch warranty before even trying a watch on.

Research Before Buying Used Watches: What is the Pre-Owned Watch Store’s Reputation?

In today’s world of online reviews and customer feedback, it goes without saying you should do your research before buying a used watch in Orange County. Websites like Yelp and search engines like Google offer a place where customers can leave reviews for businesses. Before buying a pre-owned watch from a watch store or jeweler, check out their online reviews.

Find out if the pre-owned watch dealer has a good reputation and upholds its promise to their customers. It’s important to read a few reviews before your used watch purchase because every watch store will have a different return policy. Furthermore, you’ll feel better about buying a used watch from a reputable watch store. Finally, ask a lot of questions. Find out if the store’s used watches come with a box & papers, certificate/card, original tools, etc.

Watch & Wares is the Best Place to Buy Used Watches in Orange County

Watch & Wares has been buying selling and trading used watches in Orange County for over 35 years. Because of our experience, we’ve been able to take the headache out of buying a used watch in Orange County. We’ve got a reputation as the best place to buy a pre-owned watch in Southern California for many reasons:

 

  • 2 year warranty on all contemporary used watches / 1 year on all vintage watches
  • Pre-Owned Watches are serviced & restored to OEM specs by an in-house master watchmaker
  • Our Master Watchmaker was a former Rolex Technician and knows his movements
  • We acquire our pre-owned watches from reputable sources and most are like-new
  • We provide a box & papers for most of our used watches for sale
  • Our reviews don’t lie – 5 stars on Yelp and 100% Feedback on eBay since the early 90’s
  • We have the largest selection of used watches in Southern California
  • Take advantage of our 12 month layaway – make monthly interest-free payments

Watch & Wares Carries All Major Brands of Used Watches & Pre-Owned Watches

Because we believe any used watch store worth their salt should have a large inventory, we’ve invested decades into collecting only the best used watches in Southern California. Our pre-owned watch collection spans many decades, and we work hard to ensure a great customer experience.

Our owner, William Houchin has spent his life collecting, buying and selling the finest pre-owned timepieces from all major watch brands. Watch & Wares has it all: from pre-owned Rolex watches to vintage Patek Philippe. Furthermore, every used watch we sell is secured with a warranty and pre-purchase service.

We carry pre-owned watches in Orange County from the following brands:

  • Rolex
  • Breitling
  • Cartier
  • Panerai
  • Omega
  • Tag Heuer
  • Patek Philippe
  • Bell & Ross
  • Audemars Piguet
  • Franc Vila
  • Ulysse Nardin
  • IWC
  • Roger Dubuis
  • Jaeger-LeCoultre
  • Breguet
  • Glashutte
  • Longines
  • Tudor
  • Corum
  • Hamilton and more!

Come see us at our new location in the Orange Circle and try on Southern California’s largest collection of used watches. Call us at 714-633-2030 or stop in and try on some watches today! Of course, if you’d like to send us a message, simply reach out using our handy contact form!

If you’d like to sell your used watch in Orange County, you can also visit our Tustin Location!

 *Watch & Wares is not affiliated with any of the watch brands or manufacturers mentioned in this article

The Best Place to Buy Pre-Owned Watches in Orange County

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The Best Place to Buy Pre-Owned Watches in Orange County

Over the course of the last 30 plus years selling watches in Orange County, we’ve met our share of different watch lovers and timepiece collectors. Some have come to us stating they’ve never bought or even considered buying a pre-owned watch, while others will only buy pre-owned watches in Orange County. Watch enthusiasts are like car fanatics in a lot of ways and we enjoy meeting them on a daily basis in our watch store in the Orange Circle.

When looking for a pre-owned watch store in Orange County, you’ll want to make sure of a few things. Because watch stores in our area differ so greatly from one another, here’s a few questions you should ask yourself before buying a pre-owned watch in OC:

  • Do they Carry the Watch Brands you Love, Like Pre-Owned Rolex or Breitling & Panerai?
  • Are Box & Papers for the Watches Included?
  • Are the Pre-Owned Watches Restored or Returned to their Original Specs?
  • Does the OC Preowned Watch Store Offer a Warranty?
  • What’s the Benefit of Buying Pre-Owned Luxury Watches?
  • How Long Has the Watch Store been in Business?
  • Will they Take Care of You as a Long Term Customer after Buying a Preowned Watch?
  • What is the Reputation of the Orange County Luxury Watch Store?

What Brands Does the Store Selling Pre-Owned Watches in Orange County Carry?

Because we know that watch lovers are extremely loyal to their brands for the most part, it’s important to ensure that the preowned watch store carries the brand you’re looking for. Furthermore, check on their overall pre-owned watch inventory and see if they’ve got enough watches to try on. If you’ve been in business like us for over 3 decades, you end up with a staggering selection of men’s and women’s watches. If you’re looking for a pre-owned watch, call us first! Since we’ve got the largest selection of pre-owned watches in OC, you’ll be able to try on more! This means means that you’ll be able to get a good feel for what you love before purchase.

People always ask us if the pre-owned watch comes with box & papers. While most of our pre-owned watch selection is like-new and includes everything that came with the watch, some of our pieces may not. If this is a big factor in your decision, make sure and ask us — we’ve got a huge enough selection of watches to where we can find you just the right one!

Some of the Pre-Owned Watches in Orange County we Carry Include:

  • Rolex
  • Breitling
  • Omega
  • Patek Philippe
  • Bell & Ross
  • Longines
  • Ulysses Nardin
  • Chopard
  • Panerai
  • Chanel
  • Hamilton
  • Cartier
  • Vacheron Constantin
  • Glashutte Original
  • A. Lange & Söhne

All of Our Pre-Owned Watches in Orange County are Professionally Serviced & Come with a Warranty!

That’s right folks, because we’ve been in the watch business long enough, we know our long-term customers expect more. That’s why all of our pre-owned watches are restored to their original specs. The luxury watches are inspected, cleaned and serviced by our own Master Watchmaker.

This means that you get a pre-owned watch in Orange County that is often like-new. Some of our timepieces get a full overhaul, receiving service on gaskets, seals, movement, case, dial and links. Our pre-owned vintage watches get a full service and restoration as well, but we’re careful not to molest anything collectors covet, such dial patina and original watch parts.

Our expertise speaks for itself and all of our watches come with a warranty. You get a full 2-year warranty on all contemporary watches in our store. You’ll also receive a 1-year warranty on all vintage watches. Because we love our customers and have been selling pre-owned vintage and estate jewelry & watches for the last 30 years, we will always work to help you and your timepiece if you’re out of warranty.  We also do expert watch repair in Orange County and have been turning them out in a timely fashion with perfection for the last 3 decades, so know that you’re in good hands!

What is the Benefit of Buying Pre-Owned Watches in Orange County?

The biggest factor in buying a pre-owned watch in Orange County is definitely cost. It always blows our customer’s minds when they find a pre-owned Rolex or pre-owned Panerai in our OC Watch Store for thousands less than retail. What’s more significant is that the pre-owned watch is often in perfect condition and looks & runs as new. They get the watch on their wrist that day (or take advantage of our 12-month layaway) and walk out with thousands more in their bank accounts. Couple that with our extensive warranty, preowned watch experience and our exceptional customer service, and it’s a win-win for most people.

We’ve Been Selling Pre-Owned Watches in Orange County for 30 Years — We Take Care of Our Customers and it Shows

The staff at Watch & Wares has been selling preowned fine watches in OC since the Orange Circle was mostly dirt road and soda fountains. Our small Orange County watch store has grown from one location to three, and we couldn’t be more excited. Because of our fast-paced incoming watch inventory, we’re able to turn around and sell these watches at great prices — passing the discount on to our customers.

We pride ourselves on our family-run watch store in Orange, and our Tustin location where we buy luxury watches. If you’re thinking about selling a luxury watch in OC, give us a call! We also do collateral loans and pawn loans on fine watches, including Rolex, Cartier, Panerai, Breitling and more! If you’re looking for the best pre-owned watch dealer in Orange County, then you’ve found us!

Because we have such a large inventory of pre-owned watches in Orange County, and due to our ever-changing inventory, come see us or send us a message! Tell us what type of luxury watch you’re looking to buy and we’ll do the rest! You can come into our OC watch store and deal directly with us. We’re in it for the long-haul and our 5-Star rating on Yelp and 100% Feedback on eBay and Etsy prove it!

If you want to buy a pre-owned watch, call us at 714-633-2030 or send us a message today! We’d love to meet you and show you our OC watch collection today! You can also view a small sample of our different online shops by clicking here! If you’d like to sell your watch for cash in Orange County, visit this page for more info!

 

 

Watch & Wares is the Best Place to Buy Women’s Watches in Orange County

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Where is the Best Place to Buy Women’s Watches in Orange County?

At Watch & Wares, we’ve spent the last 3 decades collecting, buying and selling women’s watches in Orange County, CA. From our in-house watch sales in our Orange Circle store to eBay and Yelp, we’ve upheld a 5-star reputation for having the largest pre-owned watch selection in Orange County and exceptional service. Our women’s fine watch selection includes all major watch brands from all eras.

When looking for the best women’s watch store in Orange County, there are a few key things to remember when shopping:

  • What Kinds of Watches and Brand Names does the Watch Store Carry?
  • Can you Buy Vintage Watches as well as Contemporary Fine Watches?
  • What is the Reputation of the Women’s Watch Store in OC
  • Is the Fine Watch Store in Orange County Offer a Warranty on their Watches?
  • Will the Jewelry Store offer Pre-Owned Women’s Watches in Orange County
  • Does the Orange County Watch Store Offer Layaway?

What Brands Does the Watch Store Carry?

Watch & Wares knows that watch lovers are a special breed. When searching for women’s watches in Orange County, the most important thing is selection. Watch & Wares has the largest pre-owned watch selection in Orange County and Southern California. We’ve Spent the last 30 years collecting fine watches for men & ladies.

Horology lovers are loyal to the watch brands they covet. We know that sometimes it can be tough committing to buying a Panerai Watch if you’re a Rolex Watch fanatic. The reason it’s important to buy women’s watches in Orange County from a watch store that has a large selection of watches, is because you can try the timepiece on and see if it fits your style.

Here’s a short-list of just some of the major brands of fine watches for men & women we carry:

  • Rolex
  • Cartier
  • Omega
  • Panerai
  • Chanel
  • Breitling
  • Patek Philippe
  • Vacheron Constantin
  • A. Lange & Söhne
  • Gucci
  • Chopard
  • Hamilton
  • Bell & Ross
  • Longines
  • Ulysse Nardin

Are you Looking for Vintage & Antique or Contemporary Women’s Watches in Orange County?

We have started with our owner’s passion for collecting fine timepieces. We pride ourselves on having the largest vintage, antique and contemporary pre-owned watch selection in Orange County. When we built our store and brand 30 years ago, we never knew our collection of pre-owned watches would grow to its current size today.

We specialize in selling both contemporary luxury watches as well as vintage watches in Orange County. We’ve been doing business out of our brick & mortar store in the Orange Circle for over three decades! We’ve also been selling vintage and antique watches on eBay since the late 90’s and also sell on Etsy and through our recently launched online store!

Click here to view a small cross-section of our large Orange County watch & jewelry store inventory!

Our contemporary women’s watch selection is staggering. Looking for something in yellow gold? How about white gold or platinum with a diamond bezel? Leather strap or classic bracelet? Are you a Rolex or Cartier watch lover but particular to their classic vintage designs?

We’ve also been seeing a lot of women who love wearing larger men’s watches as of late, dubbed the boyfriend watch. Watch & Wares in the Orange Circle is the best pre-owned watch store in Orange County. Most of our watches are in like-new condition and include box & papers!

Do They Have a Good Reputation?Are the Watches Guaranteed?

Watch & Wares has worked hard to maintain a 5-Star Rating on Yelp and a 100% Feedback rating for every transaction on eBay. We’ve also relied mostly on word-of-mouth for the last few decades before the Internet became such a huge factor in doing business.

We’re lucky to have had many repeat clients over the years. Most watch lovers do business with people they trust. Our owner takes a hands-on approach to ensuring each watch purchase; service and restoration is done with the utmost care. Our staff has over a century of combined experience in the watch & jewelry industry.

Each watch we sell in our Orange County watch store or through eBay carries a warranty. The warranty may differ on contemporary watches vs. vintage/antique watches. Each contemporary timepieces we carry is restored to their factory specs. Our vintage watches are carefully restored to ensure they retain their vintage appeal (including dial patina, etc). We have a Master Watchmaker on staff and make sure our seals & gaskets are tight & lubricated. We also ensure movements are accurate, and that links/clasps are tight & polished before purchase.

Now let’s talk payment options and layaway plans for watches. This is a biggie for most people looking to buy women’s watches in Orange County. While we have luxury watches to satisfy most every taste and budget, some folks love to take advantage of our 12-month Layaway!

This allows you to put a small down-payment on a Men’s or Ladies Fine Watch and make interest-free monthly payments! This is a huge plus because it makes it easy to own a piece you fall in love with, even if you can’t pay upfront for it.

For more information on the brands of women’s watches we carry, call us at 714-633-2030 and speak with one of our helpful staff members!

 

 

Do I Need to Wind My Automatic Watch?

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Do I Need to Wind My Automatic Watch?

Part of what draws many people to purchasing a watch with automatic movement is the belief that they will never need to wind the watch in order to start its movement or charge its power reserve. Do I need to wind my Automatic Watch? At Watch & Wares, we get this question fairly often. The short answer is yes, you do need to wind your automatic watch. We understand that part of the reason most people purchase or wear an automatic watch is because they just want to set it and forget it. Let’s explore how the automatic movement in a watch works and

Why Do I Have to Wind My Automatic Watch?

While an automatic watch doesn’t require you to wind it while you are wearing it, it definitely helps to understand how the movement functions, and how a watch mainspring works. As you may or may not know, there is weighted rotor, which is sometimes also referred to as a pendulum, which spins inside most traditional automatic watch movements. If your watch features a skeleton case back, you can view the rotor spinning or if you put your ear to it, you can hear your watch’s rotor moving inside the watch. The watch rotor’s job is to help charge the automatic watch’s mainspring through energy, not all watch rotors are built to work the same way.

How Does the Rotor Inside Your Automatic Watch Work?

Some rotors will wind your watch only when spinning in a certain direction, others will charge your watch when spinning either way. Some rotors are weighted in order to enhance their spin or add some energy to it to keep it going with each move of your wrist. Other movements are extremely light so that they can spin around with even the least amount of movement as you wear them throughout the day. This proves useful for people who are not as active and might be sitting at a desk for a long time, but still want to keep their automatic watch ticking.

Some automatic watch rotors are connected to heavy gear trains (which can all vary) with different numbers of wheels depending on the type of watch movement as well as how many hours the watch can run between windings. As a result, each rotor will charge the respective watch’s mainspring with a different amount of energy.

Do I Have to Wind My Automatic Watch Even with Regular Wear?

No matter what type of rotor you have in your automatic watch, keep in mind that a rotor will never be as efficient at winding your watch using the crown. So while wearing your automatic watch should keep it wound and running while it’s being worn, you’re basically relying on the energy you stored throughout the day to keep it ticking throughout the evening and when you take it off periodically. What this means, is that if your timepiece did not start out with a full charge (meaning a mainspring that is wound with full tension), then it will often not end the day with a full charge, simply because you were wearing it and kept the rotor spinning… eventually your mainspring will completely unwind and you’ll need to wind your your automatic watch in order to get the mainspring ready to get those wheels moving again.

How Does the Mainspring in My Automatic Watch Affect the Watch’s Power Reserve?

Every automatic watch movement’s mainspring is a little different from one another. On some watches, the first three quarters of its mainspring’s charge will often be the most accurate, keeping the best time. The final quarter of tension on the mainspring (25% of power reserve) will often cause the movement and watch to speed up slightly but this differs from movement to movement.

Because of this small tendency to speed the watch up during the last quarter of the watch’s power reserve, it is also important for your to ensure that your watch is as close to fully-wound every time you wear it… that is of course unless your timekeeping isn’t too important to you, but we have yet to meet a watch fanatic where this is the case!

If you don’t manually wind your automatic watch every morning using the crown, you really won’t know if your watch is at the last 25 percent of its power reserve causing it to speed it up slightly. Some watches have a power reserve window with a gauge in the movement indicating how much power is left in the reserve.

Check out the Panerai Luminor Marina 8-Days Acciaio. It’s also known as the PAM00510 and it features an 8-day power reserve!

Contact Watch & Wares with Questions About Your Automatic Watch

Why won’t my rotor wind my automatic watch for me?

While the spinning rotor on your automatic watch will buy you a little time between wear, for best results, wind your automatic watch a little bit each morning or when you have a break throughout your day. Believe it or not, many horology fans and watch collectors enjoy winding their automatic watches each day. For some, it’s a connection with an amazing piece of our past. It brings to light hundreds of years of watchmaking that has made the small miracle of the contemporary watch or vintage watch on your wrist possible. For others, winding an automatic watch can be a break from an otherwise mundane work day or long commute.

We’ve been working with automatic watches for the last 3 decades Watch & Wares. We love getting questions about their specific movement and the characteristics of each timepiece we sell. We have the largest pre-owned watch selection in Orange County, California and sell more pre-owned watches than any watch store in the SoCal. If you have a question about a particular watch or have your eye on a specific timepiece in our eBay store or in our shop in The Orange Circle, please contact us or call us at 714-633-2030 and ask for our owner, William. He’d be happy to walk you through our biggest pre-owned watch inventory in OC as well as answer any questions you may have!

 

 

 

The Panerai PAM 00375 Luminor Composite 1950 3 Days (47mm)

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The Panerai PAM 00375 Luminor 1950 3-Days Composite (47mm)

The Panerai PAM 00375 Luminor 1950 3-Days Composite is part of a limited collection from Officine Panerai. Only 2,000 PAM 00375 timepieces were created, although the watch is Panerai at its best, plus a few added and more rare features. Also known as the Luminor 1950 3 Days Composite, the PAM 00375 has an a pure composite case which is rare, even for Panerai watches, who are always on the cutting edge of function and originality. The watch, which debuted publicly at the SIHH 2011 Luxury Watch Trade Fair in Geneva, Switzerland took 5 years before it was finally available for retail sale, primarily due to the development process for the new Panerai Composite case being perfected — offering watch lovers and horology fans  a true 1950 case Panerai, but one that is extremely light, strong and durable. Read more