Another scam
I got this in my mailbox last evening:
“I was looking for a nice and inexpensive watch and I come upon a watch company
called Louis Bolle. I look at their web site http://www.louisbolle.com and they
have many nice watches. I looked for more infomation but I couldn’t find any. I
search on Ebay and “My God they were every where. The watch was being auction of
for as low as $175. The retail price(according to the web site) was over $3000.
What is going on? Do you know why this watch company are letting people selling
their watches for so cheap? If you have any information or answer please let me
know. My e-mail address is xxxxx@xxxxxx.com
Thanks,
L”
The website of Louis Bolle is nice indeed, but when you give it a closer look…. what brand uses pricing on the company website? Next, the watches have very familair looks. Omega DeVille Co-Axial casing and the brickstone bracelet are copied for some models, I also saw a model which looked familair with the Seiko Kinetic models (with the integrated bracelet). Next, like the sender of the e-mail did, I visit eBay and was amazed by the number of Louis Bolle auctions. Several different sellers, but all with names like ‘watchdiscounters’ and ‘uniquejeweler’ etc. Probably a good scam to make some money out of poor people who don’t know at all about watches…. it is nice to buy a 200 USD watch and see on the company’s website that the retail price is 4495 USD. However, for 4495 USD you can probably order 100 of these watches in China. Including your name printed on the dial.
November 16th, 2004 at 18:44
[…] ,000. But we wouldn’t do that, would we. We’re not scum. Read RJ’s take here.
December 17th, 2004 at 00:40
http://counterfeitwatches.hypermart.net/booklet/swissscam.doc
Click on the link for a very interesting set of scams by the Swiss!!
April 2nd, 2005 at 23:35
I’ve got one of their iceberg watches, blue dial.. I work for a company that builds watches and brands them with a nice sounding name and resells them for $200 a pop, however they are not even close to the quality of these watches. Everything from the band, casing and movement is excellent on this watch. I first saw it in a jewelry shop selling for $800 bucks, then found them on ebay. I was lucky to get it for $119 as most auctions end around $200. But knowing that its a Chinese built watch, I’m very happy with it in all aspects.
As long as you are aware of it’s origin and their “unique” marketing approach, it’s worth the few bucks.
Bottem Line : If you like it - buy it.
May 26th, 2005 at 00:42
Emailed from info@louisbolle.com
5-25-2005
Currently, our timepieces are exclusively sold through internet auctions and not in retail establishments. You can find various auctions of our products through http://www.ubid.com or http://www.quixtar.com. We do plan to expand to other avenues of distribution sometime in the near future.
There are some secondary sellers who sell our pieces purchased from us on Ubid.com and then offer them on other auction sites such as eBay and Yahoo Auctions.
Thank you so much for your interest in Louis Bolle!
The MSRP prices are based on research where we compare our timepieces with existing watches already on the market. The comparison includes movement, functions, case, and strap before an MSRP can be determined. How do these timepieces seem to sell for so low, then? Our brand website and visibility on auction sites are our primary sources of marketing. We do not have the extra advertising costs that many other watch companies need to consider within the price of the watch. Instead, we simply offer wonderfully crafted watches at reasonable prices for the consumer.
Go to http://www.register.com, look up whois http://www.louisbolle.com it will come back to “The company is” :
Always at Market
1545 Capital Drive
Suite 100
Carrollton, TX 75006
(972) 242-4045 x 301
Interesting enough, go to the website: http://www.omikronwatches.com/Contact_Us.aspx
They are the U.S. Distributor for Omikron and Balmer watches as well.
May 26th, 2005 at 00:46
see the url
July 3rd, 2005 at 04:23
WHAT KIND OF BRAND IS THIS WATCH. I LOOKED EVERYWHERE FOR INFORMATION AND COULDN’T FIND ANYTHING. I TRIED LOOKING FOR THEM WHOLESALE AND STILL NOTHING!!! SOUNDS LIKE SOME ONE DID SOME IMPORTING FROM CHINA/TAIWAN…..AND STARTED SELLING THESE THINGS WHOLESALE……THEN MADE THEIR OWN LITTLE STORY ABOUT THE COMPANY’S SO - CALLED HISTORY OF EXISTENCE AND STARTED SELLING THEM OFF OF THE INTERNET OR EBAY RATHER!!! SOME ONE PLEASE EMAIL ME SOME INFO ABOUT THIS “RARE” TIMEPIECE….(SARCASTICALLY) SPEAKING! WHAT A BUNCH OF CRAP!!! I PROBABLY CAN GO TO CHINA AND HAVE MY OWN AUDEMARS PIGUET TIMEPIECE MADE JUST IN A NEW STYLE….HMM….MAYBE I SHOULD CREATE MY OWN STYLE! (SARCASTICALLY SPEAKING)
July 29th, 2005 at 00:41
THE ALWAYS AT MARKET COMPANY ACTUALLY MAKES THE FOLLOWING WATCH BRANDS FOUND ON UBID:
LOUIS BOLLE
HEUER & LAMBELET (no longer produced)
ROUSSEAU
DEPORTE
Duboule
OMIKRON
SUG
TAVAN
PICARD & CIE
BALMER
YOU ALL HAVE THE RIGHT CONCEPT OF THESE WATCHES
July 29th, 2005 at 23:28
I will say that I did buy one of the Louis Bolle watches on ubid. I have a number of watches that in price go over $1000 that are automatics and I have to say that no I don’t think that these are $3000 watches but it does seem to be good Quality, it’s quite attractive and at least they arn’t trying to put a different company’s name on it and sell it as a fake. They seem to be nice watches for the price.
August 2nd, 2005 at 01:24
I bought a Louis Bolle watch for $200 and it is actually a nice watch - probably worth $200 but certainly not the $4,495 retail price listed on their web site.
I wouls say this is more of a deviant marketing strategy than a scam. There are no retailers or service centers! They wholesale only and try to play it like it is a name brand retail watch from a reputable company. There is no way to get in touch with the company other than the contact us email on the web site.
The warranty is completely bogus - just go to the web site and read it. If you go to the warranty repair on thier web site it askes you to fill out your information, print it, and mail it to them but they don’t ever provide an address anywhere on the site. Even the bogus warranty card doesn’t have a phone number or address of the company!
So I agree, if you like it, buy it. If it breaks throw it away.
August 8th, 2005 at 05:39
The bottom line seems to be that customers are getting a pretty good watch for their money. Reasonable people don’t expect to get a $4000 watch for $100. If the watches really were made in Switzerland, probably no one would be complaining.
August 21st, 2005 at 18:39
I have bought a number of these watches, and they are excellent quality. Do not pay $4000, but come on, nobody is really trying to sell you one for that price.
If it was a $15 watch , I could see getting angry, but the Zenith and Pinnacle models I bought are 100% solid. They keep great time adn I get comments on them all the time.
$200 is about right for most models, maybe a few bucks more for a gold one. Balmer and Omikron are true swiss made as are a few SUG and Tavan models. The rest have Swiss components but are assembled offshore.
I had one model have a fault, and sent it in. It took awhile, but I got it back about 5 weeks later.
No real complaints, just do not go and pay $1000 or anything.
August 28th, 2005 at 02:15
What if I placed a bid on a watch at quixtar.com, but after seeing this site realized I felt kind of deceived. How can I retract my bid?
August 29th, 2005 at 07:06
I’ve got a Louis Bolle Momento (http://www.louisbolle.com/WatchDetails.aspx?watchid=102&collectionid=60) . It’s very well made.
Inspiration!
http://www.louisbolle.com/images/FullImage/62606783-500.jpg
http://www.vacheron-constantin.com/images/famille_p/47200/p_47200.jpg
September 6th, 2005 at 10:25
I too have bought 2 Louis Bolle watches from ebay (Momento and Incognito). They’re attractive and solid. This company was obviously specially created for ebay. But, does anyone know much about Trias (supposedly from Germany)? I bought one for under $100 and it is very striking. Was curious as to its legitimacy.
September 11th, 2005 at 07:27
Interesting comments, I’ve purchased several “Tavan” Models; I’ve collected a few watches in my day. The models I have are Zachary, Maurice and Gaston. I have no complaints. These watches are solid, refined, well crafted and very stylish. The Zachary is one of my favorites; to me it’s better made than a “Movado” in the same category and style. But, then again this is strictly my opinion. I have a small collection, under a hundred watches, various makes and models, from very expensive to moderate. I have a “Trias” from Germany, keeps perfect time when in use, automatic design, well made! Like anything in life, price and quality are in the eyes of the beholders (state of mind and status it gives back to the owner is a plus). Not everyone can afford high end watches costing $20,000 dollars and more excess of $340,000, even ones costing $1,000,000. A few can afford moderate to middle end watches, costing $10,000 - $20,000, but on the average, watches costing $3,000 up to $10,000 are still high for most. The average watch most can afford range from $3,000 downward. The end results, only you can determine what you like and what not to purchase. Do some research, learn about the many various watches, movements, designs and inventors, to truly understand and enjoy the art of “Horology”. Horology is the science and study of timekeeping devices. Clocks and watches are examples of instruments used to measure time. It’s time consuming, but if you love watches it can be a memorable and rewarding, learning the true craftsmanship in what makes up watches today and where and how they came to be. Only you can be the judge in the end, there’s hundreds of watch makers, inventors, designs some good some bad, heck, a “Rolex” great name, keeping time, something else, you pay for the name, these have flaws too! I’ve purchased and returned and wouldn’t own another. Good luck, enjoy, collecting or just making a one time purchase, do some research, compare then decide, low end, middle or high, that’s the market, you choose as I did. So far I’m quit happy with all my purchases, I hope you can be too.
Interesting reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horology
http://www.carigem.org/history_of_watch_making_and_coll.htm
September 13th, 2005 at 19:20
I recently purchased a watch called Liason by Louis Bolle. The watch is beautiful. But, the watch dial didn’t work, and there was a finger mark under the face of the watch. I emailed the customer service department and they told me to ship it to them. I did so, and since I’ve sent it to them. I haven’t heard a word from anyone. Even after I’ve emailed them and call the Always at Market number. I hope I’m compensated.
September 19th, 2005 at 07:13
17. Too much significance on suggested list of $4995, who cares what they say they’re worth? I’ve had an LB Agent for 3 years now, at one point the auto winder cam came loose and I opened back to tighen the screw. I must of done a poor job of restoring the watch, because after getting it wet, LARGE droplets of condensation began to form under the crystal, and have recurred from “time to time”, every pun intended, since. The watch still runs like a champ, keeps great time with a 1/2 second second hand movement that ain’t all that easy to come by in a truly mechanical watch for less than $1000. I paid $51 for a gold Agent recently, $30 to $55 for a couple of Rousseaus, the bands alone would probably cost $25 if I bought them from a dealer. I don’t know what the nay sayers expect for under a $100. I’ve got Tag Heuer watches, I’ve got a Movado. I hardly wear them anymore because they’re just not as interesting to look at as a movement watch. I get more questions and compliments about these “scam” watches than any I have ever worn, and collecting them has turned out to be a pretty good “time”.
LA
September 23rd, 2005 at 19:13
The company in my opinion borderlines on crooked. They appear to based in the Dallas Fort Worth area. I did buy a watch for a very reasonable price, however if I had purchased one for even half of their postedretail, I would have been major ripped of. And shame on that company if they ever let some poor unsuspecting soul pay it. The market these brands are sold in is ubid and ebay as well. The underhanded part of it is… They are the registered owners for the web sites for all the brands they pedal. If they were trying to be up front, they would put all the brands on one site. Different Site for each brand | LOUIS BOLLE | ROUSSEAU | Duboule | SUG | TAVAN |
I took the time and traced some of the activity of the company to e-commerce activity connected to AMWAY. If that does not throw up the red flag… What Will? It’s “time” for consumers to stop believing everything they read on the internet.
September 28th, 2005 at 01:20
I love my Louis Bolles and my Rousseau. I do not care about the possibly made - up websites. They are beautiful watches. $200 bucks is a steal. They keep almost perfect time and I have one for every occasion!
September 28th, 2005 at 04:08
Let’s see, if one (business) wants to save cost, bring consumer goods to the table, keep low overhead and make a marginal profit, while giving back to the consumer high end watches, “GREAT”. So ever time we find out someone or some buddy has a product or products and although separate in all manners except its location, website then after reading the above their no good. Hum, have a problem with that one. True, you can’t believe everything you read on the Internet to be true, but in the same breath, not everything is bad either. Education is the key (due research, investigate), knowledge before you buy is the other; the wisdom to know the difference becomes ones joy and happiness when he/she acquires a true gem/watch. Cut it down, hack it up, in the end only you can be the judge, don’t let others rob you from finding your true delight. Whether it’s your first watch, or additions to a collection, no matter the size, learning before you act, can save you despair in the end; like the individual who wrote the last comment on negativity? Contact the company, inquire on the warranty, check them against the Better Business Bureau in the state they are located, and then decide. Good luck, and by all means, enjoy the experience, otherwise be prepared for another round of the above in the art of “Negativity” by others, who only can find fault when he/she comes along a path the has lead them to a gem/watch. But then again, that’s my opinion; I prefer the “Positive” approach, it’s very easy to find fault today, it takes effort and some time not too!
October 1st, 2005 at 16:22
I’ve taken a look at Louis Bolle watches and have fallen in love with the Dune collection. After my first visit, I was sold on the Automatic Silver-Black Skeleton Dial. I searched the internet for a dreler. I wanted to go to a store and try one on. The watch looks great on the website. What I found out is that LB watches are exclusivly available at internet auction sites. This threw up red flags. I did my research. I read the posts on this site. I know the watch is not worth the MSRP listed on the LB site. I am stilll sold on the LB watch. Now I’m annoyed. rather than being angry at them for being deceptive, I’m annoyed that the watch I want is not being auctioned at this time. I’d probably pay $200 for that exact watch. Now I’m going to waste lots of time scowering auction websites looking for the watch. Does anyone have tha watch I mentioned, that would be willing to part with it?
October 2nd, 2005 at 07:01
I just picked up another Louis Bolle. I went for the DUNE Model and it is a beauty. This is my fourth. My boss saw it and went nuts! He said, “I gotta buy one!” I referred him to the web site and he saw the MSRP. He did not blink! He asked where to buy one. I should have offered him mine for half the price! Of course, I may lose my job for that.
Then I referred him to to ebay and he is anxiously awaiting another to be available.
All I know is that these watches get a lot of looks and to be honest, the designs are more creative and attractive than a lot of the big name brands. I also own a Tag, Omega, and Rolex. They do not get the attention these get.
Plus, when I tell people the brand, they think it is some exotic brand you cannot get at your local shopping mall. I have to say, if you get value from the comments, looks, compliments, etc. Then these watches are worth as much as any if you pick the right model.
As for the guy who is still waiting for the repair, I had a repair on one and it is SLOW, but you will get it back in about 6 weeks.
My point here is that if you know a lot about watches, you would never pay the MSRP. But 99% of the people on the street would believe it is a $3000+ watch when looking at it. That is worth something.
October 4th, 2005 at 15:44
I purchased a Louis Bolle from Quixtar Auctions. The watch arrived
broken, the stem fell out and the hands flopped around. Only because
of your site was I able to find a phone number for the company. I
believe this company is essentially a fraud. I am complaining through
Quixtar as well. (They are a fine company worried about quality).
Not something I can say about Louis Bolle. Upon seeing the watch,
it’s face is much larger that I expected and rather gaudy, in addition
to being broken. It seems that they are selling nothing more than
cheap Chinese made junk that could be found for $20 at any mall kiosk.
I await the response from the company. If they take the watch back
and give me my money back, I will report so here.
Thanks for letting me vent!
October 5th, 2005 at 22:33
I’ve actually bought quite a few Louis Bolle and SUG watches. I’ve had to return a Liason. They replaced it in 10 days. I also had to return a SUG for a minor date problem. It took about three weeks for that watch to be replaced. If these guys were putting a ‘ROLEX’ name on their watches, I would have a problem. However, they are creating their own brand name, which is what every new business has to do. The fact that they don’t have a corporate home page with links to all their different watch brands is not an oversight or deceipt on their part. Many companies have multiple brand names that they pit against each other. In fact, I work at a large corporation that makes top-quality equipment at higher prices as well as lower-quality, lower priced equipment. We wouldn’t think of linking the two names together, because one cheapens the other. Each brand name needs to stand on its own for its own merits and uniqueness. As for returning the watch, shortly after you fill out a service request, they e-mail you the location where to return the watch.
I’ve looked at many watches out there, but have to hand it to these guys for their innovation and style. Maybe I’ve lucked out, but I’ve also been impressed with how quickly they’ve gotten me a replacement on a return, too.
October 26th, 2005 at 21:59
hi. im from norway and i just bought a liason. i paid 5800kr the same as 900 usd. guess i should have checked e-bay first. but i love my watch. so its ok
October 28th, 2005 at 04:07
i bought a sug renegade watch form quixtar.com for $176.00. the posted retail price was $2,495. do u think i got ripped off, i dont know much about the watch.so if u have any information on the sug renegade,can u please email me at my email address.
November 1st, 2005 at 21:42
I complained in an earlier post about my LB watch purchase from Always at Market. In all fairness I must say that the company did stand behind their watch, they called me and asked if I wanted it fixed or my money back! I took the money! I must say, they were very accomodating. Maybe complaints coming through Quixtar nudged them. Give ‘em credit where credit is due!
November 2nd, 2005 at 21:55
I bought a LB Apogee on e-bay in September, it arrived pretty quickly, and has run well since, but gains about 5 secs per day - is that reasonable? I didnt go for the “costing $3,000″ stuff, and some of the “documentation” that came with it was pretty hick. However I really liked the design and happy so far….
November 3rd, 2005 at 22:00
I bought a Louis Bolle watch for $135 from ubid.com back in June (MSRP $4495, yeah right). Anyway, the watch gains about 20 seconds per day, which means in 2 weeks it is almost 5 minutes fast! Not exactly a precise time piece. Anyway, I emailed them to fix it or replace it. I just sent it away this morning. I hope I see it again. I thought it was a handsome watch. Oh well, live and learn I guess. They say they will return it in 6-8 weeks. Wish me luck.
November 11th, 2005 at 07:56
this is a cool watch , i get comments from everyone
i tell people it costed me 4000 dollars people believe me,I can sell it easly for 1000 but im not a scamer. by the way its a l.b skeleton . i was going to buy a Tissot for 900 dollars but good thing i bought this one it made me not spend $900. i love this watch all though it was a scam
November 12th, 2005 at 07:16
What you consider to be a scam, in reality you hold higher in value then a higher priced watch “Tissot” (L.B)! In this not a contradiction, you saved $900 and you state, “This is a really COOL watch, great value”. Why not just say, this watch has great appeal, market value saving you a bundle instead of placing it as a scam. Give credit, where credit is due, if this gives you satisfaction stop complaining, if not sell it, spend a bundle and buy a “Tissot”…
November 13th, 2005 at 20:33
I got me a L. Bolle “sierra” from a lady in Florida, new in da box,with admittedly bogus instructions and warranty, delivered to me for…..$2500..no I mean $250.. LOL.. Just teasin cause of their inflated MSRP!! Mine cost a even $100!!!MY GOSH.. It costs that much just to TALK about some of the spendie watches that has a price on it, with more zeros than most COUNTRIES budget!!The cheapest “auto’ I could find in my neck-o-da-woods was a $450, horribly ugly Sieko!My Bolle is cool lookin, I have got a couple of comments on it.. Yeah,yeah, I know the watch snobs are offended at such a piece,cause all da sudden theres some ( I think their made in Romania)lowly untouchable making basically the same thing!!?? How are they gonna sell us that $25,000 complication when obviously its not that costly to make.Its a WATCH not an artificial heart!! Anyhoo, I dig mine, from the REAL gator band to the fit and finish. Mine was about 5-7 mins. fast in a week so I (you could NEVER do this with your $$$somename$$ watch)unscrewed the back and adjusted the…..??the adjuster spring thingy and now I lose less than a min. a month. WHADA want for the price of an empty Rolex BOX. But you folks wont believe this.. They sell in stores for a couple o hundred less than MSRP!! Check out this link http://www.crescentwatch.com/images/header_05.jpg
Its folks like this that are the scammers! Not a new company that makes no claims except maybe their MSRP. But look at it this way. A cafe charges $2.00 for a side of toast(their MSRP) but we all know that 2 pieces of bread, only cost a dime. Stating a suggested retail,in my moronic opinion, is not a scam but ANY $100,000 watch that could give our youth an education IS!!I bet ,right now, my Bolle says the exact same time as a six-digit Ulysse Nardin!! Plus I can wear it always and if it gets lost stolen or beat-up… no biggy.
November 14th, 2005 at 05:04
Hey Folks–The link in the above article has died— Please try this one to see Louis Bolle watches selling in stores for over$4k!!
http://www.CrescentWatch.com
just click brands in the menu–thanks
November 19th, 2005 at 01:28
HEy hows life overther or where ever it is. Anyways i got LB from a girls friend of mine and to be honest i have no use for it i am a fossil guy because of what i do i was trying to get rid of it and came across a problem no one wants to buy it back whats up with this . retail said 4495.00usd its a zenith. as soon as i saw that i had my doughts about it its a nice watch but i need the money more then the watch any ideas what i can do thx
November 21st, 2005 at 03:06
I bought a SUG watch on compusa auctions, sold by Always At Market. I wasn’t expecting a Rolex, however what I did get for under $100 was a pretty decent looking watch. I’ll keep you posted how it keeps time. So far, so good. I’d buy again…
November 21st, 2005 at 07:54
I had to eat my words for the statement earlier; you might want to consider a Movado or any other “Swiss” watch manufacture instead…
For everyone who down grades the others, third party watch makers, this one will get you thinking, it did me.
I recently purchased a Tissot Atollo watch “SWISS made”, paid the price for craftsmanship, I thought. I was so very wrong, I purchased after asking will it fit my large wrist, assured it would. Yet when it arrived, I could barely close the buckle. So I tried different clasps, single and butterfly styles with no luck. I tried contacting third party watchband makers for a replacement, nothing could come close — due the cut style of the band, and nothing was to be found. All after, I tried to purchase an extra watchband from “Tissot” who flatly refused to sell me anything, I was simple blown off. I did receive the following from Tissot Customer Care as follows:
Dear Customer,
Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding spare parts. For technical reasons and to ensure quality servicing of your watch, we do not supply spare parts to the general public. As a premium brand, we are dedicated to servicing our timepieces with the highest possible quality standards.
To obtain parts please contact an authorized Tissot parts retailer. You can locate an authorized parts retailer by logging on to http://www.Tissot.ch or by contacting our Tissot Customer Care Department at the number listed below.
Please note that you also have the option of submitting your watch to one of our factory authorized service centers for repair. To take advantage of this option, attached are instructions on how to contact and forward your watch to an authorized repair facility in your area.
If you have any further questions please feel free to contact our Tissot Customer Care Department at 1-800-284-7768 or e-mail us at sgcst@swatchgroup.com.
With kind regards,
Tissot Customer Care
I made contact with the parties referred too, in return, I was told to contact the one that referred me to them in the first place, and nothing was resolved, pure aggravation! So I’m left with a “SWISS” watch I can’t wear, so it sits in one of my watch boxes gathering dust, a true waste of money (I ‘m selling it, trying to recoup my losses). I have several “SWISS” watches; and those companies have treated me with respect. Anytime I’ve had dealings with them, from simple questions to repair and replacement parts, I’ve been dealt with respect and courtesy. My other watches include American, Australian, French, German, (Japanese watches that are quality pieces) and Russian, to name a few.
Consider this, quality, craftsmanship, whether “Swiss made or not”, without customer support during and after the sale, the watch in my opinion is simply, junk, you might as well use it for a paper weight, for its intended purpose falls short and having it around only makes one upset.
I know many will find this hard to accept, a few will admit it’s happened to them too, but under there breath. The point is this, whether the watch manufacture is “Swiss or not”, without “TRUE CUSTOMER SUPPORT”, ones not any better then the other is it? So if your new watch has quality, craftsmanship and good customer support, enjoy, for there are others who have suffered under the hands of the above like me. Thanks for letting me VENT!
November 24th, 2005 at 21:47
http://www.crescentwatch.com
Well, If I was a crook, thats the website I would make, lol, I did buy a louis bolle for $100 usd, I am happy with it, I just bought the g/f a watch for 300 in a store, and this one is a little bit more quality, PLUS is charges itself, and has a see through back, very cool, makes my geek senses tingle… I would buy another if I wanted a watch for every occasion, but I am too simple for that. DONT BUY ANYTHING FROM THAT WEBSITE THOUGH!!
November 26th, 2005 at 19:41
do the dials actually work? days, weeks reserve etc…
November 28th, 2005 at 05:31
Fact is, most companies use marketing to their advantage. Most the time you wouldn’t know and people on ebay are looking for bargains always, so it’s the perfect setting.
Im sure maybe if these were to retail in a store, they could be worth $2000+ who knows… other brands in stores sell for 200-400 and are worst watches, so you cant really complain.
watches cost nothing to make, like sunglasses cost $3 for a pair which sells for $400… better believe it
November 28th, 2005 at 17:29
Well see my above comment, I got my watch back from Louis Bolle “fixed”. It went from gaining 5 minutes every 2 weeks to GAINING 5 MINUTES A DAY! I am asking for my money back.
December 6th, 2005 at 02:19
I bought a Trias watch, the Regulator. They do not claim the over price retail on their web site. This watch is awesome. I have others, some nice ones to some I wear in the yard. The watch is heavy, large; automatic that is keeping time within the standards. I rotate wearing this watch with an Invicta Lupah orange face and they both are the topic of discussion in a very positive way. I always tell people that the best made watches in the world are names they have never heard of. No one can disagree with that! Some how I feel like people walk away feeling more cultured in the unheard names found on some of the best looking watches in the world.
December 15th, 2005 at 07:10
Regarding comment # 36 — I had to eat my words for the statement earlier.
Update:
After several phone calls, letters and emails (by passing local representatives), I was able to make contact with the International Office for assistance.
———————————————————————————————————
On November 24th 2005, received (the following email):
Thank you very much for writing to us. It is very important that you got back to us stating your negative experience by purchasing a Tissot watch.
As a rule once one purchased a Tissot watch and the leather strap doesn’t fit, the customer shall get the extra large strap free of charge.
Could you please inform us where you have been to purchasing your watch in USA?
In any case we will also forward your request to the responsible brand director Swatch Group USA.
Please inform us about your complete address as well as the reference number of the case back and we will be glad to send you an extra large leather strap free of charge.
We are looking forward to receive your reply.
Best regards,
TISSOT SA
World Customer Service
On the 29th of November 2005, received:
Thank you very much for all the information.
As promised we will send you a leather strap extra large free of charge to the above mentioned address.
For more questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.
Best regards,
TISSOT SA
World Customer Service
———————————————————————————————————
On the 14th of December 2005, received:
One Tissot watch band, from Tissot Headquarters, Switzerland. The moral to this little saga, when dealing with individuals who pass the buck on a regular basis and only know how to irritate, it’s better to go directly to the source asking for assistance; by passing poorly trained (customer support) staff located in the United States.
I was assured by “Tissot” this would never happen again, they appreciated my patronage and the individuals responsible for the “poor customer support would be dealt with”.
A lesson learned, just because one purchases a high end watch, won’t guarantee one great customer support when needed, buyer beware comes to mine.
CASE CLOSED!
December 23rd, 2005 at 11:04
This message is for any skeptics out there reading this page: I recently purchased not one, but two different Louis Bolle watches; The Solstice 18k and The Informer. After careful inspection, I find the watches to be of excellent quality and detailed beauty. I work with a couple guys who are SERIOUS watch enthusiasts, and they were both equally impressed with my new aquisitions and asked where they could get themselves one or two. They also were shocked at the low price I got them for, as they expected them to be worth at least $500-1000 each. I am extremely pleased with my purchases and plan to make a few more purchases in the near future. So, the moral of the story: Simply because they may only sell online and post a much higher and flashier price tag on their website, doesnt make them a bad company, or bad watches for that matter. JUST SHUT UP AND BUY ONE. You will not regret it.
December 26th, 2005 at 09:58
Just receive my L. Bolle 18k Solstice the other day. Looks like a finely made timepiece. Open heart design with a rotating 3-finned flywheel over the balance is really neat to look at. A heavily textured dial with two retrogrades, 33 jewely and an engine turned rotor and movement… WOW!
I don’t understand why anyone would be upset with this company. Looks like an outstanding product for peanuts.
Hopefully, it should last a long time.
Dean
December 28th, 2005 at 18:38
You people are hilarious. Louis Bolle is a nonsense brand and you all know it. As compared to Omega, IWC, JLC, Oris, or ANY sincere watchworks, then LB is indeed utter crap. These watches have very crude automatic movements with equally crude embellishments of true craftsmanship. But yes, these are watches that tell time and from 10 feet away have an expensive air about them. (I absolutely LOVE the chrono pushers that change the day and date! So funny. And a 60-second scalse to go with… no second hand! Pure genius.) So good grief, just look on eBay for plenty of this stealth marketing — cheap neo-brand Italian suits are sold the same way. “Usually $3450, but for you sir $175!” So what are these LB worth? In my opinion about $50 in Chinatown. A suggested price of multiple $1000 is so comic it is pure performance art. Yes, it is bordering on fraud, but hey — a sucker is born every minute.
December 29th, 2005 at 03:57
Well, I just got one for xmas, a nice present from my sister. I like the watch and it seems to be of decent quality.
I’m more bothered that they sell on quixtar. Is everyone not aware that its for all intents and purposes - Amway on the internet? Just google either one and you can find lots of lives messed up by those fine people…
yes, the price marketing is cheesy, but not criminal, however the quixtar bothers me more.
DRK
December 29th, 2005 at 03:58
What about Duboule and Balmer wathces
December 30th, 2005 at 10:37
Hope someone can help. I recently purchased (22nd December 2005)a SUG Swiss made Yachting watch. It keeps excellent time but other aspects of the watch are not functioning: Chronograph; alarm; the 2 minute hands have not moved since I’ve had the watch. Perhaps it’s the battery. I’ve filled out my warranty & e-mailled it off etc. Does anyone know the SUG Company address & phone number? Is there such a company. I must say inspite of the problems the watch appears to be of a very high quality & is eye appealing. A response would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Brian A Mckarkiel-Powell.
December 30th, 2005 at 11:20
SUG watches
January 4th, 2006 at 08:37
Everyone here in this forum cracks me up. All the comments about scams, being deceived, so on and so forth. Has anyone ever heard of old-fashioned MARKETING tactics? lol I have a Masters Degree in International Business, with a Bachelors in Business Administration and Marketing. I’ve owned just about every watch brand there is. Yes, I still have them…and yes, I’m a watch enthusiast and collector. I have recently been turned on to the Rousseau, Balmer, and Louis Bolle line. Guess what? I love each and every one of them. They keep good time, I have experienced good customer service, and the fact of the matter is…each of these watches are like a museum piece. The only watch that I can think of that comes close to unique design and beauty is a Rado, but hey…be prepared to fork out $1,000 plus. ;o) I LOVE my watches and will continue on buying more, each to fit my mood and occasion. You naysayers and negative people only attract what you have…as the adage goes — “Misery ALWAYS attracts company!” Enjoy and be happy…I sure am. ;o)
January 8th, 2006 at 07:16
You have to be careful of the creative marketing. Some of these watches have Swiss made components but are manufactured in Hong Kong. Tavan watches are an example.
January 15th, 2006 at 15:08
I recently purchased a SUG, Tavan, Rousseau, and LB from Ebay auctions, I am an avid watch collector, and have a total over 133 watches. I was impressed with each and every one of them. The SUG had beautiful engraving on each side of the case, unlike any detail I’ve seen before. The Rousseau has the most striking face and brilliant blue hands, I find myself just looking at it on my wrist. Granted, the MSRP on the web sites are bogus, and truthfully, I don’t see why ANYONE would pay for a watch what you could buy a CAR for…it’s only telling you the time!! I buy them for the uniqueness in style, as they just add a finishing touch to your outfit. I get tons of compliments on them, they are comfortable and they are affordable. They function more than adequately for the money, the most I paid for one was $75. I’ve paid more for a Swatch, and most of them are PLASTIC!! Just enjoy a beautiful timepiece without losing your shirt! Give them as a gift and people will love you, because they would certainly believe that you paid a hell of a lot more than you did. The fact that each brand comes with an identical warranty card is a dead giveaway that they are all made by the same company, but who cares?? I’m happy with mine, because frankly I can’t afford to pay over $1000 to tell time. Have fun and bid!!
January 25th, 2006 at 05:12
Concerns regarding a Prague watch I purchased recently, it only comes with this information; company is located in Ft. Lauderdale Florida, and comes with only a phone number 1-866-579-2825. I purchased a Moon phase watch, looks great but when I need service I have to send it to: LP Service 1203 NW 65th Place, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309. No website is offered and after numerous calls and no answer except leave a message and a rep will contact you later. Unfortunately, later has never come, feel like I’ve been scammed on this purchase acquired from Overstock.com. Can anyone help me out with information on this watch style: 26860r0 MSRP: $295.00. The claim the watchband fits up to 8 ˝ inches only measures to 7 ˝, so I wanted to have a 20mm long band sent to me as a replacement, but so far I can’t get anyone to respond to my plea, can anyone help me? Overstock told me to return it I did, and after sending me a replacement watch it was the same problem band short, that took over 30 days!
Thanks,
Joe
February 1st, 2006 at 04:58
Update: “Concerns regarding a Prague watch”
My wife made contact with LP Service 1203 NW 65th Place, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309 after numerous phone calls, I gave up trying. The answer she received from a female rep was they would ship out a replacement band no charge. The rep said she along with others in the company tried to return my calls but had the wrong phone number, hum. Awaiting band, note rep said “Overstock.com” Makes and Sells “Prague Watches” and they “LP Service” only services them. Sounds like a new trend, wholesalers making there own brand watches and selling them on there site along with other products like “ShopNBC” with “Stuhrling Watches”. I will update this forum upon receiving said watch replacement; maybe I should make my own watch and sell it on the Internet eh?
February 13th, 2006 at 06:13
IF YOU THINK YOUR LOUIS BOLLE WATCH IS AWESOME, JOIN THE NEW LOUIS BOLLE USER GROUP AT YAHOO;
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOUISBOLLE/
February 15th, 2006 at 00:43
i recently purchased a sug seahwk on ebay, i am by no means a watch expert, but this seems to be well made watch! its a chronograph that keeps great time and all the secondary functions work. the reason i bought it was because i wanted a watch with a carben fiber face without paying a small fortune! i really like the watch, but hre is my problem the band is too tight and i cannot find anywhere to purchase extra links for it. ive tried their website and ther is no contact link, i also contacted seller from ebay and he couldnt help. if anybody can be of any help please contact me jdcrane20@hotmail.com, otherwise i will have to try to resell the watch on ebay.
March 8th, 2006 at 06:11
Update: “Concerns regarding a Prague watch”
Final contact with LP Service 1203 NW 65th Place, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309 after two weeks I did received replacement bands for the two watches mentioned earlier. The only problem, they were marked “LP” not “Prague” as I was lead to believe. In the end, I did receive replacement bands and they do fit the desired length. Lesson learned, what you see advertised is not always what you may receive!
Joe
March 13th, 2006 at 03:59
I have owned an LB Incognito six months and paid under $75.00. It has kept perfect time. I have received several compliments, and another watch afficianado has expressed great interest in purchasing a similar automatic watch. I am so pleased that I recently purchased an LB Apex. I have gotten a great deal from a timepiece which is timeless.
March 25th, 2006 at 01:04
I have just bought 2, the 18k somehting or other, and some other one. Now i just sit and wait, to see how good it will be. I got the one with a 215 Kw rotary engine with blowout valve…
(I dont know anything bout watches)
April 17th, 2006 at 16:09
I just received my LB Negotiator, my first real watch. This thing is beautiful, functional, and all for 100$. No complaints here.
On a side note, if you base your opinions on google and negative blog posters, you’re a true moron. Perhaps you’ve never met the the people of Amway/Quixtar who didn’t quit and who have prospered and helped others prosper because of that decision. I’m sure you’re prospering yourself and changing lives where you work.
Next purchase will be a ladies watch, then possibly a Crazy Hour.
April 17th, 2006 at 18:43
This company is a scam! My watch was sent to them for repair twice. They said I might need the replacement.
So, I sent it in again a month ago. I have never heard from them since then. I tried to call but no one answered and I emailed them, they all got rejected.
I will report this to government agency.
April 24th, 2006 at 20:37
I just got mine today. It is a beautiful watch. It is well put together and very classy looking. Google the TY-2856 movement and you will see several other high end watches using the same movement.
April 25th, 2006 at 21:48
I have to laugh at some of the responses. So what if Bolle isn’t sold in stores? There are hundreds of watch brands, some cheap and some expensive. Some are inexpensive, good watches and others are expensive pieces of crap. Rolexes keep lousy time. Dakota/Berrenger watches are sold at mall kiosks and they keep great time and are very stylish. Croton, which is mainly sold online is another brand that sells the full spectrum of products. Some of my most attractive watches are from Croton.
As for service, I have had problems with TAG and Raymond Weil.
April 28th, 2006 at 11:16
I bought a Rousseau and a Picard and Cie and I am completely happy with them. Especially the Rosseau If I told you what I paid for it you wouldnt believe it. and not only is it made well with a lot of complications but it comes with a alligator strap. I am completely sattisfied. MONK. 4/28/06
May 7th, 2006 at 06:15
I’m a professional student with not a lot of money to devote to my watch habit. For the meantime, Louis Bolle and Rousseau watches will do. They look beautiful. Aside for the prestige, can one honestly say that a Rolex is a stunning looking watch? I am certain that most people will not get past the name prestige — I call it good marketing. It was similarly employed for diamonds. Think about it, there’s a reason why one of my friends gets paid over $100,000 a year for being a VP of Marketing for her company. Still, movement is what you pay for. In my humble opinion, I personally will not pay at least 10 times as much to purchase a watch purely for movement. My watches have kept sufficient time so far. If it goes a little fast, then wind it back. As long as I’m not doing this too often, it’s copasetic. It is at the end of the day, still a (< $100) watch. For the record, none of my watches have been fast. So in short, if you’re thinking of buying one of these watches, do so if you can afford to spare $100 solely for exploratory purposes.
An advice for people out there who deal with watch repairs: if you like watches, make friends with your local watch repair stores. They are more than capable in fixing and maintaining most watches. Of course, I wouldn’t entrust a $30,000 watch to one of them but for most basic watches ($1000 or less), a local watch repair store is more than adequate. So save yourself the headache and have them fix a broken glass backcover or hands– I did for $25 and $15 respectively. Ultimately, a Louis Bolle watch that cost me $120 — $95 for the watch and $25 for repair– after 2 years is still a steal.
May 7th, 2006 at 10:13
I couldn’t stop myself from commenting after reading comment #50 from a guy who claims to have a Masters in Business. As a recent graduate from a Math and Business degree, just a bachelors though, I am quite familiar with business practices and ethics. I’m fairly confident that if everything on this page is true(I’m not saying it is), that Louis Bolle has been seriously misrepresenting itself. Although not necessarily illegal, it doesn’t take a business major to realize that jacking up MSRPs and creating fabricated tales of excellence aren’t good business practices.
May 8th, 2006 at 06:07
If the inflated MSRP’s don’t tell you this is a scam, then the shilling going on here should.
The websites for the several related eBay brands mentioned here were obviously created to mislead potential eBay bidders and that is just plain unethical. So, do you want to give your money to someone like that? Even if the watches are worth the $200 or so that they’re going for (which I seriously, seriouly doubt… I’d go with the $20 figure mentioned by another poster who is in touch with reality)… anyway, do you really want to reward someone who does business this way?
There are plenty of good brands that sell for reasonable prices with good reputations like Invicta, Orient and such. Go buy one of those and leave the questionable stuff alone… or, at least, go buy a replica Rolex or something so you know you’re still getting junk, but junk with a better name on it!
May 14th, 2006 at 18:42
Does anyone know when the Company of Louis Bolle started???
May 14th, 2006 at 20:30
Hello to everybody.
FUNNY NOTE!!!
today when i went to Louis Bolle site in the morning to look at PALISADE 2 , and then it coast MSRP: $ 1799 and now by the evening it costs MSRP: $ 2995
But I am still going to buy LB watches!
May 19th, 2006 at 21:46
I knew these are scams but today I bid for Picar and Cie and won it for 26 in ubid + shipping comes $34 .They say it have Citizen movement ,can I belive them ?. In china town rado knockoff cost $40 ! so I think am fine here … I will never pay more than $50 for this …you get better deal for lucien picard at overstock.com …my take on this
May 24th, 2006 at 05:28
Louis Bolle = Montres Allison = Well known scam brand in the watch industry.
First, compare the sites http://www.louisbolle.com and http://www.montresallison.com
You will see a lot of similar looking watches.
Then, Google “montres allison ripoff report”. And go to the Rip Off Report site and read.
Now to finalize, go to http://www.millionsmart.com
Million Smart is the Chinese company that produces these for about $5-$10 per watch.
In short, just DO NOT BUY these jokes.
If you really want one, go to China Town (at least in NYC), and buy one with Million Smart movement for about $50.
It will be the exact same looking and same inside as your Louis Bolle.
–> But for added bonus, the watches from China Town will bear names like “Franck Muller” or “Breguet”
May 27th, 2006 at 03:29
OKAY, AFTER 71 COMMENTS THE NUMBERS ARE IN….
16 comments are AGAINST Louis Bolle, where they’re made, or against the people that like them.
28 comments are FOR Louis Bolle (most owners really love em).
7 comments which are both FOR and AGAINST them.
And finally, 20 comments that don’t pertain directly to LBs or are neutral in nature.
I honestly can see how some folks would be upset, insulted, or even feel ripped off with these watches. I think this is due to the fact that the world and the way product come into our lives is changing, and changing fast. The way we’re being “sold” products and “marketed” these days is in new, and constantly evolving, fast paced, aggressive manner. Add to the mix the power of the internet and the entire Chinese workforce and you probably should be freaked out. The folks that want to hold onto the past will no doubt have the toughest road ahead. Those who embrace this new way should be able to take life easier.
So, if you love your expensive timepiece, cool! If you love your inexpensive multi-complication Bolle, head on over to the Louis Bolle User Group at Yahoo. It’s at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOUISBOLLE/
There, you’ve just been “marketed” again. Hopefully, you feel in a good way.
Dean
June 2nd, 2006 at 20:40
I happened upon this blog while doing some research on Louis Bolle and Balmer watches. While some have written favorably on these brands, the truth remains that their claim to Swiss heritage is false. These are Asian-made watches capitalizing on the history and reputation of the Swiss. A while back, I brought the case of Heuer-Lambelet before FHS.CH. Since then, Tag Heuer has taken action and taken legal claim of that brand. Bolle and Balmer will be harder to pursue because there may not be direct trademark infringement–unless the “Swiss Made” stamp on their dial is a clear violation (it probably is, since no factories in CH build these watches). You may like these watches, but you should realize you’re overpaying for a non-existant Swiss brand.
June 2nd, 2006 at 22:22
Also for a bit of amusement, visit the sites for Louis Bolle, Balmer, Rousseau, Picard, etc. and compare their strangely similar histories, clearly the fictitious product of a single writer.
June 3rd, 2006 at 17:42
It’s not that difficult. Louis Bolle “etal” type watches are precisely what they claim and appear to be. I own a dozen and I’ve never had a problem with any of them. As I see it, you either get the charm and cleverness of mechancial (automatic) watches or you don’t, and price is really not the point if they elegant to look at, run well, and prove reliable as has every watch in my collection. The fact that these watches consistently do everything they claim is a rhetorical coment on intrinsic value. These watches couldn’t possibly autowind, run several dials and “fractional second” sweep hand if they weren’t built to excruciatingly accurate tolerances and exacting detail. After running them both, it’s far more difficult to justify the price of and value of my Oyster class Rolex than it is my favorite Louis Bolle(s). Don’t get me wrong, I love Rolex but is it inherently 200 x superior to the Louis Bolle? Aside from the gold in the case, of course not. These Chinese companies represent capitalism operating at its finest, allow regular guys a shot at owning a watch movement that couldn’t possibly be afforded in any other form. The whole “movement” is bloody genius, and the world of watch collecting is easily the better for it!
June 4th, 2006 at 19:54
This is an interesting read:
http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&goto=1016&rid=0
I have no issues with people paying $50 for a knockoff watch built in the far east; they getting what they pay for. However, why do Bolle, Omikron, Balmer, etc. claim a Swiss origin? The answer is obvious: to use the Swiss watchmaking reputation as a way to increase sales and profits. Could Balmer et al sell their watches if they replaced their fictitious “Swiss Made” label with “Made in China”? I’ll guess far fewer–and for less money.
Good capitalism works within legal guidelines, and the term “Swiss Made” has strict conditions to its use: http://www.fhs.ch/en/swissm.php
June 5th, 2006 at 04:09
In reading this thread 2 things occured to me. First, that I had to get one of these watches to take it apart and see for myself what they are all about. Secondly, I find it amuzing that the Swiss would have any issue at all since they did the same thing 150 years ago when they copied and exported to the US market, cheap, inferior pocket watches. Congress tried to end it by passing a law in 1871 to require all manufacturers to display the country of origin. The Swiss fakes got better in quality but really died out about the turn of the century. Maybe the quality of these isn’t up to par with the Swiss watches of today, but it also took some time before the Japanese auto manufacturers produced a product the equalled or surpassed the US products. Certainly the whole concept of making “fake” websites with some stupid fictional story of “Louis Bolle” and his history and linking to the various eBay auctions is ethically suspect at best, but hey, the Swiss would make thier watches with names like US companies, and the Japanese named one of thier islands “USA” so they could say made in USA. It rides the fine line and certainly “let the buyer beware” is the motto of the day. I can’t wait to take this thing apart….lol
June 5th, 2006 at 19:06
“…I find it amuzing that the Swiss would have any issue at all”
I too find it amusing that practices 150 years ago would be used to defend trademark violations now. After all, “Swiss made” is now a clearly defined legal trademark in the US (source: uspto.gov). If this practice were merely “ethically suspect,” US Customs and legal counsel wouldn’t pursue and win such cases. A case in point is the watch brand “Heuer-Lambelet”, no longer produced because TAG Heuer won legal action against the brand. As with the other “Swiss” companies listed above (#7), I think it’s only a matter of time before similar action is taken.
There are a few claims circulating the internet that are worth addressing. One claim is that Swiss watch companies don’t care about brand forgery or misuse of the “Swiss Made” label; anyone can sell fake watches with impunity. Not surprisingly, watch companies are no different than other trademarked products, and will take legal action to protect their products and profits.
Another claim is that “Swiss Made” is a deceptive term used by the Swiss watch industry to “rip people off”. As proof, this person then proceeds to list the legal conditions for the “Swiss Made” trademark, noting how these compare unfavorably with conditions established for the “Made in US” label. Ironically, they assert the Swiss have somehow implicated themselves by setting clear legal guidelines to protect their products. Amusingly, these claims are made by someone from Americanwatchdesign.net, which is owned by Montres Allison, and whose watches have been compared to those of a Hong Kong manufacturer. See the article listed above for details.
Perhaps too much has been made of the “Swiss Made” label, and arguably some Swiss watches are far superior to others. And there’s nothing to suggest that good watches can’t be made elsewhere. However, the real issue I see is one of full product disclosure; consumers should know what they’re buying and from whom. In today’s internet marketplace, outside the relative safety of authorized dealers, it’s upon the consumer to be aware and protect themselves.
June 8th, 2006 at 01:39
Well, I got the watch in and no where on the watch is the “Swiss made” label or any variation of such. So while on the websites they claim some Swiss heritage they do not violate trademark law. They are certainly shady in their dealings but that can be said for many firms. I was surprised to see that the watch does work and this weekend I intend to disssect it for laughs. I can clearly see some manufacturing issues even before taking it apart so I don’t think the major watch manufacturers have anything to worry about for the near future. I do agree with the folks on this blog who find issue with the marketing aspects of this product and others like it. And for the poster who didn’t like my 150 year old comparison, it was merely to point out that markets change and “Swiss Made” now has a much better standing today in the watch world than it did 150 years ago and Japanese cars are much better today than just 20 years ago so the technology/manufacturing gaps close much faster today than years ago. I wasn’t trying to justify patent/trademark violation because of actions 150 years ago. So watches made in China may well become fashionable in just a few years. The way their market is exploding it may be quicker than that. Just my observations.
June 8th, 2006 at 03:16
Louis Bolles are for the most part, original designs. Out of their 100+ models, only a few of their older models resemble popular high end hand-made watches. This is what got them started.
Their Informer model does somewhat resemble an Eberhard Chrono 4 with its quad sub dials that run across the lower portion of the main dial, but the LB subdials show very different functions, and thus, are not the exact same graphically. Also, some of the Bolle’s open-heart and flywheel balance designs have flavors of Mullers and other exotics. But for the most part, they ARE original watches, and I believe are worth defending.
And to avoid any confusion, Louis Bolles (specifically that brand) do not state on them “Swiss Made” anywhere on them. They do, however, say “China” inside the caseback (I do not know if this is true about any other watches from this maker).
Other than the made up (marketing) story about Louis Bolle on their official site, there is nothing else that suggests anything to do with the Swiss at all.
Sure, you can knit pick if you want… LB’s do have some other features which are characteristic of almost all other automatic watches, like haaaands, diiiiials, straaaaaps, crowns, etc. which it must have in order to be a watch.
Are they copies? I don’t believe this qualifies them as such. In fact, I think these folks are downright clever, and in my opinion the Swiss SHOULD be worried.
On another note… to the gentleman on the previous post; When you take apart your LB to see what makes it tick, please post your finding on the louisbolle user group on Yahoo. We’d love to hear your analysis on the inner workings, no matter what the findings are.
Dean
June 8th, 2006 at 04:53
There’s an old adage that states that “You can’t scam an honest man”. Really, does any reasonably intelligent individual think that you could possibly buy a $3000,00 watch for $200.00? Over many years I’ve purchased both cheap and expensive timepieces. None have worked as accurate instruments on my wrist and have lanquished in my warch box, a Tag-Heuer being the most recent. The doctor reports that I have a high rate of electricity in my body (really)and that mechanical watches will not function well on my arm. At any rate approximately 20 year ago I responded to a magazine ad and purchased a cheap $28.00 watch. I’ve worn it every day since, replaced that battery 4 times and replaced the watch band 3 times. It keeps excellent time. It’s so cheap, there isn’t even a manufacturers name to be found anywhere on the watch. The point is, it does what it’s supposed to do, it keeps the time. I don’t need a $3,000.00 piece of jewelry to keep me abreast of the time, and I certainly don’t need to flash an expensive name brand watch to impress anyone. I recently acquired through bid, a Louis Bolle Slope Power Reserve watch from UBID.com. It was not purchased at a preset purchase price. It was an auction. UBID did not suggest that the watch was selling in stores for $3,000.00, it mentioned that the MSRP was $3,000.00. In fact, the advertising copy only states that “today we offer these timepieces INSPIRED by the spirit of this master watchmaker”. It does not state that they were made in Switzerland by Swiss watchmakers. However, when my Louis-Bolle arrived, I really expected to receive a block of wood with a painted face. Instead what I received was a well-made, timepiece of reasonable quality, that keeps excellent time. Was I scammed? I think not. Embarrassingly, several of my clients have inquired as to what kind a watch it is and where can they purchase one. My comment is that it was a gift from my son and I couldm’t possibly ask him what he paid for it or where he got it. By the way, I’ve just won a bid for a Rousseau Rhapsody for $58.00, and if it is anywhere as nice as the Louis-Bolle, I may jus start a collection of these “scams”. I’ve spent more than that in one day at the golf course.
June 8th, 2006 at 18:07
“In fact, I think these folks are downright clever, and in my opinion the Swiss SHOULD be worried.”
Yes, that distributor in Carrollton, TX has a history of being clever. Whether or not they stick “Swiss Made” on a particular watch, they sure play loosely with the truth, and sometimes they get into trouble. Apparently this Texas company thinks so well of Switzerland, they use a fictitious history to play up their watches. And Ken is right: an “honest man” can tell the difference between an honest brand and a fabrication. Personally, I think the Swiss are most worried about brand confusion. That Texas company does a nice little dance around the truth, but I’m sure the FHS is watching every step.
June 8th, 2006 at 19:14
“So while on the websites they claim some Swiss heritage they do not violate trademark law. So while on the websites they claim some Swiss heritage they do not violate trademark law.”
Some of websites do use “Swiss Made” on their watches, and for the others, what impression would those fictitious “Swiss” histories have on the average buyer? It’s no great mental leap to suggest they’d assume a Swiss origin. Last time I talked to FHS.ch, they were concerned about these fictitious watch histories, so I’ll let them determine whether their lawyers will pursue this angle. That said, anyone familiar with Swiss watches should immediately recognize the difference between a Louis Bolle and an IWC, which incidentally have similar msrps. No doubt there are people sold on Bolle and other brands, but I’m sure many readers here are able to educated themselves on the differences between Bolle, IWC, Panerai or many other fine watches. It’s to these good people I write.
June 10th, 2006 at 08:15
#82- Yes, that distributor in Carrollton, TX has a history of being clever.
Yup…. because they do MARKETING! They’re doing exactly what our society lets them do…. bend or make-up the truth in order to sell products. This is not a new thing.
Believe me, AAM isn’t one billionth as dirty as Merck, Phillip Morris or Exxon, or any of the entities that actually hurt people (like our own government, for instance).
AAM sells exceptionally nice timepieces (for the money) and they’ve created a new market for a huge emerging country.
My guess is that the people who’d believe the facticious Swiss story which is used to give the watch street creds, probably are not buying the watch because of that. They like how it looks to /on them.
Those that like the line, and understand the story is BS, won’t be buying the watch for that reason either. So who cares about it?
Hey, this is just my opinion folks. It’s 3:11am (according to my Bolle). Time for lights out.
Dean
June 11th, 2006 at 15:34
Well, I just bought a Rousseau from quixtar auction and paid $73. Thought it was a good deal but I guess I’ll find out when it arrives. I’ve always had positive experiences with quixtar so I thought it was weird that one of their partner stores would be pulling this sort of marketing scheme. I googled Rousseau, LB and Tavan to do some reaserch and this is what I found: These watches are chinese made (but so is everything these days
… majority of people of bought them on ebay, compusa auction, ubid gave satisfactory reviews, according to a post on ebay a manufacturer can claim a watch is swiss made if it contains at least 50% swiss made parts, assembled, finished and inspected in Switzerland. All the background stories on the brands are interesting but in the end they only say that the watches are given the brands of the swiss men, not that they are made by them or their family( sneaky use of words ).
I don’t know how Always @ Market do business on other sites but fortunately quixtar requires all their partner stores provide 100% satisfaction guarantee. I’ll repost the condition of the watch when I get and make any conclusions then. I also bought 2 J-Springs by Seiko watches from them and paid $46 and $47 so at least I know they do sell other name brand products.
June 13th, 2006 at 07:06
Wow this is so stupid, I guess people just want to think that they can buy a 4000 dollar watch when they only have 200 bucks. Maybe the owner of luis bolle is very unconfident in his product and has to make up stories(fake values) of his watches, although the real answer is that anyone buying these is doing so compulsively and that the luis bolle company is reselling these things for a huge profit behind an excellent marketing strategy. One can make up all the excuses in the world, they are cheap. It would be a disgrace for Honda to say their car is worth that of a Ferrari, and everyone should know it. Sorry to burst your bubble.
June 13th, 2006 at 20:26
well i just got done reading all eighty-some-odd comments and its hard to believe so much controversy in a years time. I too bid on a louis bolle solstice with the silver dial. its quite beautiful. I have ten days to accept and pay for the bid. i never expected the quality of a 3000 dollar watch. i hear good and bad stories alike and am currently impartial to this whole topic until i have received my watch. BUT, is the top really a sapphire coated crystal, and does the watch really have an actual alligator strap. are the workings on the inside of the watch quality? i need some answers before i expect myself to pay for a watch w/ a fake history@!@
June 15th, 2006 at 17:11
“is the top really a sapphire coated crystal, and does the watch really have an actual alligator strap. are the workings on the inside of the watch quality?”
You nailed why people should avoid paying more than $50 for these watches. There’s no way to verify watch quality before buying, since nobody can walk into a trusted shop to inspect the watch and get an expert opinion. If Louis Bolle, Rousseau, Montres Allison, etc. were such fine top-tier timepieces, they would be sold alongside other quality watches in respected watch shops. Where is that happening?
June 15th, 2006 at 17:18
This is funny. The ONLY thing these guys are guilty of is infating the MSRP - and even then, that’s questionable. This same type of watch, with same complications, does average for those claimed amounts (thy just aren’t made in china).
I collect watches, and have several from Always At Market. They are everybit as nice as any others I have (including several omega’s), yet get much much more comments.
Contrary to what people here are saying, they do not claim swiss made ANYHWERE. Their company stories are legital. Read them carefully - they do not claim to be the same company. They give you the background of the name or person, then claim “in the spirit of XXX”, etc. These are known as “tribute” models/brands in a lot of industries. Companies buy/assume long dormant names, or come up with a name based on famous historical person. It’s a gimmick, yes. But they don’t outright lie. Only those who skim over it will miss it. They do not invent the history - but they have no claim to it either beyond naming a company “in tribute” to it/them. As a matter of fact, the swiss watch itself industry maintains a list of defunct swiss brands that you can buy and resurrect!
The only brand to claim swiss MOVEMENT is Balmer, and it could very easily be, as there are a lot of “legal” ways to claim this for minimal effort while using a chinese movement as the base. Heck, basic Swiss ETA auto movement’s are not expensive and one could easily make a watch using this movement and sell it online for under $150 and make good money, vs the SAME movement in other watches costing well over $1000. Rhonda’s and swiss quartz movement are even cheaper - I could invest $25 per piece in production to make quartz watches (like the Tavan brand) with “swiss movt” legitimatley stamped on the dial!
Folks need to
1) read more carefully!! Just because the PERSON Louis Bolle was a watchmaker in switzerland, does not mean the COMPANY using his name is swiss. Just because he lived 200 years ago does not mean the company named after him has been around for 200 years. If I started a watch company and named it “Christopher Columbus”, and told you the history of him and said the company was named in honor of him, would you assume my company was started by him and has been around for hundreds of years??? NO! But thats what people here are doing.
2) don’t pass judegment on quality if they don’t have one in their hands. These are nowhere near the $20 knock-offs some people want to claim they are.
3) remember the labor costs in china are basicly non-existant. This is a HUGE reason for differences in price. Your $500 leather jacket costs $5 to make in china.
June 16th, 2006 at 01:54
Bought three Rousseau watches on E-Bay auctions for about $75 each (average). Retail price is irrelevent! I don’t care what the retail price is! Each one is a great watch and I love them! My father worked for 50 years and the company gave him a cheap watch when he retired! These watches are great, and I intend to share my happiness with everyone I meet. So there, you nasty negative people. I hope one of my friends gives you one for your birthday! Take That!!!
June 17th, 2006 at 04:21
Once again…. if you are a fan of the Louis Bolle line of watches, check out the user group at;
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOUISBOLLE/
LOUIS BOLLE; Ticking Off Watch Purists Since 2004
June 17th, 2006 at 05:54
The amount of defensive rationalization for these watches is incredible. Either the watch is Swiss or it isn’t. Your inability to determine the line between good business ethics and deception does not prove a point–nor would it in court. I challenge anyone here who owns one of these “Swiss” watches to bring it to a qualified jeweler or watchmaker for an expert opinion. Then, post what they say. Stop being pawns for dishonest businessmen.
June 17th, 2006 at 06:39
Still no one has begun to answer an of my questions. I have yet to get a reply that answers yes or no: are the watches detailed w/ genuine leather straps, is the cover of the face really a sapphire coated crystal, are the workings inside the watch a viable quality? all ive read are personal here-says and dancing and prancing around the issue of how good these watching can be or may be. nothing here needs to be a personal strike against a watch company bc they recieved a faulty product. If based my purchasing on how many times i bought a faulty product, well hell, i’d stop spending money period. the fact is i like the style of the watch; i just want to know if the things they say in the description are true. who gives a shit about a fake background or a “true to life but not really true to the watch” story. Im just looking for three answers than can suppress all other questions. does it have to be so hard as to come to a forum where ppl really cant speak their mind truly?
June 19th, 2006 at 21:08
“I have yet to get a reply that answers yes or no”
Seriously, it’s hard for anyone to answer that because these watches are not sold in stores where we can actually handle the product before we buy. There’s really nobody to independently test and stand behind these watches in the way many authorized watch retailers stand behind their watch lines. That’s why many people discussed the fictitious histories and parent company of Heuer-Lambelet, Balmer, et al because it suggests something about the parent company. I’d suggest getting to know a watch dealer that you trust and getting their feedback on these brands.
June 21st, 2006 at 01:24
Just in case someone reading all these comments hasn’t figured out, most of these people are in the Quixar/Amway cult and of course they are not going to say bad things about their watch scams.
June 25th, 2006 at 01:19
THere is a whole lot of naivete about marketing running around this thread! I have no affiliation with any of the brands or mfrs discussed here; I just collect watches, including serious brands (YLC, Omega) and whimsical ones. I just received my first Bernoilli (Mimic champagne, and yes I’m aware, and am waiting on delivery of a Louis Bolle. Frankly, the watch is far better and nicer looking than I expected for the $57 I paid (including shipping).
Let’s be real here about marketing: it’s the art of telling people what they want to hear in order to induce them to buy something — and to convince them that what they are spending is worth it. Hopefully this is done without outright lying, but “deception” of a sort is inevitable and universal (have you ever bought a fast-food burger thinking it was actually going to look and taste as good as the picture/description leads you to believe?)
The truth of the matter as far as I can see, reading carefully, is that the LB, Rousseau, and other sites tell absolutely no lies about their products. Yes, they invoke the “spirit” of Swiss forbears that have nothing tangible to do with their watches, but marketing is all about ambiance, and there is nowhere where you will see them state that *these* watches are Swiss-made — just Swiss-inspired. [NOTE: I can’t comment on what resellers might be saying in their auctions, but that is a whole different level of caveat emptor].
As for quality control, time will tell on the cut-rate watches I bought recently. I can, however, tell you that I have spent $thousands on a genuine YLC Reverso that happened to arrive DOA (unwindable — jammed spring). Of course they fixed it, and it took about 6 or 7 weeks to come back in pristine shape. Apparently about the same experience others have had with these $50 watches! See, customer service and qualityu control issues can exist anywhere (doh!)… Nevertheless, I love my ultra-pricy Yaeger LeCoultre watches for what they are, and I also appreciate my Chinese knock-offs for what they are — interesting designs (even if clearly derivative — isn’t almost everything in art derivative or evocative of something/one else?) and OK quality for an appropriate price.
They may not be quite “there” yet, but if anyone here doubts that the Chinese watchmakers will give the mainstream a run for its money someday, then I suggest you review your 20th-century history a bit, and see how many times something like that has happened in other industries (did someone say cars, steel, clothing, durable goods, etc., etc.?)
June 25th, 2006 at 09:02
Where can I found Jacques Cantani and Jacques Cavadini watches manufaturer to start a new business ?
Thanks
Mireille
June 26th, 2006 at 00:45
I too have bought watches that are considered “scam” watches and most recently I bought a SUG Challenger for about $ 36.00 US (that price includes shipping). I feel I got a nice looking watch but of dubious quality..yea it loses time. Anyone got any ideas on where to send it for “authorized” repairs ? It is of course still under warranty !!! HELP !!!
June 27th, 2006 at 00:26
In answer to my question above (recieved via E-mail upon request at SUG site) the address to send a SUG watch for repair is…
SUG Watches
Attn: Repair Dept.
1545 Capital Dr.
Carrollton, Texas 75006
You must include: Your name, mailing address,email address,phone#,description of problem, and proof of purchase. They claim turn around 4-6 weeks upon reciept. Wish me luck !
July 5th, 2006 at 03:13
Swiss cheese made in Mexico; Italian sausage made in the USA; French toast from wherever; English mustard, Spanish omelet, Persian rugs. Come on, guys, who gives a doody? I read the comments, I knew what I was getting, so I went for a couple of these LB timepieces, and you know something? They’re really pretty good. For $50 to $175 they’re a nice addition to any snappy dresser’s wardrobe, and by golly they fool most everyone. “Nice watch!” Where did you get it?” Wow, I gotta get me one of these!”
July 5th, 2006 at 18:47
Louis Bolle Rousea and a few other watches are made in Taiwan. I inquired about this from a discounter selling these watches. They are worth about 50 Bucks. Don’t pay anymore for one. I bought one for 1.25 on Ebay and Bid on a few more but stopped at 25.00 the wathes sold for less then 50.00. They are Taiwanese made and are very cheap to produce. So if you pay more then 50.00 you are not getting a value. They are purchased for around 10.00 apiece by discounters shipped to them in Bulk. I am simply amazed an people thta buy into the scam and pay 200 bucks and more. PT Barnum said it best.
July 15th, 2006 at 01:29
I have purchased a Rousseau(Rhaphsody). I must admit that I was somewhat excited at the claim of the MSRP(29995.00)but did I honestly expect to purchase any watch with such a claim for under 1000.00? OF COURSE NOT!! What I did expect was to receive was a watch that kept good time amd looked nice on my watch. What did I get? A watch that KEEPS GOOD TIME,LOOKS GOOD on my wrist and gets compliments from strangers,friends,and loved ones.
I paid 70 dollars for the Rousseau on Ebay,including shipping and so far after a month it is still going.
Bottom line is this. As others have staed,be SMART and don’t expect to get a 3000.00 watch for fifty bucks people. If you like these(or any other watch)and have the money ,buy them. Just be mindful and use common sense. I would however advise against paying the MSRP for this9or any other watch). JMO.
I mean,I personally would rather rest comfortably in the fact that the money is safe in my accounts ready to serve me in other ways.
Again,JMHO.
July 25th, 2006 at 01:32
Just got my Louis Bolle “Paramount” (first watch that comes up in the collections page on the company website). Has an MSRP of $3,495; I paid $86 total (including shipping) through ubid.com. It is a substantial watch and is beautiful. Can’t speak yet on timekeeping ability, but had I seen it in a store for a few hundred, I would have been sorely tempted. Had I seen it in a store for $86 and the salesman told me of reports of +/- 20 seconds/day, I would have still jumped all over it.
Why? Because I don’t plan on being lost in the jungle for a year and rely on my watch to keep perfect time so I can time the solstice perfectly… In a souless, digital world of cold precision meted out by zeroes and ones, I appreciate a watch as much for its beauty as its functionality. Would it be nice if these were more accurate than Harrison’s transatlantic timepiece? Sure, but I don’t feel scammed at all for my $86. I spent the money more for the art than the measurement.
That said, had a salesmen talked me into the purchase at near retail price and I then discovered the online prices, I would have been furious. As things stand, I’m delighted.
July 25th, 2006 at 17:13
My above comments, of course, are coming from somone who doesn’t intend to rely on this watch a an everyday workhorse.
July 30th, 2006 at 22:46
If you want a good looking watch, these are fine. Just don’t pay more than they are worth. Wholesale prices range from $5 to $12, so anything you pay over that is profit to the seller. These watches are made in either China or Taiwan and are serviceable until the battery runs out or the movements start acting up.
There are a few websites like http://www.propertyroom.com where you can get them very cheap. My only warning is that you don’t pay too much. I would guess anything over $35 including s&h is too much. Good luck
August 5th, 2006 at 05:29
I must say…..I have 12 watches from Invicta to Movado to Rolex…..Louis Bolle watches seem to be good quality. I believe that you SHOULD do your best to find the BEST deal possible only because of the unknown, but based on what I’ve seen…..not a bad watch and hey……you have to respect their marketing approach.
August 6th, 2006 at 07:34
I have bee collecting watches for several years and have all the big names including some of the lesser ones such as Invicta, Croton, Android, etc.., etc.. I must say I was introduced to S.U.G., Louis Bolle, Rousseau, Balmer, Picard & Cie about 6 months ago and i personally get more compliments with any if these especially the Balmer Galaxy and Louis Bolles skeleton models such as the Labyrinth and Sovereign. I would not trade any of these watches in for another rolex or Tag they all look the same. I haven’t had one problem with any of these watches and there looks are second to none. I’ve easily spent over $200,000 dollars on watches that barely ever get a second look. I actually have people stop and ask me about these. I say if you like it buy it. In my opinion a scam is taking a $10 watch and putting a Rolex name on it, not some companies or company selling different brands with different marketing strategies. If you ask me there genuises using teh modern market of the internet to sell millions more watches than if they had to put a whole marketing team together to go dept stores and the like.
August 18th, 2006 at 21:44
I have a great story about the Bolle watches. I bought 3 of them for less than the price of my Citizen Eco-Drive (knowing exactly what they were when making the purchase). Anyway, I was shopping at Bailey, Banks & Bittle (high-end Jewelry Store here) and happened to be wearing one of the Bolle’s. The girl at the counter was admiring my watch and finally ask where I had purchased it and what the price was as she just knew her boyfriend would love it. While she was asking me, a man approached who was wearing a Rolex. He too asked about the watch, stating it was much nicer than his Rolex. I proceeded to tell them the story (the actual story behind the watches). Too make a long story short, BOTH ended up purchasing a Bolle. I agree, as long as you know what you are getting and pay accordingly, you’ll receive a decent timepiece. I’ve had mine for quite some time now and so far, they have all done as well as my Citizen as far as keeping time. With the internet providing the world at your fingertips, research is a must before buying ANYTHING, whether it be $1 or $1,000,000
August 21st, 2006 at 23:55
Reading through some of the post it’s clear to me what’s going on with these watches. It’s one of the greatest marketing strategies of all time. Honda did something very similar in the early 90’s when they launched the Acura line of cars; they knowingly built and sold the NSX at a loss until December of 2005. I wouldn’t be surprised if these watches become harder to find at these great prices in the near future. I’ve begun to notice a few online shops selling several S.U.G. models for around $250.00 and a few at higher price.
I remember one of my co-workers telling me that he purchased his Rolex for $300 or $400 when he returned home from the Vietnam War (he has over 10,000 helicopter flight hours these days), and look at the price tags on those dinosaurs’. I’d say if you have one that you really like; order another! To each his own, but that’s my plan. I see these companies as start up companies, like Honda, Seiko, and Samsung. I purchased a Samsung Stereo VCR and a overpriced Akia Stereo VCR in 1989. I paid just over $100 for the then “no name” Samsung Stereo VCR and nearly $700 for the Akia Stereo VCR. After being used as my everyday VCR the Samsung drive motor finally crapped out about 5 years ago. I can’t even remember when I ditched the Akia; I might have gotten two or three years out of that hulk. My point is just because something cost a lot, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s of better quality.
August 23rd, 2006 at 13:53
HI just bought a Louis Bolle watch retailed at $3950 for just $55 on ebay. Received it and its excellent. Keeps great time and looks the part. Looks extremley well made and is an automatic. It keeps better time than my origional 12 year old Gucci that i get fed up changing the batteries every 2 years or so. I think you get a little more than you pay for. Kindest regards David
August 26th, 2006 at 18:11
Just came across this site, not sure what the majority audience is, but my guess is the many of the naysayers don’t understand or own good timepieces. My wife and I enjoyed spending some time last evening at Tourneau and Isaac (carry the more rare pieces) discussing these topics.
Only around 3% of the population own a >$1000 piece, and of those, 80% own multiple or have a collection.
There are a lot of private collections and newer makers of fine timepieces. Your high end timepiece most likely isn’t even as good at keeping time as your average $300 watch (6 seconds/day vs 3 seconds/year). I have a collection (though just beginning and haven’t broken into the 100 club), including some of my favorites Tavan, Louis Bolle, and Bernoulli. These are quality pieces, finely crafted, and have great style. Like a few others have stated, I will gladly purchase more of these over something like a Rolex, which I find rather boring. Other favorites are Rado, Breitling, Movado.
But this is just my opinion.
August 26th, 2006 at 20:10
Quite humorous, now looking back at some of the responses. For someone to think that paying less than MSRP, or for the Mfr to suggest the MSRP is a scam? That’s a rather uninformed statement as a consumer.
From Business 101, I believe MSRP stands for Mfr’s Suggested Retail Price, (perhaps counterintuitive) which to me means the mfr suggests a retail price. To the “uniformed”, next time you go to the register with your clothing, make sure they don’t scam you into paying anything less than the MSRP. Insist on paying full. And in cash.
September 1st, 2006 at 11:33
Ruff Ruff, Whoof Whoof Whoof! Ruff Ruff! Whoof! Ruff!
lol? Wasabi? I buy & sell these watches & others on ebay & I can say it is getting more & more $$$ to buy these. I used to buy for 30.-50. ea. & sell 100. They have 1 of 2 moves. Swiss Ronda 505.24 or a jap seiko. Boh fair & sound moves! If You want a Rolex, like mine, save Your pennies. You can pick buy Rolex on ebay for below retail. otherwise, drop a c-note & when someone asks, tell em’ u can get them 1 below retail & charge them 200. u get 1 free. it’s capitalism @ its finest. screw ur friend! I rec. the Swiss Ronda!!! name brand does not mean “quality” & less expensive does not mean “cheap”. aren’t yous alls edumacateds??? You all want a good quality watch @ a damn fine price…check out “Tachmeister”!!!
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Husky Rule #1: Up The Irons!
September 1st, 2006 at 11:47
To John Q: if you’ve spent easily $200,000.00 on watches, I’d say you’re a damn idiot or a liar. I own a Cartier & a Rolex & an 1850 KW/KS Gold & Silver highly engraved Move. w/ Boa Strap & they blow away these Bolles & Picards away. I also own Gold & Silver Antique French & other museum quality pieces & they are all head & shoulders above the lessers. A Rolex feels infintelly better on the wrist then a Bolle or SUG.PERIOD! John Q. must be a liar. $200,000.00 my ass, ever consider feeding starving children? yes i do that too. fool.
September 3rd, 2006 at 02:20
I bought a Louie Bolle watch, I was skeptical at first but what the hell. For $63.00 and I’m one of those poor suckers anyway, why not. After all I was suckered in on a Mercedes once and it was one of the most undependable cars I’ve ever owned. Anyway the watch is surprisingly nice very attractive and keeps great time. It has to be made in China. Isn’t everything anymore? Everything about it seems to be good quality. Oh by the way I now drive one of those cars made in Asia (Korea) and it has every thing my Mercedes had at 1/3 the price, runs great and has a better warranty
September 9th, 2006 at 06:37
I am a certified watch repairman with master grade certifications for both repair and restoration thru Omega, Concord, Cartier, TAG Heuer,and Baume&mercier and also hold Journyman certificates for Mavado, Aqua swiss, Oris,Bulova/Accutron and Balmer to name a few and have almost 30 years in the business I have held certificates from Chase-Durer, Invicta, CMYA, IWC,and yes even Rolex and Rolex Tudor Prince, although Rolex charges a rediculas fee for certification and I am sorry but Rolex is not all that Omega is by far a better made watch pit the seamaster 300 pro auto against the submariner these are watches that would be in compitition and the Omega wins hands down, and that goes for the speedmaster and the constelation and as far as a beautiful and as good or better made dress watch the Cartier Roadster blows Rolex away, now for Balmer and Louis Bolle they are 2 compleatly different animals yes the LB is made in china, or in Russia the TY-601 auto that is used in the LB that I have, I am an avid watch collector with some where in the 240 piece range including pocket watches that includes 4 rolex watches ,2 TAG Heuer, 6 Omegas, 3 Cartiers, 3 Concord, 4 Mavados, 3Chase-Durer, 8 Invictas (only their all swiss made , and limited pieces) 4 Accutron including a 1963 tuning fork model 4 Baume&mercier, along with several others such as Aqua swiss,tissot, ESO, Luminex, Swiss army,Zodiac and several japanese, so I am very comfortable taking the back off a watch and disecting the movt. as I said yes LB are china or Russian made but they only make claim to the mens names that were real swiss watch makers and those so called bogus histories are not bogus at all they are the histories of the men of wich this company takes its name along with a few others, Now Balmer is not in that same group the history they provide though the time line is off abit is a true history and they are swiss made and use an authentic ETA 2824 25 jewel movmt, I have this same movt be it the nickle plated ETA 2824 in one of my Accutrons, or the same gold plated one used in both Concord and Cartier and the diamonds used are of as high quality as used in OEM Rolex VSI and of I-H in color clarity, now the aftermarket Rolex diamonds I have seen in as good as VVSI and G_H and the diamond in the Cartier watches such as the Diamond Roadtser are always VVSI or better and H or better , but back to LB the MSRP is unrealistic b ut the fit and finish and the materials barring the movt are top quality some of their braclets are by far nicer and of better construction than those of your main stream high-end pieces including Rolex and Omega and the particular movmt I mentiond above my be made in china but it uses very high end parts including some modified swiss parts and is very well constructed this watch though not worth $4000.00 is easaly worth 500.00-1000.00 and remember retail mark-up on watches is even more outrages than diamonds a 6500.00 submariner or a 3700.00 dollar seamaster both cost less than $1000.00 us from start to the retail shelf and you can only go so cheap befor it is a plastic toy and the LB is not a toy and rivals the best Japaneese modkes easy. and the balmer is a beautiful top quality time piece that compares in both construction and quality parts as any of the top watches including rolex, i