Vintage watch in Vietnam.

Hi bros, I'll be going for a Vietnam trip soon and I heard from my friends that there are vintage watches at the streets of Hanoi or Ho Chi Min. Not sure if it's true but they say many Americans soldiers left some of their vintages watches there. Anyone being there and know if it's true? Any place to recommend where we can find these watch shops?

IMO dont put hope into it... Vietnam is one of the main country(beside pakistan and some other countries) where bulk of fake watches are begin manufactured, from high end swiss to even basic Seiko 5, new or vintage. They have the man,machine,low cost production there capable of doing that. Dont buy the theory of 'finding treasures' or finding ' vintage watches left by Americans during vietnam/american war'... Most soldiers arent even issued with any watches and if they do buy from PX(when they feel wealthy enuff) during the conflict,they were likely to have bring the watches back to states or those watches have already been bought by ebay resellers and collectors...



Instead,you have to use your experience ,apply what you have learn in finding geuinue and detecting fakes. Can also post pics in n this forums,ask for opinions before you hoot. Good luck bro.. :)



I have seen vietnam seiko/swiss diver fakes....easily can con any collector new to the brand/variant. Back to basics,if its appearing to be too good to be true,its probably is.



-dial too clean for a vintage(complete faked dial,refinished)

-any mis-spelling on wordings on dial and caseback

-sharp corners on lug areas,caseback

-stainless steel VS chrome

-movement

etc

Hey bro, thanks for the advice! I was in the hope of (like what you say), bump into something vintage at these areas... you know they always have those old shops selling US army things from old helmets to medals etc...



Movement wise will be hard to see unless I bring along my case opener with me during the tour. Nevertheless thanks for the sound advice....I will still keep a look out and maybe really bring alsong my case opener just in case I really SI BEI HENG bump into something I liked

i did see a few of these shops selling "vintage" watches.. omegas and the like when i was in HCMC a few years back...



but, didnt bite cos could not be guaranteed of the provenance. i guess if you really knew your stuff - u can always ask them to pop off the caseback and check the movement...

"Vinc04"

Hey bro, thanks for the advice! I was in the hope of (like what you say), bump into something vintage at these areas... you know they always have those old shops selling US army things from old helmets to medals etc...



Movement wise will be hard to see unless I bring along my case opener with me during the tour. Nevertheless thanks for the sound advice....I will still keep a look out and maybe really bring alsong my case opener just in case I really SI BEI HENG bump into something I liked

bro,those 'war relics' like dogtags,badges,helmets,canvas havasack etc are mostly new remade and reconditioned to look aged. They will fake rust/patina on swords,shells,helmets,medals etc. I was a active collector few yrs back in german/US militaria items. You can never expect how seasoned this faker industry is already.... it takes yrs of experienced in picking up militaria from such areas.



those that made it to those shops/stalls are likely repro for the tourist industry.

"mistral"

i did see a few of these shops selling "vintage" watches.. omegas and the like when i was in HCMC a few years back...



but, didnt bite cos could not be guaranteed of the provenance. i guess if you really knew your stuff - u can always ask them to pop off the caseback and check the movement...

wanna buy those 'vintage watches like Omegas' from HCMC....look no further, they always find their way into SGP. ;)

I was at hcm a couple of months ago. I was walking along a stretch of stores near a big kinda night market.



Yup I saw those "vintage" watches. Lots of them. Cockpit clocks etc. highly doubt they are authentic.



They are very typical tourist establishment.





Sent from my iPhone

Haiz... Seems like I will not be able to find a gem at HCMC Liao. I'll bring along my case opener just in case.... Haha

"Vinc04"

Haiz... Seems like I will not be able to find a gem at HCMC Liao. I'll bring along my case opener just in case.... Haha

bro u can go to those watchshops(new or 2nd hand) in HCMC just as an eye opener...no problem lar :lol:



but if hoping to hoot,steer clear from those areas(In local fake watch context, when its deem that the watch is fake/repro...the question seasoned collectors will ask would be.... India,Pakistan or Vietnam shipment?



If I were you,I would google and find all reputable watch repair shops in that area...and source from there...

Sometimes, u need to pay some school fees to learn a thing or 2.



I learnt very fast that way.

Trust me!

Many repo and questionable vintage in HCMC.

Yes, only chance is to look for watch repair shop.... You may get lucky.

But the price will probably piss u off.

School fees sure must pay one.. Hahahhahahah.... Kopi anyone?

Just came back from Vietnam.... I was at Hanoi (mynwifeplanned the trip, not me).. Went to a distribution centre in Hanoi where they sell tons and tons of items from china. I walked around a few shops and saw many watches but I believed most of them are faked or with Chinese movements.



I took one Longines in particular (the stall lady refused to let me take photo)... Asked for $US100... But I looked at the dial and the needles... It seems o be a bit offset and misaligned... The words LONGINES engraved at the back casing also doesn't seems sharp and clean-cut.



Not many seikos or Citizens there.... A lot of A grades Rolexes though.....



Didn't have much time to shop till at Hanoi airport DFS... the citizen prices also doesn't attract me.. So overall it's a empty trip for me!

At least you tried and if you didn't try, you wob't know!

Thanks for sharing your trip experience. I used to think there could be Seiko 'treasures' to find there too!

:-)

So far there is only 1 treasure i found in Vietnam.

The cloth Iron ..... if thats women calls them (use for ironing the shirt lah), they still selling those old heavy full stainless steel type.



My monster-in-law loves it.

Well I think overall the trip is a good experience. But the items in Vietnam are already flooded with Chinese goods.. Even the watches are mainly Chinese! I was in fact hoping to find some vintage Chinese MAO revolution watches there but didn't managed to. If have I would had brought a few back for keeping. They had gone so commercialized that their watches are mainly AAA or AA grades replicas.



Pity pity... I think if I have the chance to go again F&E... I will look out for other smaller shops

May I know which part of Vietnam did you go?

Are the prices of their AAA grades watches good?

:-)

I went to Hanoi bro... There is this retailler market (I can't even tell you where it is)... Wole building sell Chinese stuffs like handicrafts lah... Silk lah... But it's damn hot

"watchfun2"

May I know which part of Vietnam did you go?

Are the prices of their AAA grades watches good?

:-)

Mai la, $ spent on AAA, I rather u buy G-shock or seiko....



I also go Vietnam quite often, but for my hobby, so never know got watch places. Next time I check out

Very true. Casio and Seiko are definitely more reliable. The AAA grading is what the sellers claim to be. The truth could be otherwise!

Agree... For that kind of price. I rather get a Seiko which is more reliable. But if you just wish to show,then go ahead get a AAA. no need to go Vietnam. Singapore and KL Ju Chiong Kai have already

Agree Singapore already hav...