Yesterday I was playing pool at a local bar with a guy and somehow we started talking about watches. Turned out he wanted to sell his two-tone blue Rolex Submariner.

I had enough cash, and I took the band off with a tooth-pick at the bar to check the s/n etc. I ended up buying it while drinking with the guy & playing pool.

Not the smartest thing in the world, as this is the fake Rolex capital of the world. And paying a lot of cash in a bar to somebody I didn't know was asking for trouble.

I studied the watch for about 30 minutes to make sure it was real, then he studied the money I gave him real close to make sure it was real.

I told him if he sold me a fake watch, and I paid him with counterfeit bills, it would be one of my best Bangkok drinking stories.

But the watch is real, the money was real, and all is good.

Sometimes you do just meet a man down the pub!! Good for you, hope you got a bargain!

My neighbor works for Rolex. She spends most of her time in Myanmar.

Hmmmm....

LOL, Brad, you should probably have a warning on this post that says something like "Do not try this at home."

and the guy out in the alley who was beat up and robbed of his rolex by the pool player is recovering nicely in a bkk hospital...

i had my fake rolex out a few days ago and gave it a few shakes (its self winding) and it worked fine for a few days and kept perfect time.....bought about 10 years ago on silom rd....$25...

i could part with it brad for $2500. if you win big

Great story. Take it to a real jeweler and let us know what he told you.

Brad: how do you know the watch is real?

What the hell were you thinking/drinking, Brad? I hope you don't ever think you've found your future wife while in a ping-pong establishment. I'm shaking my head in disbelief..,lol.


Oh, btw, Hi everybody!

Did you have it checked out yet, Brad? what did u pay for it if u don't mind? There are some awfully good Rolex copies out there. Keeping my fingers crossed for u..

I took the watch to a second hand watch shop at MBK and was offered a reasonable profit for it. If anybody would know it was fake, they would.

Actually I've bought & sold high end watches for over 20 years. You never know when or where you'll find em?

But when I did this deal, I kept thinking it could be a set-up.

Not to worry, mango. He has done this for years. It will be just fine.

Glad it worked out for you. I hope the seller isn't friends with the mbk store owner!

Hi Carol...long time. Read your trip report. Ever consider just moving to bkk?

Hi mango... moving to BKK? Not anytime soon. Spending a lot of time there? Absolutely! Love the place. When are you going to return?

Hi carol. We may come in November after visiting China (dont ask me why were going there). Will u be in bkk during this time?

I think my next trip is not until December, for the holidays. November is always Europe.