Here's a TESTIMONIAL from an e-mail recently received from a  Reader! "On Sunday I found this website and when I got your directions on how to place my secure order with a recommended website. I did not understand how to do it so I sent you an email on Sunday and I was knocked off my feet when I received a reply from you 5 minutes later giving me proper direction. This was only the beginning of my surprises. Today!! I received the biggest surprise of all, my watch came in and I was shocked at the details".  Russell Patrick.

Mr. Fears shipped the watch to me via Federal Express / Feel free to review tracking# 837596536574). I received the watch. Upon opening the package, I immediately questioned the authenticity of the watch. The crown appeared to be fake, as did the dial. Mr. Fears emailed me telling me had forgotten to send the receipt for work just done on the watch. I replied asking for a scan of the receipt stating, "I have some serious questions about this watch. I don't want to speak out of turn, but I am very concerned about its authenticity." Mr. Fears replied that the idea concerned him, but simply asked that I call the folks at "WatchDoctor" (Port Charlotte) who had serviced the watch. I replied, via email, saying, "...I've never seen a case WITHOUT any traces of case ref# or serial number. This one has neither. I know for sure the caseback wasn't made by Rolex or Tudor. 'Switzerland' is spelled 'Swizerland' on the inside. Rolex doesn't make that kind of typos. Also, the stamping on the caseback is wrong. It looks sandblasted, but should be an actual stamping into the metal. All of these things lead me to believe the watch is a total fake... I trust that you will offer a refund should I find that the watch is not authentic, as advertised."

Mr. Fears replied, "Charlie whatever it is it is I did not take a good look at it guilty of just buying it and throwing some money at it Jeff [last name removed] is the guy at The Watch Doctor phone [phone no removed] is the guy who did work on it so you are right I am not going anywhere lets see whats up with it". The statement, "So you are right. I am not going anywhere" implies that Mr. Fears was willing to see the matter through as agreed.

 I followed up with Mr. Fears.

Mr. Fears replied "Charlie I haven't heard from you so I am assuming everything worked out..." As this was suspicious, I immediately replied, "...The watch is a total fake -- top to bottom. Since you said you didn't take a good look at the watch, I would appreciate your taking my word and that of others who looked at the pictures and said they believe it is fake. BTW, I checked it against other Tudor Submariners I have owned. I also checked it against other Tudors I've owned AND pictures of other Tudor Subs on eBay and elsewhere. I assure you that the watch is not a real Tudor Submariner... Mike, I first emailed you eleven days ago asking for a refund. That was well within the acceptable time frame for requesting a refund. I emailed again last night asking for a quick resolution. I would like for us to complete same in a timely manner. A partial refund via PayPal, with the remainder via check or money order, would be suitable... OR however you wish handle the refund. I just need to get this resolved quickly. Please let me know how you want to proceed. THANKS! :-)"

There was no contact from Mr. Fears for three days. When he did reply, he refused to refund my money for two reasons: 1) the premise that his "watch guys" said the watch is authentic and 2) that I had not returned the watch to him. [I was not willing to return the watch until I received at least a partial refund.]

I replied saying his terms were unacceptable as my confidence level in his word was waning at that point. Mr. Fears did not respond for four days. I emailed him again stating, "Mike, I'm sorry to have to do this, but I am giving you 24 hours to process at least $500.00 into my PayPal account or via overnight express mail..."

I was quite upset as I wrote, "...I've messed around with this MUCH longer than I should have. Your denial of a problem existing, along with your lackluster communications have given me very good reason not to trust you enough to send the watch back -- and then be out my money AND the fake watch..."

Mr. Fears replied  "I wiah [wish] I never got in this mess and I do not want to rigp [rip] you off but you are being unreasonable." My reply was as follows: "...You should step up and handle the complaint and provide a refund... I am flatly not willing to take a loss on the watch. However, I'll gladly compromise with you. Send me $500.00 by midnight and I'll return the watch to you within 48 hours. You have my word on it. I have kept my word to you and that will not change in the face of adversity. The only thing is that I am not willing to drag this out any longer... Send the partial refund and I'll send the watch. That's the most fair thing for both of us. We both get something and we both risk something... You can have the watch checked out when you get it back. If I am wrong, then you keep the remaining balance of $500.00 and return the watch to me. I'll return the $500.00 to you and enjoy wearing the watch. End of story. OTOH, if I am right about the authenticity, you agree IN WRITING to refund the other $500.00 to me within five days of receipt of the watch. That's more than reasonable."

The midnight deadline came and went without any communication from Michael Fears. I allowed an extra 24 hours in hopes he was simply busy and unable to reply. Even so, there was no response.  I emailed Mr. Fears again: "I gave you an extra 24 hours in hopes you would do the right thing. You have not. Therefore, you leave me no choice but to assume the worst. I will give you one LAST chance to make good. Send a partial refund by the close of business Friday. No ifs, ands or buts..."

Later that morning, Mr. Fears finally replied with the following email: "MR Jarman I have received nothing but threats and deadlines... I consider this closed and any further contact from you will be considered harasment and action will be taken. Michael Fears"

I was really hoping that offering Mr. Fears several opportunities and 40 days (since my first request for a refund) would end in amiably. Unfortunately, it has not.

My last attempt to resolve the matter amiably was offered.   I contacted Mr. Fears' watchmaker and asked him to mediate. He agreed to have me send the watch to him. He would authenticate it and then Mr. Fears would know for sure that the watch is counterfeit. As this was the ONLY option Mr. Fears said was acceptable, I offered him that option -- with my ONLY stipulation being that he agree, in writing, to provide a full refund IF the watch was deemed counterfeit by his watchmaker. Since he was so adamant about having an expert authenticate the watch AND that his watchmaker said it was real, he was offered the best of both worlds -- his own watchmaker as the authenticator.

Anyway, that was five days ago. Mr. Fears seems to have disappeared. My OPINION is that he knew the watch was counterfeit from the beginning. IF he agreed to his own terms, he would be stuck with no way to quarrel about the outcome. Therefore, I believe he has discontinued contact in an attempt to avoid resolving the matter at all -- AND keep my $1000.00.

FWIW - the watch has been examined by several collectors (via photos) and a watchmaker w/ 25+ yrs experience in the trade. All have said the watch is counterfeit.

A FEW DETAILS TO NOTE: The Tudor Submariner 7928 used only one movement -- the caliber 390 (based on the Rolex 1030). The movement in the watch I purchased is actually an A.Shield caliber 917 (used in Mido watches). There is no crown tube, nor any place for one to be fitted. The "engaving" on the caseback is sandblasted, not stamped. Most telling is the fact that the Tudor Submariner 7928 is a NON-DATE model. The watch Mr. Fears sold to me as a 7928 Submariner is a date model.

You should know that Mr. Fears was warned that posts would be written to all of the Crummy Deals forums. I wish it had not come to this, but I cannot afford to take a $1000 hit on a fake Rolex. Letting others know may save someone else from loosing money to him as well.

Respectfully submitted,
T. Charles Jarman (aka CharlieJ)