BAD PULSAR GLASS - BE FORWARNED

[retroleds]

With much regret(and after discussing it with people I consider highly reputible) I have to bring this development to light. A large number of NOS Pulsar glass recently entered the market. Thru a fortuitous glass exchange, I have come to the strongly held opinion that they are IMITATIONS WITH PAINTED ON LOGOS THAT WILL COME OFF WITHOUT A TRACE!! The glass "blank" seems legitimate(tested with MOHs hardness tester against know original glass), but the logos CANNOT withstand the common method of heating the entire watch(sans module of course) to 350 f. to loosen the epoxy. These logos can also be scrubbed off with a common plastic kitchen scrubber and water, leaving NOT A TRACE of their previous existance on the glass, unlike the originals which leave a logo shapped "haze" on the glass which requires a good amount of polishing to eradicate. The logo on a real Pulsar screen can withstand a great amount of abrasion, wearing off in small amounts at the corners of the logos and able to be scratched in a thin line across the logo, without any of the adjacent logo "flaking" off.....behaving much like porcaline.

The good news: the bogus screens were printed in a slightly different font, and in conjunction with a few other collectors we will be posting hi-resolution pictures of the real deal and the imitations, for comparision, over the next few days.

The bogus screens are also printed in a slightly "off" colorization, especially the gold logo version, which has a slightly mustard color, and a flat finish unlike the originals which had a slight gloss or "satin" to their finish.

I hate being the one to bring this out, but I would have hated being the one NOT to bring this out. I have personally lost a substantial amount on this "deal", and will only be able to sell this glass as legitimate P2 glass, after scrubbing the bogus logos off. To "return" the glass to the seller would only perpetuate the damage I'm afraid.

My earlier post[below] regarding baking the glass was intended to "smoke out" anyone else who has had this problem. Let the discussion begin.

[Lordpulsar]

Dear All

Having read the above post, if anyone has a problem with the logo fading or coming off under normal ware & tear, I will replace them immediately.

I am not getting involved in a public argument over ridiculous allegations from the webmaster..

I have not had any complaints from anyone else, nor will I reply to any more personal accusations of "fake" on this website.



Simon.

[retroleds]

nor will I reply to any more personal accusations of "fake" on this website.
Simon.

Works for me, saves valuable server space

[charger105]

I am 100% sure that these are original screens that have been re-polished, and then a new logo applied. When this happened, I cannot say.

I have replaced the glass in my P3 with one of these screens. If you rub your finger across the glass, and get a strong light reflecting off the surface at the right angle, you can clearly see where the original logo had been, diagonally opposite to the re-applied logo. There is a 50% chance of this happening after re-polishing, so it is probable that half have the logo in the original spot, and half diagonally opposite.

This re-applied logo seems to be wearing through, as I stare at it !

Rgds,
Andrew.

[collector]

And you wonder why people are stepping back from the LED market??

Any Pulsar with the logo on the glass is now suspect.

This says to me, stick to Pulsars with the logo machined / etched or whatever you call it, on the metal case!!!

Once there is doubt in the marketplace - always will be doubt!!!

Thanks to Ed for bringing this topic up.

[The Time Computer]

Simon’s eBay Description:
You are looking at possibly the most important find in PULSAR LED Watches ever made! A supply of absolutely 100% original NOS (New Old Stock) Time Screens for the Pulsar Time Computer watch… from the retired director of the European service center here in the U.K (I was going to post all of it but I puked once already!)

He also posted this . . . Questions: Any silly questions further to this… contact oldpulsars !!

Hey, oldpulsars here . . . Hummm, Let’s see now! . . . . Fact:

The crystals are from a batch of original uncut blanks of original glass made by Corning Glass here in the USA. Uncut as they are in their original shape and need to be cut to the proper size and specifications. These blanks were left over from the Service Center in Lancaster, PA. The same guy Simon purchased them from offered me these same blanks months ago. These blank were purchased in the USA, NOT the “European Service Center”, which never existed by the way?

All Time Computer watch crystals were manufactured in the USA. All logos were applied here in New York, nowhere else! The logo printing was a special process, not something anyone today would take the time to do right, that's evident.

It should be mentioned that if the Seiko Corporation decides to take action against Simon Alexander you could be called in as a witness. The crystals you purchased would be evidence in an International Registered Trademark suite brought against the perpetrators. The word Pulsar is protected for use in “Watches, Watch Parts and all Watch products"!

Because these crystals were sold on eBay, those who purchased them can file a claim to get their money refunded, you have 45 days from the purchase date. I have prepared a document to support your claim and will file it with the authorities at eBay who also own PayPal. Contact me if you need any assistance through my www.oldpulsar.com website.

This is a very unfortunate incidence for the Pulsar LED collecting scene . . . what’s next, a FAKE Pulsar or Omega LED watch? . . . unbelievable what the power of greed can do to some!

Regards,
Dennis L. Klein
Time Computer, Inc.

Let's all thank Ed for bringing this to the forefront!

[stevehead]

The crystals are from a batch of original uncut blanks of original glass made by Corning Glass here in the USA.

There's still something not quite right with this, 'cos Charger105 said:

"If you rub your finger across the glass, and get a strong light reflecting off the surface at the right angle, you can clearly see where the original logo had been, diagonally opposite to the re-applied logo."


So they're reprints on renovated crystals, not blanks??

[The Time Computer]

Stevehead,

I personally don’t have any information on reprinted crystals but that may be another version of this scam. I hope Charger105 will send Ed or myself his information and close-up scans. Any company who could cut the batch of blanks could certainly resurface any used crystals for the bogus logos. Apparently they didn't go deep enought to remove the old logo? As the news of these bogus crystals surface we will get all the information from those who got ripped off, we’ll be able to piece together what all was done!

The only one who can end this scam is Simon! He needs to be a man and step up to the plate, fess up, refund everyone who purchased the bogus crystals and destroy the entire stock of faked logo crystals! Denial and more lies will just make the situation worse!

[charger105]

I'll post an image if I can. However, I doubt I'll be able to. It really is just a ghost of an image, and can only be seen in strong sunlight, at a particular angle. However, it's definately there. I can make out every letter...Pulsar. I've had a quick look at the other 3, indoors, and can't see anything.

I was a bit dubious from the word go, since the font and colour was definately different to the original scratched screeen. I just happened to be staring at the screen one day, and there it was !

It's also a bit suss that he had all the variations.....no logo, white logo, yellow logo and the Tiffany logo, all in lots of four. As though he had ordered even numbers of each !

Rgds,
Andrew.

[CompuChron]

Hummm,
I bought 2 lots of this tiffany's glass and I have been really desappointed with the quality but I couldn't imagine Simon Alexander selling fakes.

But the printing is just very very bad quality :(

It sad but I really think now that they are fake , I'm upset because a whole story has been made up by a well know collector to sell its shit.

They are still good P2 glasses when you take out the logo but soon it will be difficult to spot a real tiffany from a fake and the prices will drop down.

A really bad stroke for led collectors...

[collector]

Compuchron Wrote:

soon it will be difficult to spot a real tiffany from a fake and the prices will drop down.

A really bad stroke for led collectors...

Wish someone would post THE definite answer to this controversy!!!!

[led-watch]

White “Pulsar” lettering Item #330118508547 (Lot of 3 crystals) Sold 5
White “Tiffany&Co.” lettering Item #330116891237 (Lot of 3 crystals) Sold 10
P2 No lettering Item # 330116889809 (Lot of 4 crystals) Sold 10
Gold “Pulsar” lettering Item # 330116887878 (Lot of 4 crystals) Sold 10
White “Pulsar” lettering Item #330118508547 (Lot of 4 crystals) Sold 5
White “Tiffany&Co.” lettering Item #330119038672 (Lot of 3 crystals) Sold 3
Gold “Pulsar” lettering Item #330118508734 (Lot of 4 crystals) Sold 4
P2 No lettering Item #330118509072 (Lot of 4 crystals crystals) Sold 4
White “Pulsar” lettering Item #330123693359 (Lot of 4 crystals) Sold 2
Gold “Pulsar” lettering Item #330123694010 (Lot of 4crystals) Sold 2
White “Pulsar” lettering Item #330116885848 (Lot of 4 crystals) Sold 10
White “Tiffany&Co.” lettering Item #330118639724 (Lot of 3 crystals) sold 5
There were an additional 71 (mixed) sold as a private transaction.
This brings the (known) total to be 328 crystals Simon has sold.

[leddwatch]

Hey, stop using my name for your posts, if you want to hide your identity dont steal my name

[collector]

Thanks LED-Watch (not to be confused with Leddwatch) for the following numerical breakdown of just how many crystals are in question!

Led-Watch quote:

This brings the (known) total to be 328 crystals Simon has sold.

With this many crystals put into circulation, I believe the LED collector world is owed an answer to the question REAL OR NOT!!

So Far-
Simon said he obtained these from a UK Service Center person.

Time Computer says he was offered "crystals" from a US based service center person and turned down the deal.

Other members have quality questions.

There can't have been too many Pulsar service centers and each one probably knew of the others and possibly who ran them?

There are forum members who have intimate knowledge of the Lancaster PA service center - maybe these members can help in shedding some light?

With the value of our collections at stake, I do believe we should get some definite answer!!!!

Do others agree with this or not?

[retroleds]

First images.
Real - note nice puffed glass appearance. Given twenty five strokes of my fingernail brefore photographing.


Fake before touching.
Much flatter in height/profile. Made of small crystals or flakes. Much fatter lines to the charecters.


The faker after twenty five passed of my fingernail across the logo...I'd give it another 25 and it would be gone completely.


This was with my microscope camera...next I'll go to the new macro set I just bought for the Nikon Digital camera.

[retroleds]

With this many crystals put into circulation, I believe the LED collector world is owed an answer to the question REAL OR NOT!!

So Far-
Simon said he obtained these from a UK Service Center person.

Time Computer says he was offered "crystals" from a US based service center person and turned down the deal.

Other members have quality questions.

With the value of our collections at stake, I do believe we should get some definite answer!!!!

Do others agree with this or not?

We need to learn to recognize the fakes, but you are overthinking the questions regarding their "creation"(just being brutally frank here) - we've been "screwed and tattooed". I would not have put my neck out here if I didn't feel bulletproof on what I have brought forth.

Ironically, these logos are so weak they can't stand up to a clean fingernail....so they'll all be disappearing in a very short time. :?

"And the truth shall set you free".

[CompuChron]

Just to be clear , I've sold in the past a few P2 (blank) timescreen , they came from a us source , some ex-employee of cornering glass who had a huge lot of this.
But they were no P3 or tiffany available , so this is not the source of Simon (unless he bought them and printed on them) but I doubt because the lady was very tough concerning the prices and would go under Simon selling price even if you wanted to buy its whole lot.

I'm almost certain that Simon's are fake , just one thing makes me doubt is that a forum member bought an Omega TC timescreen from Omega and the quality(bad!) looked the same as Simon
http://www.dwf.nu/viewtopic.php?t=2136

[ibuyufly09]

Its so funny!! Just as fast as everyone accused Barbie9 for selling fake pulsar sport watches and thinking he had cases made in china,everyone is accuseing Simon of selling fake crystals, Why would a guy who is a pilot waste his time selling fake crystals?as far as I know their were different companies makeing the crystals so you will get differences, I think to nail someone to the wall like you all have is crap!if you know simon then you know where Iam coming from.

[CompuChron]

I agree with you , I don't understand why he would do that but there are things you think , you believe and there are facts , the facts are the crystals are crap!

[retroleds]

Why would a guy who is a pilot waste his time selling fake crystals?as far as I know their were different companies makeing the crystals so you will get differences, I think to nail someone to the wall like you all have is crap!if you know simon then you know where Iam coming from.

WHY? Vanity and pride...plus, even a pilot can use a few thousand in easy money.

I've examined over two dozen Pulsar crystals - real Tiffany, real Neiman Marcus, real Pulsar - all have the nice fused glass logo. These fakes are like chips of super fine glitter dropped onto glue lines, much liker a child's art project.

I understand your ire Pete - you bought some AND presumably sold some off(your use of oldpulsar as an ebay buy handle is well known)....it's the only way you would be selling a scratched case with NOS glass as a package(20 minutes spent on rebrushing the case, while the glass is out, is always advisable). I agree, it IS crap for someone to screw us all so badly. Seems even a "Virgin" pilot can screw pretty good.

"if you know simon then you know where Iam coming from." - his reputation(from the phone calls and emails I have received), doesn't seem that good.

This reply may seem a bit below the belt, but I am appalled that you would throw in your hat in defense of what has every marking of a major distribution of bogus parts. I'm not too happy about the prospect of having to remove glass from watches I thought were ready to go to market, either.

[The Time Computer]

as far as I know their were different companies makeing the crystals so you will get differences.

Can you please give us the names of any of these "Different Companies" , we would like to know

Yea, it's funny! I guess it depends on how many bogus crystal you bought from Simon and if your planning on continuing to sell watches on eBay with the bogus crystals!

I am not sure what being a pilot has to due with this, I mean, they would never fly across the Atlantic drunk with hundreds of people in the seats behind then or anything like that, would they?

Bottom line is they are FAKE! It doesn't matter were they came from, if they are blanks, if they are factory rejects or if they are good crystals just reprinted. That fact is that the Logos are Fake and that Simon knew he was ripping everyone off! Simon stood on the chair with the rope around his neck . . . . he's the one who kicked the chair out!

Oh, and thanks Ed for bringing out the fact that "led-land" is also "oldpulsar". . . . . speaking about STEALING NAMES, wow, now that was real cute!

Let's focus on getting the word out about these bogus crystals and educate everyone how to identify them so we can limit the damage!

[retroleds]

[Let's focus on getting the word out about these bogus crystals and educate everyone how to identify them so we can limit the damage!

DAMN STRAIGHT!!!

And understand, this development doesn't impact any other brands or even the long-term value of your Pulsar watches. There will be a brief flutter in valuation, and then we will see the bogus crystals flushed out of the system, leading to improved value on legitimate ones.