Today, we're featuring two retailers who couldn't be more different ?except for the fact that they both possess an unwavering commitment to the mission of forwarding horology and serving a growing community as best they can. In New York, Wempe is truly a fixture in the scene. It's got the classic "New York" feel to it: It's on Fifth Ave, it's located in The Peninsula (built in 1905), and the experience is the epitome of Manhattan ritz. Buying from Wempe is a ceremony.
Two hours south in Philadelphia, there's Martin Pulli on a one-man mission to showcase independent watchmakers to America. His shop is a gearhead's dream: models of iconic planes hanging from the ceiling, models of mid-century sports cars festooned in cases with fantastic watches. It looks and feels a lot like what many in the fake watch community might have done with our bedrooms at 16 had we had the budgets that allowed us to buy the replica watches we lust after today. To purchase a fake watch from Martin isn't ceremonial in the same way it is at Wempe. Instead, it's an experience that's intimate, and there's a sense of discovery. No matter what you're after, you'll leave the store having been exposed to something that you simply can't see anywhere else. And you'll leave having learned something new as well.
Speaking to both Ruediger Albers, the current president at Wempe USA, and Martin, behind Martin Pulli, it became clear that the shared commitment to serving the community to the highest degree is absolutely central to their visions of the operations they run.
Wempe Jewelers in New York City Everyone has a creation story. What's yours?Wempe is a family-owned fake watch and jewelry specialist retailer based in Hamburg, Germany. Founded in 1878, the company today is in its fourth generation and owns and operates 35 multi-brand stores and mono-brand boutiques including Replica Rolex, Patek Philippe, and A. Lange & Söhne. A large emphasis is given to service; therefore, not only does every Wempe store have certified master watchmakers in a state-of-the-art service department, but Wempe also operates Europe's largest service center in Hamburg and another service center in Glashütte. Here in New York, Wempe is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with a few limited edition watches. However, the current situation has, of course, impacted production, so we are not able to divulge information at this point.
I myself am a master watchmaker and joined Wempe 33 years ago in Hamburg before transferring to New York and taking over management three years later.
How has Wempe been supporting the fake watch community?Wempe has always advocated on behalf of the greater fake watch community and continues to do so. Being one of the leaders in the industry, our head office in Hamburg is in close contact with all major brands, and it is a voice that's being heard. When the quartz crisis threatened to put many brands out of business, Wempe stayed the course and encouraged manufacturers to stick to mechanical timepieces and the art of horology. Wempe was part of the group of first retailers supporting the rebirth of A. Lange & Söhne after German reunification, and in 2005 established their own brand with chronometer-tested movements at affordable prices. Wempe today owns and operates the Observatory in Glashütte where Chronometer Certification takes place. Wempe is the leading retailer offering watchmaking apprenticeships in Glashütte and Hamburg.
Here in the U.S., Wempe has just created an IGTV feature called "Wednesdays with WEMPE" where we will feature live interviews with leading executives and clients sharing their views of the industry, collecting and personal anecdotes, as well as newsworthy updates.
What replica watches do you carry that folks should be paying attention to right now?Wempe offers the best of the best. When we doubled the size of our Fifth Avenue flagship store in 2016, we integrated two dedicated showrooms featuring the worlds of Replica Rolex and Patek Philippe. Newcomers are Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin complementing our impressive selection from A. Lange & Söhne, Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Breguet, IWC, Cartier, Breitling, Hublot, Roger Dubuis, Montblanc, Chopard, NOMOS, Longines, and Baume & Mercier.
What do you specialize in?The New York flagship store prides itself on offering the finest fake watch brands as well as fine jewelry in a relaxed, comfortable yet lively atmosphere. My team consists of passionate professionals, most of whom have been with the firm for many years, some even decades. You can feel it is a family business, especially during these difficult times: To date, Wempe has kept all of our employees on the payroll. Something unique to our store is the collector's salon that we created exclusively for our customers. Here we showcase fake watch winders and safe solutions by Buben & Zoerweg, many of them with James Bond-like gadgets and features that safely hide your collection behind sliding panels of mirrored bullet-proof glass. Ask to see it on our lower level with your own eyes the next time you are in town.
How can customers and those interested in purchasing a fake watch connect with you?While we are adhering to Governor Cuomo's stay-at-home orders, we can be reached via sales@wempe.com for any inquiry. We can process pre-payments and ship once we are able to safely access the store, even in the event that we will not be able to open to the public right away.
As soon as the stay-at-home order has been lifted we will be resuming operations safeguarding everyone's health and wellbeing. Fortunately, we have already been able to re-open most of our stores in Germany, and therefore are able to adopt their best practices which will already have been tried and tested by then. Gloves, masks, and plexiglass partitions, plenty of disinfectants and temperature checks of the team and most likely clients ?all of this will be part of the new normal for a while, but it's in the best interests of everyone.
Wempe
700 Fifth Avenue
55th Street, New York N.Y. 10019
212-397-9000
Martin Pulli in Philadelphia, PA Everyone has a creation story. What's yours?My initial exposure to the industry came when I was very young. My parents were "pickers," buying and selling vintage and antique jewelry to dealers and specialty jewelers. We spent a lot of time on weekends at flea markets, estate sales, and antiques markets or fairs. My father has been a passionate clock (and watch) collector my whole life, and I've always been interested in watches. In the '80s, there weren't too many manufactures producing mechanical replica watches of note. So, the business was really focused on the trade of vintage replica watches between a relatively small nationwide network of dealers and pickers. There were many replica watches then, which many would consider "Grail" replica watches today, which had a very small collector audience in the '80s.
In the '90s, the vintage collecting crowd began to become more expansive. Simultaneously, many old marques were being resurrected, bringing new replica watches to market as brands that were being recognized anew. In 1999, I purchased the building to develop my own retail shop. The neighborhood was an ex-industrial walking district, newly gentrified, reminding one of a classic European village with independent shops and eateries. By the early 2000s, I began to branch out from vintage replica watches into some select small modern manufactures. A few years in, I began to notice a small movement of independent watchmakers, working on their own outside of the "system." The notion that a watchmaker would be brave enough to step outside of an increasingly vital system and go off on their own to present their own point of view on watchmaking was fascinating to me.
As I became more interested in digging in to independents, I was becoming much more aware of the limitless fresh ideas and incredible craft which could be had collaborating with fine, independent watchmakers. Now, years on, I am really proud to see so many small, independent watchmakers that I've "grown up" with. It's very satisfying, and this continues to fuel my passion for replica watches and fine watchmaking.
How has Martin Pulli been supporting the fake watch community?I am always considering the "ecosystem" of the fake watch community. Now, of course, we're in unprecedented times. However, even during the past few years, I've noticed the slowdown in interest for marques of larger brand houses. I should be thrilled I suppose, because in the short term many more collectors have turned their eyes to the thoughtful, artisanal, and innovative ideas of independent watchmakers. I am quick to recognize that this ecosystem is rather delicate. In fact, outside of manufactures, there are many small suppliers that supply specialty components and services to the fake watch industry. A lot of these same suppliers supply both large marques and smaller independents. However, the suppliers rely on supplying larger entities, with larger orders as a basis for a lot of their business. Without the health of larger brand groups, many suppliers could not afford to run their businesses solely servicing the smaller brands or independent watchmakers.
The underlying responsibility for everyone in the industry is to realize that customer experience is really paramount to maintaining a healthy, balanced industry. I believe it's important as a retailer to recognize that my clients are enjoying themselves, exploring a passion that is a happy diversion from their professional lives. It's fun! My role as the retailer is to enable the client to have as much fun as possible. Are there certain replica watches clients chat about which I don't sell? Sure, but it's really all fun. Sometimes, there will be something for me to help to add to a collection, and sometimes, there's a time to just be a friend and say, "it's not something I carry, but it's really cool, and you should enjoy yourself."
What replica watches do you carry that folks should be paying attention to right now?Ressence is celebrating 10 years since their first replica watches of Type 1 Series Zero. Benoit has his "Collection X" to commemorate 10 years. Collection X will be staggered throughout the rest of 2020, and in June, we'll expect to see the first fake watch in Type 1-slim, incorporating some unique, fresh new ideas. My friends Maria and Richard Habring continue to advance their made-in-Austria format into all of their replica watches and to diversify the entire collection. We have a fun collaboration turning a fake watch we've done, "Erwin Scientific," into a GMT format, becoming "Erwin Scientific Globetrotter," which is in prototype now.
I expect to see several new and fun replica watches emerge from the "Mad Finn" Stepan Sarpaneva's double secret laboratory in Helsinki ?keep your eyes peeled for these. The Grönefeld brothers continue to fulfill their remaining (pre-sold) 1941 Remontoire series, while collectors become increasingly focused on the value offered in their latest 1941 Principia Automatic. My friend Francesco Calamai from Tuscany has just released a very interesting new pilot's chronograph, the G50 Fresscia, which represents an incredible value with fantastic details. Lastly, I know everyone in the fake watch community will be eager to see something incredibly exciting from the unique haute capabilities of Romain Gauthier and his team later this year.
What do you specialize in?I am focused on small independent manufactures and independent watchmakers. In recent years, I've seen so many of my independent friends winning first prize awards against replica watches from major brand houses during Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve. The reason being that there's so much focused creativity and varied points of view from a small group of uber-talented designers and watchmakers.
However, I believe my real specialty is service. I pride myself on being able to afford clients a "concierge" level of service, whether in my shop or on the telephone from afar. I know that there's a certain experience I have with independent watchmakers and microbrands, which may be new and unfamiliar to a lot of enthusiasts. I am happy to be patient to take some time to discuss all manner of topics related to replica watches in order to make any enthusiast comfortable to pursue their hobby and have fun! I like to keep things casual and relaxed for clients, while I remain focused on the details.
How can customers and those interested in purchasing a fake watch connect with you?Anyone interested in purchasing a fake watch or even knowing more about a product may email me (Martin@MartinPulli.com) or contact me directly on the telephone (877-89PULLI). Even during this difficult time, many of my friends are continuing to build replica watches in their own small workshops. We're importing and delivering now, with patience. Everyone is welcomed to visit my website anytime to see and learn more about what I do.
Martin Pulli
4337 Main Street ?Manayunk Philadelphia, PA 19127
215-508-4610 877-89PULLI
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