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Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

The Google has failed me.

Don't ask why, but I need to know if there is a wristwatch manufacturer in North Korea, and if there is, where can I acquire one.

If you ask why I'll tell you that this a quite expensive challenge game that I play with my retarded friends. If I can actually acquire one of these (probably non-existent watches) you will earn yourself a Premium Membership, or you can assign it to anyone you want.

The watch must bear NK markings (DPRK or similar). The Premium Membership will only be awarded when I have the watch in hand. If I win the challenge the cost of the watch, and your Premium Membership, will be more than covered. (To clarify, I'll purchase the watch, you have nothing to do with the purchase)

If I can prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that no such thing exists, I also win, and you still win the Premium Membership, but the evidence must pass the Jury (aka, the assholes I play this silly game with that are not involved in this challenge).

If I can't do either, I'm fucked.

I suppose this challenge came from the recent tensions in that area. DO NOT TURN THIS INTO A POLITICAL THREAD

I have 30 days.

These boys do their homework, so be careful, (my friends are assholes) TIA.

Please try to keep the cost of the watch under a few hundred dollars US. If there's such a thing as a NK Rolex, I'm better off loosing the challenge.

Edit: Grammar

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 8:48 am

Hm. Unfortunately cursory examination of North Korea's hilariously bad web reveals that they don't list timepieces as among their "exports."

HOWEVER there is a south korean watchmaker - Gaeseong - which has a factory within north korean territory. Does this count?

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/04/120_11161.html

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

The challenge stated that it needed to be manufactured in NK and bear North Korean markings (DPRK or similar)...

It's a cruel game, and I'm a bit embarrassed to hire some help, but it's not against the rules.

Edit: from the link...

Quote:

Roh took nine sets of watches manufactured by South Korea's Romanson company, which has a factory at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex in North Korea, to Pyongyang, Kim Jung-sup, vice spokesman for Cheong Wa Dae, said.

Bur are these watches manufactured there? Romanson company has a "factory" there, but what do they make?

This is a cruel game my friend, and these bastards play it well.

You know what, I'm going to send an email to the Romanson company and get the straight skinny.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

That deal seems long gone...

2004

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/20/business/worldbusiness/20iht-park.html

and then...

2009

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUKSEO13613620090518?type=companyNews

But there still may have been some watches made there, I just need to get my hands on one.

But... from the first article,

Quote:

North Koreans are to work in South Korean factories.

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 9:21 am

Regrettably ebay does not seem to carry any of them if they exist.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

^^^That's my dilemma, I have to either present one, or prove (by a preponderance of the evidence) that they don't exist. You added some helpful evidence.

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 9:37 am

Good luck PF my favourite site for sourcing Asian imports draws a blank on North Korea for anything.

http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?SearchText=a&Country=KP&CatId=0&IndexArea=product_en&fsb=y&viewAllCategory=

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Rooted wrote:

draws a blank on North Korea for anything.

They tend to be a bit reclusive, hence the challenge.

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 10:11 am

Buying one, you're going to be pretty much screwed. If they exist, they're either going to be antique or very rare making it out of the country in the first place. It'll cost you a fortune.

There's the possibility they turn out counterfeits, as do their colleagues in the South, but they won't slip past customs.

Nothing manufactured goes in or out except to China and I would expect any watch worn by a North Korean to be Chinese manufactured anyway.

You could see if there's anything coming out of Kaesong Industrial Park.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

^^^ [citation needed]

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 11:18 am

All you've got to do is give them a ring and ask them to send you one. Laughing

http://wikimapia.org/11121954/Romanson-Watch-Manufacturing-Facility

Anything made there is stamped as "Made in DPRK".

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/FL01Dg01.html

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Call the Kaesong Industrial Zone, Kaesong, DPRK and ask for a watch?

It just might be crazy enough to work. Shocked

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 3:01 pm

Time to trust Chinese Wholesale...

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 3:08 pm

From this page

http://www.nkeconwatch.com/category/economic-reform/specia.../kaesong-industrial-park/page/4/

About 1/3 the way down the page

Quote:

3. Pyongyang’s 2009 Kaesong antics have unfortunately scared away more foreign direct investment from the Kaesong Zone, despite significant South Korean subsidies. According to Yonhap:

Romanson Co., a South Korean watchmaker, said Thursday it has no intention to further invest in an inter-Korean industrial complex because of the political risks.

Romanson operates a plant in the industrial park in the North Korean border town of Kaesong, which turns out 40,000 watches per month. In 2005, the company invested 6.1 billion won (US$5.3 million) to build the factory.

edit: http://www.yasni.com/ext.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newsworld.co.kr%2Fcont%2F0508%2F49.htm&cat=filter general info Romanson opening the factory.

edit: From this page http://www.yasni.com/ext.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2FidUSTOE6AN00O20101124&cat=filter
Related to the recent bombing.

Quote:

Companies that run factories in North Korea such as watch maker Romanson (026040.KQ) retreated 4.2 percent, and apparel producer Shinwon Corp (009270.KS) dipped 3.5 percent on uncertainty over their North Korean business.

edit: Romanson Bldg. 77-1 Karakbon-dong, Songpa-du
Seoul (Seoul 138-718 Korea)
Republic of Korea
+82-2 2190 7040
+82-2-2190-7070
[email protected][/quote]

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

The main question is.. did they manufacture wristwatches there, and are they marked DPRK, or something similar. And where can I get my hands on one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaesong_Industrial_Region

It's looking like the boys have me in a box. I now need to build a case against them, and all of your posts have been helpful. I have 29 days to do it, and this is a great start.

Edit: My Skype is not currently up and available (New OS, Linux hates Skype, long story) is anyone else willing to make a call over there to help me out, a recording would be helpful.

This is calling in some chips for all of the calls I made in days past.

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 3:45 pm

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL34093.pdf page 11

US Govt report on Kaesong Industrial park.

Quote:

The Romanson company (watches) finds the KIC superior to production in China
because of the common language and low labor costs. It reportedly plans to move
75% of its watch production to the KIC.

I found a reference to Singapore requiring DPRK to be marked on Romanson watches to qualify for lower tarrif,but as I was scanning not reading I have to try to find it again.

You should be able to get a Romanson through any Singapore shop online, specify you want the DPRK badging. It looks like the low end of the market are made there, the diamonds and emerald ones are still Swiss or South Korea

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

^^Holy shit!

Find me a link where I can buy one. Make sure they take PayPal, I'm not sending a CC number.

Hopefully they have several models to select from, I can give the thing as a gift and win the challenge. (Win/Win)

Master Baiter Joined: 20 Nov 2010 Posts: 241 Location: UK

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ROMANSON-MENS-WATCH-ADEL-TL-7264-PINK-GOLD-PLATED-NIB-/180423361961?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item2a021205a9#ht_500wt_1156

?

Edit: "Item location: Brooklyn, NY, United States" Laughing

Maybe not then.

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:16 pm

Romanson.co.uk

38, STONEFIELD SIX ACRES ESTATE

London

N4 3PG

UNITED KINGDOM

Phone: +44 844-800-6307

Email: [email protected]

I've emailed and asked if they have the DPRK branded models, or you can chase up as well, still looking for Singapore agents, very confusing websites. DFS Galleria might be worth a try as well

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

@ Dr Steve, thanks, but I need to be assured of a visible DPRK nameplate. I would hate to blow $500 and find out it was made in SK.

@Irish, let me know, I made it a PM contest so I'm not going to jump it, and deny you if you find one. And make sure the marking is visible without tearing the case apart.

I'm still looking, you must have a better Internets than I do. Laughing

Master Baiter Joined: 20 Nov 2010 Posts: 241 Location: UK

Pastor Frank wrote:

@ Dr Steve, thanks, but I need to be assured of a visible DPRK nameplate. I would hate to blow $500 and find out it was made in SK.

I didn't spot the location until after I posted, but you could always ask them? Worth a try.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

^Thanks, I'll see what Irish can drum up, I have 29 days.

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 5:28 pm

Why don't you contact a Romonson dealer in the US?

Then see if they can get you one.

If they can't they should be able to put you in touch with someone who can.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

I made it a contest you cheap bastard, I can't back out now.

Slightlyoutofit wrote:

Romonson dealer

We're a civilized country, we don't have any.

Edit: It was a joke, no offense to those that do.

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 5:34 pm

Canada does.

And I'll bet if you were to go to a reputable watch store, they could probably source one for you.

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