There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.
And this isn't either of them! The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right: The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only...
Nov 8, 2019
https://rebeltime.com
Here's an interview with one of the brothers that reveals a lot about how you'd go about starting a microbrand watch companay, if you had a little capital, at least, which I think these guys did:
https://www.wristwatchreview.com/2016/07/23/interview-with-a-watch-maker-reuven-lakein-of-rebeltime-watches/
He's aiming at eventually going the Weiss Watch route and doing assembly in the United States.
The other watched on their site are reasonably priced - $199 for their "Classic." I must admit that the description made me chuckle.
Classic watches are usually characterized by elegant design and an understated, quiet look.
Not the Rebel Chronograph! We left the quiet sophistication of dress watches in the dirt and instead made even our classic range into a symbol of strength, with dominating wrist presence. It’s a beautifully crafted timepiece that’s a sleek and modern interpretation of the classic military field watch, combining bold fonts and details with classic aspects for the perfect mix of military style and fashion.
The Classic Chronograph is your reliable companion, with serious features such as a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, 10 ATM water resistance and even a screwed down back.
"easily punches way above its class"
"bold details emphasizing wrist dominance"
"the sea's deep dark depths hide many secrets shrouded in mystery"
"quest for bold masculine strength"
"can go toe-to-toe with any other watch but would certainly crush them in badass style"
I think these Ukrainians hired a not-quite-native-speaker Ukrainian immigrant copywriter who grew up in the back streets of Brooklyn.
Or maybe they picked up the copy cheap at the bankruptcy sale of the late, great, stillborn Arnold Schwarzenegger watch brand:
https://www.ablogtowatch.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-watch-brand-debuts-2015/
Ladies 45mm pieces, holy hell!
I think that there are counterfeit AS watches out there also, even though the line was never released and the counterfeits don't correspond to the original designs.