The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Not sure if I should post this in a different section; however, there was a thread a few weeks ago about Rick, one of the owners and stars of "Pawn Stars," who bought a Breitling that the majority of us thought was way out of line relative to its actual value.

Well, I took a special trip to Gold & Silver Pawn a couple of weeks ago as I had a business trip which brought me to Vegas and I'd like to share the following with you.

1. The place is a dump and looks nothing like it does on the show
2. The majority of the watches available were Rolex
3. The majority of the things you see the boys buy on the show are not available in the shop
4. The woman I spoke to who was working behind the counter said that almost everything they buy on the show is sold before it ever hits the floor - Rick has a broad network of people who use him to find what they want
5. The show's producers come in and make the place look really cool - they shoot a few episodes, and then take everything down again. Again, it's a dump and looks nothing in person as it does on the show
6. There is a much cooler pawn shop about 2 blocks away

Sooooooooooooooo, if you ever find yourself in Vegas and do not have access to a car, don't waste the $20 in cab fare (each way) from the strip to get to Gold & Silver Pawn as you will be terribly disappointed. None of the guys were there (I didn't expect them to be) - and I really wasn't expecting there to be a lot of the items they buy on the show to be featured in the shop - but there is such a HUGE difference between how they decorate the place for the show and how it looks in reality that really sent me for a loop.

It's not "real"ity TV - it's all a setup and just reinforces my hunch that Rick had a dumb buyer lined up for that Breitling - or Breitling paid the show a handsome product placement fee leading into Basil.

That is all

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PAM359, Omega PO Big Size, 1951 Omega Seamaster, Rolex Sea Dweller

I would have thought at least one of the guys would be there. I know they are "big" TV stars now, but assuming that they actually own the place you would think they would still have to run it to make a living.

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-RJ

I watched this show the other night, all seemed staged to me, some old guy was literally about to fight one of them because they informed him a statue he brought in was a replica (the thing even had a date stamped on it ....).

All smacked of a set up for the cameras to be honest.

That's really interesting, although I'm disappointed to hear this news.

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

I heard through a friend that they visited the store and they described it as dirty and it smelled like an old lady's house.

I see Rick was wearing a black ceramic Chanel on one of the recent episodes. I think his son was wearing a Hublot earlier this year but I he was wearing an AP on the episodes that were on this week.

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Justin
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I'm not really surprised but I do like the show. Thanks for giving me a reason to not go there.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

Really? Who woulda thought

I loved(past tense) that show...not as much any more! Great post! Thanks for sharing!

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Past: BlackBird, Navi World, SA, Rolex DJII, IWC Yacht Club
Present: CE, DSSD
Future: Changes daily

I could care less if the show was filmed in a rat hole, I enjoy the show, I enjoy the items that come through the shop, and I enjoy the mini history lessons.

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

. I really enjoy the show, and I could not care less what the store "really" looks like.

I haven't stopped watching the show, but I definitely watch it in a different light now. I agree that some of the mini history lessons are interesting; however, knowing what I do now, I wouldn't trust the "value" of anything that Rick buys. I believe he gets some items at an incredible steal and he overpays for other things. The more I watch the show, it's easier to see how things are staged. I don't know if he's actually "negotiating" items or if they come up with a $$$ amount before they start shooting. Also, do some people fold in hopes of being on TV? Are people really dumb enough to let extremely rare items go at a fraction of their value because "well, someone else will be able to appreciate it now?"

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PAM359, Omega PO Big Size, 1951 Omega Seamaster, Rolex Sea Dweller

It's entertainment, who cares if it's staged or not. One of my favorite movies is the Dark Knight, do I care that there really isn't a joker running around in a fake city (Gotham) wreaking havoc? No, it's all about being entertained. When I sit down and watch the show, I want to be entertained for 30 minutes and I don't care if some schmuck walks into a fake pawn shop and gives away their item too cheap or if Rick overpays for an item. The money doesn't come out of my pocket so I don't care, just entertain me....and they do a good job of that.

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

Speaking of staging .. did you notice that there's never anyone in the store when they're filming a negotiation? I'll have to look for more of the "staging" as I watch more episodes.

I'm disappointed that none of the "guys" where there. I thought about visiting it if I was ever in Vegas, but I guess I'll skip it now.

Have you guys every seen American Pickers? It's pretty good also. As is Obuscura Antiques and Oddities? It's based in NYC. I was planing on checking that place out next time I'm there.

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Regards,

Peter

BREITLING for Bentley Motors T & Mark VI, Aerospace
ROLEX Submariner Ceramic116610LN
OMEGA Plantet Ocean 8500 42mm Orange arabics
OCEAN7 LM-3

Im pretty sure that they are given a rundown of the items that are going to be brought in, along with some info about them so that they can get pricing info and some background info to sounds smart when the cameras role. I bet when the cameras are off, a seller there would be lucky to get even half of the types of values that they show. Everybody knows pawn shops are super shady. Most people who walk in there to sell are super desperate and dont have a choice but to accept it. The show Hardcore Pawn is at least more indicative of what goes on at a pawn shop.

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-RJ

Weird...

I have been to this pawn shop several times and every time I have been there either the old man or chum was there...maybe you went after 2-3pm? I was told the first time that they are usually all gone by mid afternoon.

When I was there last I went in on a weekday and all 4 of them were there. I bartered with Rick for a price drop on a gold ring I ended up buying. (which later appraised @ 6X the price I paid!)

I personally don't expect tooooooo much when entering a pawn shop in Vegas...... & think it looks 'as expected' for that particular area on the strip.

Yeah most of these "reality" shows is all about who you know.....



Who knows?? maybe Ricks wife's sister is a staff member on History channel on something....



-E

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Collection..
2013 Rolex DAY DATE II 18kYG + Champagne Dial.
2009 Breitling CHRONOMAT EVOLUTION - MOP Diamond Dial + Diamond Bezel.
2005 Rolex SUBMARINER 2Tone 18k/SS + Blue Dial.
1984 Rolex DATEJUST 2Tone 18k/SS+Black Sunburst Dial

I just watched some episodes of hardcore pawn for the first time on-line. It's great. I laughed my ass off at some of the scenes.

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Regards,

Peter

BREITLING for Bentley Motors T & Mark VI, Aerospace
ROLEX Submariner Ceramic116610LN
OMEGA Plantet Ocean 8500 42mm Orange arabics
OCEAN7 LM-3