Fake Watches are for Fake People

Language: English (change)

I think most would agree that there is just something inherently wrong with buying a fake watch. As for those people going only for the brand and not the watch, my guess is that the same can be said for a great majority who purchase the real thing as well. However, there is still a great difference between the two. As for fakes in general, it’s the good with the bad, a bit like the global problem of grey marketing. The mere fact that fake Patek Philippe’s are popping up over the globe only goes to show how far the brand has come in recent years regarding brand awareness. There was a time when only a fake Rolex would sell. What was the purpose to have a fake Patek if nobody is going to know what it is anyway? Is it wrong? Yes. Is it immoral? Yes. Does it hurt the brand? I’m not so convinced. Another perspective is that one who wears a fake Patek probably would prefer to own a real one, they simply can’t afford it. So, is it possible that when and if money is no longer the obsticle to purchase the real thing, that is exactly what they will do? I’m sure many who wore fake Rolex’s felt pleasure in wearing the watch, but felt a bit nervous and embarrassed as well. Who wants to get caught wearing a fake? I wonder what percentage eventually plunked down money for the real thing? Why not ditch the bad feelings and keep the good, actually really good because now you have a quality watch and not a piece of junk? It is also no mystery that the explosion of fakes coincided with the explosion in sales of the real watch. It’s certainly logical that a proper person after seeing those fake watches day after day on the street corners might just take a look inside a window of an Authorized dealer just to see what all this hype is about. Upon seeing the real thing, someone who might have otherwise not thought twice about buying one is now walking home proudly with his or her new genuine Rolex.
Again, to me, it’s like the grey market. Is it bad? Personally, while I don’t support the grey market, I think it helps the industry more than it hurts. Factories have to produce and modern consumers are just to savvy to pay retail at a fancy shop every time they wish to add a watch to their collection. Retailers have to turn over merchandise, is it really better to just sit on the same watch for years and years? What about the customer who stops in from time to time and always sees that same AP, PP, or whatever just sitting in that case forever. I’ve been there, it isn’t a good feeling and not easy to answer the customer’s query. So how is that retailer supposed to get rid of stale merchandise? Your in trouble if you discount it, so send it off to the grey market and let the exposure of the world find a buyer. So, are fakes dangerous? Yes, but mostly I believe its because of the increased quality of the modern fake. The risk is the customer actually likes the watch and sees no need to ever pay the money for the real thing. A fine watch says something about your character, one who appreciates the painstaking work, years of difficult training and love that goes into the creation of a luxury watch is part of an exclusive club. A group of individuals who appreciate art, beauty, which by itself exudes a certain level of sophistication and education. A fine watch can also be less expensive and practical, and this also speaks well of its owner. A fake shows your character even more, an emperor with no clothes. A wannabe, a loser of sorts. A person must wonder about one who flaunts such character in public, what else about you are you hiding? Rather than a severed hand and an emphasis on being fake, especially since many people feel that owners of fine watches are nothing more than fake people with money to spend, why not emphasize shame and character. I like the idea of a person dressed in clearly fake designer goods, with am emphasis on the watch looking in the mirror as though preparing for a date or important meeting with that certain look only Madison ave can create, I only see it in my minds eye and the tag line, “what else are you hiding?”

When I was young and in the military, I purchased a Submariner and paid for it in monthly installments. I have to say that it does take the cake for the “coolest” watch ever imho. A few years ago, I was toying with the idea of buying a two tone version of the same in blue or black. The first thing I discovered was that the prices have got a lot higher since I bought mine 7500 bucks for a two tone that I might wear sometimes. I scrapped the idea. My children had seen me looking at the two tones at a watch shop and also on the web. They surprised me with a two tone watch with a blue face with the brand name Invicta. Now this is not a replica, but it says it has a swiss movement but was assembled in Japan. This watch cost around 300 dollars and to be honest with you, holding both the Rolex and this watch in your hands you would be amazed at the quality of this new watch. I wear the Submariner every day, but when I get dressed up I wear the two tone watch. I guess it has sentimental value because the kids thought of me. I noticed that I get a lot of comments about the Invicta and people always say “hey that’s a Rolex!” No one has EVER commented on my Submariner. I have walked by the kiosks where they have sold fake watches, but always avoided them because the sellers always look shady so I can’t really gauge the quality of fakes. Anyway I liked the article….thoughts?

So… you are really annoyed, afraid people won’t get you’re the real thing. Buy a Rolls Royce if you need to show off, they don’t do much fake ones.

I’m 15 years old. I can’t afford a real Hublot so I bought a fake one for a fair quality. It will obviously never be as good as the real deal but I really like it. I bought it just because I love the way the watch looks, not so much for the brand. If people ask me I always tell them it’s fake. I don’t mind wearing a fake watch and hope that one day I’ll be able to afford a real one.

The luxury watch industry is an absolute joke. Unless you’re spending crazy amounts of money most of the watches are simply nice cases with rebranded/decorated internals. Think you are getting ‘quality’ for your money by buying the real thing…think again.

In 2003 I spent $2300 on an Omega Seamaster and after 3.5 yrs it stopped working and cost me $600 to get it repaired. Yes…$600 for repairs on a $2300 watch I owned for a little more than 3 years. At that point in time I swore I would never buy another genuine watch again.

I own numerous fakes, my latest being a Rolex Submariner (V7 NOOB) and a Panerai 438 (V6F) with ceramic bracelet. These two watches combined cost me $720…and I would bet that 99% of the population could not tell them from the real thing….they are AMAZINGLY good knockoffs. I would add that my ‘fake’ Rolex keeps better time and has better power reserve (it’s an automatic) then my $2300 Omega ever did.

I couldn’t agree more. In my opinion, it is more honest to wear an Orient Kamasu or a Citizen Promaster AUTHENTIC than a fake rolex submariner. People who cant afford buying a Rolex, there are several options to be classy with AUTHENTIC brands, such as Seiko watches over 600€ or Tissot watches below 600. Even buying a used watch from someone (who you trust and you checked before that is authentic of course) is better. I would rather gather some money or pay in installments for a Tag Heuer watch below 900€ than buying a super clone for myself and pretending to be classy.