Has anyone intentionally purchased a fake watch?

[floydbax]

The Tag stopped working but the other 2 are fine! Sounds just like the real thing then (ime)

[malcysmith]

I purchased a Rolex Sub "Pro-Hunter" last year and have worn it a fair amount it must be said. Great auto movement, no damage whatsoever and looks and feels the business.

Would not intentionally pass it off as real. Only purchased due to the want for an all black watch.

£80 through a watch forum for reps and was delivered within a week.

[RichTT]

I guess you could say I'm into replicas as I collect, modify, sell, and wear them as well as genuine watches. I've had 20+ over the past 8 months and have around 6 that I am currently modifiying or vintaging prior to re-sale (to other replica collectors i hasten to add) However due to the self policing nature of the hobby (and the respective forums I'm a member of) I can't post pictures of my own watches. I will however say this, there is no such thing as a Swiss Made replica, they are all built in China or the far east. Yes there are versions that will run you to $500 or so for a Hublot King Power or the like, but good ones cost between $100 and $300 USD depending on the movement inside. This could be anything from a $15 Asian 21j DG2813 automatic movement to the standard Asian Clone ETA 2836-2, genuine ETA 2836 / 2824 or an Asian Clone Valjoux 7750. There are practically zero Swiss 7750 chronograph movements in replicas. Pay anything more and you are being ripped off. The advertised $1200 Swiss made AAA++++ quality replicas are sold by scam sites and generally host either pictures of genuine watches or will send you something worth peanuts.

[jimothy]

I'm planning to buy one soonish. I really want a B&R, I love the big square design, but worry it might not look the best. So I plan to hop over the border to Shenzhen, pick one up for sod all, then after a few days either bin it as I don't like it, or bin it and replace with an original.

Happy to do so to try before I buy. Would never buy one for a long term purchase.

[sparkyhx]

RichTT said:

Pay anything more and you are being ripped off. The advertised $1200 Swiss made AAA++++ quality replicas are sold by scam sites and generally host either pictures of genuine watches or will send you something worth peanuts.

Thanks for the heads up, not that I was planning on going down that route.

I really really want to scratch my 'Kermit' itch, but can't wait any longer for a 'homage', but really don't want to go down the replica route either.

oh the quandry is killing me especially since finding RWI and RWG

[RichTT]

sparkyhx said:

Thanks for the heads up, not that I was planning on going down that route.

I really really want to scratch my 'Kermit' itch, but can't wait any longer for a 'homage', but really don't want to go down the replica route either.

oh the quandry is killing me especially since finding RWI and RWG

Unfortunately there is no good kermit replica. Current ones are woeful, either lacking sunburst dial or terrible bezel colour issues. You're best bet (non-branded) is the green ceramic homage watch sold by Helenarou (rouhelena seller name)on eBay. It's passable.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GREEN-DIVING-WATCH-CERAM...

[broncoupe]

You got it right the advise on RWI is purfect and acurate in my experiance

[sparkyhx]

RichTT said:

Unfortunately there is no good kermit replica. Current ones are woeful, either lacking sunburst dial or terrible bezel colour issues. You're best bet (non-branded) is the green ceramic homage watch sold by Helenarou (rouhelena seller name)on eBay. It's passable.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GREEN-DIVING-WATCH-CERAM...

Not that bothered by colour as I've said I'm not actually after a Sub replica just a looky likey with a green bezel. Although I would sooner have a bad green homage than a bad green replica - thats just extra no no.

don't like the green face of that - I want the black face - although everything else is good enough, price is ballpark what I want to pay as well. - might see what else helenarou has - usually a reputable dealer

Edited by sparkyhx on Thursday 1st September 16:28

[Burrito]

Not an intentional purchase by me, but my dad picked up this 'replica' in HK a few years ago. Now that my daily stter has started randomly gaining days on the date (and my foolish blind trust in that!) I've taken to wearing this.

Definitely not Rolex movement or time keeping, but as a daily that doesn't matter if it gets knocked about in a warehouse but still looks good in meetings. I like it.

I've never tried to pass it off as something it's not though!

[Miguel Alvarez]

I bought a Baby G with my paper round from a market stall many moons ago. I can only assume that as it was given to me in a blue and white striped pastic bag that it was fake. For my 30th my parents bought me a fake Breitling. They'd known for ages that I was window shopping the luxury watches. I felt bad as I'd bought my Carrera for my birthday as a treat to myself and my parents presented me with the fake Breitling. It was one of those situations where I knew they couldn't afford the real thing so had got me that as the next best thing.

Everytime I see them now I have to tell them all my watches are fake and I'm not wasting grandage on them.

[Simon Bags]

Miguel Alvarez said:

I bought a Baby G with my paper round from a market stall many moons ago. I can only assume that as it was given to me in a blue and white striped pastic bag that it was fake. For my 30th my parents bought me a fake Breitling. They'd known for ages that I was window shopping the luxury watches. I felt bad as I'd bought my Carrera for my birthday as a treat to myself and my parents presented me with the fake Breitling. It was one of those situations where I knew they couldn't afford the real thing so had got me that as the next best thing.

Everytime I see them now I have to tell them all my watches are fake and I'm not wasting grandage on them.

Or, to make them feel better, you could tell them that as it happens, the fake they thought you bought you, turns out it's real?

[Schermerhorn]

Everytime I go on holiday.

I don't pretend it's the real thing and nobody I know thinks it is either. I like them because some of them look VERY VERY nice.



200 Dirhams from Dubai

Never missed a beat.

[bobbybee]

No never
And I can't agree with anyone who has for any reason.
Simply because it perpetuates crime, and makes the criminal buyer just a guilty as the criminal seller.
All adding to the slow slide down to a lawless society, where good folk are trapped in their homes with fear of the bad folk who can just do whatever they want and damnation for all.

Counterfeiting funds more serious criminal activities, don't be nieve thinking it's just a fake watch, it's part of organised crime, you buying it means you've contributed to it, so don't bh next time you're a victim of it

[Balmoral Green]

And every 300C with a Bentley badge puts someone in Crewe on the dole.

[Schermerhorn]

bobbybee said:

No never
And I can't agree with anyone who has for any reason.
Simply because it perpetuates crime, and makes the criminal buyer just a guilty as the criminal seller.
All adding to the slow slide down to a lawless society, where good folk are trapped in their homes with fear of the bad folk who can just do whatever they want and damnation for all.

Counterfeiting funds more serious criminal activities, don't be nieve thinking it's just a fake watch, it's part of organised crime, you buying it means you've contributed to it, so don't bh next time you're a victim of it

Your tax money goes towards dropping bombs on people that results in innocent men, women and children killed, starting wars, propping up dictatorships (for as long as they're useful), arming rebels in conflict zones.......

[bobbybee]

Schermerhorn said:

Your tax money goes towards dropping bombs on people that results in innocent men, women and children killed, starting wars, propping up dictatorships (for as long as they're useful), arming rebels in conflict zones.......

Well true, and i'm not best pleased about that either. But in context to this thread that's a poor comparison, for two simple reasons
1. You have a choice to buy a fake and fund crime, or not to buy a fake and not fund crime.
2. But you have no choice in paying taxes, or what that tax is spent on.
You can try and pay as little as possible though. I doubt my annual contribution would pay for a firing pin, never mind the rest of the rifle, thanks to clever accounting

[Rollin]

bobbybee said:

Well true, and i'm not best pleased about that either. But in context to this thread that's a poor comparison, for two simple reasons
1. You have a choice to buy a fake and fund crime, or not to buy a fake and not fund crime.
2. But you have no choice in paying taxes, or what that tax is spent on.
You can try and pay as little as possible though. I doubt my annual contribution would pay for a firing pin, never mind the rest of the rifle, thanks to clever accounting

You could move to another country.

[CardShark]

Clever accounting?

So you're having a pop at someone for buying a fake but it's OK for you to dodge taxes? If that's what you meant, of course

Actually, I'm surprised that it took this long for the moral aspect to surface

I've bought one, a £2 P.O.S. Rolex whilst away earlier this year. Bought for a giggle as to how completely rubbish it was, God only knows what I've done with it. Did I feel guilty buying it? Ever so slightly, but it was *never* the intention to pass off as real, not that it ever could be.

[bobbybee]

CardShark said:

Clever accounting?

So you're having a pop at someone for buying a fake but it's OK for you to dodge taxes? If that's what you meant, of course

Yes, yes I am. As tax avoidance is not illegal, tax evasion is, as is buying, or being in possession of counterfeit goods

[bobbybee]

Rollin said:

You could move to another country.

Yes I could, so can anyone, but no thank you, this one will do for now