Are counterfeit watches getting better?

[vash]

No thanks. I just get bothered by fakes. It’s stealing. Stealing intellectual property.

Knives, watches, etc. nope.

[Arizona_928]

Perception is reality.


A lot of this has come down to societal influences and illusion of success. For a time piece that has been replaced by a cell phone, it’s a luxury item. An item the sheep have decided they want to emulate… Rolex’s are the tip of the iceberg in the watch market. I still find it funny that an iced out Rolex is worth less than an unmodified piece.


That said, Rolex is just a global recognized brand. These counterfeits have infected every aspect of our society through normalization of use from societal influences from mainstream media, record labels, social media and even foreign governments such as ****, alibaba, et al. These counterfeit products range from luxury brands of perfume/car parts/health products, ect that are simply hawked on amazon as authentic (while not being an authorized reseller). Remember folks, “shop like a billionaire “…

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by masraum

So are you talking about $20 or $50 fake/counterfeit Rolexes or are you talking about folks that buy watches that look similar to a Rolex but are just a less expensive brand. Because those are two VERY different things.

It can be both but does it matter?
Should we judge people who buy the really thing? Should we look down on people who don't? Who are we to decide if someone is sincere, a braggart, or a poser?

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by vash

It’s stealing. Stealing intellectual property.

That is the most honorable thing I've seen in this thread so far.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

It can be both but does it matter?
Should we judge people who buy the really thing? Should we look down on people who don't? Who are we to decide if someone is sincere, a braggart, or a poser?

I'm not deciding anything.

I'm just saying that there's a HUGE difference between "counterfeit" products and similar/mimic products.

If Rolex thought that someone like Seiko or Invicta or was making copies/counterfeits, I'm sure they would/could go after the other manufacturer in court for trademark/copyright/IP issues.

And I'm not judging anyone for what they want to do. I know/knew someone once that was concerned with appearance and used to wash and iron their money (when they were young before I knew them) for appearance's sake.

Counterfeit goods are a HUGE business these days of just about anything that you can imagine. I have to think that it's a billions or maybe trillion dollar business for China these days.

[HardDrive]

We all have our take on things. I find false signs of wealth nauseating.

[Zeke]

A direct answer is yes, they are getting better. Some keep time very well. I understand one of the major flaws is the lens and position of the date number in the window. I could care less about that. If I wanted a watch with all the doodads that a Rolex has, I wouldn't care about minor details. However, I wouldn't buy a watch like that at any price.

Aside from my phone telling time, 2 hands is enough unless I want to check my pulse.

[aschen]

The entirety of joy in a nice watch to me is the timelessness/longevity of it. I bought a rolex several years ago with the intention of giving it to my son at some point in his life. Ive worn it the better part of a decade. I have the porsche design chrono my mother gave my father in the 70s, both semi recently deceased. Its just an object but i treasure it. Fake just has no value to me no matter how good, made with care, by people who care, at a place with history matters to me for this sort of thing. I don't care what others value, buy what you like.

THe general public arnt really impressed by Submariners or yellow lamborghinis in the year 2024. Buy both if you like them but your neighbors probably dont give a flying damn. A tesla and the latest Iphone will get you more street cred in modern society.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by aschen

THe general public arnt really impressed by Submariners or yellow lamborghinis in the year 2024. Buy both if you like them but your neighbors probably dont give a flying damn. A tesla and the latest Iphone will get you more street cred in modern society.

You live in a very different neighborhood than I do! Teslas are as common as Prius's once were here in my town, and a yellow Lamborghini would definitely have the neighbors coming over to check it out.... Even a yellow Urraco would do the trick, I'll bet. Heck, even a yellow 924, as long as it was properly set up.

[aschen]

Teslas are common and yellow lambos are not around me as well. I was being a bit flippant, but in general my interpretation of the current state of things is that flamboyant gas guzzling cars are judged negatively by most non car people. Then again I am the last person to be trusted in matters of style.

I was out with my sister a few weeks ago and saw A python green GT4, a car id love to own personally, she said she would be emabarassed to drive in it.

[Por_sha911]

masraum: I think we agree and most things but we have gotten off course.
I said

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Possible answers:
-Some folks just can't afford the real thing but genuinely like the look and they do it for themselves.
-Some just don't want to spend outrageous amounts of money for a watch when they can get one that pleases them for a fraction of the cost. They consider the cost a stupid waste of money. They feel that those who 'need' to have expensive things are trying to impress others and they have no need for validation from anyone except themselves. (go research Warren Buffet).
-Some are posers. I knew someone who 'had it all': multi-million dollar house in a place where a nice home was $2-300K, expensive cars, the latest fashions. It was all financed and their net equity was zero. They were impressive but just as fake as knockoff watches (maybe more so).

You asked if I am talking about fakes or counterfeits

Originally Posted by masraum

So are you talking about $20 or $50 fake/counterfeit Rolexes or are you talking about folks that buy watches that look similar to a Rolex but are just a less expensive brand. Because those are two VERY different things.

My answer was to the original question of why people buy the fakes or look-a-likes

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

It can be both but does it matter?
Should we judge people who buy the really thing? Should we look down on people who don't? Who are we to decide if someone is sincere, a braggart, or a poser?

I also replied to Vash's quote that stealing is stealing:

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

That is the most honorable thing I've seen in this thread so far.

I agree with you that knockoffs are stealing and not honorable but that wasn't the context of my replies.

Originally Posted by masraum

I'm not deciding anything.

I'm just saying that there's a HUGE difference between "counterfeit" products and similar/mimic products.

If Rolex thought that someone like Seiko or Invicta or was making copies/counterfeits, I'm sure they would/could go after the other manufacturer in court for trademark/copyright/IP issues.

And I'm not judging anyone for what they want to do. I know/knew someone once that was concerned with appearance and used to wash and iron their money (when they were young before I knew them) for appearance's sake.

Counterfeit goods are a HUGE business these days of just about anything that you can imagine. I have to think that it's a billions or maybe trillion dollar business for China these days.

Lastly, I was not suggesting that you judge anyone. My replies were to Hardrive who stated "I have never understood the desire to buy a fake....anything. What are you saying about yourself?"

[masraum]

Got it. So often some of these exchanges are the result of some level of misunderstanding.

[pwd72s]

[berettafan]

I recently got a foot stuck in the rabbit hole of watches and am trying hard to get it out with minimal damage.

i love the complete detachment from the borg you get with an automatic watch. never need so much as a battery and can leave your phone at home or in the car while you interact with the real world. it is liberating to navigate a day without constantly clutching a $1500 security blanket that requires monthly fees and spies on you.

sapphire crystals are amazing in how they become invisible and now im learning about extreme accuracy being a part if the value in a nicer mechanical watch.

Fakes? No thanks. I’d rather wear my $400 seiko than a fake Rolex or omega. I would maybe dig a factory five cobra but that’s my limit on fake cars too.

[CurtEgerer]

How about a Rolex Daytona for $800, complete with replica Rolex 4130 movement? Even your jeweler is unlikely to know it's fake.

https://theonewatches.cc