Are counterfeit watches getting better?
 

Looks like it to me, but $400 for a very nice replica of a Seamaster seems like a lot of money. Who do you call when it craps out? Why not just get a pretty nice Casio or Seiko that you know will work when you need it?

(This video was in my feed about 10 minutes after I clicked on the 928 watch thread that Glen posted.)

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"Looks like it to me, but $400 for a very nice replica of a Seamaster seems like a lot of money. Who do you call when it craps out? Why not just get a pretty nice Casio or Seiko that you know will work when you need it?"

What? You don't know why some buy fakes? Because they themselves are fake...

So many parts being made in China. The fakes probably come from the same factory.

Yeah, I'm not a fancy watch guy, so I was intrigued at the quality of the knockoff in that video.

Varmint's post captured my imagination; it turns out only 50% of the parts in a "Swiss Made" watch are required to be made in Switzerland. If the actual watches didn't come from the same factory, I'm betting the Seiko drawings turned up in more than one watch factory.

I think many/most watches use movements made by one of a couple of companies. I think a bunch of the higher end watch companies then modify the appearance and/or tune the movements then put them into their case. I think a lot of the good fakes buy the generic movements and then don't do the mods, but stick them in cases that are good copies (that may have come out of the same factory, because China just doesn't give a damn about IP).

Says the Bullitt Mustang owner

Yup. The high end fakes are so good now, it's scary.

IMO buying a fake luxury item in general is for a starving college student or someone who is aspiring to buy the genuine article. Or perhaps you want a mockup of Cartier or Louie sunglasses, luggage, or whatever before you pull the trigger, I don't know.

There are some nice chinese automatic movements out there, but I would probably buy a reasonably fancy Seiko instead of a $400 knock off rolex.

However, I've pretty much given up on nice sunglasses. I lose or drop them too often, and the price of authentic ones (Wayfarers for instance) is not justified by their quality. I'm sure Luxotica has a lot to do with this.

I can't find the video, but I did see a video about $1000 Rolex knockoffs. They took one aparts, and concluded that that the quality level of the fake was so good, that it justified the $1k price tag.

Insurance. Get some pics of you wearing said fake, then lose it somewhere. You end up with an original.

Wouldn't you need proof of such a watch for your insurance policy? Usually the paper that comes with the watch from the manufacturer with the serial #, or an independent appraisal.

I have a fake Paneri I bought years ago. I think I paid $250-300. It’s good, real ETA movement, solid, says “Marine” but not Paneri.

They hit them with a Cease And Desist and now they are kind of a sought after watch.

Marina Militare?

I’ll post a pic. It was probably Marina.

Panerai made those for the Italian Navy. I have a Pam024 and bought a Marina Militare off eBay from a seller that said it had a Miyota movement vs the Chinese Seagull. It looked exactly like my Panerai, but the bezel had a lot of play and wasn't as precise, and the crown and crown guard were definitely up to par. I opened up the watch and surprise! There was no Miyota movement. I got back to the seller and he said he had no idea as he "bought" it thinking it had the Miyota. Anyway, I sent it to my nephew who likes to collect watches.

Here it is. It's a great watch, solid crystal and a movement that keeps great time...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1617405181.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1617405199.jpg

Ouch!

The homage watch is the first on the left. Real is in the middle. The homage kept good time, too. Lume was a little weak.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1617405157.jpg

Insecure people don't buy the real thing because they tell better time do they?
Some have turned out to be a good investment though.

I think I got mine from "International Watchman". If you Google there were some lawsuits and also people liked the watches, the bands not so much.

Still a good watch though.

Exactly. I'd much rather have a Seiko than a fake Omega, Rolex, etc....

Leaves a mark like a C&C peel out.

No mark at all...apples-oranges. Nobody confuses a Bullitt model Mustang of any of the years it was made for anything but what it is....a special edition Mustang with a modest performance boost and special paint. Not made to deceive anyone...a fake watch on the other hand...kind of like switching a VIN tag and engine lid emblems to deceive some that a 911T is a 911S. It's for good reason we have laws against counterfeiting.

Nobody confuses a Mustang as being something like a 911S. Or a Patek.

Its a skid mark in your pants, old man.

SmileWavy

Are replica watches getting better? I think so, but there have been really good fakes out there for a long time, too. It all depends on the price point.

That’s a little bit off side.

Not sure over there, but here no. Wife lost a ring I bought her 30 years ago. Paperwork long gone. Insurance paid up no issue.

Mine has to be listed on my homeowner's policy.

Have Victorinox for years.
Nobody is going to kill me for it and it keeps time.
What more do you need?

Indeed....as do ours. Photos are good enough though. No receipt etc required.

FWIW: I know a guy who lives in London and he bought the fake version of his Rolex so he could wear it and not worry about it getting stolen. Apparently there are watch thief gangs working in London and it's common for them to target high end watches! Honestly I don't know how any of that makes sense to him.

A good fake can be up to $1,000 USD but you can also get a real Swiss made watch for the same money.

And why support the Chinese and their fake knock offs?
- There are way more fakes sold than the real thing. That's incredible if you think about it.

He bought a fake watch and made himself a target.

I got this watch off eBay last month. Small family owned watch maker in Switzerland.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1617431977.jpg

reddit has a busy 'reptime' subforum. It's very interesting.

Wooden pearls?

Tiger's eye ^

knockoff watches typically don't have sapphire crystals and such.

Damn... PWD must have really pissed you off somehow. Or are you just overly sensitive... that's it, isn't it.

Agree 100%. I have a Sub as a daily, but I think it's time to buy a Sinn and keep the Rolex at home.

LOL! Nostril has been ragging on me for quite some time. Never could figure out who he is. But with his latest response, I believe I have him pegged...I baited a hook and he bit...one of two people, and it doesn't really matter which of the 2 he is... I'll confess to having been guilty of pissing off the right people. :D

It carries over from the old 911S registry days...

My gf is Korean and there is a Korean website that reviews and sells fake goods. One of her friends paid $300 for a fake Chanel bag and it was a really nice fake. Very well done, but after a few months, the coloring on the shoulder chain started flaking off. Those people also have some fake watches in the $1000 range and I asked my gf why spend that much on a fake. She said some people want it because Korea is a very materialistic society. FWIW, she doesn't believe in fake stuff and it costs me a ton.