Replica, face, sterile, knock-off watches

DARISC · 11-16-2012, 10:15 AM

Anybody here buy these (fake, not face)?

Seems it's a huge and growing (illegal) business chock full of scamsters selling them for $50-$500+.

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

As propmasters, we buy fake Rolex, Tag, Patek, Panerai, etc. to use on screen, for principal and background actors. On features, the main actors will sometimes get the real deal. On NCIS Los Angeles we get all our watches from Luminox in a product placement deal.

I do own and wear an IWI Marine Diver, which is a Panerai knockoff with a Unitas movement. They run in the $300-500 range, a bit more than a Chinese knock-off.

GWN7 · 11-16-2012, 12:53 PM

A guy I worked with has a "Polex" watch

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

When I was working in Pakistan, we had tons of Irish workers. One of them, Frank Cotter, picked up a bunch of fake Rolex watches on the way back to Ireland. The were simply cheap gifts for friends.

Customs in Ireland opens his bags and finds something like 20 Rolexs...

At first the customs man goes and starts to write up a Customs bill for 20 real Rolexs. Franks stops him and says they aren't real, that they are knock-offs.

So they confiscated them!!!

I think I bought one in Tijuana and it turned my wrist green...

vash · vash's Garage

i dont mess with counterfeits. just never have. if i cant afford the real deal..so be it.

there has to be a victim in this crime, no?

Chocaholic · 11-16-2012, 01:08 PM

Not sure how the law works but "homage" watches aren't illegal. Invicta does it all the time. My son has one...a nice ETA automatic that looks exactly like a Rolex Submariner. But it does not use the Rolex name or logo...perhaps that's the difference.

ckelly78z · 11-16-2012, 01:11 PM

I honestly haven't worn a watch in 15 years. The job I have, it could get caught on something moving and end badly for me, and at home, I am constantly working on cars, running a log splitter, or other activities that are not condusive to needing to know the time.

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Not sure how the law works but "homage" watches aren't illegal. Invicta does it all the time. My son has one...a nice ETA automatic that looks exactly like a Rolex Submariner. But it does not use the Rolex name or logo...perhaps that's the difference.

That's the way the IWI Marine Divers are, they're a Panerai "homage" watch with no Panerai name or logo and maybe some slight deviation from the original.

intakexhaust · intakexhaust's Garage

Back in the 1980's working at a P / A dealership, the owner would give token Folex's to the cheap-ass customers. Priceless to see their faces at first light up. Actually it was even more funny to see the teenage porters wearing real Rolex's.

Dantilla · 11-16-2012, 01:24 PM

Several years ago a friend had a batch of fake Rolex watches. I got one for $25. I don't care about the prestige, just a good deal on a watch that kept time well.

I was suprised that some people notice watches. If anybody ever commented on it, I always told them it was fake. Prolly still sitting in a drawer around here someplace.

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

We have vendors who can imitate anything. When we did the Liberace movie with Michael Douglas earlier this year we spent $55k making fake copies of Liberace's rings, watches and necklaces.

Usually we can go down to Santee Alley and pickup counterfeit designer watches, purses, sunglasses, etc. Heck, we can even pickup a pirated DVD of a movie we worked on that has just been released in theaters. Cops strolling around, but apparently not concerned with busting anyone selling counterfeit/ pirated merchandise.

VaSteve · 11-16-2012, 01:42 PM

I have one of those Invicta Submariner clones. Actually mine is a little different design in the bezel. I bought it in January for $60 used on Amazon. I have dunked it in the ocean in Key West and Maine. I wear it when I'm at a DE and fixing my car. I wanted a nice beater and it's very reliable. Of course, some guys that the events are working on Their cars wearing real Rolexes. I won't wear it to work. I'm not trying to pose as something it's not, I enjoy telling folks that it was $60 used.

There's a few better clones out there, I might replace this with a nicer one. Can't/won't afford the real thing. I can't see tying up big dough in one tiny item like that that I'm paranoid about.

The 911 is full of "homage" '73 RSs.

LeeH · 11-16-2012, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaSteve

I have one of those Invicta Submariner clones. Actually mine is a little different design in the bezel. I bought it in January for $60 used on Amazon. I have dunked it in the ocean in Key West and Maine. I wear it when I'm at a DE and fixing my car. I wanted a nice beater and it's very reliable. Of course, some guys that the events are working on Their cars wearing real Rolexes. I won't wear it to work. I'm not trying to pose as something it's not, I enjoy telling folks that it was $60 used.

There's a few better clones out there, I might replace this with a nicer one. Can't/won't afford the real thing. I can't see tying up big dough in one tiny item like that that I'm paranoid about.

The 911 is full of "homage" '73 RSs.

Yeah, but is says "Invicta" on the dial and band, right? Quite a difference in my mind. Personally, I'd rather spend money on a real Citizen or Seiko.

VaSteve · 11-16-2012, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeH

Yeah, but is says "Invicta" on the dial and band, right? Quite a difference in my mind. Personally, I'd rather spend money on a real Citizen or Seiko.

Yeah, I don't care about the dial or the band. It's fake, I know it, I don't care. What does bother me is that it says "invicta" on the side of the case (oppose the crown).

I have a Seiko as well...used again. I like it as well, but I don't think you can find a Seiko that has quite the same look as my faux Rolex.

intakexhaust · intakexhaust's Garage

Work and beater watches: Why bother with a knockoff? Last week my wife and I were in a Kohls store where she found a sharp looking chronograph in stainless made by Relic. I checked it out including the packaging.. perfect new with warranty. Price was marked down from $89 to $18 and then she had a 30 percent discount! She won't give it to me until Christmas... haha. Love and being cheap is sometimes really good.

VaSteve · 11-16-2012, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by intakexhaust

Work and beater watches: Why bother with a knockoff?

I wanted an automatic.

sc_rufctr · 11-16-2012, 03:22 PM

Rolex make over a million watches a year. Yes they're expensive but they're not rare.

Rather than damaging the legit market the fakes have driven demand for the real thing.

I bought a second hand Rolex Submariner a few years ago. It's stainless and gold with a black face a bezel. I absolutely love it.

A friend once told me. It doesn't take much for the average man to feel successful. A good watch and nice car just about does it for most men. Not necessarily a new car or watch but it has to be the real deal.

mossguy · 11-16-2012, 04:24 PM

My favorite!

Joeaksa · 11-16-2012, 06:01 PM

I have a couple of knock-off watches. Wear them only when I am going in a place where I could be asked to give up the watch or my life... am happy to give them a knock-off...

jyl · jyl's Garage

What is the point of a knock off Rolex? You get to fool people into thinking you are wearing a real Rolex? Sad. You get to fool yourself? Sad. Your fashion sense requires you to wear the Rolex logo at all times? Sad. Fake luxury goods are for losers. The coolest way to wear a Rolex is debadged.