I want to preface this with ignoring the legality of people selling fakes.
I'm interested in knowing if you would intentionally go buy a fake copy of a watch? I am a big fan or a classy watch watch and have my eye on several but couldn't even remotely afford them, however I could get a fake version much less.
For example something like a Rolex, Tag Heuer, or Breitling.
Taghauer I understand but typically g-shocks are just around the $100 mark? And they last forever.
The one I wanted was the mud man. When i was looking, these were still around the $300 mark, now you can pick them up from ebay for about $100 (not sure if authentic though). Shops still seem to sell it > $150.
a fake tag hauer
Is that a knock off of a knock off….?
(j/k, it's tag heuer =P)
its not my first language! haha
If it's just for the looks, fake watches are good enough for me.
Not that I own any tho. I just rock cheap watches and my main titus one bought when travelling is still going strong after 10 odd years
Depends if you just want it for the aesthetics and are content knowing it's a fake.
Just don't be one of those people that try to palm off their fakes as real so you seem 'baller'.
there's different levels of fakes.. some of the A grade fakes still fetch thousands
Genuine replica
I went to Thailand with mates, we went shopping in MBK shopping centre bangkok and they spent over an hour bargaining with one shop to buy a fake watch that ended up costing them $1000 for an A grade quality ripoff. Couldnt believe you would pay that much for a fake when i probably would struggle to pay that for a real watch. Cost for real version was $60k. really interesting to see the difference though between the C & D grade fakes they sell to everyday customers ($50-$100) and then the A-grade fakes that are bought by those with a bit more eye for detail. there is a massive difference in materials and quality. I guess if thats your thing then go for it.
ignoring teh legality of people selling fakes.
Just keep in mind it's more than just about selling fakes or copying a design from the original manufacturer. The sale of counterfeit/fake goods has been linked to the funding of organised crimes. Depending on who or where you're purchasing the watch from, there's a good chance you're potentially funding any future criminal ventures.
Most of us don't think about the consequences beyond the product itself, but just try to see the bigger picture.
Thanks, I admit I had never considered this.
Eh.
Pretty much everything funds organized crime, including a lot of otherwise legitimate cash businesses (e.g. restaurants, actual massage parlors, legal brothels, etc). I personally don't think it's worth considering.
I bought a fake Rolex on the beach in Thailand for $15 in the 1990s. It was for the lulz, not to daily wear.
These days fake everything is everywhere, so the lulz aren't there.
I would buy copies of things with no logos. A fake pair of rayban glasses are usually better quality than the $2 no name pair, but I don't want the label. I would pay more for a quality fake with no logo than I would with logo. When I am in Asia, I want to buy the nice $20 cotton business shirts, but they all have polo or similar logos, so I don't.
No.
Not because of any principled stance against counterfeits, but just because I don't wear a watch normally. Also I'm not a watch person so I wouldn't be showing off watches (real or fake) anyway.
Though I guess if you were a watch person, you wouldn't want a fake anyway?
I am a big fan or a classy watch watch and have my eye on several but couldn't even remotely afford them, however I could get a fake version much less.
There is a Ford Taurus which is driven around Melbourne with a Mercedes Benz star on the back. Just a fake copy.
A watch says something about you, and a fake says something that isn't very nice.
I agree that watches do reflect one's personality, but this comment is a tad harsh…
This goes back to my comment about whether you're trying to impress people with fakes and palm them off as real, versus simply liking the design and being able to admit it's a fake if queried.
There is a Porsche Carrera that has been driving around Sydney for 20 years that is just a body kit on a VW Beetle.
Some of my colleagues wear watches they’ve bought used I think this is a great idea to save $$, some trade in watches when they want to try something new as well.
Homage watches are ok too if you must have the same look but not my thing. Good quality examples here by certina have a strong resemblance to sub and aqua terra. At least this company is in the swatch group (same as longines and omega)
https://www.certina.com/en/collections#sport-collection
There are beautiful watches that don’t cost an arm and a leg that aren’t the poor mans copy of something else eg timex weekender or Seiko’s SARB watches:
https://www.watchgecko.com/seiko-sarb033-review/
I wouldn’t wear fakes for the points others have made above - there wouldn’t be any intrinsic value or satisfaction in owning one and it’s a bit of a shabby look.
I would rather buy a fake watch intentionally than unintentionally, it makes the price significantly different.
I bought a fake Omega watch in China for $10-$20 just for the heck of it.
Felt weighty and had a NASA blurb on back so looked nice but being automatic it only ran for 30 or so min without shaking or winding it so I never actually wore it.
The discount Omega store in Las Vegas they were US$1500-$2000 for the real one, so I'm unlikely to ever have actual one.
I'm an owner of a fake g-shock and a fake tag hauer.
For the price that I'm paying ($20 for the g-shock and $50 for the tag hauer), i don't mind if the watch breaks within the 1st year. Till they look good, and do what they're advertised to do, I don't really care how long they last for.