After seeing this, I am sick to my stomach (counterfeits)

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cicindela

·Jan 14, 2015·Steve @ ΩF

Event horizon

I wonder if they start with a Casio and do what this guy does.

One of my favourite ads. The cruising scene is priceless. 👍

 

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Taddyangle

·Jan 14, 2015

These days it is very hard to tell the difference, aside from looking at the movement. In fact, I wonder if Omega is using sapphire backs as a counter measure to prevent (at least try to prevent) replicas.

To make matters worse, there is also some that will use OEM parts to make the watch look more legitimate.

I too came across a specific forum on replicas. It is a sub culture and those boys seem to know their watches, so it seems odd they would focus this much time and energy on replicas.

 

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Darlinboy

·Jan 14, 2015·Pratts! Will I B******S!!!

MikiJ

Next time try a .308 instead of a .22 ;-)

He used the right tool.... a .308 cartridge is worth more than the watch. 😉

 

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redpcar

·Jan 14, 2015

One positive note is they (replica collectors) are also watch nuts. They dream of owning the real thing and probably will some day.

 

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MjolnirCFC

·Jan 14, 2015

citizenrich

Big issue. Get right to the point and call me a racist or something but I'm not comfortable flying on a 125 million jet aircraft which was just serviced by a bunch of guys who ride beat-up bicycles to work.

Yep. Im taking it the wrong way. You havent considered that educated people in poorer countries who are qualified to perform a task are not as well paid as educated people in richer countries qualified to perform the same task and accordingly, end up riding 'beat up' modes of transportation. You also havent considered that airlines are international in character and have standard procedures across nations and that certian regulations on maintenance of aircraft and standards are often internationally regulated.

 

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JimInOz

·Jan 15, 2015·Melbourne Australia

MjolnirCFC

...........................standard procedures across nations and that certian regulations on maintenance of aircraft and standards are often internationally regulated.

and are just as often internationally ignored.

 

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STANDY

·Jan 15, 2015·schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector

So that would mean $350 million plane serviced by -------------------------

 

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Privateday7

·Jan 17, 2015

JimInOz

and are just as often internationally ignored.

I did know an airline which use refurbished parts for their maintenance. I avoid them as much as possible and glad that this airline has been closed. How did I know? Friends who worked in Airline Maintenance Facilities and their suppliers.

 

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MrBadExample

·Jan 18, 2015

Personally, I don't have a major problem with fakes/counterfeits (watches that is). Only an issue with them being passed of as genuine.
I own a few fakes that I wear when I'm working on the tools. I also wear fakes to help decide on whether or not I want to buy the genuine article. I wore a fake Sea Dweller for quite a while until I decided that it wasn't the watch for me. I was very pleased that I did, otherwise I'd have ended up with that instead of my DSOTM.

Most beneficial for me though, is that whilst living in Vietnam (as I do), the average thief on the street just assumes I'm wearing a $70 counterfeit as the country is flooded with them. Who needs insurance...?

 

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proximal

·Jan 18, 2015

I do find some value in those types of forums, because I've had some friends mention that they were shopping for a commonly copied Rolex/Omega/etc. and I point them to those sites so they know what to look out for.

 

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DocHolliday

·Feb 11, 2015

I'll admit... Over 14 years ago in my early twenties when I was selling cars for a living there was a slew of salesmen that came into our building selling anything from oranges, to "fancy suits". I found myself purchasing Folex "Flubmariner". Everyone at work had a replica expect for our GM. I was astounded that people would buy these pieces up like candy bars in a vending machine. As I wore it over the first week, I didn't feel any sparkling joy. Everyone knew it was a lie, along with the Fartier's, & Patek Pancakes what they were wearing as well. We were all living in lie bubble. After a few months I could feel the guilt billow over me. I has to ask myself "do I feel better wearing my Nixon watch from college?" At the end of the day I did feel much better wearing the truth. It was a great decision knowing not to go back the path of a shame. We've all worked out rears off over the years to be able to have the luxury of being able to obsess over such fine time pieces. Being able to wear your wristwatch like a medal, and take pride in yourself will always outweigh the attempt of inflating your ego with lies.

 

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Canuck

·Feb 11, 2015

In 2012, we were in Pisa, Italy. The place was overrun with street vendors flogging just about any kind of souvenir you could contemplate. Among the vendors were peddlers carrying watch rolls they could unfurl at a moment's notice, when a "mark" happened by. Plastic "Rolexes" of every shade and hue. I asked one guy if they were genuine. He assured me they were! Aren't there laws? I don't understand how these charlatans were able to get away with it! One noted watch authority told me a while ago, that when the Chinese get real serious about the watch business, the Swiss will be in trouble!

 

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lillatroll

·Feb 11, 2015

I would rather wear a 100 pound casio watch than a fake watch even if it is for work. I have a tag hueuer f1 chronometer for work it was only 500 dollars but it is original

 

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lillatroll

·Feb 11, 2015

its a 1991 model, hence the price

 

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Stewart H

·Feb 11, 2015

It is the same with any popular mid-market branded item. I'll bet you see 100 fake LV handbags for every one genuine example. Ditto Rolex Daytonas. It is only when you get into the high end that it will swing the other way.

 

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citizenrich

·Feb 12, 2015

Stewart H

It is the same with any popular mid-market branded item. I'll bet you see 100 fake LV handbags for every one genuine example. Ditto Rolex Daytonas. It is only when you get into the high end that it will swing the other way.

Your educated guess is an intelligent one.

100:1 is close. My old company specialized in counterfeit and loss prevention (we acted as a conduit between law enforcement, regulatory agencies and the private sector. LVMH is iron fisted when it comessłp to protecting trade and copy. They have to be. Within the group, Burberry is far and away the most aped.

LVMH was my second biggest client (Apple was número uno).

We were the the guys (well, my old partners still do it), you see chasing really fast West Africans up and down Lower Broadway and east and west across Canal Steeet in NYC. It was like herding cats.

 

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msp1518

·Feb 15, 2015

The issue I see is the fake dealers/seller on Canal street can stand there with their suitcase stuffed with swag and the cops cannot do a damn thing about it. We all know what is inside those bags. But the cops cannot touch them unless they see the stupid sh!ts open the bag and actually sell a fake LV. These sh!ts all have lookouts, making that damned near impossible.

I lived in NYC for 8 years. The amount of fakes on the street corners boggles the mind. I saw so many fake $60 Omega Seamaster Professional 300's that the real thing lost any and all mystique to me.