The Breitling Watch Source Forums

In all honesty I can understand that there are people out there who like Breitlings and other high end watches who just can't afford them and I don't fault them at all for getting a replica of a watch that they want but can't afford. Really there are a whole lot more people that can't afford a couple of grand for a watch, but want something that looks nice, I used to be one and I wore the same damn TAG (a real one that was an HS graduation gift) for about 7 years, so I completely understand people buying replicas and I won't say anything bad about them for it. I'd rather see someone buy a replica Breitling than go bankrupt because they bought too many watches. I don't understand people that can afford a genuine watch, and own one, that will wear a replica though, that just doesn't make sense to me

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

There are plenty of great less expensive watches out there. I would rather see someone wearing one of those than a replica (or indeed going bankrupt for spending money the do not have).

On holiday I wear mainly;


It's real.

Just my UHO.

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you, I'm just saying that I can see where people who do wear a replica if they like the look of the watch and can't afford one are coming from. I know that mine is probably an unpopular opinion on this forum considering the number of people on here who are serious watch collectors, but I can also see this subject from the perspective of someone without the means to afford a high end watch. I for one won't buy a replica, I would love a PAM, but I'm not about to buy a fake one, I'd rather get a less expensive watch that I can afford and save up until I can get what seems unattainable to me.

Anyway, sorry to highjack you thread.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

Hey Roman,

I dont think you need to apologise to the OP, he asked for opinions we and others have given ours. (I do not think ours differ too much but if they do/did again so what, we are allowed opinions IMUHO)

Have a good one.

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

That's one of the things I like the best about this forum, we can share different opinions respectfully like adults.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

Replicas are imitations of real watches using cheaper materials.

They are not as durable as real thing. If you start wearing one - it will start showing signs of wear quite soon, especially if one intends to wear replicas in harsh conditions, i.e. on vacation, outdoors or while engaging in physical labor.

In addition I don't think replicas are really waterproof, so swimming on vacation is probably out of question.

Essentially, you will be wasting money on inferior imitations.

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Chronomat :: Evolution Red | Evolution Frecce Tricolori | Longitude
Navitimer :: Montbrillant Eclipse | Old II | Current
Professional :: B-1 | B-2 w UTC
Colt :: GMT

Even if you are wrong ;_)



I'm joking alright...........generally.

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

I can certainly understand people liking the look of a certain expensive watch but not being able to afford it - but unfortunately that's life. What we are talking about here are luxury goods, plain and simple. They're not life or death, and the world won't stop if people don't have something that looks like a 5k watch on their arm. I think the fake culture is a product of this modern obsession with people having to have everything they want IMMEDIATELY, and if they can't afford it then they fake it.

To be honest there are plenty of very expensive watches that I like out there, but I can't afford them right now, so I go without. Sure, as a watchaholic I'd like to have them, but just because I cannot afford one doesn't mean that I'd buy a fake. If you really like the look of a certain watch I can guarantee you could find a similar looking homage piece out there (i.e. a VERY similar look without the brand copyright infringement) without the need to resort to buying a sweatshop-made fake. I know a guy at work who wears a Panerai homage for that very reason :- he likes the look of Panerai but cant justify the expense to himself, but he also has too much self-respect than to wear an out-and-out fake. So he wears an homage piece from a boutique watchmaker instead - and I have no issue with that at all.

IMHO fakes are worn (99% of the time at least) by people who want to show off to others. There is no other reason as far as I'm concerned. Fakes (especially the new very accurate ones) are designed with one aim in mind, and that is to deceive others - whether they be buyers (like the idiots who sell them on ebay as genuine) or people who see them on other people's wrists and (apparently) think, "wow what a successful person that guy must be". Either way, deception is one of the nastier human traits and not something I'd personally want to buy into.

As I've said on here before, I personally buy watches for me and me alone. Most of the time they are hidden away under my sleeve, and I sure as hell don't make a big deal about them to people in general. So if the only person I buy watches for is me, what on earth would I get out of owning a fake?? Absolutely nothing, as no matter how accurate a fake appears to be, I'd always know it was fake. Hence my assumption that 99% of people buy fakes to attempt to impress others.

And all of that aside, you will always have the issue with fakes that they are made in sweatshops, or someone's garage in the far east, with zero quality control, sub-standard materials and nothing remotely useful like..... oh I dunno, a warranty perhaps! And some of them aren't even that cheap either! A mate of mine had a fake "Ultimate" PO for a while (god know's why!) and while it looked OK-ish (apart from the usual "tells" of no external AR, wrong feet on the logo and non-bevelled edge to the date window of course ) the QC on it was pathetic. The crown screwed in all of a quarter of a turn.... before failing completely 2 months later, the clasp was loose and was prone to coming undone, the bezel insert was only half stuck down, and the finish on the underside of the bracelet was pretty poor to say the least. Obviously it came with no box, manual or warranty........ and it cost him the best part of £300 GBP. As I say, it lasted 2 months before the crown issue made it unwearable. And as soon as I pointed out the "tells" he was less than overt with it in front of people for fear of someone else spotting it was a fake as well! So his £300 got him just 2 months of self-conscious watch-wearing, before being consigned to the nearest landfill - hardly value for money! He would've got considerably more utility from spending £300 on a Pulsar or Citizen with a 12 month warranty!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Driver,
I have to say that I really do agree with everything that you said and I only wish that I could have stated my feelings as eloquently, and with such an outstanding use of emoticons, as you have. I'm not being a smartass here either. I guess I was just kind of playing Devil's Advocate, cool movie bye the way. That's why when I broke my TAG I didn't go out and buy a fake one, I bought a $300 Wenger. Actually breaking my TAG is one of the best things that I've done, I learned not to stick my hand in a fish tank when I haven't had my watch serviced ever and it also gave me a reason to learn about all of the watches that I want to buy in the future, and never once did buying a replica cross my mind.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

My only experience with fake watches - when I was very young I bought a knockoff of a TAG watch. It cost me $10 from Canal Street in NYC.

I wore daily it until battery died and while it looked quite bad in the end (plating wore off and base metal was showing through), I was actually surprised that the watch lasted almost 2 years and was extremely accurate (it had quartz movement). I never had any issues with the watch. Go figure...

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Chronomat :: Evolution Red | Evolution Frecce Tricolori | Longitude
Navitimer :: Montbrillant Eclipse | Old II | Current
Professional :: B-1 | B-2 w UTC
Colt :: GMT

To answer the question is isn't uncommon, especially in the Hollywood circle, for people with extremely high end watches - Pateks, etc.. - to HAVE MADE replicas to wear around. But they actually commission a fake from a watchmaker. And pay out the behind by my standards.

I really don't get it, but REALLY don't get it at the Breitling level. Just wear the watch. IMHO.

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SHARKMAN

Sorry to repeat my thoughts:

The watch is a replica, the wearer is the fake.

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

It's interesting to see everyone's view on this. This is what this thread was all about and I appreciate everyone's input. For the record I don't wear a fake and was just curious if some people purchased exact fakes of their originals as more or less a "disposable" version of what they already had to use in situations where the risk of the original getting banged up or stolen may be greater. The supporting the fake industry aside, is this person still a "poser" if they own the exact same real watch?

Personally for me I think I would lean more towards owning multiple watches and multiple price points. I paid around $7800 with tax for this Bentley. I don't recall the exact price as I initially purchased a different watch and when I exchanged it they just conducted the transaction on the difference. This is certainly not the most expensive watch out there but I think having a less expensive Breitling instead of purchasing a fake version of what I have would make more sense to me for situations where I may bang the watch around a bit such as at the gym, working in the garage, etc.

Some of the better quality fakes out there aren't that cheap either, so prices aren't that different from a used Oris or Hamilton, so makes no sense to me why people would spend a similar amount to buy a fake from china, while they can get a decent quality respectable swiss piece.

The answer to your dilemma is spelled S-T-E-E-L-F-I-S-H. An amazingly great watch with real heft and size that can be had new for well under $2500.

When I joined this site I made no bones about having first owned a replica Steelfish. A very, very good one that I showed to my AD who couldn’t tell. In fact it was the replica video review here that lead me to this site. It wasn’t until after I began “lurking” here that I learned to my chagrin what the a$$holes out there where doing on ebay, etc… I just never knew about that stuff.

After I began buying out the AD’s Breitling inventory a friend who knew the one Steelfish was a fake wanted to buy it. I contemplated just giving it to him, but in the end chose to take it out of circulation. A cement floor and a claw hammer and it was gone! I highly recommend spending $300 for one of those replicas and smashing it with a hammer. Not only great fun and rather cathartic, it quite reminded me of my college days. Don’t ask.

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SHARKMAN