The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Just got wondering recently as to why we buy fakes - watches, handbags (well, not myself obviously) designer 'things'...

I personally can't see the point. When I was (a lot!) younger I developed a 'fix' on a Rolex, so I saved up my cash and bought one. It was to please ME, not to prove anything to anyone else. In this I am a very selfish person perhaps. This said, the watch has lasted 30 years and is still going strong.

I used the same reasoning for my camera gear, for my car (Can you in fact buy a fake AUDI ?!) - I wanted what I considered as the best, or the most appropriate for the use I intended.

I'm in the process of buying (My third!) Breitling and again, it's entirely for self satisfaction - I like the look of it, it performs flawlessly and it pleases ME - I frankly couldn't give a monkeys if anyone notices it on my wrist - I'm not trying to make a statement, or prove anything to anyone else but myself. (Frankly I doubt anyone here in the small country town where I live in rural France would know what it was anyway) It so happens that I could, if I wanted, buy a gold model - but I don't like it as much as the steel version - the 'bling' factor completely passes me by...

Your views?

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Navitimer World, Evo, Blacksteel, Avenger
Loads of Panerai
Submariner Date, GMT Master llc

Very well said Sportback. I like the genuine too, but I also like the "magic" of a fake. Take a look at this picture ...



The average person can't even tell the difference, can you? (Maybe you can.) And that's the magic because the one on the left side will cost you $7,600 while the one on the right side will only cost you $365. When I sacrificed my 16613 for an Evolution, I still had a deep longing for it, but I know that I couldn't afford it anymore. I still wanted it. So my best alternative was to get a "perfect" clone aka genuine replica. That would do for now to satisfy my lust for it until I could afford to get a genuine one. Until then, this is my pacifier. I treat it as a rep and when anybody asks me, I tell them the truth: Just a pacifier.

See I can't bring myself to wear replicas when I have real watches... just doesn't feel right.. they feel cheap to me, even if they are really well made. My dad will go and buy a diamond encrusted solid gold rolex president, then wear a fake submariner... which is odd, but he has respect for a well-made replica, something I dont really understand. To each his own.

However, the reason I bought replicas was because I was young and really didn't know anything about watches at the time.. I just always thought that Navitimers look so cool, and I couldn't afford one at the time so I was like I want one of those! So I bought a couple of replica Navitimers. After buying my first Breitling i've been hooked.

I'll be the last to judge anyone - each to his own, as you so rightly say. I just felt like seeing what other people think on the subject - a forum is an ideal base for this.

All arguments are valid!

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Navitimer World, Evo, Blacksteel, Avenger
Loads of Panerai
Submariner Date, GMT Master llc

No replica, no matter the quality, will be built to the specifications of the real thing. There are many quality details, even on mass produced Rolexes and Breitlings, that would cost too much to replicate exactly.

It may appear alike but it sure doesn't FEEL the same. That feeling that you're wearing a quality timepiece cannot be replicated.

You are so right there - wish I'd said that

In terms of reproductions, these have become so much easier with the advent of computer technology, and it's easy to see how the quality of the copies has become incredibly good. But at the end of the day, it's still a copy, and despite the saying that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" (obviously coined by a master forger!) I still want to feel that I own an original.

PS - welcome back ICEMAN - thought you'd disappeared...

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Navitimer World, Evo, Blacksteel, Avenger
Loads of Panerai
Submariner Date, GMT Master llc

Yep...they are called Skodas

OUCH!

(And I was really beginning to like this guy.....!)

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Navitimer World, Evo, Blacksteel, Avenger
Loads of Panerai
Submariner Date, GMT Master llc

I'd never purchase a fake.

To me it is the same as wanting to drive a Mercedes SL600 and purchasing a fake SL600, sure the outside looks 99 percent real, but you know inside the car, the material and components were made in china and the engine is some Ford or chevy engine

If you can't afford a watch, then it is better to find something cheaper and real than to purchase a 300 dollar fake version of a 10K watch.

I have to admit that before I got interested in watches, I bought some cheap replicas. They broke rather quick.

After discovering TZ, owning genuine pieces were affordable. From that time on, reps are a no no for me.

I'm not rich, pretty average. But if I can't afford an original watch (or anything else), I wouldn't buy a replica. I'd buy the best original I can afford.

Just to add my 2 pennies worth on this subject -

I think Sportback hit the nail on the head with his first post when he said he buys his watches for himself and not to show off to others. I think that's the key here. Generally - and I'm trying not to make sweeping statements here as everyone buys things for their own reasons, and it's a case of each to his own - but I think that fakes are there to satisify those who simply want to LOOK the part and show-off to others.

To me there is absolutely no satisfaction to be gained by having a huge collection of fake and ultimately disposable watches. If I was 16 and wanted to impress my mates then maybe so, but bizarrely I actually LIKE having to save a bit of money and wait a while to buy the genuine article! Knowing that a fake has been knocked up from inferior parts in some Far East sweat-shop doesn't really appeal to the perfectionist in me!

And as far as having one for a day-to-day knock-around watch, I think you're far better off buying a real Seiko or something, rather than a fake Breitling or Rolex. I have a cheapie (but genuine) quartz Tag Aquaracer (cost me £380 brand new on-line) for that very reason.

But each to his own........

I also agree on what sportback said in his first post about buying a genuine watch to please and sastify your own needs and not for others. Like yes replica rolex/breitlings are made very well and each and every year they get better and seem to be close to be being flawless as to the genuine. Like i had a fake once back when i was 18 yrs old, it was a Tag Heuer but i didn't buy it, it was a gift from a friend who brought a bunch back as gifts from asia. It broke on me within 6 months and i never wanted a fake watch again. Sure back then i couldn't afford nice watches so my solution was i don't buy them...

Now've I saved up and can afford it i decided to buy a genuine nice watch was because it was a goal for me when i hit the age of 30 cuz i never had one before and "Damn" it made me feel good on getting one. The feeling of saving up for a nice $$$ watch and achieved getting it was like saving up and buying your car that u always wanted. Seriously try not buying replica watches and save up for the real thing, it's a total different type of feeling oh and admin ever since i bought my first nice watch I've been hooked also

Sure i could sound like a hypocrite cuz my first breitling watch is an expensive one but tell u the truth i was actually only gonna buy a regular chronomatic evo 745 MOP without diamonds from my jeweller but i always wanted diamonds on it so i thought of bringing it back to HK on vacation with me and diamond bezel it(using blood diamonds) there aftermarketly, but i compared prices and i wouldn't of saved a whole lot so i asked my jeweller on a deal for the 745 diamond one and she gave me a great deal that i couldn't resist. Saves me the hassle of bringing my watch to asia, risking myself being jacked and dealing with customs and no certificates on the diamonds(cuz being blood diamonds)...

Anyhow back on topic with the fakes..maybe ppl who do buy replica nice watches do it for themselves...i sure not everyone does it to show off to others...but to the ppl who do showoff beware of being Jacked! U'll just create enemies and haters hating u if u do...

Forget all your stupid, posh, snobbish and arrogant philosophies.

It ends at this.

One you can swim with, the other you can't. Now get over yourselves.

Actually some of the high quality reps have very high water resistance ratings...