The Breitling Watch Source Forums

No, in a nutshell what I am saying is that each person decides for themselves where and how they will spend their money. I do not mean to imply that I am better than you. I just choose to live diffenently than you. I, personally, find it morally reprehensible that someone would make a fake of someone elses handiwork. I can't imagine why anyone would want to wear that on their arm. As Altair said buy a cheap legitamate watch. But as I said also, that is not what you want. You want the appearance of an expensive watch, and you attempt to achieve this through a replica. A fake.

Oh and as far as the economy and the companies survival, I believe Breitling survived the global economic downturn experienced during World War I, World War II, and a little thing called the Great Depression in 1929.

Whammy! I am by no means rich, Im in the armed forces for crying out loud, and theres no way I'd buy a replica watch. As mentioned before, theres something about finding the watch that speaks to you and saving in order to achieve the goal of ownership. As of right now I want a Panerai, very badly, and I have the cash to just go get it but wheres the fun in that(well that and I have a wife, but it makes finally attaining the watch that much more special.

I'm with those who say its all about how you feel wearing the watch, and knowing that I was wearing a phony wouldnt feel the same as knowing that I have the real deal. Yeah spending thousands of dollars on a watch is a bit ridicilous, I'll be the first to admit it. But theres just something about a well built, quality watch with a fine history that makes it worth it to me.

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Avenger Skyland
Panerai 000

Nothing to see here people - move along and let's not feed the beast

Some very good points made, minds won't be changed as noted, many more interesting threads to see.

br549 - some of the most eloquent posts I've read on here.

This post sums it up perfectly..... "I can take pride that I am wearing a miniture machine that a watchmaker spent hours assembling with a magnifying lens" <--- Thats what you pay for. High end watches are like pieces of Art!

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Now-
Breitling Colt - Black
Breitling Blackbird - Polished

Next- ideas please.....

Id say id agree with all of your statements here. I got a Breitling replica in Thailand in 1993 before I even knew what Breitling was. Something at the back of my head told me breitlings were expensive, and there were alot of them on every street corner so I got one. It is a cheap quartz inside it. But knowing its a fake i never wore it, not even once outside. I just could never bring myself to wear it. It is still ticking away in the closet which is impressive for a cheap quartz movement. but however cheap it was, it was still not worth it, cause I never used it.

There is a difference in looking real and being real.

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Navitimer, Steelfish, Colt GMT, Aerospace, Chronospace, Chrono Superocean

I have tried to stay out of this discussion in the hopes that it will die (again), but nobody has pointed out something that I feel quite strongly about.

There are watches out there for $20, $200, $2000, $20000, $200000, and probably $2000000. They all tell time, most of them quite well. It's your money. Buy what you want. I think we all agree that we all respect each other's opinions of what they choose to spend their money on. And we can discuss the relative merits of each other's spending philosophies until the cows come home.

But there is one thing that makes replicas flat out wrong, and that is the issue of trademarking. Trademarking protects us, the consumer. It certifies the manufacture of that particular item. If I buy a car that has the Ferrari trademark on it, it is because I expect that car to be built by the Ferrari company. The point of the trademark is so that if I want to buy a Ferrari, I don't have to take a mechanic along with me to completely disassemble the car to verify that it is indeed a genuine Ferrari. That is why trademarks were developed in the first place, and that is why trademark infringement is illegal. Commerce depends on it, and e-commerce especially so. It is a means of consumer protection.

The existence of replica Breitlings hurts us, the consumers. It means that I cannot buy a watch on Ebay or TimeZone (or even this website) and know for sure that the item in question is what I believe I am paying for. If you buy a replica, you are indirectly hurting all of us here (including yourself, really) by funding an enterprise that is based on undermining a system of commerce that we all depend on.

If you want to buy a "Breitling inspired" or "Rolex inspired" watch from another manufacturer, that's fine. Certainly for Rolex, there are plenty of brands that have models that are nearly identical in design, and many are even quite well made. But buying a watch that has the Breitling/Rolex/etc name and logos actually on it is just plain wrong, even if you don't actually try and pass it off (or sell it) to somebody else as real.

Mofongo

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." --Dave Barry

I think it simply comes down to this

people who wear real watches wear them for themselves

people who wear fakes wear them for others (usualy trying to impress)

I really feel it comes down to that speaking as someone that has in the past bought and worn fakes,but now will only have real breands or tribute watches as in Alphas etc as daily beaters

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I think its hard to define "why?" people buy a fake of anything. The spectrum varies greatly. People at the lower end of the pay scale could be buying the best replica whatever as someone bringing home $100k+ per year.

One may appreciate the finer things in life, but not want to pay the full price for it. It doesn't always mean that person is shallow. It means that person would rather spend/save their money for something else. You never know, they may already own a lot of genuine luxury items, but also having a few rip-offs for fun. Hell, I know people with some serious money who own several fakes at least!

The people that buy Canal Street crap et al are the real shallow people, as they are buying a label for the sake of it being a label. Not because it has any real substance to it.

Most normal people are not as anal about tiny details here and there, so they are willing to take the risk of buying replicas of some sort. WIS's are probably the most anal people on the planet! So eventually, after saving up, nothing but the genuine article will do.....

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Oyster Date '78, Blackbird chrono DLC '10, Blackbird chrono' 02, Navitimer Fighters '02, Aerospace Evo , Seamaster Chrono Diver 300' 02, Carrera cbm2110

You're right about the anal status of WIS's. But that's part of the
fun of being a watch nut: we analyze, scrutinize, praise, bemoan,
every aspect of our genuine Breitling or Rolex or IWC. You
can't do that with a fake, no matter how hard you try.

Steve

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Avenger Skyland
If I said I was good, you'd think I was bragging.
If I told you I wasn't, you'd know I was lying.

Everyone cares what others think of them.

There's a test some employers use (name escapes me). One of the statements is "I don't care what others think of me." If you choose "agree", you probably are removed from consideration, and for good reason.



It doesn't share the same styling. It's a poser piece that probably actually accurately reflects you in general. But I also think you're young, and maybe just don't get it yet. You joined this forum to try to "talk sense" to us, but as a young man really aren't in such a position having accomplished little.



Then leave.



Most people able to spend this amount on these pieces aren't living paycheck to paycheck. Again, stop applying your lack of success and understanding of the world to those of us that should be doing the educating.



Fixed

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Avenger Skyland
If I said I was good, you'd think I was bragging.
If I told you I wasn't, you'd know I was lying.

I wasn't totally clear on this point at first, but I soon dicovered that my Breitling is for ME. I don't get a lot of brand recognition, some appreciative comments, but who cares...IT IS FOR ME.

Something else I find interesting is that the movement in my watch is important to me....and I'LL NEVER SEE IT.

If you accept that wearing a top-drawer, beautiful, mechanical wonder of a timepiece is to please yourself and not to impress others, then why even consider wearing a fake.....you can't fool yourself.

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Superocean (authentic)

Very well put Seattle.

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Garfield411
CH-53D & UH-1N
Crew Chief
Old Navitimer
Chrono Avenger M1
Colt Automatic (Early)
Rolex Submariner
Rolex Explorer II

"You gotta Pay to Play..."

say NO to FAKES/REPLICAS...you get what you pay for...

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Breitling for Bentley Motors
Breitling Navitimer World
Breitling Super Avenger Black Steel LE 3000
Breitling for Bentley GMT Midnight Carbon Black Steel LE 1000
Hublot Big Bang Aero Bang Steel
"You gotta pay to play..."

We're not tripping out, If you want to wear a fake and be a poser, go for it.

Some of us take pride in ownership....