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Fake watches are getting impressive, Beware...

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Erik

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Aug 18, 2003, 2:56:00 AM8/18/03
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I take a yearly trip to NYC and make it a habit to check out the wares
on Canal street. After seeing some suspicious looking ebay auctions
while looking for a vintage Omega watch I was more than ready to see
the quality of the fakes currently up for sale. Generally there are
the cheap grade watches, $10 quartz lookalike watches which have
little resemblance to an authentic piece if viewed up close. Then
there are the midgrade pieces, automatic Rolex watches and similar
that would fool the casual observer. The more stunning pieces are also
out there. A few of note that I saw, a Rolex Yactmaster, complete with
hangtag, screws on the band, exact dial markings (to discern any
difference would be next to impossible), serial numbers on case. The
band alone from this watch looked so authentic if it was removed and
sold it would be next to impossible to tell if it was genuine or not,
the look and feel were that good. Only way to tell if it was real or
not would be to open the case and see the movement. Seller bargained
as low as $30. Cartier Pasha with wind indicator, an amazing fake if I
ever saw one, working wind indicator, this looked like an exact clone
of the real deal, even the movement looked to be a copy through the
display back (generally the movement of the more complex fakes is a
fairly generic one with any complications added on top). Only thing
that would give it away is the sapphire piece on the end of the guard
that screws over the crown was made of glass, and seemed relatively
obvious at a close vantage point. Had more attention been paid to that
small detail even an experienced person would have a difficult time
telling which was fake. If there is a market for it they are
attemtping to fake it, Omega Seamaster, Speedmaster etc. Rolex
Daytona, Longines, Patek Philippe Sun & Moon Tourbillon, Vacheron &
Constantin with jump/wandering hour movement, Movados with boxes and
warranty certificates. It was amazing to see the lengths some of these
watches were put through to look like the real thing. As time as worn
on these fakes become more and more genuine in appearance. I would
defineately take extra precaution to ensure the article I was getting
was genuine, as always buyer beware.

Alex W.

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Aug 18, 2003, 7:21:03 AM8/18/03
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"Erik" <YRL...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:719fc4c.03081...@posting.google.com...

Philosophical point: if a fake is as well-made (or almost
so) as the original, where does that leave the original?
Most complaints about fakes centre on their shoddy
manufacture, but if the quality is comparable to the genuine
article, does that not make it a real alternative?

Norman M. Schwartz

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Aug 18, 2003, 8:03:22 AM8/18/03
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"Alex W." <ing...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:bhqcr6$qou$1...@ngspool-d02.news.aol.com...

> Philosophical point: if a fake is as well-made (or almost
> so) as the original, where does that leave the original?
> Most complaints about fakes centre on their shoddy
> manufacture, but if the quality is comparable to the genuine
> article, does that not make it a real alternative?
>

If it keeps good time and is useful for several years it leaves the real
thing in the dust. It is not as if you were buying AND USING a fake Leica.


AndresMuro

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Aug 18, 2003, 9:26:41 AM8/18/03
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Welcome to Baudrillard's Postmodernism.

Once we can simulate reality, the lines between reality and simulation
dissappear. It already happenned on TV, computers, etc. Are we living in a real
world?

Andres

Packeteer

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Aug 18, 2003, 10:48:03 PM8/18/03
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I own several Replica watches, and a few genuine too.

I love Replica's, and I'm on the ebaY "safe harbor" forum a lot,
warning and getting cancelled any overtly deceptive auction I see.
Bottom line is, if the auctioneer makes up some bull shit like
"sold as is" "or from an estate sale" so no papers, or history,
that's a dead giveaway it's a fake. A true estate sale dealer
would have anything real appraised to increase the estates proceeds.

With the Fake racket, the Internet is a double edge sword.
Anyone willing to plunk down major coin to buy a watch that
may be a fake can EASILY find info from the maker site
of various online forums to get some basic authentication info.

Anyone who doesn't bother deserves what they pay for...
I hate Replica/Fake sellers who mislead/misrepresent their watches,
but I have no pity whatsoever on their ridiculously stupid victims.


"Erik" <YRL...@aol.com> wrote in message
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