scams in the watch industry!!!
billjackson5
Category:
Corrupt Companies Submitted: 6/22/2004 7:04:34 PM
Modified: 6/22/2004 7:05:00 PM
Timezone.com - Watchnet.com - Equationoftime.com Watchuseek.com -
Watchea.com - Watchparadise.com Pmwf.com - Watchzone.net - Tz-uk.com -
Thepurists.com Watches Montres Armbanduhren Rolex Movado Tag Heuer
Omega ripoff scam deceit fraud ebay internet sales counterfeit watches
Beverly Hills California
Company
Timezone.com Watchnet.com Equationoftime.com Watchuseek.com Watchea.com
Watchparadise.com Pmwf.com
Address:
325 N. Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills California 90210
U.S.A.
Phone Number:
800-988-1000
Fax:
The companies listed above are also listed below and should be stopped
immediately! Thousands have been defrauded by these illegal enterprises
already! Read below for the entire amount of information and do not
forget to read the report at the bottom from the Federation of the
Swiss Watch Industry. Many have been scammed already! Do not buy
watches over the internet or you will undoubtedly be defrauded.
Counterfeits are being sold be these companies and they are using false
references to make themselves look more reputable. Don't get scammed!
Buy your watches in retail stores from authorized dealers.
Remember that if a company is offering a large discount on a supposedly
authentic item, then it must be a counterfeit and you will have been
screwed out of your hard earned money and you can be embarassed when
this is discovered. Don't be defrauded by these scam artists. The
people that run these websites have no morals and will lie to you over
and over to trick you into giving up your hard earned money! Don't be a
victim and report all of these companies to the FTC, FBI, and the
authorities in your state, region, country, etc. Don't let them get
away with it any longer!
The following internet watch retailers are selling luxury watches that
cannot be verified as authentic by the Federation of the Swiss Watch
Industry. These are only but a handful of the companies who are
providing counterfeits, replicas, and items that may be authentic but
without warranty due to serious violations of the distribution
agreement of their merchandise. It is the policy of the Federation of
the Swiss Watch Industry to notify the public about these violations
and to protect consumers from buying merchandise that is not sold as
was intended by the manufacturer. Thousands and thousands of online
buyers have already been defrauded. They have purchased counterfeits
posing as the real thing and they have also purchased watches while not
knowing that they will not be serviced by the manufacturer due to the
violation of the lawful covenants involved.
Do not let it happen to you. Luxury timepieces are only sold through
authorized retail outlets and not on the internet or by phone call or
by mail order. The easiest method to avoid being sold a counterfeit
timepiece or a timepiece that violates stipulations set forth between
the manufacturer and authorized retailer, you should only purchase a
luxury timepiece through the appropriate channels; authorized brick and
mortar retail stores. No where else or you run a great risk.
The following websites provide bulletin boards and auctions for the
trafficking of these infringing goods: ebay.com, timezone.com,
watchnet.com, watchuseek.com, pmwf.com, watchea.com, thepurists.com,
equationoftime.com, watchzone.net, watchparadise.com, wristwatch.net,
and others. If you use or have used one of these websites to purchase a
luxury watch presented as "brand new" or "new in box", then you without
doubt have been duped.
These websites participate in the trafficking of the violating goods:
Ashford.com, Markus Tschopp's Silvermagic (smwatches.com), Watchbuys,
watchcat.com, Swiss Supply Direct, Inc, (swisssupply.com), Time Of
Switzerland (timeofswitzerland.com), watchcommander.com,
thewatchseller.com, finestwatches.com, timebeat.com,
feelgoodwatches.com, watchzone.com, luxuryguru.com, luxurysquare.com,
Robert Maron, Inc. (watch4sale.com), finestwatches.com,
svs-intertrade.com, timephilosophy.com, zeetan (collectorstime.com)
Here is a list of some additional companies from a search engine:
Accurate Watches - Swiss tradition and elegance a high fashion
accessory for today's men and women.
Astor Online - Presents new and pre-owned fine watches as well as
jewelry.
Atlantic Time - Luxury watches from Cartier, Rolex, Tag Heuer,
Breitling, IWC, Omega and Patek Philippe.
AuthenticWatches.com - Includes Movado, Gucci, Rado, and Omega.
Avente Watches - Offers Rolex, Omega, Cartier, Tag Heuer, Baume and
Mercier and other luxury watch brands at reduced prices.
Aviante.com - Sells a full line of watches, such as Baume et Mercier,
Breitling, Cartier, Chopard, Concord, Ebel, IWC, Jaeger LeCoultre,
Movado, Omega, and Tag Heuer.
AWatchForYou - Offers new, preowned, and vintage watches from Audermars
to Zenith. Search is available by manufacturer.
Back In Time International - Buys, sells, trades and repairs new and
vintage watches. Carries G-Shock, Fortis, Rolex, Hamilton and Omega.
Bernard Enterprises - Buy sell and trade watches. Brands include Rolex,
Omega, Breitling, Concord, Baume and Mercier, Tag Heuer.
Bijoux Signes Ltd - Features Rolex watches and Lalique. Based in the
UK.
Bluedial.com - Offers a range of fine wristwatches like Bulova and
Movado.
Capetown Diamond Corporation - Presents fine watches and jewelry. Based
in South Africa.
Chronodeco - Features custom built vintage mechanical chronographs as
well as repair and restoration of vintage watches.
Collector's Time Gallery - Selling new and pre-owned watches.
CoolStuffnMore.com - Sells Tag Heuer and Movado watches, leather
clothing, and jewelry.
D. Freemont Swiss Watches - Features the range watches made by this
Swiss firm.
Dianex - Presents a range of mechanical Swiss watches. Based in
Switzerland.
Direct Watch - Offers the Charles Rennie Mackintosh brand as well as
clocks and jewelry. Based in Scotland.
Eclipse Time - Swiss watches from Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier,
Franck Muller, Omega, Vacheron Constantin, TechnoMarine and Baume et
Mercier.
e1968.com - Offers brands like Citizen, Caterpillar, Tag Heuer, cK, and
Raymond Weil.
FeelGoodWatches.com - New and pre-owned Patek, Vacheron, IWC, Cartier,
Le Coultre, Blancpain and Lange.
Fine Time Taiwan - New and pre-owned wristwatches including Audemars,
Breguet, Cartier, IWC, Omega, Patek and Rolex.
Fine Watches - Watch dealer features selection of new and pre-owned
products. Offers to buy, sell, and trade.
Furora Enterprises - Presents luxury watches from Accurate, Oskar Emil
and Boccia Titanium featuring Swiss, Japanese and quartz analog
movements. UK based.
Gables Watch and Jewelry - Buys, sells and trades pre-owned and new
watches from Rolex, Cartier, Omega and Patek Philippe.
Gino Franco - Presents a watch collection that combines Italian design
with quality and performance.
Giovanni's Inc. - Presents this jewelry and watch store that sells
custom made jewelry as well as Rolex, Breitling, and Cartier watches.
Glooks.com - Offering watches such as Omega, Gucci, Movado, Tag Heuer,
and Cartier. Also offers perfume.
Gold Rush Jewelers - Features watches from Movado, ESQ, Bulova, and
Seiko as well as gold jewelry.
Gold Star Jewelers - Offers fine Swiss watches such as Rado, Movado,
Tissot, Omega, and Longines. Provides repair and restoration
information.
GolenGate, Corp. - Offers pre-owned fine, new, and vintage watches.
Gray and Sons Jewelers - Specializes in selling certified preowned and
new watches from the finest Swiss brands like Rolex, Cartier, Patek
Philippe, and Audemars Piguet.
J and P Timepieces - Fine watches and other timepieces bought, traded
and sold.
J W Jewels - Collection of 14K gold watches, necklaces, rings, and
other jewelry.
Jewelry-1.com - Presents brand name watches and diamond jewelry.
Jewels in Time - Presents brand name, high grade, preowned and new
Swiss watches, as well as diamond and estate jewelry.
Krug Baumen - Offers women's and men's watches and gift sets. UK based.
Kupfer Jewelry - Offers fine wrist watches such as Rolex and Patek as
well as estate jewelry and diamonds.
Leo Hamel and Company - Swiss watches and fine jewelry.
LFA Jewelers - Buy and sell Rolex, Cartier, Tag and Omega watches.
Maia.cc - Carries a wide range of high grade watches searchable by
brand.
The Midwest Diamond And Watch Company - Specializing in new and
preowned Rolex, Ulysse Nardin, Omega, Cartier and Breitling timepieces.
Mind Ease - Selection of luxury watches and fine jewelry.
MontreBracelet - Watches for a range of tastes and price.
National Watch and Diamond - Specializing in Rolex, buys and sells
preowned watches and diamonds.
New and Used Swiss Watches - Offering high-end Swiss watches such as
Rolex, Cartier, and Patek Philippe.
NobelWatches.com - Presents Nobel watches featuring sapphire crystals
and 100-330 foot water resistance.
10 Past 10 - Offers fine and luxury watches as well as information
about the New York store.
P.Cyrlin and Co. - Selling vintage and modern top brand wristwatches.
UK Based.
Prestige Time - Full line of wristwatches, Omega, Tag Heuer, Ebel,
Concord and Movado.
ProWorth - Markets Baume and Mercier, Breitling, and Ebel watches.
Ralf Häffner - Features a wide variety of brands and styles. Based in
Germany.
Rare Watches Sellers - Features a broad range of new and preowned wrist
watches. Based in Italy.
Rich Company - Features a selection of brand name watches such as
Geneve and Omega.
Richter and Phillips Co. - Features watches from manufacturers like
Citizen and Gucci.
Right Time Watches - Offers new and certified preowned watches and
clocks as well as repair and restoration services.
Rose Reiter Jewelry - Men's and women's watches, clocks and jewelry.
Sewills - Features clocks, wrist and pocket watches, chronometers, as
well as nautical instruments. UK based.
Shellman - Presents the Grand Complication and Side Slide Minute
repeater watches made by this Swiss firm.
Sothis Watches - Features a collection of fine watches including Swiss
made limited edition chronographs.
Swiss Supply Direct - Provides high-end precision watches such as
Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, Breguet, Cartier, Chopard, Franck Muller,
Girard Perregaux, I.W.C. , Jaeger Le Coultre, and Patek Philippe.
Swiss Watch Centers Ltd - Online shop selling brand new watches such as
Rolex, Cartier, Breitling, Omega, Breguet, Audemars Piquet and Vacheron
Constantin.
Swiss Watch Co - Dealers in new and second-hand watches including
Rolex, Cartier, Patek, Bregge, Breitling, and Tag Heuer. Based in
Chiswick, UK.
Tempus Fugit - Presents a collection of fine watches. UK based.
Time Galleria Ltd - Sells fine new and vintage watches as well as watch
winders and pens such as Orbita, Scatola del Tempo and Bugatti. Based
in Hong Kong.
Time Merchants - Preowned vintage and modern watches including Rolex,
Patek, Cartier, and Vacheron. Also carries watch parts, and
accessories.
Time to Time - British company selling genuine and brand new watches
for connoisseurs and collectors.
Timebeat - Source for high-end Swiss watches and watch-related
information.
TimelyClassics.com - Specializing in vintage antique watch sales
including Rolex and Omega.
Tourneau - Features watches from this maker as well as a range of other
brands.
USA Watchco - Authorized retailer for Citizen, Bulova, Longines,
Hamilton, Tag Heuer, Swiss Army, Tissot, Omega and MoMo.
Veni Vidi Vici Timepieces - Luxury gold watch from our Spirit of the
Dragon collection.
Verity Time Company Limited - Sells watches made with Swiss movements.
UK based.
Waldan International - Features chronographs from this New York and
Swiss retailer.
Wanna Buy a Watch - Buy and sell fine vintage and preowned wristwatches
by Rolex, Cartier, Longines, Oris, and Hamilton.
Watch Boutique - Offers fine watches and jewelry from around the world.
WatchBay Enterprise - Presents Titoni watches from Switzerland and
offers international shipping. Based in Malaysia.
WatchBuys - Features watch brands including Patek Philippe, BlancPain,
Jaeger LeCoultre, and A. Lange and Sohne as well as accessories.
Watches and Beyond - Offers a broad range of fine 14K or 18K yellow and
white Gold watches with or without diamonds. Includes brands like
Geneve, Condor, Concord, and Omega. Also sells cufflinks.
Watches Barcelona - Offers new and vintage watches from makers like
Rolex watches, Omega, Breitling, Movado, Cartier, and Montblanc. Based
in Spain.
2000Watches.com - Offer a selection of quality watches including Tag
Heuer, Gucci, Swiss Army, and Casio G-Shock.
Watches2000.com - Offers elegant mens and ladies watches. Search by
gender, brand or price range.
001-Watches-Online.com - Offers a range of name brand watches from ESQ
to Visage.
WatchHand.com - Offers Cartier and Breitling wristwatchs. Must be
called or emailed to get most prices.
Watchlinq - Offers brand name watches including Omega, Movado, Tag
Heuer, Seiko and Bulova, Gevril.
The Watchmaker - New watches, vintage wristwatches, antique pocket
watches, and heirloom clocks.
WatchmasterCoUK - Features this dealer for Invicta, Limes, Roamer, and
Auguste Reymond from the UK. Also Bros hand made fine Italian watch
straps.
The Watchseller - Selling fine new and preowned vintage and
contemporary watches since 1996.
Wingate's Quality Watches - Features sales and purchases of fine new
and preowned American and European watches.
World Watches - Sells brand name watches including Baume and Mercier,
Citizen, Longines, Movado, Rado, Omega, Sector, Seiko, Tag Heuer, and
Tissot.
World Wide Time - Buys, sells, and trades Rolex, Patek, Cartier,
Breitling, Audemars, and Breguet, preowned, new, and vintage watches.
Zeitner and Klaus Kobec - Offers fashion watches and swiss movement
watches. UK based.
________________________________________________________
Swiss Watch News 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Buying Watches On The Internet
Not A Good Idea
(March 23, 2004)
The Federal Customs Administration is faced with an increasing number
of deliveries of watches ordered on the Internet, which in most cases
infringe the various regulations in force. A point that the intended
recipients are loathe to accept... particularly when they have paid in
advance!
As has been said before: the purchase of prestige watches on the
Internet is not a good idea. Nor is this simply a reaction of defiance
against new technology. A brief visit to the FH web site will probably
serve to demonstrate that the Swiss watchmaking industry has not been
slow to embrace the electronic promotion of "Swiss made" watches.
Indeed, almost all FH members today have virtual shop windows. They
invest considerable sums in the Internet to match the hopes generated
by the medium everywhere. There is even one that has made "one to one"
commerce the entire basis of its business.
Nevertheless, a "modus vivendi" very quickly became apparent in the
world of timepieces in this respect. The Internet is not and never will
be the most appropriate place to sell luxury watch products. A rapid
survey of the most prestigious sites should be enough to convince
anyone of this. Indeed, as soon as the home page is displayed, Internet
users are warned in no uncertain terms that original products are sold
exclusively by approved retailers and are under no circumstances
available on the Internet.
What should we think then of the multitude of sites selling all models
of all the leading Swiss manufacturers? A grey market? Free
competition? Globalisation? Nonsense! One doesn't need a diploma from
Saint-Gall or an MBA to realise that such sites cannot be official, and
that therefore the products offered cannot be authentic. A little
common sense is all it takes to see that these watches have nothing in
commmon with Switzerland, and that the price paid, even if it seems
reasonable, is greatly inflated. But after all, there is no law against
stupidity and there are many who let themselves get duped, either
through ignorance or for fun.
"A fault confessed is half redressed" says popular wisdom. Must we
believe then that wisdom is not the strongest suit of those who surf
the web? Watches bought on the Internet are delivered through the
postal system and are systematically inspected by the competent customs
authorities when they enter Switzerland. All those in violation of
rules governing trademarks, designs, indications of origin, or rules
for the marking of precious metals, are quarantined. A notification is
sent to the addressees, politely advising them to forfeit their right
to the goods or face legal action on the part of the rights holder.
Pathetic or ridiculous, the intended recipients - all upright citizens
no doubt - plead ignorance or good faith, then invoke the Olympic
deities and end up by insulting the civil servants, who are simply
doing their job (and doing it well).
It is therefore well worth mentioning here a basic truth.
Counterfeiters are not those who protect intellectual designs, but
those who unscrupulously plagiarise designers... not to mention those
who support the practice by buying counterfeit products. Even unbeknown
to themselves!