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15 Reasons Not To Buy a Replica, Counterfeit or Fake Watch SOURCE: WWW.GENTLEMANSGAZETTE.COM/
Okay, let’s face it. Sometimes the thought of spending thousands of dollars on a luxury watch can seem a little foolish. Today, counterfeit watches are big business and many of them look virtually identical to the real thing. In fact, without opening the case, some experts have been routinely fooled into believing a fake watch was real. So is there anything wrong with buying a replica watch? We think so, and here are fifteen reasons why. 2 . YOU W I L L G ET CAUG H T The average person may not be able to tell that your watch is fake, but anyone who is a collector or an expert will be able to. Imagine how it will look if you’re outed in front of a client, colleague or your boss, especially if they’ve admired your watch. The odds are that at some point you will meet someone who quickly realizes there is an issue with your watch, and then you will have to answer for it.
3 . I T COUL D BE SEI Z ED 1 . I T ’ S ILLEGAL This alone should be reason enough to not buy a counterfeit watch — it’s illegal, without exception. However, that clearly isn’t enough to deter a multimillion dollar industry of fake producers and the people who buy their watches. Many people argue that if you’re only buying them and not selling them, you’re not really breaking the law. Unfortunately for you, the police, the watch community and the public will disagree with you. Not only does it impact the economy, but it impacts everyone who works in the industry. You can be charged criminally with selling a counterfeit watch and you can be charged for buying one in many regions around the world. True gentlemen don’t break the law or support those who do.
You’re very lucky if the only penance you pay for wearing a fake watch is to be embarrassed by the person who discovers it. If your fake watch is discovered by custom agents, there might be more serious consequences. At the very least, the watch will be confiscated or seized, which is a waste of money in addition to being a serious legal risk. In some countries, it’s a crime to simply be in possession of fake goods, which may result in fines or even prison time.
4. I T CA N A FFECT T HE I NN O C E N T B U Y E R Experts agree that 15-30% of all internet searches for luxury watches are people looking for fakes they can pass off as the real thing. The higher the demand for counterfeit watches, the more inclined con artists are to make and sell them. Even though you may be looking for something counterfeit, it doesn’t mean the next guy is. Most sellers of counterfeit watches aren’t hon-
ZAKAA LIVING | ISSUE 1 2018
