AliExpress clones, a tendency we have to stop.

I am not so sure that there is an increase in knock offs being made, or in those that are buying them. And they are not just being sold on AliExpress. Just the other day I shared a link to a "Rolex" being sold on a well known and legitimate Dutch site for €450

I have no additional comments on homages I haven’t already made. I do have a comment on the condescending tone towards people who “like watches but don’t understand them”. I think that’s the one that has to stop. Can’t people just like watches but don’t care about their mechanics? When we say things like they don’t understand, that really grinds my gears. It’s too dismissive of people’s wants or needs. It’s also a statement from a place of privilege. Only we understand watches? Only we get why they’re cool?

Secondly, those who want to lie… do they really? Because they bought a Hilfiger instead of a Casio, they’re to be condemned as liars? Not everyone thinks Casio is Godtier. And those who do lie as much about their watches as those who buy Armani Exchange. We all have our idiosyncrasies and we all have our preferences. We can hate one another’s taste but anyone who think they’re better than anyone else because they don’t buy Chinese garbage or fashion watches, really? Your end-all and be-all are your choices of watches?

Fair point, well made. The watches shown above though are not homages. They are out and out rip offs, and that is what the op was venting about.

I get that. So condemn the watches. Do we really need the comments about customers not understanding anything or people lying to the world? Also, if one doesn’t care about brands and don’t follow models and reference numbers, is one expected to know that Frederique Constant doesn’t sell for less than 800 USD? There are so many nuances to what people buy and why I don’t like the judgments attached to most of it.

As a long time collector and owner of a few "clone watches" among my collection all I can add is that you are wrong on multiple levels. How many San Martins have you seen in person? Steeldives? Tactical Frogs?

Either way, you continue being you while the rest of us lying wannabes enjoy the hobby on our terms.

Judge away............

I suppose every single watch I own, from Invicta to Pagani Design to San Martin could be classified as clones but I don't really care about that. I have never, and will never by a watch that claims to be something it isn't though, like the watches in the pictures above. I do agree that the OP could have worded things much better, but I believe he was talking about out and out fakes rather than homages.

@Max Does this site even have a policy about publicly supporting criminal activity, such as the sale and importation of counterfeit watches?

If Max says the promotion of criminal activity is allowed here, I’ll may stop pointing out that counterfeit watches are illegal and purchasing them supports criminal organizations.

Personally i think most mechanical watches are overpriced. There is a fantasy that most high end watches are made by human hands. Big brand companies use robots to mass produced their watch. Human factors are for quality control and to maintain the robots.

Ironically it is the small micro brands (Chinese, mom and pop, Etc) that actually used human labor to assemble the watch because these small business can't afford the multi millions dollars robots.

As long the trademarks name and logo aren't use on the watch, it's probably legal. Most watch patents have expired a long tine ago. Centuries ago.

It won't be long when we see classic icons like batman, superman, mickey mouse, etc in every unlicensed products. Their copy rights are about to expire.

Found out yesterday that weenie the pooh copy rights has expired last year. Disney don't own weenie the pooh. It is now public domain. I realized this when I saw the weenie the pooh blood and honey horror trailer.

My intention with this post was not offending anyone. I am sorry If you consider it to be condescending. People can really like watches and don´t understand about mechanics, the same way people love cars without understanding a lot about mechanics (my case). I think you totally missunderstood my post. Everyone can wear a watch no matter the cost or the movement, problem comes when buying fakes.

I´m not saying anywhere that people who buy fashion brands are liars. Please, do not put in my mouth words I am not saying. Again, I am not contrary to people wearing fashion brands, but they are not the best option for your money. That´s why, normally, people who wear them don´t care about watches as much as we do. That is not bad, as they are enjoying the experience as well as I (or you) do.

Please don´t contribute to create hate in the community. Everyone can buy whatever they want without being judged, that´s call diversity and we should respect it.

Again, I don´t have a problem with San Martin, Tactical Frog... I would love to have them on my collection the next time I´ve got spare money to spend on watches.

My post has been mostly missunderstood. I am not calling anyone a liar. I´m only pointing out the increment on clones in AliExpress and trying to give reasons for that.

Let me also point out that those brands you mention are not clones, are homages (there´s a big difference).

I´m not judging anyone and I encourage everyone to enjoy this hobby on their particular terms.

Yes, I could have written the post better (wrote it in a little break between university classes with no time to re-read it). I was only referring to clones (watches that copy another brand name) and not homages. As I said in other responses, I love Chinese brands such as PD, San Martin and Cadisen

What am I misunderstanding? There are two types of consumers who buy fakes you said, those who don't understand and those who lie. That's you criticizing the buyers, instead of the things being bought. Did I put words in your mouth there? You don't know people's circumstances and why they buy out-and-out fakes. Is it possible they just don't care and they're having fun? What about just having to happen to pass by a street vendor on holiday and buying a something-something to take home without thinking that what they're buying is a fake?

I have an officemate who is wearing a fake Patek Tiffany blue watch. She got it for less than 20 USD she said. She's not into watches and bought the thing as an accessory. Even when I pointed out it's a fake, she didn't care. She continued to wear it because, according to her, it's sparkly. Does that make her and people like her fair game to be judged by the lofty standards of the select few in the watch community?

And how am I contributing to creating hate in the community? I'm the one pointing out, fine judge the knockoffs but don't paint those who buy them in a corner. I'm the one saying that (if buying fake is criminal) I don't know what their circumstances are that would make them buy fakes. Do I condone buying fakes? Absolutely not. But I'm not quick to judge those who do buy. It's their money, they could literally burn it for all I care.

When these guys say clones, they are talking about illegal counterfeit copies including the brand name and trademarks.

I have nothing against homages or even direct copies as long as they don’t use the name and logo of another brand. Then it becomes counterfeit. These guys use terms like “clones” to avoid saying that they are trafficking in illegal counterfeit merchandise.

I keep looking for the Ren & Stimpy watch ……. I want a genuine one ……… bwah and it’s “Winnie the poo “ 🙂