Question I’ve been thinking about…
Would you personally find it more off putting to see someone wearing
[Option A]:
A fake watch with the original brand name on it (fake dat just with the Rolex logo) or
[Option B]:
An homage watch that has all the key attributes of the datejust like the fluted bezel, jubilee bracelet, and cyclops crystal (everything about the watch looks like a datejust except it has a seiko logo or some other logo)?
Please leave comments down below about detailed opinions on the matter. I’m interested to see what the consensus in the true watch enthusiast community is about this subject. I would love to dig deep into this and the justifications for each side.
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Jake
I have been collecting for a few years and began building them recently. Founder of the DFW Watch Club.
Dallas, TX, USA
Member since
Last active: 6 hrs ago
16.51 cm
Option A is illegal, so you're supporting crime/criminals.
Option B is a simple clone, which is perfectly legal.
I personally don't care about design originality, as all watches take elements from watches that have come before.
Option B
This has been beaten to death here. Some good reading vs. re-hashing.
TLDR version:
As a full time professional counterfeiter I am offended by this question.
😁 Jk. Merry xmas
I voted A. I think affordable copycats are fun.
Fakes are fake. Though, recently, I was looking at some really nice ones in a shopping center here in Manila, and have to admit it was tempting to get the yellow dial OP 36 for about $100! 😁
Clones before fakies, bro.
Rule 7a: a watchbro/sis shall not permit the wearing of a clone of OG watches upon their wrists and call themselves a collector.
Hence why I call myself an enthusiast because I got a fake moonswatch. Dugong is sad now..😭
Why is asking our opinion about a crime even an option?
If they're the two options, then it's got to be A.
Why? Because it's pretending to be something that it's not. Whereas the watch in option B is telling you, right there on the dial no less, that although it might have styling cues ripped off totally from a Rolex or an Omega or whatever, it's not trying to fool anyone that it's one of those brands. Put another way, the crime of some design theft is 'lesser' than the crime of straight out counterfeiting and deception.
Fakes rule and the above responses illustrate why. Who really cares if it's illegal? Who cares if it's fake? And stop lying, nobody just happens to want a watch that looks just like that other watch and isn't at least subconsciously trying to fool people, themselves included.
Going through all the trouble and stopping at copying the name is just so pathetic. All or nothing!
Option A delivers what most people really want. I'm taking the blandest generic factory cheapo stamped with the desirable name over some total replica where you go to look at the branding and it basically says "haha, not it!" The former satisfies in a cheery and cheeky way, the latter just reeks of desperation and cowardice.
Okay, so you're out in public and there are two guys. One vaguely resembles George Clooney and comes up and says "Hey, I'm George Clooney!" in a squeeky voice. The other looks exactly like George Clooney except he has a tattoo on his forehead that says "I'm Omar" or something. You have to have dinner with one of them. Who do you choose?
I destroy any fake I can. Hopefully, that makes my idea on the matter clear.