Did Rolex Cause the Fake Watch Industry

I think Betteridge’s Law of Headlines applies here

Since it was the original company, I'm unsure that I would call it a fake. To me this seems like a different trim level or model. (in the early days of Tudor, not now) For example a higher end trim on a Toyota like a platinum trim of a Rav4 vs the LE trim.

I could also make a case to compare it to the Lexus vs Toyota argument. Mostly the same parts, different badges.

I don't think they started the fake industry, but maybe they helped push it forward.

I think of fakes as trying to convince others that what you have is the genuine article.

But watches that have obvious and different branding ARE paying tribute, no matter how closely they copy the design; imitation is indeed the most sincere form of flattery.

Thus, watches that closely copy, but with different branding, are in my mind, at least, homages in the truest sense.

I made this pic for another post earlier today, but it is useful here as an illustration. Despite how closely Sthurling copied the Daytona design, it is plainly obvious which one is the real deal, even without Rolex branding. The Rolex has a superior finish, and subtle, distinctive differences in the case, which let you know right away that you're looking at a genuine Rolex.

I think it really got started when the Swiss outsourced production to China. I'm talking about the good homages, and especially the super clones. It's well known that even Rolex at one time had components manufactured in China. For example, the hands and cases were too expensive to do on it's own. This would mean that Rolex trained the personnel and provided necessary equipment. Of course, the Chinese firms would learn and copy all of that.

The notion of intellectual property is different in China. I recall one US consultant complained to me that the Chinese think you shouldn't have to pay for information. That is knowledge could not be charged at a premium to them. So copying watch designs (already ineligible for copyright) would be nothing to them, I suppose.

I recently watched an Urban Gentry video with Mark from Long Island Watches and it was a great discussion about the different levels of homages and where they rank. No longer is it just the original vs. an illegal copy…

https://youtu.be/EK-p5o02fqE