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[hoover]

I'd never buy any high end jewelry other than from the official shop or reputable licensed stockists.  I've been surrounded by bags and bags of fake Tiffany, Pandora, the high end watch brands, etc.  There are loads of people importing this stuff in bulk.  When you look at it up close its like comparing a fake football shirt to the genuine one.  I'd consider the stuff from China nothing more than fashion jewelry.

I agree, stick to your budget and buy real, my favourite ever watch was a Seiko, loved that watch, I lost it and they didn't make it anymore, I was devastated, saying that my current watch was over 3 grand and whilst it looks nice it is a bag of shit for time keeping, worst watch I have ever owned for doing its actual job

[Chris]

Anyone bought one off one of those 'replica' sites? I like the look and style of a lot of the big brands but would never spend that much. My bro got a top quality replica when he went to China for 50 quid. Mint. I guess the replica websites though are either a scam, or they sell junk.

There was a website called pretty replica who sold nearly everything you could think of. AAA+ fakes, identical in weight, and apparently it takes a pro hours to tell them apart from the real ones.

The site has disappeared now though. They were about £100-£200. It was in China.

[johnymac]

Think there blags them mate . the movement alone costs around £150+ wholesale alone and the 1;1 fakes have to use the exact movement or a very similar one , the ones on the watches for £100 are normal very very cheap

There apparently is a few grades of fakes . theres a chinese one (worst of them all) then a japanese copy (not to bad) and then a swiss remake which if done properly should be as good as the original but there few and far between

THe only one ive seen that looked real to the human eye was a Sea Dweller , but they wanted £850 for the fake and it was tested by a expert who said you need equipment to prove its a fake the human eye wont do . It works out around what it costs rolex to make a watch as there mark ups are over 500% normally anyway.

There was a website called pretty replica who sold nearly everything you could think of. AAA+ fakes, identical in weight, and apparently it takes a pro hours to tell them apart from the real ones.

The site has disappeared now though. They were about £100-£200. It was in China.

[The Hurricane]

Think there blags them mate . the movement alone costs around £150+ wholesale alone and the 1;1 fakes have to use the exact movement or a very similar one , the ones on the watches for £100 are normal very very cheap

There apparently is a few grades of fakes . theres a chinese one (worst of them all) then a japanese copy (not to bad) and then a swiss remake which if done properly should be as good as the original but there few and far between

THe only one ive seen that looked real to the human eye was a Sea Dweller , but they wanted £850 for the fake and it was tested by a expert who said you need equipment to prove its a fake the human eye wont do . It works out around what it costs rolex to make a watch as there mark ups are over 500% normally anyway.

I agree with that mate.  A lot of the stuff from China comes with spelling mistakes too.  For the cost of buying a really good replica you'd may as well just save up a bit more and by the genuine article in my view.

[Gibbo1]

A lot of the stuff from China comes with spelling mistakes too.

Just ask chris about the playing cards he bought me haha

[Tito]

I don't really wear watches thesedays but my brother in law got a beautiful Raymond Weil watch on his wedding day His wife paid well over £1500 for it and about 3 years later the battery went on it and he took it to the jewellers to get it replaced and they wanted £140 to do it as it had to be sent away.
I spoke to my auntie who owns a jewellers in Preston and she said she would do it for £15. I got it done for him and the cheeky C*** as still never said thanks. !!!!

[Chris]

Just ask chris about the playing cards he bought me haha

Post a pic of it, that was awesome 

[Gibbo1]

Post a pic of it, that was awesome 

Spot the chinese mistake 

[The Hurricane]

Spot the chinese mistake 

Awesome 

[Chris]

Awesome 

I bought them in Hong Kong, I was well pleased with my find, especially as that was the was the last boxing themed pack of cards left. I thought they would be a collector's item one day. 

[Mustard Dave]

I agree, stick to your budget and buy real, my favourite ever watch was a Seiko, loved that watch, I lost it and they didn't make it anymore, I was devastated, saying that my current watch was over 3 grand and whilst it looks nice it is a bag of shit for time keeping, worst watch I have ever owned for doing its actual job

I post regularly on the car forum on Pistonheads and there are a number of sub-forums, one of them being watches.  Seiko seem to be held in high regard by many visitors to that forum.  The 'Monster' seems very popular but I believe they do not retail in the UK.  Creation watches import them and many on Pistonheads have bought from them with no problems.

They are apparently a very good automatic movement and can be serviced by any decent watchmaker but most on there say they go for years without a service.

Many have also fettled with them (changed faces, altered the numbering colour on the bezel etc)

[Mustard Dave]

I sometimes pick up a fake on holiday, ad my mrs laughs and points out 10 things that are glaringly different from the brand its trying to emulate.

Hundreds come in every month asking for a battery change, and legally, she should put a hammer through them - but she tells them she cant do it. Says they're all crap and fashion watches are better made.

It is perfectly legal to buy a fake watch overseas and bring it into the UK so putting a hammer through it would be treated as criminal damage.  If you buy a fake watch overseas, you cannot resell it in the UK though, even if you advertise it as a replica/fake.

[Red]

It is perfectly legal to buy a fake watch overseas and bring it into the UK so putting a hammer through it would be treated as criminal damage.  If you buy a fake watch overseas, you cannot resell it in the UK though, even if you advertise it as a replica/fake.

If your an accredited dealer of the genuine brand, then your bound by their terms and conditions to get rid of it on copyright grounds.

The only 'fake' she saw was a Rolex made of genuine materials with a genuine rolex movement.

The watch in question I'd have to ask her what it was called, but basically it was a platinum bezel, with another high-end rolex face fitted, but the movement was from an entry-level rolex. It had real diamonds in it.

She said the sum of it's parts it was worth around £5k but if passed off as the real rolex it was emulating, it would have been about £29k.

[Mustard Dave]

If you are an accredited dealer, the only thing you can legally do is refuse to touch it, or if you feel the watch has been sold illegally, you can inform trading standards or the police.  As I said, it is not illegal to bring a fake watch into the UK unless you are going to sell it.  Jewellers do not have any authority to 'get rid' of somebody else's property other than by reporting it to the relevant authorities.

[Gavin]

I know its slightly different to a watch, but not sure if you have ever seen the Ferrari 355 Replica Toyota MR2?? Aparently, if you drive it in Italy, they will confiscate it and then crush it!