Bunch of us in the neighborhood walk to get our kids at school in the afternoon. I noticed a neighbor I’m friendly with but don’t know well, wearing a cool gold watch. Decided to say hi and ask about it since I didn’t recognize it and I’m looking for a gold watch eventually
, and he said it’s an AP.


Problem is, it’s not. He wears it with the clasp open sometimes and it’s steel in there, just like my sweet invicta.


Now I genuinely don’t care if people chose to wear a fake watch, whatever. I’ve seen enough people on here even that get a “tactical frog” or similar for a few bucks to see if the style they have read about, works for them in real life. That’s fine, I support it  but feels weird when you try and pass it off as a gen.

Houses are under $700k around here so a quarter million dollar watch kinda stands out.

Thoughts?

I wear a bunch of pagani homages but I’d never try to pass it off as the real deal. I got no reason to try and fool anyone that I’m wearing a 10k watch.

Gross.

I have a few fakes, purchased them to see if the aesthetic works for me. Never pass them off as real, always tell folks they are fake if they ask. Some I liked so much I bought the real deal. Some are so good you’d be hard pressed to tell them from the real one without opening them up. My fake Panerai and FXD are near perfect examples. Here are photos of the fakes alongside the gens.

A fake Skydweller came into the local AD and the owner was pissed that he had gotten taken. My buddy who owns a real Skydweller is disgusted by how good the rep is to the eye. The weight is off my 1-2 GRAMS. The complications are a dead giveaway. I set the time on the fake to match his genuine and told him to handle one at a time and tell me which was fake without manipulating the complications. He had a hell of a time. By the way he owns a Skydweller, two Daytonas, a Coke GMT, a Hulk, a Batman, and a rose gold Cellini Moon Phase and he is the counsel for the local AD that the fake Skydweller came in to. Needless to say, he knows his Rolex. There are a lot of trash reps out there, but there are some damn scary reps. I also purchased a Seestern Doxa homage before deciding to grab the real deal and have purchased two more since.

Can you show the Panerai, and let us know where you found it? Can’t afford the real thing but wouldn’t mind rocking a quality homage

I bought a knockoff Omega Seamaster for $20 in Shanghai, in 2002.

It kept great time for 20 years. Outlasted original bracelet, and a $20 NATO strap that replaced the bracelet.

I can't bring myself to spend more than $50 bucks on a knockoff. Even if they're an homage like the Steinharts.

This biggest tell with this fake Panerai is the cyclops doesn’t magnify well and that’s something somebody might notice with a casual glance on the wrist if they know Panerai’s. Otherwise it is damn close.

I would rather wear a $10 Timex than wear a fake anything.

I just completed a homage. If anyone knows what it is will know right off its not real. If asked, I've no problem with puffing my chest out, and accepting the compliment of making a nice watch.
I'm proud of my creations, and have no issues with someone asking about one, and me saying "I made that" !

Cool, you do you bro.

Agreed. There are plenty of decent watches for less than the fakes cost and they don’t make you a poser. It’s like putting Wilson combat grips on a Tisas or Mercedes badges on a Kia.

No not really. I havevto disagree.
The watches i make do have a Seiko movement in them. So if my dial says Seiko, to me it's representing the heartbeat of the piece.
Seiko also has a factory in China, so many of the parts do come from Seiko in China.

I’m talking about the fakes, Chinese watches with Rolex or AP on the dial.

Thanks, I do.



Exactly. To me, it is being a poser. There are lots of nice cheap watches that have the look without having to wear a rep.

Attached File





Do you know if those are still available? @HiramRanger

There are fake Rolex makers out there that have watches that have fooled ADs, even opened up.......

Still a fake...

Yes, absolutely.

I almost bought a CLEAN Rep pre-pandemic but did'nt.

I want a real Omega and the reps aren't great and I can get a used Seamaster for under $2.5k and Speedmaster for under $3k

I would rather wear a real casio or timex than a fake luxury brand, I would at least know what I was getting. My luck I would be the guy that gets his hand chopped off with a machete by two dudes on a scooter over a fake rolex.

I can recommend a great dealer out of Japan that has a nice selection of used Omegas at very reasonable prices. I used them to purchase my NIB Pelagos FXD and an excellent condition Hamilton Khaki chronograph. Great prices, exceptional service.

Speedmaster under $3k you're likely looking at a Racing or a Reduced or an older Mark 2 or Mark 3. Once in awhile you might luck into a used Professional from a private seller for under $3k, $3.8K to $4.2K opens up a lot of possibilities.