Quote:
Originally Posted by tony20009
Sidebar:
FWIW, the one thing-- besides the price -- that I've found distinguishing the pricey watches from the impostors is that with the automatics, the pricey ones seem able to build up power and keep accurate time without first manually winding them. The fakes, it seems, need to be wound first, but then after that initial winding, they keep time as described above.
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This quote of yours is actually really amusing to me, because the most expensive watch in my box is an IWC 5101 - an 8-day mechanical handwind. It's not an automatic, and it's not a quartz. I physically have to wind it (and it takes a LOT of winding) to fill the 8-day power reserve, and I tend to continue to wind it throughout the day as the power is used. At its core the watch is the most basic example of time telling......you wind it, it works....you forget to wind it, and it stops working. So simple.
I recognize that the price of this watch is largely due to its name, IWC. But as an enthusiast I also appreciate the in-house movement which would never be replicated by Chinese as it would be too laborious a process to be profitable. Sure they can replicate the watch dial, etc.....but the joy of having the watch on my wrist is actually knowing that I have the real deal movement.
When you talk about reps, you are
rarely talking about the movement that comes in them, even though some actually have swiss movements; instead it's about either wanting a particular look or wanting a particular brand to wear on your wrist. You may LOVE Audemars Piguet but could never afford the cost of a $15,000 Diver. You head over to a replica forum and discover that the Chinese have been able to produce a literally 95% accurate replica of this watch, water resistant, lume and all, for the price of $350. It's then when you encounter the reasons why you may or may not want to purchase that piece. $350 is expensive for a fake when you could buy a VERY nice Victorinox for the same price. But if you truly lust after an AP and want to experience one that is 95% perfection on your wrist, those are the people who will make that jump. That's a lot of money to pay to "fake it", but some people just demand to have the "look" because never in their life could they afford to purchase the real deal.
NOW, whether they attempt to show it off as real or readily admit to people it's a fake is a much different story. I don't respect people who try to pretend something fake is actually real. That's disgusting. But if you're an enthusiast admitting it's fake because you can't yet afford the real thing, I will respect you for being honest with me and I won't judge your motives because you obviously aren't trying to get over on anyone.
Honestly we don't know people's motives for purchasing/wearing fakes, so it's unfortunate that some people judge them with unbiased opinions and are unwilling to accept any reasons as legitimate. It's truly a persons prerogative to dismiss any replica as "cheating", "faking", "not winning", or "not a good look". That person doesn't have to have an open mind about it and that's fine. But people may see the world differently than them, and
that's something that
should be respected.