Airport Security / Customs with Replica watch

[tomriddle]

When I bought my genuine Day-Date new, I was stopped at customs six months later on my return journey from Italy back to Switzerland and they wanted a plausible explanation of where the watch had been bought. Fortunately, I was prepared and had a copy of the invoice in the glove compartment of my car....
The seller in Switzerland gave me this tip...

agreed.. people saying it won't happen have probably never traveled enough..

it's not just the new watch you bought.. i have a question: when you bought your rolex did they ask for your passport/id/etc?

i am convinced that the genuine articles are actually tied to travelers.. it's already in their systems so to speak

in dubai we went nuts on gold (why not, hello it's Dubai!) and were basically given paperwork on departure to get the "tax refund" back at the airport and then told to keep all receipts/etc just in case we got questioned

"Do you have anything to declare?" -- everyone gets asked this at customs.. and if you lie you're gonna get in more trouble cuz they probably already scanned your bag

..i know my heart skips every time i come back from the Philippines with a loaded checked-in bag of goods and knowing i have to go through customs -.- but no, for some reason if you do not declare "oh i have fake watches", you're fine.. remember, do you have anything to declare does not apply simply to fakes

good luck have fun!! where you going so we can get the bail money fund going?

 

[KGZ]

i am convinced that the genuine articles are actually tied to travelers.. it's already in their systems so to speak

They can't do that outright in any jurisdiction that has personal data protection regulations. The EU has the most stringent regulations on the matter. They can't collect your personal data and share it with third parties without your consent. It's either they ask you if you want to register at the store or you can register your product later. Even when you do register, there can be no automatic exchange of information with third parties without your consent.

In most countries, you have the option to register your valuables with customs of your residence country. You provide once the purchase documents and you get delivered a sort of passport that covers the registered valuables. That way you don't have to travel with the documentation and the passport will suffice in case of a control.

n dubai we went nuts on gold (why not, hello it's Dubai!) and were basically given paperwork on departure to get the "tax refund" back at the airport and then told to keep all receipts/etc just in case we got questioned

This is a different kettle of fish. When you apply for the tax refund you give consent to have your personal data communicated and treated by customs of the exporting country for control purposes. Now this is where it gets interesting, if this country and your residence country have a bi-lateral agreement allowing for the automatic exchange of customs information, your data and the data related to all the goods for which you have obtained a tax refund are transferred to customs of your residence country. I know of many instances in which persons have been controlled by customs of their country upon returning and they were asked about very specific high value goods that they had purchased tax free. In all of these instances, the two countries had a bil-lateral agreement.

Now customs have a tolerance and won't push the matter unless you are coming in with a lot of brand new high value items (jewelry, luxury watches, electronics...). They will rarely look at the watch on your wrist unless it stands out or you are acting weird about it.

 

[tomriddle]

They can't do that outright in any jurisdiction that has personal data protection regulations. The EU has the most stringent regulations on the matter. They can't collect your personal data and share it with third parties without your consent. It's either they ask you if you want to register at the store or you can register your product later. Even when you do register, there can be no automatic exchange of information with third parties without your consent.

In most countries, you have the option to register your valuables with customs of your residence country. You provide once the purchase documents and you get delivered a sort of passport that covers the registered valuables. That way you don't have to travel with the documentation and the passport will suffice in case of a control.


This is a different kettle of fish. When you apply for the tax refund you give consent to have your personal data communicated and treated by customs of the exporting country for control purposes. Now this is where it gets interesting, if this country and your residence country have a bi-lateral agreement allowing for the automatic exchange of customs information, your data and the data related to all the goods for which you have obtained a tax refund are transferred to customs of your residence country. I know of many instances in which persons have been controlled by customs of their country upon returning and they were asked about very specific high value goods that they had purchased tax free. In all of these instances, the two countries had a bil-lateral agreement.

Now customs have a tolerance and won't push the matter unless you are coming in with a lot of brand new high value items (jewelry, luxury watches, electronics...). They will rarely look at the watch on your wrist unless it stands out or you are acting weird about it.

I'll take your word for it your post speaks of someone who has personally travelled to Dubai as well when I mentioned "tax refund" and the process at the airport etc

great post! but yeah.. my cynical "big brother is watching" me had my doubts.. LOL! I have only made 2 purchases in a foreign country that can be considered "heavy". Both ironically were gold and both times, passport/etc were scanned and identity taken down (Qatar and Dubai)

very informative post. thank you

 

[KGZ]

I have only made 2 purchases in a foreign country that can be considered "heavy". Both ironically were gold and both times, passport/etc were scanned and identity taken down (Qatar and Dubai)

Oh gold is also another kettle of fish...

Gold is also a commodity that, in many jurisdictions (if not all), is subject to specific regulations. A lot of countries (particularly big gold market such as the Gulf countries) have KYC (Know You Client) requirements for gold dealers and jewelers that are similar to those imposed on financial institutions. As such, they will require you to provide identification and will register it in order for authorities to be able to track down who bought gold and in what quantities. Historically, gold regulations were put in place to regulate gold trade and to fight gold trafficking. Now the aim is money laundering.

Now you may not be subject to controls if you buy a bracelet from Cartier as the value of the gold in the bracelet is nowhere near its price. But if you buy a bunch of gold bracelets for a price close enough to their raw gold value, you will definitely be registered.

 

[tomriddle]

Oh gold is also another kettle of fish...

Gold is also a commodity that, in many jurisdictions (if not all), is subject to specific regulations. A lot of countries (particularly big gold market such as the Gulf countries) have KYC (Know You Client) requirements for gold dealers and jewelers that are similar to those imposed on financial institutions. As such, they will require you to provide identification and will register it in order for authorities to be able to track down who bought gold and in what quantities. Historically, gold regulations were put in place to regulate gold trade and to fight gold trafficking. Now the aim is money laundering.

Now you may not be subject to controls if you buy a bracelet from Cartier as the value of the gold in the bracelet is nowhere near its price. But if you buy a bunch of gold bracelets with a value close enough to that of raw gold, you will definitely be registered.

plot twist: KGZ works in customs

..time for a lifestyle check

KGZ knows what i mean by lifestyle check haha

 

[Dave2302]

No one found out who bought the remainder of the Brinks Mat Gold, and there were a lotta folks who were / are still very keen to find out where that went

 

[KGZ]

plot twist: KGZ works in customs

..time for a lifestyle check

Imagine a customs agent coming into work wearing a Nautilus or a Daytona. Rep or not, they'd be some serious questions to answer.

Now with my gen and my rep collection, they wouldn't even bother doing a lifestyle check. There'd be a straight full on investigation!

Hopefully, I work in a field where luxury watches are recommended if not straight out required... I'd be very unhappy if it were otherwise.

No one found out who bought the remainder of the Brinks Mat Gold, and there were a lotta folks who were / are still very keen to find out where that went

I might have an idea or two about that...

 

[Dave2302]

I might have an idea or two about that...

So do I lol, I was well connected running doors for some proper well known characters in sth London back in those days

 

[Ridece]

agreed.. people saying it won't happen have probably never traveled enough..

it's not just the new watch you bought.. i have a question: when you bought your rolex did they ask for your passport/id/etc?

i am convinced that the genuine articles are actually tied to travelers.. it's already in their systems so to speak

in dubai we went nuts on gold (why not, hello it's Dubai!) and were basically given paperwork on departure to get the "tax refund" back at the airport and then told to keep all receipts/etc just in case we got questioned

"Do you have anything to declare?" -- everyone gets asked this at customs.. and if you lie you're gonna get in more trouble cuz they probably already scanned your bag

..i know my heart skips every time i come back from the Philippines with a loaded checked-in bag of goods and knowing i have to go through customs -.- but no, for some reason if you do not declare "oh i have fake watches", you're fine.. remember, do you have anything to declare does not apply simply to fakes

good luck have fun!! where you going so we can get the bail money fund going?

No, just how I want to pay (credit card, cash etc.) and my address for proof of purchase....

 

[flashu]

It is confirmed now, airport security are shooting down with live ammunition the guys wearing reps

 

[daextreme]

Imagine a customs agent coming into work wearing a Nautilus or a Daytona. Rep or not, they'd be some serious questions to answer.

This is how it is at Vietnam customs. They will think of arbitrary rules and take your stuff. I once lost an iPhone (it was a used spare phone) there. The customs guys get so rich with nice watches/jewelry and their superiors know this, so they swap them out before the pigs get too fat. It is common knowledge to slip them $10-20 when handing over your passport at customs.

 

[daextreme]

My experience:
I've flown to/from Italy with both genuine and rep Rolex watches and had no issues. Unless you're wearing a rainbow Daytona or the like, customs don't care.

 

[Dave2302]

Lack of resoureces and bigger fish to fry

 

[tomriddle]

This is how it is at Vietnam customs. They will think of arbitrary rules and take your stuff. I once lost an iPhone (it was a used spare phone) there. The customs guys get so rich with nice watches/jewelry and their superiors know this, so they swap them out before the pigs get too fat. It is common knowledge to slip them $10-20 when handing over your passport at customs.

possibly an asian thing.. i have 2 cousins who are bigtime customs agents so when i said "lifestyle check" .. i speak from a position of personal experience

LOL! my cousin ...? never ever posts anything on ig fb no forums nothing.. he's a ghost like i said.. lifestyle checks for customs agents are a real thing

didn't realize it was that blatant in Vietnam though :O wow!

 

[Dave2302]

I posted this in another convo about watch smiths and legalities, but it's just as appropriate and timely here

These convos reminded me of a trip many years ago to USA where a group of us went to a Barefoot Waterskiing champion in Winterhaven, Florida.

Ron (ski school guy) was a friend of ours, he used to come coaching around UK during the Florida hurricane season and had stayed at our lakeside Ski club and coached us many times.

Anyway, we were all in some dodgy waterside bar one night, half pissed, and one of my mates (Paul) bought a real cheapo Rollie Submariner.

Paul was a very honest guy, and on the return trip we landed at Heathrow in the early hours. When asked by the UK customs fella if he had anything to declare he blurted out "I bought a fake Rolex in a bar", and proceeded to flash it to the Customs guy !!

The guy looked at it and smiled, he said "I'm sure it will give you many minutes of pleasure sir, on you go" as he waved him through

 

[daextreme]

possibly an asian thing.. i have 2 cousins who are bigtime customs agents so when i said "lifestyle check" .. i speak from a position of personal experience

LOL! my cousin ...? never ever posts anything on ig fb no forums nothing.. he's a ghost like i said.. lifestyle checks for customs agents are a real thing

didn't realize it was that blatant in Vietnam though :O wow!

It's probably the same in other countries with corrupt governments aha

 

[tomriddle]

It's probably the same in other countries with corrupt governments aha

true haha

 

[Freebo]

I just flew from Stockholm/Sweden to home of all great watches: Switzerland. Security in Sthlm took me aside to take another look at my watch roll holding a GMF daydate, Clean Daytona Ghost, VSF deepsea and a VSF cookie. I just told them I work with watches and also had a few tools in the luggage, which seemed to have them convinced. I wasn’t in the clear though and was really afraid of customs folks at the gate doing ad-hoc pat downs before boarding (this happens quite often in the Sthlm airport). I made it… but needless to say I opted to take the train out of Switzerland instead of flying.

 

[TheBigJS]

Not being funny, why would you fly with all those watches?

 

[Freebo]

Not being funny, why would you fly with all those watches?

Fully understand that question.... I have multiple homes and work out of two countries, hence traveling back and forth quite a bit. From now on I'll split the collection and have to accept that I need to live w/o certain watches at times....