Good article on the counterfeit biz

[Hambone]

This was sent to mme in an email from the Horologic News and pertains to us rep collectors. It should bring some smiles, as they say the quality of our reps is pretty good.


http://journal.hautehorlogerie.org/spip.php?page=newsletter-journal-en-html&id_edition=378Counterfeiters cash in on recession "Quality" movements










There was a time when identifying a counterfeit watch was as easy as opening the case. Not any more. Steel, titanium and even ceramic have replaced the nickel once used to make fake ETA calibres. Not only are these hard-wearing materials of sufficiently high grade to fool consumers, these counterfeit movements are professionally assembled and machined to a standard equal to that of many bona fide manufacturers. The details that used to give away a fake movement at first glance are no longer so glaringly obvious. In some cases, only a laboratory analysis of the steel can confirm a movement is fake. This poses a serious problem for customers and brands. It also complicates life for dealers in the growing trade of pre-owned watches, particularly as the cost of a workshop inspection often exceeds their margin. Furthermore, Fine Watch brands are little inclined to help out retailers that specialise in used models. Clearly, experts have every reason to be concerned. F.G.

 

[jetrigger]

Thanks for posting, the quality is definately better now.

 

[cybee]

Good articles. My favorite quote: "After supplying Chinese manufacturers with the equipment to make parts for export to Switzerland, and after sending Swiss engineers to train them, should we really be surprised when the tables are turned?"

It's a hole the swiss helped dig : )

 

[jad648]

Traditionally, organized criminal groups have gotten involved in all types of industries from garbage collection to providing hotel uniforms, but to say that all garbage collection businesses contribute to organized crime is about as unfair and inaccurate as claiming that sales of replicas have become the bread and butter of the world criminal organizations. True, criminal organizations will take advantage and participate in any activity that can bring revenues, but I have yet to read a credible report that corroborates the counterfeit / organized crime / terrorism claims. If we are to believe that analogy, the US government would have to close down a lot of religious organizations, the sale of t-shirts, magazines sales, many major banks (including Citibank) and many others, all of which have been used by terrorists and major criminal groups to generate revenues and launder money. I really think that the designers and manufacturers have pushed this theory hoping to gain the support of the buying public, but the buying public is not buying that superficial argument.

 

[Hambone]

Traditionally, organized criminal groups have gotten involved in all types of industries from garbage collection to providing hotel uniforms, but to say that all garbage collection businesses contribute to organized crime is about as unfair and inaccurate as claiming that sales of replicas have become the bread and butter of the world criminal organizations. True, criminal organizations will take advantage and participate in any activity that can bring revenues, but I have yet to read a credible report that corroborates the counterfeit / organized crime / terrorism claims. If we are to believe that analogy, the US government would have to close down a lot of religious organizations, the sale of t-shirts, magazines sales, many major banks (including Citibank) and many others, all of which have been used by terrorists and major criminal groups to generate revenues and launder money. I really think that the designers and manufacturers have pushed this theory hoping to gain the support of the buying public, but the buying public is not buying that superficial argument.

So true. These articles should be taken with a grain of salt as they are highly biased. The magazine it is written in is sponsoring the major watch comapanies battle against
the rep makers, and will slant the story to suit there own agenda. Just look at the ad next to the headlines on the left that says "Fake watches are for fake people". It seems to me that there are some genuine terrific live and breathing people in this very forum.

 

[COLDI]

I love the add on the right. Fake watches are for fake people..

 

[mw1015]

Omg omg i'm not real!!?