I’ve traveled the world for many years. They never checked my watch. If I buy a watch I wear it through customs and mail the box.
-
Tired of adverts on RWI? - Subscribe by clicking HERE and PMing Trailboss for instructions and they will magically go away!
Airport Security / Customs with Replica watch
- Thread starter dominikg
- Start date
- 12/6/06
- 1,000
- 783
- 113
Been traveling many times, airport security care more about bottled water than anything else.
Indonesian customs do look for luxury handbags (hermes etc) to tax them.
Interesting display at Haneda airport in Japan where they have wall display of fake handbags and how to detect fake them.
What I heard from several people is that flagship stores in europe and singapore sometimes ask to see the ladies bags a customer wear to the store and confiscate it if it's fake. I think this is bullshit..... but I stick with our motto here at RWI: don't flaunt your fake in AD.
Indonesian customs do look for luxury handbags (hermes etc) to tax them.
Interesting display at Haneda airport in Japan where they have wall display of fake handbags and how to detect fake them.
What I heard from several people is that flagship stores in europe and singapore sometimes ask to see the ladies bags a customer wear to the store and confiscate it if it's fake. I think this is bullshit..... but I stick with our motto here at RWI: don't flaunt your fake in AD.
No experience with shopping in Singapore but if it's believable anywhere I'd believe it there.
As for customs I've never seen or heard of someone going from the US and wearing a watch through and having an issue. Now, if you're flying back to the US from France, Italy, or Switzerland and have a watch or purse box in your luggage - let alone multiples - you'd best declare it.
- 29/11/17
- 738
- 449
- 63
Another thread about wearing fake watches in a foreign country!
Like always, two kind of answers:
- Peoples making fun of the OP
- Peoples claiming it's not illegal to wear fakes.
Plot twist: it is. In some country like Italy (you can count France and Switzerland on that list, and most likely more)
That being said it is very unlikely that you'll have any problem @dominikg . First you are travelling and stay inside the Shengen area, so no custom control. Then, just don't act stupid and don't draw the attention of custom officers by, for example, wearing obvious fake clothes or luggage. Also in the worst case scenario you'll only be fined (and your watch will be confiscated)
Like always, two kind of answers:
- Peoples making fun of the OP
- Peoples claiming it's not illegal to wear fakes.
Plot twist: it is. In some country like Italy (you can count France and Switzerland on that list, and most likely more)
That being said it is very unlikely that you'll have any problem @dominikg . First you are travelling and stay inside the Shengen area, so no custom control. Then, just don't act stupid and don't draw the attention of custom officers by, for example, wearing obvious fake clothes or luggage. Also in the worst case scenario you'll only be fined (and your watch will be confiscated)
muiramas
Aristocrat
- 18/1/17
- 6,073
- 8,038
- 113
Haha! I'll have to read around that old story a bit more from the sounds of it!
A Mac? Dear GOD no.
That's odd... it's working now!
- 23/6/17
- 1,547
- 4,509
- 113
unless you do something like this otherwise i believe you will be fine
Bad Wolf
Getting To Know The Place
The question regarding legality and confiscation has always fascinated me, when it comes to modern reps. Unless the rep is especially cheap and has poor external features, or has an incorrect internal movement, how would anyone be able to say it's fake on the spot, especially an untrained customs officer. Modern reps are now to a point, that unless you look over them with a microscope and exhaustively compare against gen pictures, with inherent knowledge when it comes to specific features in mind, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference. If the rep has been frankened on top of that, it would be even harder. I'm really curious how a customs officer would be able to legaly prove fakeness to the point he can issue a fine or confiscate.
- 29/11/17
- 738
- 449
- 63
They are trained, it's their job after all. Plus if people here can distinguish a VSF submariner from a CF one, why wouldn't someone else, especially if it's their job ?
That was a proactive prediction ! Or maybe just me that read the thread too fast :/
Bad Wolf
Getting To Know The Place
I am sure they are trained in broad strokes when it comes to severe counterfeit cases as I mentioned, but I seriously doubt they would be able to judge the minute details that set modern reps apart from gens, and especially when it comes to the meriad of different model & brands out there. And in addition, even if they could do it on a specific case because they happen to be a watch supernerd like people on this forum, how would they be able to legaly prove it? Is "the S on this dial is 0.5mm too close to the next letter" really something that could legaly stand up as a reason to confiscate or fine someone ? Genuinely curious.
The way it would happen in the US is that it would be seized and you'd need to prove either legality, or that you'd paid proper taxes on it; the government is in (supposed) control of the border and has the authority to reject pretty much anything coming over it (other than US citizens). The way it actually happens, though, is that packages are examined at the port of entry and a customs official believes them to be counterfeit and then sends a seizure notice. No one ever responds to these and the contents are destroyed after some period of time.
I know the NFL/etc does some training for counterfeit merchandise and they 'surge' agents at ports to examine merchandise at times around the Super Bowl, et al., or whatever. I think some of the leather crafters (Fendi, Hermes) have similar programs but don't know the details. So when you see the unboxing hauls its always 30 different shirts all in the buyer's size or whatever; if someone ordered 30 of the same shirts in a variety of sizes my understanding is that customs are more willing to seize the second example.
So wearing a watch through entry at an airport or cruise terminal? Difficult to see how that would be an issue. Shipping in 10 'Swiss' watches from China? If that package gets examined I'd bet it gets seized. Wearing those obviously fake Gucci hats/shirts when entering the country? Probably a good way to get selected for secondary inspection.
Of course, this is not legal advice and do not rely on it as such.
- 15/7/13
- 283
- 40
- 28
It's summer! Returning to this question:
For roundtrip travel from USA, via flight connection in Germany, to a Schengen destination, then via flight connection in Switzerland, back to USA,
- would the traveler pass customs in Germany and Switzerland if the flight is only transit?
- jokes about max security prisons aside, what hassles might one actually risk in Germany and Switzerland with a wristwatch in these scenarios (transit only, flight-to-flight in airport)?
Saw the question elsewhere but it was unansswered and I find it interesting. Any experiences?
For roundtrip travel from USA, via flight connection in Germany, to a Schengen destination, then via flight connection in Switzerland, back to USA,
- would the traveler pass customs in Germany and Switzerland if the flight is only transit?
- jokes about max security prisons aside, what hassles might one actually risk in Germany and Switzerland with a wristwatch in these scenarios (transit only, flight-to-flight in airport)?
Saw the question elsewhere but it was unansswered and I find it interesting. Any experiences?
Last edited:
In Germany its allowed to own a rep for your personal use. So if you only travel with one watch, there are not a problem.
But I dont know the situation in Switzerland.. In France for example is it not allowed to own a single counterfeit product. But anyways - one single watch shouldnt be a problem at every airport. for sure a omega is the better choice than the patek
- 15/7/13
- 283
- 40
- 28
Thanks for the response! I'd heard exactly what you've said about Germany.
I too don't know about Switzerland, or in fact whether in the above scenario (transit from one flight to another) the traveler would even pass customs -- I've been there but don't remember if customs is integrated with security and passport control, or a different set of people.
I too don't know about Switzerland, or in fact whether in the above scenario (transit from one flight to another) the traveler would even pass customs -- I've been there but don't remember if customs is integrated with security and passport control, or a different set of people.
I don't see what possible hassles could be encountered when you're wearing one watch and you have maybe one or two in your luggage. It's not uncommon for people to have more than one watch on a trip for different occasions. I can't remember the last time I've only had one watch on a trip. I usually have at least one spare if not two or three packed.
A personal experience I've recently had , flying out of Boston Logan airport , I had security literally dump out my carry on bag on the counter because they didn't like the way my bag was packed going through the x-ray machine nothing was said about having a Rolex, two Panerai, a breiting and a tag in my carry-on. The security officer did actually look at each watch individually and when he was sending them back through the xray, along with everything else I had packed including my medications , a spare battery pack for my cell phone , my clothes and toiletries that I had in my carry-on . I asked him if I could please have my Rolex back to put on as he was rifling through my suitcase, which he obliged and handed to me. It wasn't isolated to just me because they were doing that to about half the passengers that were passing through security. Nothing to do with the watches but I found it very offensive the way they were digging through and laying out everything I had packed in a couple of x-ray totes to go through the x-ray again. As far as my watches go, not a single word was said and all of them were replicas except for my Rolex. The TSA agent did look closely at each one but I think it was more of an envious stare then it was anything else.
A personal experience I've recently had , flying out of Boston Logan airport , I had security literally dump out my carry on bag on the counter because they didn't like the way my bag was packed going through the x-ray machine nothing was said about having a Rolex, two Panerai, a breiting and a tag in my carry-on. The security officer did actually look at each watch individually and when he was sending them back through the xray, along with everything else I had packed including my medications , a spare battery pack for my cell phone , my clothes and toiletries that I had in my carry-on . I asked him if I could please have my Rolex back to put on as he was rifling through my suitcase, which he obliged and handed to me. It wasn't isolated to just me because they were doing that to about half the passengers that were passing through security. Nothing to do with the watches but I found it very offensive the way they were digging through and laying out everything I had packed in a couple of x-ray totes to go through the x-ray again. As far as my watches go, not a single word was said and all of them were replicas except for my Rolex. The TSA agent did look closely at each one but I think it was more of an envious stare then it was anything else.
Handbags across french customs at airports is an absolute no-no. Just don't risk it. Same for clothing.
Coming from Asia, don't try the watches either.
- 15/7/13
- 283
- 40
- 28
TSA in the USA don't care, I know.
The Germans don't care.
The Brits, personal experience, they don't care either.
The French do care.
The real question is the Swiss. Any experience there?
I don't know if you've come across articles regarding this nightmarish scenario that occurred back in 2019 to people who were attending the annual watch convention and staying in neighboring countries.
From The Archives: Swiss Customs Targeting Watch Show Attendees
A personal experience with Swiss Customs on the way to Baselworld 2019 resulting in thousands in fines and taxes on personal watches.
www.fratellowatches.com
- 24/6/23
- 371
- 404
- 63
Hi everyone, I’m working as a UK airport security, and we don’t have an issue with watches. Unless it’s a bag full of watches, customs will be more concerned. If you travel with your watches from the UK 
then don’t worry about security checks. I hope that will clear up some confusion here. Cheers
then don’t worry about security checks. I hope that will clear up some confusion here. Cheers