Replicas when crossing borders

[Doud]

Hey guys,

I am not sure if I am posting this thread in the right place but I have a question that after a lot of searching remains unanswered...

I travel quite a lot and I was wondering just how safe it is to cross borders on International flights or in trains wearing a replica or even having it in your luggages?
I am sure this also depends on the country you are travelling to or from (ie: Switzerland must be harsher than most) but in general.
And if not recommended, what are the risks? Confiscation? Fines?

Thank you very much

Doud

 

[MMs]

never had an issue.

 

[rols16610]

Never had any problems, although I usually only take one watch with me whilst traveling

 

[boostin20]

I've never had an issue. I usually carry either 2 or 3 with me in my carry-on.

 

[Higs]

I hear they have special dogs on Franco-Swiss trains that can smell out a replica watch from the next carriage. Once caught, the wearer is swiftly 'dealt with'.

Very little is known of this because very few survive.

 

[Doud]

Thanks guys,

I hear they have special dogs on Franco-Swiss trains that can smell out a replica watch from the next carriage. Once caught, the wearer is swiftly 'dealt with'.

Very little is known of this because very few survive.

I asked as on a train from Geneva to Venice, I was wearing a Gen and the Italian "guardia di Finanzia" asked me at the border if I had just bought my watch and what was its value, I lied a bit on the value of the watch just to be sure I would be under whatever number they were looking for.

And I know this is for tax purposes but imagine if you have a 50K rose gold Rubber clad (rep) if they take it as a gen i dont know what would happen and if they assume its a rep what could the sanction be.

I know next time I would just put it in my luggage but I was just wondering what could happen if I was in this situation with a rep on my wrist.

 

[smokiedabong]

Don't wear any rep that looks even mildly expensive while crossing the border to a military country, conflict zone or some eastern countries. Spent the night in the cage cause of that shit and had to bribe them with a nice pile of $ to get out. You don't want to appear rich to some dudes with tanks in a zone where nobody can ever hear about you again.

 

[tommy_boy]

If you are concerned about paying duty on an expensive watch (or watches) then simply wear a lower end Seiko or Citizen. Problem averted.

Sent from my phone without using spelchek.

 

[dev1ant]

One of the other problems with wearing reps out of the country, is when you're returning. Customs might query its origin to try to get you to pay taxes/duties. If you claim it's from within the country, they ask for a receipt or perhaps an AD to call to verify your information. Generally, they just become a hassle for you and may delay your re-entry (even worse if you're going for a connecting flight). Especially problematic with Canadian customs which is why I just wear my gen items and declare them beforehand (special form essentially listing items you're bringing out with you so that they won't question it when you return). I've had female colleagues who often travel between Toronto and the US who tend to bring with them multiple bags (different occasions I suppose) of relatively high value (target for taxation). A couple of them have ran into issues and now just end up bringing one or two bags and declare them with the form.

 

[cwazy1]

just wear 10 watches when crossing boarders, it'll be fine