Traveling with reps through EU

[TonyMonatana44]

If you're worried, I would just wear one, have it sized to my wrist. I really highly doubt anybody will ever blink at one watch. Unless you're planning to bring like a $300k perpetual AP or something lol.

Gonna swing it and bring the other sub in my watch roll in my bag. If they take it they take it, I’ll just get another one

 

[mRspiKe]

Wrong.



Contradicts your first sentence.



Lordy.

If you have a wife & kids make sure they can access your bank accounts, savings etc.

European law regarding wearing replica or counterfeit goods, such as clothing, accessories, or watches, is nuanced and varies by context, with no single EU-wide regulation explicitly prohibiting the act of wearing such items for personal use. Below is a summary based on available information:

• Possession and Personal Use: There is no clear EU-wide law that explicitly makes it illegal to wear or possess a single counterfeit item (e.g., a replica watch, bag, or clothing) for personal use in most EU countries. However, some sources suggest that national laws may differ, and enforcement can vary. For instance, a claim on a forum stated that wearing a replica is illegal in every EU country, but this was disputed by others, including a jurist, who questioned the specific regulation and noted a lack of clear EU-level rules on this matter.

• Importation, Sale, and Distribution: EU law is stricter on the importation, production, and sale of counterfeit goods. Regulations prohibit importing or selling replicas, with potential penalties including fines or imprisonment. For example, in France, customs officials can confiscate counterfeit items and impose fines up to €300,000 or imprisonment for up to three years for violations involving counterfeit goods.

• Traveling with Counterfeit Goods: If a person is spotted wearing a replica while traveling into or within the EU, customs authorities may seize the item, even if it’s for personal use. This is particularly relevant at borders, where customs officers have the authority to inspect and confiscate counterfeit goods under EU regulations.

• National Variations: Each EU member state has discretion to enforce its own regulations regarding counterfeit goods, provided they align with EU principles like the free movement of goods (Articles 34 and 36 TFEU). Some countries may have stricter interpretations, but there’s no definitive evidence that simply wearing a replica in public is broadly prosecuted across the EU. For example, a forum post noted an instance where Barcelona police assisted in recovering stolen replicas, suggesting that possession alone may not always be treated as illegal.

• Practical Enforcement: In practice, law enforcement is unlikely to prioritize individuals wearing replicas unless there’s suspicion of intent to sell or distribute. A forum user suggested that police have “better things to do” than inspect personal items like replica watches, advising that claiming ignorance (e.g., “I found it abroad”) could suffice if questioned.

Conclusion: While wearing a replica for personal use is not explicitly illegal under EU-wide law, the legality can depend on national regulations, and enforcement is stricter for importation or sale. Travelers should be cautious, as customs authorities may confiscate replicas at borders. For precise regulations in a specific EU country, consulting local laws or legal experts is recommended, as interpretations vary. If you’re concerned about a specific country or context, let me know, and I can look into it further!

 

[moopsy]

Just wear a sub on each wrist. Problem solved!

 

[rolex4me]

Einige Quellen weisen jedoch darauf hin, dass nationale Gesetze unterschiedlich sein können und die Durchsetzung unterschiedlich ausfallen kann.

And that's all it's about.
Look at the laws (regarding replicas) in France and Italy.
There, severe penalties can be imposed even for personal possession of replicas.
Fortunately, this only happens very rarely.

 

[Karbon74]

European law regarding wearing replica or counterfeit goods, such as clothing, accessories, or watches, is nuanced and varies by context, with no single EU-wide regulation explicitly prohibiting the act of wearing such items for personal use. Below is a summary based on available information:

• Possession and Personal Use: There is no clear EU-wide law that explicitly makes it illegal to wear or possess a single counterfeit item (e.g., a replica watch, bag, or clothing) for personal use in most EU countries. However, some sources suggest that national laws may differ, and enforcement can vary. For instance, a claim on a forum stated that wearing a replica is illegal in every EU country, but this was disputed by others, including a jurist, who questioned the specific regulation and noted a lack of clear EU-level rules on this matter.

• Importation, Sale, and Distribution: EU law is stricter on the importation, production, and sale of counterfeit goods. Regulations prohibit importing or selling replicas, with potential penalties including fines or imprisonment. For example, in France, customs officials can confiscate counterfeit items and impose fines up to €300,000 or imprisonment for up to three years for violations involving counterfeit goods.

• Traveling with Counterfeit Goods: If a person is spotted wearing a replica while traveling into or within the EU, customs authorities may seize the item, even if it’s for personal use. This is particularly relevant at borders, where customs officers have the authority to inspect and confiscate counterfeit goods under EU regulations.

• National Variations: Each EU member state has discretion to enforce its own regulations regarding counterfeit goods, provided they align with EU principles like the free movement of goods (Articles 34 and 36 TFEU). Some countries may have stricter interpretations, but there’s no definitive evidence that simply wearing a replica in public is broadly prosecuted across the EU. For example, a forum post noted an instance where Barcelona police assisted in recovering stolen replicas, suggesting that possession alone may not always be treated as illegal.

• Practical Enforcement: In practice, law enforcement is unlikely to prioritize individuals wearing replicas unless there’s suspicion of intent to sell or distribute. A forum user suggested that police have “better things to do” than inspect personal items like replica watches, advising that claiming ignorance (e.g., “I found it abroad”) could suffice if questioned.

Conclusion: While wearing a replica for personal use is not explicitly illegal under EU-wide law, the legality can depend on national regulations, and enforcement is stricter for importation or sale. Travelers should be cautious, as customs authorities may confiscate replicas at borders. For precise regulations in a specific EU country, consulting local laws or legal experts is recommended, as interpretations vary. If you’re concerned about a specific country or context, let me know, and I can look into it further!

You don’t understand how the EU works.
There is no such thing as an EU-wide law

Regulations are voted by the EU Parliament but then they have to be coded in National Law. Each Nation can also make its own Laws, provided that they don’t contradict the EU Regulations. This does not apply to National Laws that predate the EU.

France and Italy have the largest Luxury industries in the world, so counterfeit laws reflect that.

However, what’s true is that the probability of being checked at customs border controls is low, and intra EU does not have customs controls.

In airports, the traffic from outside EU is usually in specific terminals. So there is a higher chance to be checked, even if the probability remains low. If you have a watch on wrist under the cuff of your jacket, the officers will not even look at you.

Still, in the off chance they do, then you might be in trouble

 

[aguida]

It is not clear for me how an underpaid customs policeman should spot on the fly the difference between a replica sub and a gen.
I travel a lot within and out the EU and no-one ever asked me to lift the sleeve of my shirt to look at the watch. When I go through security I take the watch off and place it in the tray for x-raying and no-one ever asked anything about it. One watch every 5 seconds is going through the machine and that's not something in the list of "warning signals" they look for and there is no AI yet spotting replicas from the X-ray image. If they should get suspicious about anything it is because I am the only weirdo not wearing an Apple watch
What I NEVER DO is:
1. Take an ultra expensive replica (like a PP) with me. That is plainly stupid. It will attract all sort of attention both from the customs and on the street.
2. Take additional watches in my bag. That WILL ring the bells when the bag is scanned and the chance to be identified and stopped when you try to go through customs will raise. Beside, if you can't stay away from all your reps for the time of a short travel, perhaps it's time to see a shrink?
So do not let you scare off by eBoy's fantastic and hilarious stories. Just take one of your watches not too flashy/expensive on your arm and you are safe.

 

[Karbon74]

Good point. And Security is not Customs.

 

[Mkempes]

From my experience customs is not really interested in reps. What they're interested in is that you import a gen without paying the respective import taxes. I.e. if you're a permanent resident and bought the watch abroad and want to avoid import taxes or if you want to sell a watch in the EU without paying import taxes.

What causes attention is if you seem to import more watches than common for private use. Or have box and papers with the watch.

So one watch on your wrist is no problem.

 

[TonyMonatana44]

From my experience customs is not really interested in reps. What they're interested in is that you import a gen without paying the respective import taxes. I.e. if you're a permanent resident and bought the watch abroad and want to avoid import taxes or if you want to sell a watch in the EU without paying import taxes.

What causes attention is if you seem to import more watches than common for private use. Or have box and papers with the watch.

So one watch on your wrist is no problem.

I 100% agree. A few years back I was stopped by customs at the airport in Italy and they asked me to xray my bags. Once they did that they found two computer monitors (that were used and that I use for work, I brought them with me because I stay 5-6 months in the Balkans) and they were making a huge deal about how I didn’t declare the monitors and my three laptops (two for work, one personal. The two for work had company asset tags on them and were the same model, so they didn’t look personal). I had to argue with them for half an hour about how I’m not staying in Italy or any EU country, how I’m just passing through to my final destination. They finally let me go after I started raising my voice and arguing even more.

I think I’ll go with one watch on my hand covered with a long sweat shirt and another in my bag in a watch roll, without any Rolex boxes or papers. I have pictures of the watches from when I bought them a few months back wearing them on my wrist so if they do ask I’ll tell them they’re personal belongings and that they’re used, and that I’m not staying inside of the EU, that I’m going to the non-EU Balkan countries. At the end of the day if they tell me they want to confiscate my no date sub, I’ll just buy another one when I get back to the US

 

[Warwickhunt]

As I’ve mentioned in my previous comment I changed flights because my arrival time didn’t fit my schedule also CDG being a shit show half the time (getting from one end of the airport to the other end needing an hour) I probably wouldn’t make my connecting flight of 1.5 hours.

Also no wife and kids yet

Can confirm about CDG, I used to have to run between terminals there - now I just go to into Frankfurt or Vienna.

 

[Warwickhunt]

Good point. And Security is not Customs.

Security manning the Scanner last time I was leaving Albania, took my rep Explorer out of the tray and carried it around the scanner and gave it back to me. Bit odd but luckily it never left my sight.

 

[Karbon74]

Security manning the Scanner last time I was leaving Albania, took my rep Explorer out of the tray and carried it around the scanner and gave it back to me. Bit odd but luckily it never left my sight.

I actually think that was respectful.
Old scanners can magnetize the watch.

Maybe the guy was a watchlover. He protected the watch and took the opportunity to have a look close

 

[Warwickhunt]

I actually think that was respectful.
Old scanners can magnetize the watch.

Maybe the guy was a watchlover. He protected the watch and took the opportunity to have a look close

Probably was - it was the newer type scanner that looks like a jet engine.

 

[Karbon74]

I was checking up and seems scanners cannot magnetize

Maybe he also was wary of thieves on the conveyor belt?

 

[TonyMonatana44]

Probably was - it was the newer type scanner that looks like a jet engine.

I typically never take my watches off gen or rep when going through the scanner. Every time they ask me why I have it on I tell them i don’t want to risk it getting stolen. They usually just that wand scanner thing and go up and down my body after the walk through scanner.

 

[Karbon74]

I typically never take my watches off gen or rep when going through the scanner. Every time they ask me why I have it on I tell them i don’t want to risk it getting stolen. They usually just that wand scanner thing and go up and down my body after the walk through scanner.

I usually drop it at the same time as my wallet into my bag or jacket pocket before putting them on the tray.

 

[PlastikMan]

I wear my reps through airport security checks the same way I walk into 5 star hotels to use their toilets… without overthinking it

 

[TonyMonatana44]

I wear my reps through airport security checks the same way I walk into 5 star hotels to use their toilets… without overthinking it

Good way to think I’ll be doing the same in a few days.

 

[Warwickhunt]

I typically never take my watches off gen or rep when going through the scanner. Every time they ask me why I have it on I tell them i don’t want to risk it getting stolen. They usually just that wand scanner thing and go up and down my body after the walk through scanner.

I only take it off when I'm told to, and in Europe that's every time for me.

 

[Warwickhunt]

I usually drop it at the same time as my wallet into my bag or jacket pocket before putting them on the tray.

It's rare I leave the UK for somewhere colder so I don't often take a jacket but when I do it can be because of budget airlines weight limits. Years ago I bought a jacket from a British company called Rohan that has about 10 pockets and was marketed as a way of carrying all the heavy stuff onto the aircraft without being charged for it in your hand luggage. Has saved me hundreds of quid over the years and has paid for itself many time over.