Wearing Reps in Switzerland

[zenico]

Hi everyone, I'm a college student from Asia and am planning to do an exchange semester in Switzerland soon.

So what I would like to ask, is bringing my reps with me to Switzerland a good idea? Current reps I own are a HBB V6 RG and a PAM351, might be planning to get a sevenFriday soon. Firstly, would there be any custom risks by wearing the watch or keeping it in my luggage while clearing the customs? I heard border officials will be able to confiscate counterfeit products but how strict are they with the checking? Are they able to spot a good rep from a gen?

Secondly, if by any chance I got through the customs, would the Swiss people in general be able to spot a rep from a gen? And how might their reaction be if they found out I'm wearing a rep.

I'm not trying to pass off the rep as a gen but just curious what might happen if I wear one in public in Switzerland.

If Switzerland doesn't work out, I might be planning for exchange to Sweden or Canada, so maybe some info regarding bringing reps into these countries would be nice.

Cheers

 

[wooky492]

Hey OP, what people would think of your watch would be similar everywhere else.
Custom officials, however, might be trained to spot some reps that are replicated a lot and common.
Anyhow, if you are wearing one on your wrist, no one can demand you to take it off and confiscate it. If you carry it in your luggage, that's different matter. They can confiscate it off you.
It looks like your collections are some of those that are hard to spot the rep from gen anyway, so relax and enjoy your study abroad. ;-)

 

[jttou]

I have lived in Switzerland/Zurich for a while and believe me, just because all those brands are from Switzerland it doesn't mean the general public has more knowledge of watches than anywhere else. They might have seen or heard from a specific brand since there are AD's everywhere, but still wouldn't be able to spot a 1:1 rep. Especially if you have a Hublot and Panerai with dozens of variations.

Can't say anything for the custom officials though, since I'm living in a schengen country so there are no customs (Switzerland is non-EU but still a schengen country). But still I don't think custom officials will be able to spot the high quality reps we have.

And anyhow, if you don't have a direct flight from Asia to Switzerland and you are connecting in an European country, then you won't have customs. So if you really worry about customs, then just look for a connecting flight in Paris, Frankfurt, London whatever.

 

[Skägg]

Hi everyone, I'm a college student from Asia and am planning to do an exchange semester in Switzerland soon.

So what I would like to ask, is bringing my reps with me to Switzerland a good idea? Current reps I own are a HBB V6 RG and a PAM351, might be planning to get a sevenFriday soon. Firstly, would there be any custom risks by wearing the watch or keeping it in my luggage while clearing the customs? I heard border officials will be able to confiscate counterfeit products but how strict are they with the checking? Are they able to spot a good rep from a gen?

Secondly, if by any chance I got through the customs, would the Swiss people in general be able to spot a rep from a gen? And how might their reaction be if they found out I'm wearing a rep.

I'm not trying to pass off the rep as a gen but just curious what might happen if I wear one in public in Switzerland.

If Switzerland doesn't work out, I might be planning for exchange to Sweden or Canada, so maybe some info regarding bringing reps into these countries would be nice.

Cheers

Hi, i live in Sweden. No problem with reps. You can bring it and wear it with no problem.
welcome!

 

[trailboss99]

No, trying to get reps into Switzerland is a very bad idea indeed. Take one on your wrist and maybe one in baggage but that is it.

 

[zenico]

Thanks everyone for your tips and information! My plan is to go ETH Zurich.

No, trying to get reps into Switzerland is a very bad idea indeed. Take one on your wrist and maybe one in baggage but that is it.

That's what I plan to do, pam on my wrist and my hbb in my luggage or hand carry. But the exchange is still far, August next year. Now is just my planning and application phase so I assume I had to factor reps into my planning.

 

[aaamax]

It's Italy that you have to watch out for. Anything rep that is of italian origin and you run serious fines, etc.

 

[xpletiv]

Do you think that they all go to a special school to learn about Reps?
Turn down the paranoia.

 

[Mendota]

I've traveled in and out of Geneva and various airports wearing reps and just don't be a douche about it. Just act like a normal person. Don't show it off, don't flaunt it, don't stare at it or fiddle with it, just forget about it. You see, that is what regular people do when they are wearing a watch. Any watch. It is just a watch. Nobody is going to give two f#cjs about what a college student has on his wrist if he acts like a regular person.

Dial down on the paranoia and start focusing on important things, like how you are going to actually make it happen, or where you are going to live, or what classes you are going to take, what the girls might look like. Real stuff like that. You have way more important, logistical things to think about between now and next August than replica watches. We didn't even have the internet back when I was in college. Not until the end of my senior year. LOL

 

[turpissima]

Don't bring more than those 2 watches you mentioned, as customs are really strict here, especially if somone arrives from the asian region. If they see that the watches are used, you won't have a single problem though. They act up, if someone tries to import several new and unworn reps.

You won't have any issues wearing reps in public here. 95% won't even notice or care what you have on your wrist. The 5% that care probably won't recognize it as a rep as long as you don't tell. Just don't wear them at TD's, that's where the real experts are.

 

[warlordofnarnia]

I'm pretty sure that a college student wearing a replica of a $10k watch may attract attention, especially a HBB V6 RG!! f course you are trying to pass of a rep as a gen. We all do, or we would be wearing non-branded 'hommages'.

However, the whole point of a rep is that 99.9% of Joe public will never be able to tell. Even a quick 'expert' glance is unlikely to expose a good rep as a fake, so don't worry too much about that, but try and always wear a rep that matches your lifestyle and perceived income, and you are much less likely to attract attention.

Take care,

Warlord

 

[jttou]

Just don't take a direct flight from Asia to Switzerland and you will be fine. Look for a connection flight in Europe, which will probably be cheaper anyway than a direct flight and you can bring those 2 watches without any concerns.

 

[barth]

A V6 is a great rep... Worst case scenario they ask you to take it off, no chance they could call it out.
I too been in and out of Geneva plenty of times, sometimes with a few reps in my bag (idiot). Never had an issue, just act normal.

The risk is, they control you and ask you to explain where the money to buy watches comes from !

Envoyé de mon HTC One M8s

 

[panda rep]

how can customs distinguish reps from gens,I don't think there is any risk to take 3 reps to clear customs:thumbup:

 

[Lindt]

No problems with reps in CH, but stay away from AD's.

 

[Ultra929]

I've worn them through Zurich and everywhere else. If you can pull it off, nobody would think its a rep.

 

[d4m.test]

Apart from the practical experiences above just check the respective legal text: http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/04414/04420/index.html?lang=en
"It is strictly prohibited to import into or export from Swiss customs territory counterfeited trademarks and counterfeited designs. This also applies to tourist traffic goods for personal use which are imported, exported or are in transit. Counterfeits may be confiscated and destroyed when crossing the border. It's thereby not important whether these goods are new or already used.
Further information can be found at:

Institute of Intellectual Property (external Link, new window)"


"The new regulation affects only procedures at the border. Private persons in Switzerland who are in possession of unlawfully manufactured goods can still not be legally prosecuted. (Art. 13 para. 2[SUP]bis[/SUP] and Art. 71 TmPA; Art. 9 para. 1[SUP]bis[/SUP] and Art. 47 Design Act)"

 

[zenico]

Thank you all for the advice! I guess to be safe, I might just ring only my PAM351 with me, which I think would attract less attraction.

I've traveled in and out of Geneva and various airports wearing reps and just don't be a douche about it. Just act like a normal person. Don't show it off, don't flaunt it, don't stare at it or fiddle with it, just forget about it. You see, that is what regular people do when they are wearing a watch. Any watch. It is just a watch. Nobody is going to give two f#cjs about what a college student has on his wrist if he acts like a regular person.

Dial down on the paranoia and start focusing on important things, like how you are going to actually make it happen, or where you are going to live, or what classes you are going to take, what the girls might look like. Real stuff like that. You have way more important, logistical things to think about between now and next August than replica watches. We didn't even have the internet back when I was in college. Not until the end of my senior year. LOL

Yea, definitely thinking about how the girls look like! unk:

 

[filantrop]

I think everything will be good! Do not need to worry. Just take these which you like and wear with pleasure.

 

[rhp1462]

Do you think that they all go to a special school to learn about Reps?
Turn down the paranoia.

They have to take rep 101 and 102 to be able to join swiss customs.