The Verdict on Luxury Watch Replicas? I’m not convinced.
Now more than ever, the world of luxury watches and look-alike replicas is more accessible to the average person. Thanks to the availability of quality technology and design, many Asian companies now produce cheap watches that closely resemble their original luxury counterparts.
Being a watch aficionado myself, I decided to find out what kind of luxury replica watches were on sale in my price range, and even more importantly, if they met my discerning eye for identifying the real thing.
I learned that there are dozens of web sites out there selling top quality Japanese replica-grade watches. However, not all of their watches passed the “smell test” for me. I know that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, but I am still somewhat suspicious of any company that profits from blatant trademark infringement, even if they do tell you up front that it is a replica.
Here are some highlights of what I found online:
- A classic “18K Bvlgari with White Dial and Leather Band”: I am intrigued by the claim of 18K gold at a price of only $114 (this couldn’t be true, right?), but otherwise impressed by the look of the watch… not a bad imitation at first glance, but I would need to see the real thing to be sure.
- A black-strapped Breitling for Bentley “T” was unconvincing at best. It just didn’t have the right stuff to convince me it was genuine. At $109, I think there must be something better than this for men’s watches.
- The Philip Stein Teslar White Dial with Diamond Bezel scored high on looks, but beware of any claims that these cheap imitations contain the real frequency technology for which Philip Stein is best known. If you really want a “feel good” watch, go directly to Philip Stein or an authorized retailer, and bypass the imitations.
After doing this research online, I realized that the best way to assess the quality and workmanship of any designer replica is to look at it next to the original. If possible, wear one consistently for a month or two and see if you notice any defects. This will give you a much clearer idea of whether a cheap men’s or women’s watch is really the best option for you.
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