[TrackerFF]

I have a couple of colleagues that collect watches - and one of them brought in a high-end replica, think he paid around $500 or so for it, and compared it to the real deal - which he also had. Some kind of Rolex submariner, don't remember what exact model.

To me, they looked identical. Felt identical. If you mixed them up and asked me which one was which, I'd be completely lost. He then pointed me to some youtube vids of people dissecting them, and it seems like you really have to bring out the microscope to tell.

I don't know much about watches, but I'm just thinking that if they are getting so accurate...why would regular people shell out 5 figures for a real one, when you can get those for a couple of hundred bucks?

Don't get me wrong - I like artisanry, but at this point it seems like you're paying the biggest upcharge for name, and nothing much else.

(As for why my colleague bought replicas, apparently he'd wear those while traveling, in case he got robbed or whatever. Even though insurance would cover the original watch, just getting a legit one from stores/dealers has been a huge hassle. Months of wait time, etc.)

[krisoft]

> why would regular people shell out 5 figures for a real one

I assure you that “regular” people don’t shell out 5 figures for any watch.

> you're paying the biggest upcharge for name, and nothing much else

Of course.

[dkjaudyeqooe]

The point of luxury goods is exclusivity - I've got a real one because I can afford it and you can't, it doesn't matter that it looks the same or even is the same, it not real it's not expensive.

Luxury goods turn economics on its head, the whole point is to overpay for a good which has little in the way of marginal return, to illustrate your wealth and "status".

I'd just call it idiocy or at least pretentiousness, and their counter argument would be that I'm "envious".

[phamilton]

Did he have some way to keep them straight? Seems like a recipe for forgetting which one is real and which one is fake.

[NhanH]

Good replica is nigh impossible to distinguish with real one without a real one to compare. But they are not identical to the real one. In fact each good replica is manually assembled and you get to QC your actual watch when order (via photos).

That is to say if you have a real and a replica to compare, there is no risk of mistaken between them. There would be difference which you could easily recognize.

[tedivm]

Presumably they don't have matching serial numbers.

[thsksbd]

"you're paying the biggest upcharge for name, and nothing much else."

You're also paying for the design and R&D. And the capability to have the Swiss continue to be able to make watches. The ability of your country to continue making something, even if it doesn't make economic sense is undervalued.

[zht]

Personally the idea of wearing a fake Rolex for travelling is insane to me.

You’re just as much as a target for physical violence. Sure, you don’t lose as much financially if your watch is taken, but you’re just painting a massive target on your back.

For what, to be seen as wealthy when travelling? To flex your status?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12881935/amp/Gang-m...

This man was stabbed to death for his fake Patek Philippe watch.

Absolutely senseless

[iaw]

There are a couple non-superficial distinctions in terms of metallurgy and certain materials but by and large not that much.