: 2) The second topic of fakes, replicas,
: knockoffs, etc... is one that needs no
: clarification. I'm confident that my
: viewpoint is the same as 99% of all watch
: enthusiatsts so it would just be
: "preaching to the choir". The
: other 1% (Blake included) just don't get it
: and they never will. Trying to enlighten
: these people is impossible and frustrating
: so I chose to wish them well with their
: "wannabe watches" and move on.

: Best,
: Mike

Actually I have no problem with fakes. As long as they remain fakes and don't get passed off as real (especially if they are being re-sold)

1) To many people a watch is form first, function second. A watch IS a piece of jewelry, and I know that (at least personally) I see a lot of watches that, reguardless of what movement is inside, is a beautiful watch. A lot of these watches are so far out of my price range that I could never buy a real one. So I understand why people want to buy a fake, if it is just for the pleasure of looking at a beautiful object on their wrist. I don't agree with buying it to pass off as real.

2) Now a days many fakes are made pretty darned good. In fact, I've got a confession, I love watches, I spend lots of money on watches, but I own a fake. I have a fake Patek Phillipe. Visually it is a superb watch. I bought it because I wanted a dress watch with a nice leather band that was understated but classy, to go with a couple of suits I own that I wear brown shoes with. A pretty specific need to spend thousands of dollars on. This watch suits the purpose to perfection. The fact that the watch has an ETA 17 jewel automatic movement is just a plus. In fact I have had zero problems with the watch. It cost me $200 in total to get the watch, and I feel it was worth every penny. (as a side note, my Daytona costs me almost that much every year to keep going, and still doesn't keep as good a time as the fake. Heck my mothers Cartier has gone through 3 movements and spent more time in the shop then one her wrist in the past two years. Just because it's real doesn't mean it's good, and just because it's fake doesn't mean it's bad) I have little doubt that it will last much more than 2 years...And yes when anyone asks me if the watch is a fake I happily say yes it is.

On the other hand I would NEVER sell the watch as a real one (not that I'm in the habit of selling any watch). That in my mind is fraud, plain and simple. But if you're going for aestetics and only aestetics, realizing that what makes the watch tick is an inferior movement, and that you are hurting the watch industry as a whole I don't see a problem with people having fakes.