The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I spotted an obvious fake today, and that's coming from me who is no expert. It got me thinking.....

Why would people spend real money on a fake watch? I realize a B confers status, and all of us fans who take time to chat on a forum enjoy our collections on a deeper level than that. It just seems to me that if you are looking for an ego boost, not enough people would notice a man's watch or even recognize one from another to make it worth it. I doubt someone who buys a fake is hanging out in places where eveyone is in the know such as a country club? I'm not adding any knowledge to the forum, or asking a specific question, but rather just thinking out loud. Any comments to help me understand are welcome.....

KV

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Chronomat Evo (White, Arabics)
Avenger Seawolf (Black, Batons) INCOMING?

Preaching to the choir, my friend.
The fake crowd would counter with "Why would you spend so much on a watch where a nearly identical copy can be had for a fraction the cost". I do not see it that way, but that is a component of their arguement.

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Chronomat, Steel/Gold, MOP Dial, 2-tone band (2008)
Super Avenger Black Baton Dial (2009)
Bentley B04 GMT Silver Dial (2013)
Avenger Blacksteel Baton Dial (2014)

Why don't you look at it this way - there are people in the world who appreciate luxury items (say Breitling watches) with the same degree of knowledge and sophistication as anyone on this forum. A key difference being these individuals can't afford to spend $3,000+ (or whatever) on a luxury good. Even if they could save up that kind of money, there are more pressing demands for that money. Further, like you and I, they really want to wear a Brietling because it's just a damn cool watch. It's not about impressing others or having some sort of status or showing off - it's just a great piece of hardware. So, if you can't afford it, and want the feeling that comes with wearing one, an alternative is to buy a reproduction and hope that it gives you some amount of the satisfaction you would get from wearing the real thing.
Side note: Another alternative, is to buy a Crapvicta and tell yourself it's a great watch!

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Omega21

i have no idea why people wear the fake stuff. personally if i cannot afford it i just dont buy it. to me it defeats the whole purpose of having something nice. why would you pretend to be something you are not. I also love Patek but i know that most models that i would want are out of my price range, so i dont bother. and i would never be caught wearing a fake

I have posted a few times that i always wanted a Breitling from being 18 and seeing a pal with one after he had some luck on the old football pools.........i couldnt say what model it was back in those days, but i immediately wanted one.
It took me 50 years before i could afford to walk into a shop and buy one.
I must have looked in thousands of AD windows over the years and never lost the urge to buy a Breitling.........and in Dec 2009 i walked into an AD and bought my new SA
I never resorted to fakes, or replicas as some call them or it would have spoiled the feeling i had when i finally bought my new watch..............

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SUPER AVENGER 563
BLUE DIAL
SILVER SUBS
PRO 2 BRACELET
]

joejag thats awesome!!! not only did you wait till you could make it possible you bought an amazing piece too. congrats to you.

Joejag - that really is an awesome post, I'm honored to be in this fraternity with a guy like you. And your point is spot on......it's not just the enjoyment of the actual item, but the feeling of accomplishment that goes with it. These are reasonably significant purchases for most of us, and I understand not everyone is as fortunate as we are. We all have choices to make and responsibilities to adhere to. But if it were me, wearing a replica would only tease me instead of making me feel better. Even if it fooled some people, it would make me feel somewhat hollow to receive compliments.

And if there is a guy out there that truly loves the brand and buys a replica to get closer to it, I'm not judging! Just curious, that's all....

KV

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Chronomat Evo (White, Arabics)
Avenger Seawolf (Black, Batons) INCOMING?

Theres a part of this argument I dont understand and that is people who say that they buy a fake cause they can afford the real thing, I have bought real Breitlings for less than $150 and you can spend more than that on a Timex or G Shock or Pullsar or something like that, They dont spend the money cause they dont want to, You can pick up a perfectly good used Colt Auto for around $500 up and a Colt Quartz for less. I have seen poople who will but a Superocean fake for exaple and then but a real strap, Then a Real face and even a real movement,Bezel replacing everything until they have virtually a gen watch apart from the case, Now what is the point as they might as well just have bought the real one in the first place.

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I think its because people want to show it is off as a status symbol. Its bling to them to show off, even though its a hunk of junk that costs $49.99. Most people in this world can't tell the difference between a real watch and fake one, especally at first glance, and thats why fakes sell. People want to show it off, be it a watch, a purse, wallet, sunglasses, etc.

I might be going out on a limb here, but alot of it has to do with growing up, the culture around. I live in Los Angeles, lived here all of my life. People here like to show their stuff off. Espically the younger crowd, which is how they have grown up. A good portion of the younger ladies are walking around with their LV bag or whatever. I know that they all aren't real. Some yes, most no. They view the stuff as status, look at what I have. Even though its a piece of Chinese junk. Two weeks ago, I as back in the midwest for a funeral. It was a total culture shock going back there. I hadn't been back there in like 13 years. I was 15 or 16 yo last time I was there. You don't see the high end items anywhere. I didn't see anyone there wearing designer items. Its not how they have grown up. Even going to where a cousin lives(those houses would be 750k-1mil in LA), you don't see them driving a European car. The whole time I was there I saw new 1 BWM, 2 Lexus' and 1 Mercedes(and they where there for the funeral). Everyone has a Ford, Chevy, and you see some Toyota's/Honda and couple Kia/Hyunadi and the Euro cars where all old rust buckets. Could they afford to by Rolex, Breitling, etc? Yes some can, others no. But thats the same thing anywhere you go.

When I went to high school, it wasn't as bad as its today, but it was still there. And I graduated ten years ago. Alot of the guys had fake watches(Rolex's). And this was at a private school. I use to give my friend **** about his "solid gold" Rolex, cause I could see the steel where the "gold" wore away. He and everyone else used it as bling, show off.

When people comment on the watch I have on, mostly with the Chronomat, sometimes I say oh its a fake I got down in China Town before a Dodgers game or something like that, cause a, I really don't watch to start talking watches to someone who has a fake on, because all they are after its the bling/ego boost it gives them.

joejag: very nice story!


just my 2¢'s

For me its a comment on ones own morals and values. There is an old saying "If you live in S**t long enough, you dont mind the smell" If you are rockin a replica, and it lasts long enough , your may have convinced yourself that its real.

But for me, anything but real goes against my morals and values, plus I'm guessing it would take a lot of the fun of ownership away. At that point, the $15 dollar digital from wal-mart is all I'd need.

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If your going thru hell, keep going. Whinston Churchill
Colt Automatic
Bell & Ross Type Demineur

Heyyyyyy I own an Invicta watch. Never wear it, doesn't make me feel good and I don't think it's a great watch. Ok argument over, I never posted this.

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Rolex DSSD
Rolex Submariner 116613 Ceramic TT
Rolex GMT Ceramic
Panerai 088 GMT
Panerai 111
Breitling Chronomat Evolution C13356 Rose Gold / SS
Breitling Chronomat Evolution Grey / Black

This comes up every few months and we never change anyone's mind.

For me it's remarkably simple - I buy a watch for me and how it makes me feel, I could care less what others think. People who buy fakes buy them for the way that they hope it makes others feel about them and could care less how it makes themselves feel. Every day they walk around knowing that they are trying to make a statement that isn't true. These days you can get 'tribute' watches that look similar to the real thing from any number of different brands, a fake is simply a lie on your wrist, and I have no time for liars.

+1

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Breitling Avenger Hurricane

I have looked at some of the really good reps recently and even thought about buying one but at the end of the day I just know I couldnt bring myself to wear it? its not real and that goes against the things I hold dear.

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