KEY POINTS:
We've all seen them. The Rolex watch for $10. The Gucci handbag for $15. The Manchester United shirt for $20. Regardless of what the dealers say, we know they're fakes but buy them anyway.
Often the purchase is made just for fun so you can try to
impress people by waving a Rolex watch around. But sometimes people buy hoping they are getting a fantastic bargain. And either way, it upsets the brand owners whose reputation is devalued by the whole business of fakes.
Craig Anderson, executive secretary of the Jewellers and Watchmakers Association, is one traveller who clearly knows the pitfalls of buying a knock-off, but he did so on a recent trip so he could find out exactly what you get when you buy on the cheap from a street dealer.
This is his story:
I have always wanted to own a Patek Philippe watch. All the best people have them and they cost as much as a good family car.
When the opportunity arose to buy one while visiting Italy, I had to negotiate the price quickly, as the seller was wary of police intervention. He was of North African descent, one of many who frequent the streets and squares in Florence selling watches, bags and sunglasses.
So I paid 50 euro (about $100). It seemed to be the going price for most of the "exclusive brand' watches and not bad compared with the asking prize of 90 euro, though I could probably have bought the same watch in Bangkok or even Bali for considerably less. Still, I was in Florence and the chance of buying this watch elsewhere was only a remote possibility.
I was well aware it was a counterfeit. Still, I wondered about the quality, and arranged with watchmaker Ash Wells, of Capital Watch Services, Wellington, to appraise it and tell me what I had got for my money.
Wells examined the watch and, not one to mince his words, pointed out that Patek Philippe did not make a model that looked anything like the watch I had bought.
The news got worse. The movement was made in Asia and of poor quality.
The metal case was second-rate; even the leather strap was ordinary.
The watch had several faults - no back gasket, damaged screw heads within the movement and badly glued decorative screws where the spring bars held the strap to the case.
A Patek Philippe of similar style would have a case made of white gold or platinum, sapphire glasses front and back and a solid, 21ct yellow gold automatic weight with the Patek Philippe crest on the crown.
The case thickness would be about half that of the counterfeit; and it would have set me back at least 14,500 euro.
In the unlikely event a Patek Philippe goes wrong, it is easy to have it repaired. But if you buy a counterfeit watch, don't be surprised if you find it difficult to get parts or the watchmaker is wary of even opening the back.
There is the likelihood these types of Asian movements have no spare parts available in New Zealand and watchmakers may not be prepared to service them.
You can even get into trouble just for buying one of these fakes.
In Italy, if you are caught buying a copy, be it a watch, handbag or glasses, you can be whisked off to court and fined.
The law now provides for fines of up to 10,000 euro for anyone caught purchasing counterfeit products and criminal charges for anyone caught selling counterfeit goods.
For more information on this topic, contact Craig Anderson on (0508) 596 942 or jwnz@clear.net.nz.