The immediate effect of this knowledge was (a) I’m never going to buy a gray-market rolex and (b) it made me happy to have a two-tone rolex, because at least the fact that it’s real gold is impossible to fake (I mean, it can obviously be faked with plating, etc., but my point is that about ~$7K of the value of my bluesy is literally just the precious-metal value, which you’re obviously not getting from a fake), to the point where it’s weird to me that the stainless steel models are still the ones everyone wants. The larger effect is making me question whether it’s worth it to buy Rolexes in general; you try to find poasts on this (kind of obvious) dilemma on the hobbyist forums or reddit or whatever and you just see 500 poasts of rolex owners getting MAF at owners of fakes and calling them names, which frankly just seems to support my point.

This problem seems most acute with rolex, specifically, where it looks to me like fakes outnumber real ones like 10:1, and are GOOD. There are clones of pateks and APs and what have you, but I’m skeptical they’re anywhere near as good as these rolex clones. But the truth is (and this probably goes for a lot of us): I have conservative tastes, and I like the way Rolexes look; I do not really like the look of these haute horology square skeletonized watches with 17 complications showing the moon phase and when you’re due for your next bowel movement. I like the look of the submariner. (There are some exceptions, and I am in the market for a relatively conservative patek dress watch… which probably has the same problems.)

Any watchmos want to weigh in?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720299&forum_id=2#48902898)

We obviously aren't in the same position in that you seem like you have a real "passion" for it or whatever, whereas I'm buying for almost the exact same reason as I bought my wife a porsche cayenne--need an suv, like the brand, have the money, have a passing but non-passionate affinity for the non-brand-derived aspects of the brand's performance/appearance.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720299&forum_id=2#48903039)

This is not an unusual space to be in in any market with luxury goods, and the only thing that really sets watch-selection apart is that the widespread proliferation of fakes has made the entire enterprise kind of risky in the signals that it sends.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720299&forum_id=2#48903138)

But I don't really get the point of your poast. Are you saying it's bad to want to dabble in luxury goods if you're not genuinely passionate about the good in question?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720299&forum_id=2#48903186)

But it put *something* on their wrist and avoided the pretentiousness trap (and I assume, like me, they wanted to see if it actually had positive-value functionality). The thing is, unlike the aforementioned lawyers I respect, I still do occasionally pick up sluts, both prole girls at the bar and dumb 3Ls at the local TTT's networking events.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720299&forum_id=2#48903076)

It came closest to having real functionality for fitness reasons, but I'm a "bro splits 2-3x/week and jog when you get the chance" kind of guy, and for someone like that it isn't worth the time learning how to use the features.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720299&forum_id=2#48903101)

I also don't have any respect for most Rolex owners the same way car enthusiasts don't respect rich lawyers who drive M6s. A huge part of any luxury industry is appealing to vapid people with a ton of wealth who don't actually stand for anything, because that's who have the money to spend. So luxury brands sit around dreaming up ways to separate CSLG types from their money.

Frankly I just wish that luxury brands would find ways to make more affordable stuff with great design so I wouldn't have to buy a fake. Tudor was supposed to be that but now they cost as much as Rolex did ten years ago.

I think with fakes it's been proven that it doesn't take 25,000 dollars worth of some Swiss employees time to craft a watch out of stainless steel. Turns out some guy in China can do it for $500.

While I don't own a fake I am glad they exist and would consider buying one in the future. More likely though to keep collecting budget watches and see how many people (99% of the population) don't care what watch you have unless it's a Rolex or an AP and then their brain lights up that they think you have money and therefore are a Cool Person. Humanity is so lame and most people are morons not worth talking to.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720299&forum_id=2#48902945)

It's a tough spot for mid-6-figure lawyers who just like the way rolexes look and find the brand to be a good level of fancy-enough but not ostentatious.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720299&forum_id=2#48903009)

I would feel absolutely no shame about getting caught with a fake. Famous celebs get caught with fakes all the time. Even some really rich rappers and athletes advocate for wearing fakes. Chad Ochocinco does. He says he buys the real thing for his baby mamas and buys them fake for himself. He said no one cares if you have a fake watch when your famous because your reputation is far greater than the watch. He says he outshines his own bling because of who he is.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720299&forum_id=2#48903044)

i remember $20 ones in shanghai that were obv junk

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720299&forum_id=2#48903014)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx32LYre0R4

He says it's a thousand dollars, but they really go for $600. Even though this guy is clearly, explicitly in the tank for Rolex (to the point of transparently lying about a handful of aspects of these fakes), his case for buying real is chillingly unconvincing.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720299&forum_id=2#48903020)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720299&forum_id=2#48903037)

I've been tempted to get a dark side speedmaster a few times but you Rolex snobs make me not want a watch

Even Tag Heuer Formula 1 with rubber parts is more pleasing to my eye than a basic bitch Rolex

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5720299&forum_id=2#48903108)