hunnym

I shouldn't even be getting into this discussion, but had to add that fake Rolexes and fake purses do in fact look fake!

Maybe when you first buy them, you can't tell the difference, but after a week when the watch band color starts to change, or the zipper on your bag doesn't work anymore - you definitely know that you don't have the real thing.

Sometimes I think it makes more sense to buy a quality product with a waranty that lasts for years (even though it costs more) than a disposable piece of junk.

tom42

Thanks almesq. That sounds reasonable.

dolciani

Thanks to all who replied - I think I have an idea of where to go and how to "barter".
And for those of you who want to know "Why would you want a Rolex?" or "Why would you want a fake Rolex?"....why do you care?

sylvia3

geez, dolciani, and I was on your side!

Diana

As another person answering the "why would anyone buy a real Rolex?" question, my answer is similar to the other person's.

My husband bought me a Rolex for my birthday in 1999. We selected the Rolex for several reasons. We are both divers, and I need a durable watch I can wear to 100+ feet that is made to withstand those depths. It needs to be accurate because to dive to those depths, you must keep a close eye on bottom time.

It's also a functional beautiful piece of jewelry that I rarely take off night or day, and that makes me smile to look at and think about how much my husband loves me to get me such a nice gift.

It is gold and stainless, and so it goes with all but my most formal clothing and jewelry.

It is a timeless design, and it will never go out of style, and I will never tire of it. I hope to have it for the rest of my life.

Those are my reasons - be they right or wrong...

Waldo

I would NEVER wear or be seen with a fake. I wear nothing but the real thing. All you people are wrong, the spelling is ROLLEX, like it says on my watch.

rfbk50

My husband has a fake Rolex he purchased in China and my son has the real thing but both keep time just the same. I like to wear my fake watches so I can chuckle to myself that I got to go on a trip for the price some people pay for watches.

jinxiejo

Just walk down Canal Street and you will be relentlessly approached by dozens of vendors throwing designer names at you. If you show any interest you are led into a hidden room inside their shop where they have fake designer items, mostly purses. For sunglasses, jewelry and watches they usually unlock a hidden drawer with the items inside. Then there is the vendors that work out of suitcases or they open their coats to reveal pockets filled with fake items. I bought a womens fake Rolex last December from a man that had them in his pockets. It is a really good imitation, has all the markings of a real one. I wear it every day and it keeps perfect time. Me and my daughters go to Canal Street every year for fun, mainly for the handbags. Never give them what they are initially asking for the item. You can always talk them down. For safety reasons go with a few people if you can, especially if you go into the hidden rooms. A couple of us will go in and a couple of us will stay outside so every base is covered. Nothing has ever happened but I feel safer doing it that way.

sylvia3

Funny, Waldo!

dolciani

Sorry Sylvia3, my comments were not directed toward you. Actually, I thought your question was right up my alley.....why would anyone want to pay full price ($10,000 or more) for a real Rolex. I can certainly think of better ways to spend that amount of money.

Neil_Oz

Q: "What is a tosser?"
A: A wanker. Both are derisory terms of English origin meaning literally a masturbator but applied to shallow egocentrics, in particular those who aim to impress others through the display of material possessions.

"Wanker" is also widely used in Australia and New Zealand. I'm not sure if there's a precise American equivalent.

dolciani

Okay, I'm back from my questin NYC! For future reference - Canal street and Broadway are definitely the place to find your "fake" rolex. There are vendors all up and down the street w/ shops full of fakes purses, watches, etc. But there were at least 25 guys (mostly black men) who will walk up to you and offer you a special deal for watches. DON'T BUY FROM THE FIRST GUY!! They carry their merchandise in their coat pockets - If they don't have what you want, they walk away and come back in 5 minutes with new offertings - usually exactly what you ask for. I think they all work together. The first price offer was $80 - I offered $70, The second guy was ready to sell for $50 and the last guy would have sold it for $35 - these are all the SAME WATCH! For $5 extra, they'll take out the extra links to make it fit! It was quite an experience - So far the watch is still working (HAHA) and it does have every resemblence of the real version rolex. I'll let you know on future updates if it "dies".

sylvia3

The precise american equivalent of "wanker" used to be "jerk" (think about it); my older relatives used to think it was a horribly vulgar word to use (much like "suck" used to be very bad, but is used for everything now).

MikeT

"They carry their merchandise in their coat pockets - If they don't have what you want, they walk away and come back in 5 minutes with new offertings - usually exactly what you ask for. I think they all work together"

Like drug dealers, which is an apt comparison since they are both selling illegal things.

El_Swainer

You offered $70 for a junk watch?

ekscrunchy

I think poser (from "poseur"?) is one term we could use in the States, or at least in NY. But I think I am going to use "tosser" from now on. Thanks, Neil!
Who cares what color the watch sellers are? To be precise, they are almost always West Africans from Francophone countries such as Senegal. You will find such traders all over Europe and also in many African countries where they run small stalls in the craft (ie "tourist") markets. Here in New York City there is now a large West African community in Harlem with many Senegalese restaurants and shops along West 116th Street. Now there is an interesting side trip to consider when visiting Manhattan. More on the subject, I wonder if these watches are the same thing that a man on a nearby corner in midtown sells for $10??

kirbyks

"claimed that proceeds from many of these street vendors selling fakes from handbags to watches to sports merchandise outside of the stadiums come from drugs, organized crime and yes even terrorist groups"

This doesn't even make sense- proceeds from selling counterfeits comes from drugs etc.? I really don't care about fake purses and watches, but attempting to equate them with terrorism is ludicrous.

escargot

well here's one article from Feb of 08 that states:

"This demonstrates once again that trafficking in counterfeit watches is closely bound up with trafficking in weapons and narcotics overseen by organised crime."

http://www.fhs.ch/en/news/news.php?id=600

ekscrunchy

There was a big raid on Canal Street recently; in case anyone missed this:


http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/20...2-storefronts/

Aduchamp1

Why don't you buy a Moe Vado also?