Zero tolerance for fake watches

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Got an interesting message from a fellow on one of the Forums I frequent. "What's the harm in discussing fake watches?" he asked.

His argument went on to reference cottage industries of folks who produce replica items of all sorts of film props. Why wouldn't James Bond watches clearly be included among those things we see in the movies?

While I can't comment on what "the other guys are doing" outside of wristwatches, I do know that a fake watch infringes on brands which have value as intellectual properties, built up over often long periods of time and at significant expense. It's illegal to copy these and pass them along, and it's not the sort of thing with which an ethical person would want to be associated by wearing one. At least one brand I know of for sure will hunt you down and prosecute you for dabbling in such things. Rightly so.

The fact that these criminal pieces are out there makes it all the more difficult for collectors interested in real James Bond watches to realize their pursuits.

One very classy site for watch aficionados lists this as one of its only six rules for participation: "THIS IS NOT A FORUM FOR THE DISCUSSION OF FAKE WATCHES and your opinion are about FAKE WATCHES and who makes them, sells them, buys them and wears them is NOT welcome." By taking this zero tolerance position, Forums avoid the common scam of the innocent-sounding Post by the person claiming to have bought a fake, but, of course "he didn't post a link!" So interested parties simply send him a Private Message for the details.

James Bond watch collecting is better than that. So are you!