The Replica Watches Craze in Chinatown NYC - Rolex, Omega, Cartier, Bell & Ross Replicas

As a watch lover, I was surprised at the wide array of high-quality replicas available in NYC's Chinatown earlier today.

I must have visited at least ten shady "watch shops" and was taken aback by how accurate, in particular, the fake Rolex models and Omega Seamaster models were (I used to own a Seamaster, and these seemed very similar in terms of appearance and weight -- although after playing with them, it was obvious that the movement inside was cheap Chinese automatic, rather than high-end Swiss automatic, and probably would not be reliable or survive for long).

In fact, that is my biggest problem with people who buy replica watches: they are buying something intrinsically unreliable. It has no warranty, obviously, and I would not trust an unnamed manufacturer that is so unscrupulous that they steal another brand's markings, trademarks, and logos. (Do you really think the fake Rolex you buy is water-resistant to 200 meters depth? I doubt it would even survive in the shower for five minutes!)

These replicas look great, and many feel great weight-wise. Yes, you could fool most of the public into thinking you own a hot Bell & Ross timepiece, or a $6,000 Cartier Roadster, but you will know that you are faking it. And, surprisingly, the "fake watch" habit will eventually cost you more than buying the real thing.

You see, when you spend several thousand dollars on a high-end luxury watch, you often get at least a two-year warranty -- and you also enjoy a high resale value. Many Rolex owners, for instance, actually make a profit or break even when they sell their watches years later and move onto another model or brand.

With a fake, you can't do this. Fakes are typically $50 to $100 on the street, and in as little as two weeks, your watch might simply stop working (the Chinese automatics are made from trashy, cheap "pot metal" and the gear teeth are poorly cut).

If you're buying even four or five fakes per year, you might as well put that money toward a real watch. Gorgeous, genuine Swiss made luxury watches can be had for as little as $400 -- I recommend Hamilton watches, which are Swiss and owned by Swatch Group (which also owns Omega and Rado). You can often get a used TAG Heuer for around $400 or $500 as well, or even get a brand new TAG Heuer Formula 1 starting at around $550 retail.

With good luxury watches starting at such a price, it makes no sense to purchase fakes. I was intrigued by the fake watches because of their impressive ability to replicate the real thing, but I would never buy a replica watch.

Sure, money from fake watch sales goes toward child slavery, human trafficking, and other nefarious activities. Sure it takes money away from innovative watch designers and brands. But I don't think that's the biggest reason not to own a fake.

My reasoning is purely selfish: I want a watch that will last. And a fake will break or rust in a very short period of time. Like I said, the watches are often constructed of "pot metal" rather than high-end stainless steel, and as such they WILL rust over time. Also, the watches do not use scratch-resistant sapphire crystal; they use cheap glass, which can break and injure you.