I once bought a fake Rolex watch - on purpose!
A reader writes regarding collector watches - and other collectibles. He points out that the market for these things is often based on the nostalgia of youth. We "always wanted" a [fill-in-the-blank] as a kid, and now as successful adults, we can finally afford one! His Dad bought and sold watches, which can be a lucrative business if you can buy them cheap, clean them up, and market them properly (and know your market).
He noted that old pocket watches (with the gold chain, etc.) were quite popular a few years back, and older men back then always admired this symbol of wealth and success (Indeed, my Grandfather, a lawyer, had one in his vest pocket). But as that generation died off, the desire for these antiquated timepieces diminished as well. The next generation wanted Rolexes, as they were "desirable" and unobtainable status items in their youth. As successful adults, they could now afford a "vintage" Rolex. So there was a boom in Rolex sales. When that generation dies off, what will the next generation want?
Vintage game controllers? Stay tuned.
We were visiting New York City once, and a guy comes up to me, and in the classic sense, goes, "Psst! Wanna buy a Rolex for cheap?" And at first, I was inclined to ignore him as I knew the scam - cheap Chinese watches made to look like a Rolex (only more gaudy) that are worth maybe ten bucks, being sold for.... whatever the chumps will pay. Usually, the seller has some long-winded story about how they have to pay off a gambling debt and, well, "My loss is your gain, bud!" And some people apparently fall for this, too.
I told the guy, "Say, a fake Rolex! We really are in New York City! How much you want for it?" He started protesting that it was the real deal and whatnot and I just shot back - "I know it's fake, but I want it as a souvenir! You can't get more NYC than a fake Rolex sold on the street!" We went back and forth and I think I gave him twenty bucks for it, which was about ten dollars more than it was worth. It had an electronic movement, as I recall, and the battery lasted for years - and it kept good time! The cheap-ass plating wore off rather quickly though. Electronic watches, as cheap as they are, are often more accurate and reliable than the old wind-up kind.
It is like CD players. Before CDs, if you wanted "audiophile" sounds, you had to spend thousands of dollars and still listen to the crack and pop of LP records. Suddenly, digital music (and by that, I don't mean MP3 compressed garbage) made audiophile quality available for everyone. Overnight, the "stereo stores" shut down, across the nation. The big HiFi and big speakers became antiques overnight.
Why did I want a fake Rolex? Well, I was working at a law firm that did Trademark work, and one of the partners was involved in seizing fake goods for a famous sneaker company. There is a nasty little bit in our laws that allows individuals to shake-down sellers of counterfeit goods and seize the goods, with what is called an ex parte writ of seizure. Bear in mind this is not the police or prosecutors or someone with a warrant. Just a lawyer and some security guards or off-duty cops (hired just in case the store owner has a shotgun or something). You go into their store and just take stuff you allege is counterfeit. Most store owners roll over and chalk it up to the cost of doing business.
As you might imagine, it is a system ripe for abuse. In a famous case, the Church of Scientology went after one of its former members using a ex parte writ of seizure and it was a comedy of errors. As you know, the Church of Scientology has their "Bible" of sorts, which they let their followers read, piecemeal, as they advance through the various levels of the church - with each level requiring a certain amount of donation of course!
An ex-member who was all riled up about Scientology (which means he was riled up against himself, for following the religion in the first place!) decided to publish the whole "Bible" online, which the Church claimed was a violation of their copyrights. So they obtained an ex parte writ of seizure and showed up at this guy's door and took all his computers and stuff. Now bear in mind, these ex-Scientologists are a bunch of paranoid freaks who think the Church is "out to get them." So imagine how their paranoia went up to threat level 11 when these guys came knocking!
The irony was, since the Church sued him, this same "Bible" was entered into evidence at the court and, well, became a public document - available for anyone to read. Go down to the courthouse, pay the photocopying fee, and they will print it out for you. So in an effort to keep the "Bible" secret, they published it!
Turns out, no one cared. The people who hate Scientology already knew what was in it (We are all space aliens, apparently) and the people who love Scientology, still are members - and they get new members every day. You are free to join whatever religion you want in America - whether it is the Catholic Church or the order of the MAGA hat. Choose wisely - or choose none at all. You can guess where I stand on that.
Whatever happened to the fake Rolex? A homeless man broke into our offices, which is to say, he took the elevator to our floor and walked around. He stole some prototype sneakers and my fake Rolex watch. We got the sneakers back, but the watch was long gone. No great loss. That's why I would never put $5000 on my wrist, and why no middle-class person in their right mind ever would.
A final note on watches. Mark had a Walmart watch with a blue face. We were golfing one day and a guy came up to us and said, "Is that a Breitling?"
No. No, it was not..
