A great read about Istanbul & Counterfeit Watches. I love this bit:
Counterfeit timepieces are a multi-billion-dollar industry, with shaky estimates indicating between 30 and 50 million fake watches entering the market each year. Contrast that figure with Rolex’s estimated annual production of approximately 1 million pieces per annum; It is reasonable to conclude that there are probably more fake Rolex watches on wrists than there are genuine examples throughout the world. This means that when you see someone wearing a Rolex, statistically speaking, it’s probably fake – a crazy thought.
I used to be able to spot these fake Rolex watches from a pretty good distance, but as they write in this article, now days it is much harder to do so. That laser etched logo in the Rolex crystal is there, but it’s damned hard to see.
Plus, I really like thinking that people are out there trying to pass off a fake watch as a real one whenever I see someone with a Rolex who doesn’t seem ‘the type’. I don’t really care or judge people for it — it simply brings a smile to my face.
No sir, you do not look the type who dropped $69,000 on that platinum Day-Date, which is the only model that comes in that configuration. You look like a reality TV ‘star’ wearing a fake Rolex.