It is a known fact that UAE and more particularly Dubai is often associated with extravagant lifestyle with its lavishness and luxuriousness. It is also a center for all the upscale brands since there is a good number of rich locals and tourists who follow the latest trends in fashion, vehicles and other accessories. One of the marriage of these luxurious properties is the timepiece which signifies both class and wealth. Nevertheless, to some people within the UAE, the exorbitant prices of these watches have developed a flourishing market for copy watches. Most of such watches in question imitate the appearance and style of recognized brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. After all, most people buy and sell these copy watches not only for the saving aspect. This document focuses on the old emerging market for copy watches in uae, and the reasons for such a demand, as well as what threat overseas copy watches bring with them to the industry of luxury watches.
The Appeal of Copy Watches
Many society members believe wearing luxury watches is equal to success. However, not everybody can purchase the original watch since timepieces can easily be worth thousands if not millions of dirhams. However, They can still dream of possessing classic timepieces especially if they go for copy watches – these can be replicas or even fake watches.
As is customary in the UAE, there is great demand for items, such as watches, that are appealing in nature. Replica watches enable people to wear watches that suggest wealth, without spending so much money. Such replica watches are often sold at very low prices as compared to the original watches, making them appealing to many people from different demographics including visitors who are master copy watches interested in buying mementos to residents who want to keep up with trends at affordable prices.
Also, engineering and information trends have allowed counterfeiters to improve the quality of their replicas. A number of these watches use fine materials that even professionals would have difficulty distinguishing from non representative originals unless closely examined. Thus this increases the sales for fake watches since people believe they will gain more from the watch than what they pay for.
Types of Copy Watches
The copy watch market in UAE is very big and has various kinds and types. Like any other product, counterfeited watches are sold at different prices with different standards:
Cheap Imitations: These are the lowest quality copy watches. These are less expensive replicas as they are mass produced using low-grade materials that make them less durable, if at all, than the luxury branded watches. These are usually less than a couple of hundred dirhams and are cheap fakes.
Mid Range Replicas: Toward the lower side amid copies of original watch designs, one finds this group where the quality is superior to the fraudulent materials that are peddled as the reproductions. Real diamonds and gold are replaced by cheap imitation materials even if such materials will still enhance the look of the simple quartz watches. The range of these watches generally goes above the AED 1000 mark and extends up to AED 5000.
Super Clone Watches: Further up the counterfeit hierarchy are the “super clones”. This type of replica watches is made with surgical precision and in eye-popping details with all the features of the original watch. She can even reproduce the inner mechanisms of the original watch. Super clones range between a few thousand dirhams, yet is still a large amount less than the actual copies.
The Legal Risks of Copying Watches
Though it may be day dreaming purchasing a copy watch it comes with legal liability that is hardly possible sinking a lot of cash to buy quality watches. This also in respect to cosmetology Uae does not allow the selling and buying of fakes in this case watches. The government of the UAE also has various laws and regulation that prevent unauthorised use of patents and reproduction of fake products.
There can be severe penalties to individuals who are caught in the sale of fake watches which can include imprisonment or the payment of fines or both. Buyers however are statistically less likely to be arrested for such offences though it is possible for them to get into some trouble where they are said to be caught up with a fake product during customs and police investigations. The most common punishment for unauthorised reproduction of items is confiscation of the item. In certain instances it may be possible to sue the person who acquires the reproduced item.
Also, there are legal and illegal activities when individuals buy counterfeit items. Counterfeit goods are often attributed to crime rings and the income from these sales can be used to finance other criminal ventures. When consumers buy copy watches consumers are helping these people.
Effect On The Luxury Watches Industry
The proliferation of the copy watch phenomenon is also felt in the upper end timepiece market. Rolex, Omega and TAG Heuer are among the leading brands that spare huge amounts for the research, development and styles while creating watches that are particular sophisticated not only on the outside but technologically too. The counterfeiting of watches knocks these efforts out of the way and brings disgrace on the corporation’s name.
The counterfeiting of luxury watches has a negative impact on financial performance for the industry. While a customer purchasing what may be a replica watch may not have in his possession the more expensive real piece, such people still pose potential threat to real sale when counterfeits abound. Many brands in the industry have however, over the years, responded effectively to the scourge of counterfeiting by ensuring that their inventions are not misused in any way as well as putting in place effective legal systems that largely bar any counterfeit businesses through the use of technology.
Likewise, the issue of copy watches undermines the confidence of consumers. Since fake luxury items are becoming increasingly convincing, people might be reluctant to buy luxury watches because they are worried that they could be paying for a fake.
The Ethical Considerations
In addition to all these challenges, there are also adverse ethical considerations regarding the activity of buying and selling fake watches that are illegal. For one, counterfeit products are usually made in factories with serious human rights abuses where a majority of the employees are overworked and underpaid. A copy watch fan further reinforces the use and existence of such unpleasant work conditions.
Most importantly, on the contrary, counterfeiting takes away respect for creativity and progress. Years and years have been spent on designs and crafts by luxury watch brands. In contrast, Copy Watch just takes those design without respecting the creators’ IP rights and lifts the designs from the original creators.
Conclusion
The copy watch market in the UAE is attractive, but the attendant problems and moral issues are also real. Purchasing fake watches has repercussions that vary from individual to criminal, to affect the luxury watch market and even the society as a whole. For those desiring the status that comes with purchase of a luxury watch, it should be appreciated that in the end, the long term effect of aiding the counterfeit industry is not worth the immediacy of the savings. In the end, the purchase of real well-made timepieces is not only a guarantee of quality, but it is also an investment in the developments that leads to the creation of desirable timepieces.
