I complimented my long time customer on his submariner.....but should not have.

[Josunese1975]

I own a laundromat and every few months a long time customer comes to drop off his blanket to be washed and dried. So couple of months ago he came in and from across the counter I noticed a two tone submariner on his wrist. I told him what a nice, iconic watch he had on. He said thanks and asked me if I had a Rolex myself. I showed him my Datejust and we chatted a few minutes. I told him I browse couple of watch forums and youtube channels to keep my hobby up to date. He left and came back couple of days later to pickup his blanket. Before leaving he takes off his watch and asks me what I think about his subamriner. Now, I'm no expert on submariners... I've owned only Explorers and Datejusts. But immediately I can tell something was a little off when I held it.... I told him gently it "might" to be a fake....which he then admitted it was a Chinese clone. He said he ordered it online. I didn't say much except "You're well off...why not get the real thing?" He's in his 70's, drives a Lexus SUV and did well as an insurance broker. He said "nah, nobody can tell whether it's real or not. No need to spend that kind of money". My response was "Okay". Not sure if I should have said anything else.... I figure there's no need to tell a grown man how to spend his money and on what. He came in again last week and I said "Did you go ahead and buy a Rolex?" His response was "No need to, I already got one". I said "Well no, not quite". He laughed and just left. Interesting interaction....

[DocHorton]

No need to be embarrassed, he's the one faking it. Nothing wrong with complimenting folks on their watch when you've had numerous interactions with someone. I think it's fantastic you called him on it for being a fake.

[Me4u2night]

I think this is the case with most people; a lot are wearing fakes and don’t care. To each their own, while we may not approve, it’s their money.

[thesharkfactor]

I find it best to keep my thoughts to myself when it comes to watch spotting, it rarely works out well! Some folk don’t even know what reference they have - hey nice GMT! No, it’s a Rolex..

[pdnb]

Originally Posted by thesharkfactor

I find it best to keep my thoughts to myself when it comes to watch spotting, it rarely works out well! Some folk don’t even know what reference they have - hey nice GMT! No, it’s a Rolex..

Yeah; I think it’s mainly with Rolex owners. But good for Rolex, for being so well regarded with both people who want to celebrate a milestone or with serious collectors.


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[padi56]

We dont normally discuss fake anything in the Rolex watch forum as per forum rules.

[Al1969]

Originally Posted by padi56

we dont normally discuss fake anything in the rolex watch forum as per forum rules.

ibtl.

[Neo_Anderson302]

Lets be real its all just material goods and it doesnt mean much to the grand scheme of life. We create this value that just isnt true. The matrix!

[Largoshark]

Best way to handle a situation like this in the future IMO - if someone asks what you think of their watch, even if it’s a fake, just say “looks very nice”. No one is offended and you don’t run the risk of losing their business.

[Tylerlsu2008]

You should have just said "oh interesting" and dropped it. No need to tell him he needs to go buy the real thing -- that's his preference.

[Calatrava r]

Once you saw the watch, it was probably best to end the whole conversation politely.

[amphr1]

That was an awkward interaction. I had a similar encounter but with a young car salesman. He was cool about it. And the other salesman knew. It was sort of appropriate given his age. He must have been in his 20s.

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[huncho]

there's almost always nothing to gain by complimenting a stranger's watch these days (i know you said long time customer, but still). most times it ends in some awkward conversation. just not worth it

[OG1982]

Originally Posted by huncho

there's almost always nothing to gain by complimenting a stranger's watch these days (i know you said long time customer, but still). most times it ends in some awkward conversation. just not worth it

I totally understand where you’re coming from with this, had a few of those awkward chats myself!

Isn’t that a shame, we should be able to compliment a stranger on a nice watch without it seeming suspicious to them. One of my favourite things to do is talk watches. But that’s so hard to do with strangers these days.


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[watchluvr4ever]

I used to compliment people on their watches a lot too, until I realized that maybe 9 out of ten were fake or homage. I really don’t look down on those people because some were gifts and the homage watches are mainly people who appreciate the style but cannot afford or aren’t willing to make the investment on the real thing.

[Ohiorolex]

I find it fascinating that I don’t see more Rolexes. I look at everyone’s wrists. If they sell a million a year and lots of people wear fakes, you think they would be everywhere. Now I see Apple Watches everywhere and there can’t be as many sold as they have only been around for ten years.

[PenDelicate]

Originally Posted by Ohiorolex

I find it fascinating that I don’t see more Rolexes. I look at everyone’s wrists. If they sell a million a year and lots of people wear fakes, you think they would be everywhere. Now I see Apple Watches everywhere and there can’t be as many sold as they have only been around for ten years.

My thoughts exactly. Here in Stockholm, as a normal watch nerd, I'm always drawn to take a look at a watch if someone's passing in a tee-shirt. I've never counted, but a casual walk into town for lunch must have me pass a hundred people, easily, wearing some kind of watch. I see a Rolex maybe once a month. (And I love it each time.)

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by PenDelicate

My thoughts exactly. Here in Stockholm, as a normal watch nerd, I'm always drawn to take a look at a watch if someone's passing in a tee-shirt. I've never counted, but a casual walk into town for lunch must have me pass a hundred people, easily, wearing some kind of watch. I see a Rolex maybe once a month. (And I love it each time.)

I'd be lucky to see a Rolex in the wild maybe once a year and I couldn't tell from a distance if they were genuine.
In the last 25 years i know I've stumbled across 3 fakes.
One had a Quartz movement that a work colleague picked up while working in another country.
Another was on the wrist of an acquaintance that was up front with me about it when I complimented him on how nice his watch looked and the other is floating somewhere around the house that my wife(for some reason) had bought cheap in her travels many years ago before we met.
She wouldn't entertain the thought now.

I probably should try to dig it out one of these days when we're having a clean out and wear it as a total beater

[NYMike]

Originally Posted by Ohiorolex

I find it fascinating that I don’t see more Rolexes. I look at everyone’s wrists. If they sell a million a year and lots of people wear fakes, you think they would be everywhere. Now I see Apple Watches everywhere and there can’t be as many sold as they have only been around for ten years.

Try flying on just about any flight from NYC to Miami. It's hard to find someone who's NOT wearing one. It's like 80% of the flyers. The other 20% have Apple watches.

[brandrea]

Time will tell … let’s see if he keeps bringing his blanket in for cleaning

[train-time]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Time will tell … let’s see if he keeps bringing his blanket in for cleaning

My thoughts also, Brian!

[Porschen]

I’ve stopped saying anything to other people unless I’m 100% certain it is a Rolex and real. I complimented someone who was wearing what ended up being an “homage” watch.

I got closer and I saw what it was and just told him it looked cool. He came closer and looked at my watch and said “whoa”; I immediately felt like a total douche.

[Chopper87]

Funny to read these responses and then in another thread "Can't walk 10 meters in Hamburg without spotting a Rolex, I don't know where you are?".

Makes me wonder...

[rolexjackson]

You have to remember that everyone is on their own journey. You or I would never wear a fake watch. Clearly not everyone feels that way. And that’s ok

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by rolexjackson

you have to remember that everyone is on their own journey. You or i would never wear a fake watch. Clearly not everyone feels that way. And that’s ok

+1.

[Bryan81]

Originally Posted by rolexjackson

You have to remember that everyone is on their own journey. You or I would never wear a fake watch. Clearly not everyone feels that way. And that’s ok

I don’t know that I’d really say it’s “ok”. Working in a tech industry that’s built on intellectual property, when I see fakes it just makes me think of violating trademarks, etc. Making money off someone else’s hard work building a brand and developing intellectual property isn’t ok to me.


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[Wssszsss]

Originally Posted by Bryan81

I don’t know that I’d really say it’s “ok”. Working in a tech industry that’s built on intellectual property, when I see fakes it just makes me think of violating trademarks, etc. Making money off someone else’s hard work building a brand and developing intellectual property isn’t ok to me.


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That makes sense, but I feel Rolex is the one to deal with the fakes, not customers

[Zuger]

Well, he is in his 70s and material possession likely means very little for him. We will all get there at some point.

[Bxtek]

To be honest, the customer sounds like a nice guy. He obviously handed you his watch to see if you could tell. I suspect that if you didn't say anything or notice something was off, he would have come clean and told you anyway. He wasn't hiding anything and even in the 2nd interaction when he came back in, he is able to laugh about it. Bottom line is that I don't think there was any "harm" done with your interaction about his watch, so I wouldn't worry.

[JJGreen]

I usually don't say anything unless I know the person well.

You have nothing to be embarrassed about though...