Why Fake Rolexes Hurt Dealers In The $20 Billion Used Watch Industry | Insider Business

Between 2011 and 2021, Rolexes outperformed gold, real estate, and stocks. Used watches are now a $20 billion industry, and demand is growing. But dealers need to be careful of counterfeit watches. US Customs seizes roughly 150,000 fake watches per year, and most of them come from China. We followed dealer John Buckley through New York City’s famous diamond district to learn how he spots fakes and makes money in this competitive industry. We also visited JFK International Airport to see how US Customs agents seize counterfeit watches.
Vookum's Telegram group for watch enthusiasts:
vookum.com/products/vookum-ve...
Special thanks to John Buckley, James Buckley, and Tyler Mikorski:
www.tiktok.com/@tuscanyrose?l...
tuscanyrose...
/ jamesbxckley
0:00 Intro
1:43 How to negotiate on pricey Rolexes
4:31 John's Rolex parts collection
5:36 The most expensive Rolex ever sold
6:05 Why demand for Rolex watches is so high
8:19 How US Customs seizes fake watches
9:39 How John spots fake watches
11:09 The explosion of watch videos on TikTok
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#Rolex #BigBusiness #InsiderBusiness #watches #collection #collectibles #counterfeit #audemarspiguet #patekphilippe #newyork #nyc #diamonddistrict #luxurywatches #luxury #investing #stocks #uncutgems
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How Fake Rolex Watches Are Seized By Experts | Big Business | Insider Business

[@Transform_king_100k]

There are watches with the same serial numbers as the originals, and only one company, called Ziarex, sells them.

[@capmidnite]

I saw their website. How do they get away with openly selling these replicas which even use the trade names and model numbers?

[@fuzzyschwartz]

don't feed the bot, he is on all rolex replica videos@@capmidnite

[@NariahHart]

I was delusional before, thinking only China could make replicas, but now I know even Italy and Switzerland make them too, and ZiaRex is their representative.

[@xavierdupuis2719]

this site is a scam guys, please don't fall for it

[@ChessRazn]

Ziarex is a scam. They bot comments on every rolex video

[@dpie4859]

That insider Business does this segment is almost 100% proof that we are already in a serious downturn for watch prices.

[@syrialyze7654]

Already has been. A good number of watches are down 60% or greater in pricing since 2021.

[@rockysahota1]

@@syrialyze7654 market saw a bottom in the summer 22. The light bump back up and now back around the summer bottom levels. Let’s see we’ve. Most models back to retail. Some still command a premium

[@zeruzio1345]

If you see it in the news you've missed the peak.

[@Ormodius3751]

Sounds good for someone wanting to buy a watch

[@NPrez-cv4jn]

Yes and I love it.

[@FreshlySnipes]

You know what’s hurting Rolex more than fake watches?? None of its loyal customers being able to buy watches. They are alienating their customer base by selling their inventory to grey market dealers who flip them for 2x the price.

[@SJ-bs8eh]

Correct!

[@CenturyPHirstCorporationInc]

The biggest buyer of Rolex I think is money laundering outfits.

[@michaellee7841]

Hmm so why do I get a call from my AD asking if I want to buy Rolex every few months? Maybe it's you that do not have any real relationship with an AD and making assumptions. Only watch that I was not offered is the Daytona. Everything else, even Pepsi has been offered and purchased. And no I am not a flipper, just an enthusiast.

[@megami215]

Who cares. They are criminals anyway

[@johan3612n]

@@michaellee7841 stop being butthurt lol

[@RottingFarmsTV]

I think the point missed by the customs officer is that nobody buying a 300 dollar fake is actually going to be buying an 11,000 dollar authentic product if the fake was not available. Rolex did not lose this money, they were never going to get it in the first place.

[@sayto_00]

The problem with fakes is you can have someone buying something in the grey market, tell the person it's real, buy a fake Rolex for 8k. You can argue that they should've gone to an authorized dealer but they can have markups and more importantly the dealer hates selling to normal people. Even if you have the money, they won't let you buy it and put you on a wait-list until you shill out more money on other jewelry. So people go to the grey market.

[@daylight3853]

@@sayto_00maybe learn the signs a watch is fake if youre buying it from a non trusted source for 8-30k?

[@auralplex]

@@sayto_00In that case, Rolex deserves it and can go fk themselves.

[@capmidnite]

The point is that these watch brand names are protected copyright and the counterfeiters have no right to use them. Even if theoretically a counterfeiter made a watch that was better than a given Rolex model, it would still be a counterfeit if it was passed off as the original .

[@Roko__]

Fake watches are really products that compete with the Original, fakes holding the original's name really isn't an issue if the original is worth by price to quality ratio, true capitalism realizes only the quality of a product and brand reputation has no place in it, If someone can make a better product than you, you shouldn't be able to outright stop the distribution of those products. Copyright creates monopolies and makes only a few companies have access to technology anyone can recreate.Its sad something like movement technology can be "pantented".

[@theotheleo6830]

Customs guy: That $200 fake could have cost Rolex $11k in sales. People buy fakes either because they can't afford the real thing or because the cost of the real thing isn't worth it to them. So Rolex wasn't getting the fake watch buyer's business anyway.

[@ifionlyhadaboat]

You're assuming the fake would be sold as a fake. Many will be used to rip someone off.

[@GlubisRomero]

Rolex ain’t losing anything because no matter what someone will buy it. They don’t keep stock

[@nicholashahn3476]

Good nuf for gubment work

[@jakevalentine3282]

seriously at that point just buy a Tudor, you’re getting bout the exact same watch. It’s real value for your money.

[@theotheleo6830]

@@jakevalentine3282 But if it's the same, why not buy the fake Rolex? After all, people who buy these fakes aren't buying because they desire a decent watch. They're buying for a cheap flex.

[@KittyCatComa]

"Rolex would never put their watches in little Ziploc bags." *GIA certified jeweler pulls Patek from little Ziploc bag* lol

[@largol33t12]

It doesn't bother me. It does keep the band from getting dirty and scuffed up. I keep my $400 Swiss watch in a Ziploc bag when I travel and have to constantly take it off. It has no visible scratches on it except the clasp but that's unavoidable.

[@mattkinsella9856]

​@@largol33t12I don't think the comment was about whether you should or shouldn't keep an expensive watch in a ziplok. It's that the customs agent in the video stated that it would never happen and it's 100% certain a watch in a ziplok is fake, which was proven untrue in the same video.

[@SanlatteStobie]

the rich stay rich for a reason *suluxs*

[@frankryan2505]

@@largol33t12 i use a travel case for my Pam

[@mavericiyo5203]

Fun fact: Rolex the Company was the one who dropped $15 million on the Paul Newman watch at auction for publicity and to boost sales.

[@FahadFSA]

seriously?

[@joshualebi]

@@FahadFSA yep, they have that watch in their headquarters

[@omar10213245]

Pretty brilliant business move if you ask me

[@JoseFigueroa-yn1zd]

How I verify your story?

[@kutter_ttl6786]

​@@JoseFigueroa-yn1zdAt this point it's just speculation. Some people suspect that Rolex bought it, solely based on them making arrangements to have it displayed at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures back in 2021, but there's never been any actual confirmation.

[@Joe005]

“Buying fakes hurt dealers” Me: proceeds to play violin

[@SM-tf3li]

If it's so hard to detect a fake then the original is overpriced.

[@thegamingwolf5612]

Nothing is overpriced

[@dhv2852]

@@thegamingwolf5612 printer ink is

[@juanisamazing95]

@@thegamingwolf5612 a watch is

[@RagnarokGenesis00]

@@Pipsqueak- and the type of person whos wearing the watch. If I see a person who works as a cashier with a rolex, who would even care, or even a person who is in board rooms with millionares. No one cares actually. American pyscho movie showed it best. It is the person who is wearing it tell the story that connects with themselves that's what matters. The fragility of society for validation when everything we can connect with our 5 senses are relative to how our brain can best understands it. Con man been winning since the age of dawn. I believe in quality > image/vanity however in classic classism society its the opposite. Only few has the real power, given a portion to the aristocrats for the illusion to control over the populous.

[@icediverfull]

@@Pipsqueak- for 1% its 100% a shitty one Only watch nerds would recognize though. Nobody really cares about reps

[@crBudgetWatches]

I love how Johns son is deep into this traditional watch world and it is wearing a yes… you guessed it.. an Apple Watch.

[@ScottieBMan]

I thought same thing smh

[@JRudy17]

It makes sense that you wouldn't wear an expensive piece of jewelry for everyday.

[@soumyadityaagarwalla1517]

I dearly value things 'mechanical' and craftmanship.. but nowadays, thses are not value man, these watches and the cheap ones show the same time.. thats no the case between premium smartwatches and cheap ones.. yes smartwatches don't last long, both battery life and its entire lifetime, but they are multitasking..

[@dakmycat3688]

Does Rolex provide updates and incoming calls. Or have face time?

[@williamwill182]

@@dakmycat3688 but a smartphone does, and guess what, everyone has one...smartwatches are just a modern "high-tech" acessory, not a real watch like a Rolex.

[@Justmebeingme37]

Let's be real. They are still not worth all that. People are out of their minds

[@CenturyPHirstCorporationInc]

The Grand Seiko is a bit near the worth of craftsmanship.

[@Martin-hk1ch]

Let’s be real, everything is worth whatever people are willing to pay. Margins are different on everything.

[@azhariarif]

So is your paper currency.

[@alanchappell4845]

A thing is worth what some one is prepared to pay for it

[@DauntlessBlight]

Exactly… imagine paying 10k for a watch. I don’t care how rich you are thats just plain dumb

[@countdracular6204]

If a $500 fake is that good to challenge a $60,000 original .... the profits are nothing but vulgar.

[@karimh9785]

Vulgarity is the exact word that describe these brand’s behaviour

[@killingmoon6974]

I'm getting Uncut Gems vibe from this guy

[@tuna9715]

for suree😂

[@ericp1139]

You mean there’s a jeweler that doesn’t act like the Uncut Gems guy?

[@vugarmurshudov3838]

I was looking for someone to notice it 😂😂

[@Crabman_87]

Kosher vibes you mean...... L'Chaim!

[@ailestriker9888]

Saaaaaaame!

[@PanCake-uu7he]

Imagine when a professional can’t see the difference between a fake and a real, goes to show that a fake at the fraction of the price is virtually the same

[@ncc-pr8po]

the movement is completely different but the casing is around the same (the movement is what makes the watch reliable)

[@uglyraff9313]

@@ncc-pr8po Correct but if a watch can tell the time, as any $5 watch can do reliably, then unless the person is an enthusiast or collector or wealthy, who cares. It's free promotion for rolex ultimately.

[@ncc-pr8po]

There are no mechanical watches that would be 5 dollars or even anything close to that available -- fake or not, and let for them to be anywhere near accurate and reliable -- the only movements that can be accurate at 5$ are quartz movements (battery powered), and as the name suggests, they're powered by a battery, that at 5 dollars, will run out very quickly. Another thing is that quartz watches are very different to mechanical watches (they're usually very loud) and look completely different. A quartz movement in a Rolex would be so obvious that even with no knowledge, you would be able to see the difference. The watches in the video that are fake, are usually upwards of 400+$ dollars because of this.

[@uglyraff9313]

@@ncc-pr8po I bought a €5 watch and the battery lastest for around 3 years without changing. Pretty damn reliable for something made to just tell the time.

[@Arseization]

But they can and they do. Also you said it yourself: virtually the same. It LOOKS alike, but you pay mostly for the movement and the associate cost.

[@BurgerManVirginia]

THIS MUST STOP, HOW CAN ZIAREX SELL SAME ROLEX SERIAL NUMBERS ON THEIR WATCHES. THAT IS ILLEGAL

[@ivannightly1919]

its actually not, if they are identified as another company a serial number is only unique to the company, and is just the company's way of tracking. if we both make water heaters and we both used a 6 digit number we'd most likely end up with lots of the same numbers

[@desiderium3243]

As a long time watch enthusiast, it’s really funny to see insider try to tackle something from a beginners point of view.

[@612ZtoMhS]

I thought it was just for entertainment ?

[@ronnianabalos4627]

totally agreed ❤❤❤

[@piipoo147]

Exactly

[@manuelr.s6328]

Oh man, no one could have said it better...

[@kovy689]

The way the narrator pronounced Audemars Piguet gave me cancer.

[@tpop3723]

If people didn’t have to deal with artificial waiting lists from dealers and intentionally restricted supply from the manufacturers driving up prices maybe there wouldn’t be such a demand for counterfeits?

[@predictedrandom94]

But thats the whole Marketing strategy 😅 Same with those fancy sneakers

[@boohere2]

I don't get why fake watches are so bad. I mean if the people know they are getting a fake watch then let them have it. Sometimes they can't always pay for the full price one. They want to look cool and good. Again this would only be for the people that knew they were getting a fake watch

[@user-oz5xb9ed3w]

watches. looking cool and good.

[@Armoer]

@@boohere2 the whole thing is: if you want to look cool and good with a Rolex watch, you will need to pay to Rolex. It is not far to rolex to copy their product, design, even use their name on the product and thrive on their marketing expenses selling cheap copies at a fraction of the price. It is not fair to Rolex

[@suren5174]

@@Armoer And you think Rolex is being fair to the normal customer even with their business practices? Stick it to Rolex and buy reps.

[@Jake-bt3fc]

Imagine shipping your personal Rolex collection in bubble wrap and it gets confiscated because some idiot at customs doesn’t think your packaging is fancy enough, lol

[@vindu14]

And here I am with my $500 Tissot watch I bought in 1997. And damn it still works perfectly since the day I bought it.

[@joeyvigil]

Even that is high for most people

[@ifionlyhadaboat]

Tissot is a great value & smart buy. Many watch geeks love Tissot

[@channell11]

Tissot is excellent. I have one and it works beautifully and gets lots of compliments.

[@DonLee1980]

$500 in 1997? Tissot's cost $500 today.

[@Will-kl5ri]

Fuckin love Tissot

[@annayb9705]

Vookum and Buckley coming in 💪

[@leonk8113]

Rolex puts out more than 1 million new watches every single year but many find their way from the AD directly to the grey dealers.

[@NPrez-cv4jn]

Yep. This has always been the problem, it was never a “ we can’t meet demand” issue. Proof is that you can go to a secondary market store (non AD) and see that they have dozens, sometimes hundreds, of New/ Unworn Rolexes in stock.

[@firebearva]

100% agreement. The Rolex market is a blackmarket business.

[@wifine1951]

its all corrupt from start to bottom

[@realbroggo]

Not the only industry/hobby plagued by this. I also collect knives and its amazing how many new releases end up almost immediately in the grey/secondary market at inflated prices. The one commonality in it all - greed.

[@jensers11]

Greed is ok. So are reps. That’s how you beat back the racket. The ADs are the problem. Won’t sell me a watch they have sitting there until I spend $30K on stuff I don’t want. Screw em.

[@Vanguardkl]

haha hilarious to see swissarex hijacked the comments wt fake reviews

[@monsieurbennett]

Rolex may be 27% of the Swiss market, and may make 1 million watches every year, but these grey dealers also have hundreds of thousand of unsold Rolex stock.

[@Mega-zi7ys]

Correct! Go to any gray dealers and they have dozens of so called hard to get models.

[@Maarz99]

@@Mega-zi7ysbecause they are connected with whole sale buyer and will pay anyone who has a brand new never worn watch same day with cash

[@keyvis949]

I love that BI didn’t even mention the fact that John has a Rolex dial named after him. If that’s not street cred in the watch industry I don’t know what is.

[@Saahilkarwani]

Fkin seriously?

[@dsong401]

True - a ‘Buckley’ is a Rolex datejust dial with printed Roman numerals

[@andrewmosley2588]

Yeah a Buckley dial. And they weren’t really named after him, he started giving them that name when started collecting them and it just stuck around. They were seen as ugly and undesirable so John started buying them up and hoarding them and gradually they have become very sought after and rare.

[@andrewmosley2588]

@@dsong401 they aren’t printed. They are actually hand painted.

[@currentaf8455]

Rolexes aren’t hand made.

[@CannonKnight]

I remember watching one those antique roadshow type videos where a guy was looking to get an old family heirloom Rolex appraised, and it turned out to be fake. Of course, he was crushed. It doesn't matter if you can't afford a Rolex or not. People are getting ripped off with the fake ones. Plus, if you can't afford a Rolex, no one is going to believe it's real anyway.

[@joeguzman3558]

I'm just a regular working Guy who never invented anything , back in the 70 walked into a jewelry store and purchased a Rolex on payments my friends made fun of me for years - 40 years later I sold it for 6 times what I paid for my mother kept the box and papers and that's what helped tremendously

[@Towelie4200]

Smart man 👏👌

[@silentfishy]

$1 in 1970 is about $7.8 now. So money lost about 7x of its value. Just something to think about

[@alexbarry8826]

@@silentfishy$1 in 1970 is $4.21 now you dope 🤣

[@salkryeful]

Should've been like 30 times or more at the very least. You got fleeced real hard by only selling it at a price to match inflation sadly.

[@emresacli48]

I've been a customer of swissarex for a while now and have never been disappointed. The quality of their watches is amazing.

[@zarakdurrani7584]

Man what's with the spam Swissarex comments??? " I couldn't afford a luxury watch so bought a swissarex" To look super tacky and soulless. Society has come down to this, literal bots being used to repeat the same damn message again and again.

[@amarillorica]

sounds like my dude needs a swissarex

[@josron6088]

Yeah I noticed that too. Spam advertisements for different watchmakers. Lol.

[@jeremiasrobinson]

Yeah, because so many of us are in the market for Rolexes that we are so interested in identifying fakes.

[@samsonsoturian6013]

Big money and big risk in big luxury items generates clicks from slightly greedy people, though

[@ranran8934]

If a fake is as good as the real ones when it comes to the looks, functionality, durability and overall aspects, then it's one proof that people are buying things just for the name/brand.

[@FahadFSA]

ppl are buying it as investments and as assets...

[@chrissmith3587]

@@FahadFSAwhich is even more dangerous, that means bubble

[@FahadFSA]

@@chrissmith3587 a time piece that has been hand crafted for hundreds of hours and is made of precious metals and stones cannot be a bubble...

[@DAMfoxygrampa]

A watch should never been an asset. It doesn't have that much legitimate value!

[@Jake-bt3fc]

They’re not functionally the same. The movements are dogshit. Half the time they come fucked already from China and if you try to send it back they’ll give you a weird made up Chinese address that somehow costs the value of the watch just to ship to. Funny how scammers are untrustworthy and will scam you, lol. You can buy a $200 seiko that will last 10 years or a piece of crap fake for $600 that’s designed to fail within a year so you buy a new one.

[@herodiaderomo5054]

Can't get enough of Swissarex watches! ❤️

[@BabyJesus66]

Customs guy says Rolex doesn't put their watches in Ziplock bags... then the jeweler has piles of watches in ziplock bags. 😂😂😂

[@cjack202003]

Reread what you wrote. The jeweler isn't Rolex. The jeweler is a grey dealer.

[@ballistic350]

​@@cjack202003 saw that ... that was a fake dealer

[@hydroaegis6658]

Rolex does not make watches by hand lmao. Just the production number of 1 million already tells you they're factory assembled. Maybe the crazy expensive bejeweled ones are handset, but that's it.

[@CharChar2121]

Any company that refuses to use machines to reduce prices and meet demand deserves to go under.

[@good-tn9sr]

@@CharChar2121 not for companies who pride themselves on ultra luxury and artisan craft. For example, each Rolls Royce made have some of it handmade.

[@AwokenEntertainment]

scary that even experts have a tough time telling if one is authentic..

[@bluenick4577]

Because swiss made watches are crazy overpriced 😂😂😂😂😂

[@will1am905]

Customs: You'd never see rolex in plastic sleeve. Video: Countless luxury watches in plastic bags. Wut?

[@Aragorn7884]

Adam Sandler looks older than I remember 🤔🤣

[@celozzip]

they certainly have a "look" don't they...

[@erenerdemisk3815]

Though I was concerned, swissarex well surpassed my expectations. The watch is authentic in both appearance and feel.

[@AmericanPaisa99]

99.95% of people can’t tell the difference between a real and a fake. 99.99% of people don’t care about what you wear. So if you own a fake wear it proudly 😂

[@randomcow505]

For me, it has to be the fine crafted and classic design of the Casio F91W, as worn by some of the most well known and influential men in modern history.

[@syrialyze7654]

12:30 "Listen, I'm a friggin' expert ... I've got the junk to prove it." Great line

[@stevenporter863]

99% of the time anyone who says they are an expert isn't. 😂

[@bulelanibotman]

the moment he said "how much is this $21000 watch?" i knew he was the real dealer!

[@AnIdiotOnline]

"Why Fake Rolexes Hurt Dealers In The $20 Billion Used Watch Industry " good

[@TestAutomationTV]

Awesome man!❤

[@painexotic3757]

the fact that fake rolexes are "dangerous" exposes how arbitrary their value is if someone can be easily tricked. Imagine if most of rolexes value was based on it's intrinsic metal instead of it's name..

[@amrtalaat5648]

You’re buying a Rolex because they invented something new that you value. If you’re buying it for the intrinsic value of the metal then you can just buy something else like a gold bracelet. Different markets attract different people.

[@jimwatchyyc]

Your forgetting the whole Watch manufacturing, distribution, storage, displaying, etc.

[@catsadilla324]

narrator: "...made from high quality materials... like stainless steel..."

[@Alias_Anybody]

​@@amrtalaat5648 Invented something new? Those designs are half a century old.

[@painexotic3757]

@@jimwatchyyc obviously.. that goes without saying.. but even then, this doesn't justify the price tag lmao. Most luxury products are a scam ..

[@touchofgrey5372]

My TIMEX Indiglo went up in price also; purchased it three years ago for $23.95 ..... now it lists for $50.00! Great investment, eh? 😁

[@User24x]

I hate Timex indiglo; the indiglo always dies out eventually. There's a reason why Casio dropped EL & largely switched to LED.

[@realbroggo]

Awesome - 100%+ profit in only 3 years. Time to flip it and get a newer one! At this rate in about 100 years or so you'll be able to buy a Rolex. 😂

[@touchofgrey5372]

@@realbroggo I could by a ROLEX right now, but why? I LOVE my TIMEX! I firmly believe I would not be any happier with a ROLEX. Most of the folks who bought a ROLEX did it for "SHOW"! To convey a feeling that they've "made it big" coupled with a healthy dose of narcissism. No, thanks!

[@realbroggo]

@@touchofgrey5372 Apologies - my bad - I should have flagged 'sarcasm' and didn't mean to poke. I'm actually with you. I go on personal satisfaction rather than brand name. I have never owned a Rolex. I do own 2 x Timex Mod44's both of which I wear regularly. Apologies again - have a great day.

[@touchofgrey5372]

@@realbroggo No offense taken! Black face or white face?

[@Psysso]

One thing is for sure if i was a muppet and was in the market for fakes i certainly wouldnt buy it at swissarex.

[@lordjack567]

So many swissarex bots in this comment section it hurts

[@ethandavis204]

Out of everything we can think of as dangerous, fake luxury pieces are about as far down the list as kittens.

[@kahlzun]

Idk, I've been scratched pretty badly by kittens. I'd say this is more "mittens" level

[@ivanlagrossemoule]

While honestly I really don't care about watches, being able to protect brands is pretty important for Western businesses.

[@Redmanticore]

@@ivanlagrossemoule western businesses should concentrate on making good products not protect brands. otherwise china will be selling your electric cars.

[@chatisawasteoftime]

@@ivanlagrossemoule Big brands, only. Nobody protects Joe Shmoe's brands.

[@mike-yn3mn]

You could buy a Rolex submariner for $150 in the 1950's. Not an insignificant amount of money back then but they were solid tool watches. I don't doubt they are still quality timepieces but now they are overhyped status symbols.

[@brianfuller757]

Spotting a fake is even more difficult than before. While fake Rolex watches are hardly new, the quality of fakes is much better.

[@etagged]

This is the real uncut gems.

[@garyjarvis2730]

The Diamond District in NYC is a snake pit of dealers buying and selling to each other and then eventually the public. Bottom line, the buyer gets soaked in this swap frenzy. None of this stuff is coming from authorized resellers of factory stock. If you simply want a nice watch and plan to wear it buy the fake. If the dealers have a hard time telling real from fake your friends will never know the difference. Tell the dealers to keep the papers, card and box and you'll be a happy camper with lots of money in your pocket.

[@ericp1139]

May as well just buy a “homage” watch then. Why buy a fake Rolex if you can’t fool yourself?

[@irdestroyer]

@@ericp1139 If you had $1,000,000 in cash to spend, and wanted a watch, why not get a $600-800 replica that looks just like the real thing? You have the cash, nothing to prove, no point in getting a real one because $10-50k or whatever isn't worth flexing when you're a millionaire. Replica buyers are either broke dreamers, or rich guys who won't get called out and are sensible with their money.

[@BluffCreekStudio]

bingo! bravo!!!

[@maurice5402]

Wearing a fake doesn't feel good. People should just buy cheaper watches from original brands. There are so many good affordable watch brands out there

[@lionelamarado8291]

And… China wins.

[@ihatekpeng]

Guy: I'm an expert Also Guy: *doesn't use finger cots when repairing Rolexes*

[@monsieurbennett]

Agreed. I wouldn’t touch his stock with a barge pole.

[@evacousticmusic]

I was thinking the exact same thing.

[@BabyJesus66]

Also haphazardly jams a screwdriver into the movement. Guaranteed all the screws he touches are chewed to shit. I've also seen videos of him popping off bezels with a pocket knife. Dude is a joke.

[@russellgutmann7960]

Waiting for this comment. Cringed seeing that 😬

[@efist694]

@@monsieurbennett you would never know .

[@elsarodriguez634]

Top-tier craftsmanship!

[@Marta1Buck]

I always think Rolex is like Gibson. The guitar for the snobs.

[@MORTON__]

He is one of those who make Rolex so expensive

[@samsonsoturian6013]

They are luxury items to begin with.

[@tobris3738]

The buyers are responsible for that

[@xXxSkyViperxXx]

he does live off of it

[@Cam_LDN]

Guy repairs watches by handling the movement with his bare hands. Ridiculous.

[@stuntbaby56]

Dude thats john buckley lmao hes a freaking legend

[@gmshadowtraders]

Finally, the market for used Rolexes and other high end pieces corrected big time!

[@elisafernandino612]

Can't get enough of this.

[@checkwalkcare8128]

if you are rich and everybody knows this, never buy genuine watches, wear fake. noone can understand and you have a great collection.

[@igniteflow]

It’s not worth the damage to their reputation if the truth got out, although logically what you are suggesting makes perfect sense

[@ericp1139]

If they are rich, then just buy the real deal. You can use them as an appreciating asset and leverage for a loan. Fakes are just throwing money away.

[@Redmanticore]

@@ericp1139 would you buy prostitutes for the rest of your life with 55 million, or a Graff Diamonds Hallucination watch? for 300 dollar per girl, that is 183 333 days. for 502 years, every day.

[@drklg1]

It always starts with them doing the right thing and protecting people. Then once it's in place you can't stop it or controll it.

[@jasperhayes-klein2929]

Demonetization in India was the biggest factor. In ‘16 whole nation discovered they were better than cash.

[@summernaturale347]

Why are Rolexes more expensive? Why are Apple products more expensive? Why are Rolexes so popular? Because they’re the best marketers in the world Why are Rolexes so hard to get? Because dealers sell the majority to grey market operators instead / people get put on waiting lists for forever because they’re not deemed worthy by Rolex

[@stevenporter863]

Rolexes are hand made so they can't crank out watches like Casio. Yes, both make watches but it is like comparing Ford to Ferrari. Quality costs.

[@lost5587]

​@@stevenporter863 hand made? 💀

[@shino8854]

​@@stevenporter863 Nah dude, you are wrong Rolex are mass produced, hell, pretty sure there are more submariners than my full metal Gshock casio.😂😂 That's what they want people like you to believe, exclusivity, that's how they can charge what they charge. Rolex might be part of the problem, but it's really people who are the problem.

[@hlee2]

not deemed worthy by ADs*

[@realbroggo]

@@shino8854 It's basic economics - supply and demand. In this case both are impacting on the watch market. High demand and low supply (whether real or artificial) creates a perfect environment for the grey & black marketeers to move in and exploit the gap. I collect knives and the same problem exists. A friend of mine who use to work in mining assures me the same even applies to diamonds. A sad reality. Have a great day.

[@sebahattinyasugey2690]

My experience with swissarex was fantastic. The watch arrived quickly and was exactly as described.

[@oyuyuy]

Talk about an illusion of scarcity, 1.000.000 watches/year is absurdly many considering that there's only a few million people in the world who would ever consider buying one. I actually find the thought quite hilarious, that there are millions of snobs wearing the same Rolex watches and that they all think they're special.

[@theotang681]

just got my dad's old 1971 rolex re-serviced. it sat in a jar, rotting. it's an old rolex. jubilee bracelet. slate grey dial. pan handle face. i freaking love it wearing it again after so many years. when the sun is out the watch just glitters. it's all stainless steel and that slate grey dial. simple.

[@omarkhatab1020]

If it takes an expert and meticulous investigation to differentiate between a real and fake one. JUST BUYE A FAKE !! 😂😂

[@siglavikingkearns8108]

If doing so doesn't cause you any shame, fill your boots.

[@porkchopsandwiches8363]

This guy is amazing - loved the video

[@fabricialimon4583]

A true work of art.

[@sinful6speed]

What a wholesome “that is just so rude” 😂

[@azizevarol6043]

swissarex sells copycat watches that look exactly like the originals. You won't be sorry you made the purchase.

[@spray31]

This fella john has a warm honest energy about him

[@deathtoy101]

This just shows, its not worth paying for a rolex watch. Period.

[@AtillatheFun]

What would people buy instead? A low tier Omega? An AP? A nomos? Rolex is the standard, and is known worldwide.

[@realbroggo]

Only problem is that this plague follows all high-trend items across all markets. I also collect knives and the same activities exist. Some are driven by the manufacturers themselves (ie. under-supply) others are driven by profiteers operating in the grey or black areas of the marketplace. Also don't think that the profiteers only target high-end brands. They will also undercut budget brands if that's where the money is. Sad reality. Have a great day.

[@redbarchetta8782]

I love Grand Seikos myself. ;) But I do love the Daytona.

[@BatCountryAdventures]

The Spring Drive Sweep.

[@siglavikingkearns8108]

I will never own a Daytona but I must admit that I find the Sugess homage tempting.

[@9latinumStudioz]

0:39 Wow ⚡✨

[@ericvulgate]

Nothing flaunts wealth like useless accoutrements.

[@levtieart3409]

100k watch 10k bag 5k shoes 1000k hat *looks like a homeles person*

[@kingofcrunk4237]

Rolex makes 1 million watches per year?! (and they last a long time) That's all I needed to hear to not want to buy one as an investment. The market will, one day, be considered flooded.

[@maximme]

i feel so much better that my fake watch is so high quality that even the authorised dealer had trouble tellling the difference. I feel its truly worth the money.

[@karans9228]

He does what he does not for the money, because he is passionate about it. His passion, brings in the cashflow. He has mastered the craft.

[@hansanders323]

this guy reminds me of Adam Sandler from Uncut Gems

[@Shambley1]

I bought a rolex daydate clone off my buddy for $150 that looks amazing. He got it for like $450 originally. I took it to a watch guy just to see what he had to say about it and outside of opening the case or inpecting it very carefully with a magnified lense you wouldnt be qble to tell its fake. And its not like it was instant when he looked at it under the lense, he had to really look at it for a while and found tiny tiny details that were just slightly less refined. They even added tungsten to the watch to make it have the weight of the original. Its impressive.

[@nochipsonlycrisps8639]

Remember guys. The key to true lasting happiness is to associate the watch with a very special occasion. If you dont do that, the most expensive watches become worthless to you. On the contrary if you do do that, the cheapest watch in the world will become important to you.

[@JasonTheWatchGuy]

Love John, a really knowledgeable guy who shares his knowledge. Great video

[@jasonvdw9082]

if you cant tell a fake from a real without pulling it apart and breaking out the microscope to see miniscule details, its probly not worth the pricetag. 200 dollar watch thats 95% as good as a 100k watch? which ones the real ripe off

[@AfraPoole]

Quality that speaks for itself.

[@charleshammer2928]

The Quartz movement in my $200 Citizen Eco Drive gains 2 seconds per month, that's far more accurate than any Rolex ever made.

[@MrKacperk]

Great job customs. Now try to spot one from Clean factory without opening it. Good luck.

[@popezosimusthethird269]

"Your reputation us burned when you can't make good on a sale" Not as burned as when you willingly show yourself on camera handling a movement with your bare fingers. Just use fingercots FFS, that rotor is burned. BURNED.

[@user-oz5xb9ed3w]

does burned just mean messed up? i’ve seen others use the term also

[@paulmarconi6579]

I thought exactly the same thing.

[@StylishaHunt-dv1co]

Simply unmatched in style.

[@antoinepageau8336]

My Apple watch will alert my doctor if it detects an irregular heart rhythm, a Rolex will look good on my cold dead corps.

[@cmujcp9184]

Buckley was touching Rolex movement with his bare fingers in this video. That’s a HUGE NO NO.

[@MustafaAydid]

This old Adam Sandler is making Rolex more expensive than they should have been.

[@dompretcloud2]

This is disturbing... more trouble in the world... homelesness, addiction, war... now I'm finding it difficult to sleep at night worrying about these dealers...

[@audioramplify]

Customs officer saying Rolexes are not shipped in bubble wrap but watch stores keep watches in plastic bags😂

[@nomore-constipation]

While growing up, my brother had bought a Rolex but it was found out later it was a fake and he was so upset he refused to wear it after and couldn't get his money back. He allowed me to wear it during special occasions like at school dances and the prom. It was so funny telling everyone it was my brother's Rolex he let me borrow for the evening. Talk about envy back in the day The best part was telling everyone after prom that it was a fake all those years. Too bad the watch itself broke. That's how good the quality was compared to the real thing imo It was fun while it lasted but that in itself wasn't long either 😂

[@tesmat1243]

To be fair even a genuine rolex could have broke after years of use without servicing

[@vast9467]

Rolex watches also break without servicing

[@DonLee1980]

@@tesmat1243 Most Rolexes run perfectly even after 20 years of no servicing.

[@FahadFSA]

@@vast9467 no they do not

[@swiftrealm]

@@DonLee1980 That's BS, put it on a timegrapher and you'll see.

[@Aragorn7884]

'Uncut Gems' *CONFIRMED* _real_ 🤑

[@FirstLast-rt5qc]

The fact of the matter is that the super lines can't even be spotted by watch makers anymore because the creators have perfected every aspect. And they can somehow be purchased for $1,200 when Rolex sells them for $10,000

[@RagnarokGenesis00]

this market will pop, its a bubble with its illusion of luxury.

[@peter9309]

Working as a watchmaker for the best company selling watches right now because Rolex doesn’t have many stores or watchmakers, the use another company to sell them all around the world. They make people wait years to get one I’ve seen millionaires go crazy for them and I’m like why? Also the worst part of them is that they will only run for 4 to 6 years and you have to service them. The service for an overhaul is around 1/6k and they don’t do partial repairs, so if the bezel pops off or the Crystal shattered , maybe the crown broke, you will have to do full service.

[@siglavikingkearns8108]

I have a 31 y/o Submariner and it only needs servicing every 9 or 10 years for approx $850. CAD. I would hate to damage any part though.

[@edster8416]

The service still last better than buying expensive cars. But not that it matters for the rich. They would still pay high for the parts as long they can keep the demand of that watch and it's rarity. It just boils down to what matters to the person willing to pay it. Even a pokemon card worth millions 😅

[@mattcolver1]

I have a Sub-Date. Wore it every day for 17 years. After i retired I only wear it on occasion now. It's 23 years old, keeps great time and I've never had it serviced.

[@hugohabicht9957]

@@siglavikingkearns8108I have a 50 year old BWC ANS NEVER NEEDED SERVICING

[@Carlosjousuesalcedo]

Wow so cool !! 🙏🏼

[@goodvibesonly7406]

why buy a rolex when my phone tells the same time lol