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[*] posted on 2-21-2004 at 08:38 PM
Designer Imitators Fake Out Consumers?

http://www.thesandiegochannel.com/troubleshooter/2838042/det...

Pay For What You Get When Purchase Imposters

February 10, 2004

SAN DIEGO -- From New York to Asia to neighboring Mexico, it is not hard to find counterfeit accessories. The look-a-likes get more sophisticated and often consumers cannot tell the difference between a fake and the real thing.

We all want to look the "part" by sporting designer clothes and must-have accessories. But who can afford it? A lot of consumers opt for imitators.

Knockoffs can be found in a lot of places. The Troubleshooter picked up fake Rolex watches and counterfeit Mont Blanc pens in Mexico. In the United States, the Troubleshooter purchased counterfeit Versace and Chanel sunglasses, as well as look-a-like Coach totes.

In Tijuana, Mexico, shopper Teresa Trucchi bought two Rolex watches.

Despite the fact that shop owners told her the watches were not authentic, Trucchi admitted she could be fooled.

"They look like Rolexes to me," Trucchi said.

To see if professional jewelers could tell the difference between a fake Rolex and a real one, the Troubleshooter went to Unicorn Jewelers in Rancho Bernardo.

Jeweler Fred Nasseri laughed when he saw the fakes, packaged in black plastic bags.

"These, by no means, are real," Nasseri said.

How can consumers distinguish the real from the fake?

Nasseri said authentic Rolex watches have clearly etched serial numbers and model numbers and boast 18-carat gold. Genuine Rolexes do not have skeleton backs and they are also much heavier than fakes.

John Brozek, author of "The Rolex Report," said many counterfeit watches are pretty good copies of the real thing.

"Someone who didn't know the difference would be fooled on this watch. Even someone who's knowledgeable, this is a little tricky," Brozek said.

Brozek said counterfeiters are getting better at producing real looking fakes.

"It does shows they're getting a little more sophisticated. It shows they're spending a little more effort in certain areas. They are trying to duplicate cosmetically even more so," Brozek said.

Brozek said counterfeiters are even using color copiers to rip off the look of genuine Rolex boxes.

"In order to gain trust, they're actually counterfeiting the accessories and the packing that goes with the watch," Brozek told the Troubleshooter.

So why would consumers buy a fake watch anyway?

Nasseri said it is all a matter of status.

"A lot people buy it for show," Nasseri said. "It's a matter of $50 versus $5,000. A lot of people have $50. They don't care if they're buying imitation because they know it."

Are consumers fooled by the imitators? Michael Campbell inspected the watches and noted that there is "not too much of a difference at all."

Stefan Purnell agreed.

"This will work," Purnell said.

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