The United Arab Emirates (UAE), especially, the metropolitan cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is further known all around the world for its elite lifestyle, exclusive culture and tourism. Among those many expensive stuff available in these cities, wristwatches are in demand as well. UAE has become one of the centres of luxury watches attracting a lot of collectors, tourists, and specialists from different countries. However, as this authentic luxury watch market is booming up, the fake watch market is also getting support. In the recent past, there has been a growing share of such products as Copy Watches in UAE or similar products which look, for all practical purposes identical to that on the fashion market. This raises a number of issues, including how consumers act and what if anything is legal, and what will happen to the world of luxury watches.
The Appealing Aspects of Copy Watches.
Copy watches, similar to replica watches, mean knockoff advertisements of expensive watches and jewellery. These are watches that seek to replicate those of luxury brands like Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. The above reasons have led to an increase of market imitation watches in the UAE.
Cheapness: This is the most evident reason as to why masses go for a copy watch. Original timepieces belonging to luxury brands are usually very expensive making it hard to access to many people in the society. In contrast a good replica timepiece can easily be bought and worn looking the same as the original one.
Aspirational Buying: The culture of status, the culture of money is familiar to everyone, and especially to the inhabitants of the UAE. The luxury watch becomes a luxury in the eyes of the bearer where it is highly regarded as a sign of affluence and triumph. For people who do not have the means of affording the genuine watch, A copy watch brings out an outlook of class without appearing to spend money.
High Quality Replicas: The active population and the growth in the economy have improved the manufacturing technology making possible the development of very high quality replicas. Some copies of watches are replicas so perfectly that to an average person it would be impossible to identify the fake. The copy variation strategy has been particularly successful in increasing the quality of the replicas even further enhancing the quantity of orders from customers who want almost exact substitutes of the real watches.
Functionalities Vs Aesthetic Value: Individuals buying replica watches do so for the sake of the aesthetics of the watch rather than the sophistication. To such persons, the name of the brand and the appearance of the watch are the most important, but not its construction and ageing. High-quality reproduction watches make it possible to decorate for any occasion.
Aspects of Law on Copy Watches in the UAE
Whereas selling and marketing of illegal items such as watches are not allowed in UAE. Since then, the government has taken various measures against this booming illegal trend. The UAE actively participates in many international treatise, conformity to which includes mechanisms for protection against piracy and distribution of fraud. Illegal watch sales have been tackled by the above mentioned laws. However the demand for faux watches remains despite these constraints.
The Effect on the Industry of Modern Luxury Watches
The mushrooming of fake watches in the UAE presents a significant threat to the industry of modern luxury watches. Market leaders are doing everything so as to protect their brand equity, quality, and premium status foremost by investing in copy right protection. The above situation contributes to counterfeit products becoming more available to non affluent members of society, which is alarming as it diminishes the brands that these products replicate.
In an effort to stave off the challenges posed by the counterfeit business, luxury watch brands have found ways to better address product differentiation. This further includes the use of high-end and strategic design security measures like unique serials, holograms and micro-engraving that make reproduction by counterfeiters very difficult. Furthermore, many brands are collaborating with the authorities in the UAE effectively curbing the distribution of counterfeit watches and creating awareness among the public on the dangers of purchasing fake watches.
Yet, as much as one appreciates the efforts, still the luxury watch sector has to go an extra mile in addressing the copy watch trend. Some consumers might think twice before buying a fake watch because they may consider the legal issues, the prospective moral questions that it brings up for them. Others are not deterred; they want a luxury item and buying a cheap imitation of a fake watch is convenient.
The Risks of Buying Copy Watches
Most buyers may be attracted to copy watches due to their low price and striking appearances. However, there are a few risks that go hand in hand with the purchase of copy watches:
Moral Issues: The legitimate business activities are hurt by the purchase of counterfeit products and the illegal activities are promoted by such purchases on the international front. Moreover, there is a very strong correlation between counterfeit production and child labor as well as poor working conditions in sweatshops without any regulations.
Substandard Quality: Some replicas will pass for the original with the eye; however, the inner working is not so precise and rugged like the original high-end timepieces. Most of the materials used to produce copy watches are usually of sub standard quality, which leads the watches to have a shorter shelf life, much breakdowns related to the watches and more repairs of the watches being required.
Conclusion
The requesting behaviour for copy watches in UAE is an example of the global practice whereby people still want to wear false luxury brands without paying for them. Consumers who purchase such counterfeit watches might be understood in terms of why, but the legal, ethical, and pragmatic aspects related to these considerations cannot be ignored. When it comes to investing in timepieces of value, the most prudent approach is to acquire an authentic watch from a trustworthy retailer in order to avoid frustrations. In light of the fact that UAE is still aiming to be top in the luxury shopping industry, it is evident that recommendations to fight the counterfeit industry ameliorate, and hence it will be hard for the copy watch business to flourish.