One million fakes discovered: This is how Swiss watchmakers fight against cheap copies

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Most of the seized fake Swiss watches come from China. This year, new successes were also experienced in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt.

Combating counterfeit watches is one of the main concerns of the Swiss Watch Industry Association. More than half of the seizures still involve counterfeit products from China and Hong Kong. However, this year there were first successes in other important countries: 150,000 watches were seized in Saudi Arabia, 62,000 in Turkey and 25,000 in Egypt.

Association president Jean-Daniel Pasche said in a statement to the Keystone-SDA news agency that approximately one million fake Swiss watches were confiscated worldwide in 2023. On the one hand, the association constantly monitors the market for fake “Swiss Made” watches on websites and social media. On the other hand, he provides training to customs and police officers in various countries.

Movies and fashion were also affected

After the pandemic, these trainings can now be provided not only in the virtual environment but also in face-to-face classes. For example, there were courses in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Belgium, Hungary and Turkey. In Asia, the association’s focus is Malaysia.

Last year, customs and police personnel were trained in Peru, Portugal, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Poland, as well as Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Imitation products do not only affect the watch industry. Medicines, movies, music and fashion items are also fake.

Anyone who purchases a fake “Swiss Made” watch abroad is not immune from the risk of detection upon return to Switzerland. “There are also seizures at the Swiss border,” said association president Jean-Daniel Pasche. (SDA/sfa)

Source :Blick