So I have been into watches for some time and as such, my circle of friends are (sometimes painfully) aware of my interest. Some years ago I was given an obvious fake as a gift from a friend.

She gave it to me as a gift from her soon to be father-in-law who lives in Mexico City. While visiting Mexico, she told her FIL that she had a friend back in the states who was into watches and her FIL claimed to “know a guy” so she brought back a fake and gave it to me as a gift.

I accepted the gift and just kinda sat on it, not really sure what to do. I didn’t want to make her feel bad because her heart was in the right place but I also wasn’t going to actually wear it either.

Time marched on and I have moved away from that friend which makes it easier for me. My question to the community is how would you deal with an obvious fake being given to you as a gift?

On a totally unrelated note, anybody have any suggestions on the best way to dispose of a fake Piaget? 😂

Edit: pics for the curious: https://imgur.com/gallery/Aj6JXoQ

  • SanderDieman@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Probably roughly the way you did: say thanks for the gesture, yet shelve (or ultimately bin: there’s your suggestion) the sh*tter.

  • wrludlow@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Assuming it’s a fake luxury watch, wear it in situations when it would risk damage. When people look at you like you’re crazy, just shrug it off and tell them that if something happens to it, you’ll buy another.
    Ultimate flex.

  • perfectandreal@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Sounds like a dumb friend. If I gave someone money, especially my dad, and they gave me some counterfeit nonsense, I’d want to know.

    That being said my dad brought me a fake Patek from Cambodia as a gag gift probably 15yrs ago. It kind of looks like a 5074R, and is automatic winding and actually keeps great time, and by some miracle the day date works to this day. I wear it very occasionally if I think I’m out for a long night.

    If it was a fake Rolex I probably would have pitched it long ago, but it is kind of hilarious to me for some reason. At one point I had it on a velcro hiking strap from REI.

  • 3l33ter@alien.top
    BEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Honesty.

    Sell it and use that exact money to buy 1 watch that is somehow similar. When asked, you can say that you have a problem with fakes, and after years of wanting to appreciate the gift but having a moral objection to it, you made this choice and you’re happy.

    Anyone who had their heart in the right place got you the gift to make you happy, not to trap you in unhappiness. Get rid of the bad part of the gift (the physical watch) and keep the spirit of it.

  • BadWowDoge@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Wear it on vacations or sporting events so if it gets stolen or screwed up it won’t matter. I would enjoy it as a fun garbage watch.

  • Milksteak_Sandwich@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Let me get this straight. You had a friend that gave you (what she thought was) a gold AP, and you just went and moved on from that friend?

    Can you hook up her contact?

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    1·
    11 months ago

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  • decredd@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    In years to come, your family will be here posting, “I inherited this. Is it real?”

  • FFG17@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    We used to buy fake watches and shoes in Iraq in the early 2000s and send them home. We were young and it was fun. Dude knew he bought you a fake, I’m sure he probably thought it was a decent fake and maybe it isn’t but who cares.