It has been estimated by Swiss Customs Service, that there are some 30 to 40 million counterfeit watches put into circulation each year. While that number alone is staggering, think about that over a five-year period. In that timeframe there are almost 200 million fake watches that have been thrust onto the market. If you really want to get crazy with the numbers and do it for the last ten years that would mean that there are close to 400 million counterfeit watches on the market, an extremely scary number, especially when you realize that there are more fake watches around then there are Americans.

Why is this important issue now? Well it is the Holidays and what better gift to give that special someone in your life the gift of time? Since many Americans and people across the world are crunched for cash these days, a large proportion will be looking for deals and bargains during their Holiday shopping. You would not buy a car without looking under the hood, so please do the same while buying your new watch.

The problem these days is how well fakes are made, and scarily, many fakes can be worth more than most watches. Moreover, a fake watch can cost anywhere from five dollars to one thousand dollars. Just because your watch costs a lot does not mean that it is real. Most stores, whether online or brick and mortar, are reputable, and for the most part, if you are paying with your credit card, your purchase is insured. However, in the online age with companies like eBay where you truly do not know who the seller is, and you are bidding on what might or might not be real, be careful.

Do not kid yourself; selling fakes is a huge business, even if you are looking for the deal on eBay or on Craig list. There is also a good chance if you are buying a watch that is fake, and then the person that you are buying it from is a fake too. So while your online purchase might seem to be a really great deal, isn't the insurance of knowing something is real worth more than the few dollars that you would have saved? Remember, while to most of us this is the season of giving, to many of these counterfeit watch dealers this is the season of taking; buyer beware and Happy Holidays.