JEDDAH, 18 November 2003 — There are ongoing campaigns at both official and private sector levels to educate the public on the differences between original and counterfeit or imitation products in the marketplace. “Yet many people are still unaware of the differences between original and fake watches despite campaigns by watch dealers and retailers like us,” Abdul Rahman Al-Hussaini, president, Al-Hussaini & Al-Yahya Trading Co., said on Saturday night.
“Though fakes may be cheaper than original, they trade off the good name and quality of reputable brands without offering any of their benefits. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Fake watches offer shoddy quality, are not backed by guarantees, infringe copyright and patent laws and are illegal goods, which have been illegally imported. Buyers of illegal or fake watches also face possible prosecution, not just their sellers,” Al-Hussaini told Arab News during the launch of a promotion for Titan watches.
“Original watches offer superior value, and are guaranteed and fully serviceable through certified service center. Fake watches are never serviced, just thrown away. People need to be aware of fakes,” he said.
“The Ministry of Commerce and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as watch dealers and retailers have been working closely together and intensified their campaign to check counterfeit and imitation watches. It’s not just expensive brands that appear as fakes. Popular quality brands such as Seiko have also been the target of counterfeiters,” Al-Hussaini added.
According to him, the Kingdom’s watch & jewelry market is estimated to be around SR1 billion.
“It is expanding steadily, with Japanese watches claiming a significant share ranging around 40 percent. The rest is shared by European and other brands,” he said. Watch sales reach their peak during the annual Haj, but they remain steady during the yearlong Umrah season.”
“We mark our 40-year relationship with Seiko of Japan and 22 years with West End of Switzerland next year. Soon we will be marking 10 years of our association with Titan,” he said.
