The Artisans of Deceit
Unraveling the Web of an Elaborate Watch Counterfeiting Operation
You’d be forgiven for thinking this is some sort of Netflix script… but here goes.
This post is a summary of a 9-part story in French by Passion Horlogère, chronicling the trial of an organised counterfeiting ring which sold thousands of fake luxury watches (mostly Rolex), in France and internationally. The main suspects are Julien V. and his alleged accomplice Florian R.
…this is the biggest watch counterfeiting case that a court has ever had to deal with.
The story opens in a courtroom in Paris where the trial of the biggest watch counterfeiting case in history is set to begin. The atmosphere seems tense as the defendants, including the two main suspects Julien V. and Florian R., face a long list of charges related to their alleged roles in an the counterfeiting ring which flooded the market with fake luxury watches.
Notes:
8 defendants are on trial, with Julien V. and Florian R. as the main suspects
10 civil parties, including major Swiss watch brands, are seeking damages
There is a long list of charges spanning a wide range of criminal activities related to the counterfeiting operation
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The way this was written (and maybe it is just because I am reading a translated version), makes it genuinely feel like a movie script. As the trial gets underway, Julien V. takes center stage with his defiant attitude. He refuses to cooperate, claiming he will expose Rolex franchises upon his release and boasts about his wealth. The court meticulously lays out the chronology of the case, which began with an investigation by the Swiss Watch Industry Federation in 2020 - this eventually led to raids and arrests.
The court delves into the details of the vast counterfeiting scheme, estimated to have run for 4-5 years and generated millions in profits. Julien V. had a sophisticated operation with Chinese suppliers, a network of “certified” resellers, influencer marketing, and a dedicated logistics team. The counterfeit watches sold for between €400-€1800 a piece.
The story takes a darker turn as the court confronts Julien V. about his other criminal activities and the source of his lavish lifestyle. A blurred photo of a young child working on counterfeit watches is presented in court too (hilariously, he asserts it could be his daughter!). A lawyer questions Julien about assembling watches with a mix of fake and authentic parts, hinting at the complexity of the operation.
With Julien V. absent, the focus then shifts to his alleged accomplice Florian R., whose cooperative demeanour is a stark contrast to Julien’s. Florian’s troubled upbringing is detailed as he admits to earning €200,000 from selling 100 fake Rolex Daytonas sourced from Julien. His passion for watchmaking is evident, though clearly misguided.
The Rolex lawyer argues the counterfeit operation damaged not only the company’s bottom line but also its prestigious brand image. He paints a picture of customers excitedly buying what they believe to be their dream watch, only to later discover it was a fake - a traumatic experience, he asserts. Rolex demands €11.38 million in total damages.
The damages claimed, highlight the sheer scale and organisation of the counterfeiting ring:
Rolex SA and Rolex France: 7,380,000 Euro in material damage and 4 million Euro in moral damage.
Audemars Piguet, Chanel, Omega, Patek Philippe, and Richard Mille: 750,000 Euro in material damage and 400,000 Euro in moral damage.
Hublot and Fred Paris: 154,000 Euro in material damage and 80,000 Euro in moral damage.
That is a general total of 8,284,000 Euro + 4,480,000 Euro = 12,764,000 Euro combined, requested by the Civil Parties from the two defendants.
Then, customs officials take the stand, outlining the hefty charges and fines the defendants face under the French customs code. Citing the enormous scale of the operation, they demand a hefty €354.5 million fine from Julien V. and €3.1 million from Florian R.
In the final act, the prosecutor takes aim at the defendants, particularly Julien V., highlighting his lack of remorse and disruption to public order. He demands a 4-year prison term and hefty fines for Julien, and an even harsher 6-year sentence for Florian (there were conditions). The defense lawyers did ridicule the prosecutor’s clumsy metaphors in their rebuttal, but overall, it seemed pretty one-sided.
The story concludes on a cliffhanger, noting the court’s final decision remains to be seen, and that the court is not bound by the recommendations of the prosecutor or the demands of the civil parties - meaning, all of the demands for prison terms and fines mean little - the court will issue whatever sentence they want to.
Netflix really should make this into a limited series once it is concluded… the watch collecting community loves a bit of drama.
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The fake watch industry needs standards. 😁 Crazy!
Interesting to see what the sentence will be and if it will possibly act as a deterrent for others