Copycats tick along to 'worrying levels'.

Fonction News

The Federation of the Swiss Watch has complained in its annual report that the situation of counterfeit productions has reached a 'worrying level'. "I would not say that the situation is getting worse, but it remains tough, very serious," says federation president Jean-Daniel Pasche.

Counterfeiters today cost Switzerland's watch industry around CHF800 million ($636.65 million) a year, representing almost eight per cent of the total value of Swiss watch making exports, worth SFr10.18 billion in 2003.

According to the federation, Southeast Asia, China and the Mediterranean, notably Turkey, Italy and Spain have continued to remain the principal areas for production of takes over the past few years. But, they say, the channels of distribution are more widespread now and have made inroads into central and Eastern Europe, in particular Austria, Britain and now also into the US.

And while the sale of Swiss watch fakes predominantly takes place abroad, it is also happening on a major scale within Switzerland.

Federation president Pasche says that his organisation, in conjunction with some watchmakers, has implemented a number of measures to tackle the problem. "We try to be active with the...

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