3 weeks ago
Businessman's Rs 10,000 Fake Rolex Reveal Sparks Luxury Debate
A very wealthy businessman in Delhi, worth around Rs 500 crore, bought a watch that was not real.
He paid only Rs 10,000 for a 'first copy' Rolex, while a genuine one costs more than Rs 25 lakh.
He told his friend Rohan Dhawan that people never even think his watch could be fake because of where he stands in life.
The watch still shows the time and gets him compliments, so he does not see why he should spend so much more on a real one.
Rohan shared this conversation on LinkedIn, and hundreds of people reacted to it.
Some people agreed that luxury is about how others see you and the status you show.
Others said true luxury is about real quality, craftsmanship and being honest with yourself.
One commenter even pointed out that Bill Gates often wears a Casio Duro watch.
The story made many people think about what we are really paying for when we buy expensive things.
In the end, Rohan said he would still rather own fewer real things than wear a fake.
A businessman worth an estimated Rs 500 crore revealed that his two-tone Rolex Daytona was a 'first copy' replica bought from an Instagram page for Rs 10,000.
The genuine two-tone Rolex Daytona typically sells for over Rs 25 lakh.
Delhi-based founder Rohan Dhawan shared the exchange on LinkedIn, where it drew hundreds of reactions and sharply divided opinions.
The businessman argued that his financial standing means nobody assumes the watch is fake, and that it shows time and earns compliments without the premium cost.
Commenters debated whether luxury is about craftsmanship, heritage and authenticity or about perception, status signalling and branding.
- Who
- Rohan Dhawan, a Delhi-based founder, and an unnamed businessman worth an estimated Rs 500 crore.
- What
- The businessman revealed that his two-tone Rolex Daytona was a Rs 10,000 'first copy' replica, sparking an online debate about whether luxury is about authenticity or perception.
- Where
- Delhi, India; the conversation spread on LinkedIn.
- When
- The articles do not state an exact date.
- Why
- The businessman said his financial standing means nobody assumes the watch is fake and the replica serves its purpose, so spending lakhs on a genuine watch seemed unnecessary.
Authenticity and Craftsmanship Matter
Perception and Status Are Everything
What Luxury Is Really For
Authenticity and Craftsmanship Matter
True luxury is about intrinsic value, craftsmanship and respect for the asset itself; a fake defeats the purpose of owning something special.
Perception and Status Are Everything
Luxury has always been status signalling; with his net worth and reputation nobody questions the watch, so the replica achieves the same signal for far less.
Who Earns the Compliment
Authenticity and Craftsmanship Matter
Shortcuts may fool the room, but authenticity is always for oneself; only genuine ownership and honest motivation make a purchase meaningful.
Perception and Status Are Everything
The watch did not earn the compliment—the wearer's net worth and the room he stands in did—so paying lakhs for a real one is unnecessary.
Why People Buy Luxury
Authenticity and Craftsmanship Matter
A genuine luxury item is motivating fuel and makes the owner feel special, which is a feeling a fake cannot replicate.
Perception and Status Are Everything
If the outcome—compliments and perceived status—is achieved at a fraction of the cost, the replica owner's logic is completely valid.
Key facts
- Businessman's estimated net worth
- Rs 500 crore
- Price paid for the replica
- Rs 10,000
- Genuine watch model
- Two-tone Rolex Daytona
- Genuine watch price
- Over Rs 25 lakh
- Where the replica was bought
- An Instagram page
- Who shared the story
- Rohan Dhawan, Delhi-based founder
- Platform
- Public reaction
- Hundreds of reactions, sharply divided opinions
Quotes
Businessman (500 cr net worth)
Businessman worth approximately Rs 500 cr who owns the fake Rolex
“It's all about clarity on why you want to own it. As he rightly said, for him the priority was never to actually own the original piece, but to be known to own an original piece. With his net worth and reputation as mentioned by him, nobody would question him, so his purpose served. On the other hand, for someone very passionate about watches and really wanting to own it, the same solution wouldn't work.”
NDTV
“I sat there confused, awkward, and lost in thought because I do not agree with him but I couldn't fully disagree either. A guy on the street wearing genuine Nikes still gets a second glance, assuming that they're probably a first copy. But a guy who's earning Rs 2-3 lakh a month, wearing fake Jordans, gets a compliment and nobody checks twice.”
NDTV
indianexpress.com
Sources
Related news
Why Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona Sold for $17.8 Million
Ravi Kishan's Luxury Watch Collection Worth Over ₹10 Crore
How Indian Paan Shop Bags Became Unexpected Global Fashion Icons
Emraan Hashmi Dons ₹1.76 Cr Richard Mille to Mumbai Event
Gold to Gucci: India's aspiration economy beckons luxury brands
R Madhavan: Beggar's Rs 100 happiness beats businessman's crore profit
Zendaya Steps Back From Social Media At 30
Adilabad Police Arrest Suspect in Rs 5.3 Crore Instagram Fraud
Social Media Reinvents Salwar Kameez And Pakistani Suit Styling
Bengaluru Metro Praised for Discipline, Sparks Debate
Jackie Shroff’s Mock Will Leaves Farmhouse to Spider Plant
