1,000 Faux Audemars Piguets Confiscated, Valued Over $28.7 Million

Mexican drug cartels are now in the business of counterfeit luxury watches. That’s what US Customs officials are saying after confiscating over 1,000 imitation Audemars Piguet watches at the Laredo, Texas border crossing. The knock-offs were interspersed with 3,080 genuine Audemars Piguet pieces, which were intended to mask the presence of the fakes.

Border agents were able to determine the watches were not genuine by looking at subtle characteristics that might slip an untrained eye, like the number of screws or the angles of the body. Such expertise was vital in this case, because while the design of these watches is trademarked, there is no brand name or any other marking.

The estimated value of the seized watches would have been over $28.7 million if they had been genuine, which makes this the largest seizure of contraband ever caught at the Laredo Port of Entry.

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Seth Semilof

Co-Founder & COO · Haute Time

Seth Semilof co-founded Haute Living and, with business partner Kamal Hotchandani, launched Haute Time, the brands' luxury timepiece site, to educate buyers about the best watches in the world and to showcase the passion of collectors and the CEOs who lead the great maisons. His love of watches began early: a TAG Heuer at 13, an Omega at 16, and his first Rolex at 20. Through Haute Time he has been honored to visit the greatest watch manufactures in the world and meet the master watchmakers behind them. He has also personally featured private collections exclusive to Haute Time, taking readers inside the watch boxes of Kevin Hart, Carmelo Anthony, Tony Robbins and Swizz Beatz.