Watch enthusiasts find the former president’s new timepieces amusing and question their real provenance, calling them “as ersatz as the man himself.”

Not many people should be surprised by Donald Trump’s most recent retail endeavor, which is to sell an expensive gold watch bearing his name. In recent months, he has promoted gold sneakers, commemorative coins, and even a cryptocurrency enterprise. However, watch specialists are unimpressed.

Trump unveiled two timepieces on Thursday: a limited-edition dive model called the “Fighter” that costs $499 or $799 depending on the style, and an apparently expensive tourbillion that is portrayed as being made of 18-karat gold and has diamonds set into the bezel.

That model, which is only available in 147 pieces, is priced at an incredible $100,000. Trump’s name is clearly displayed on the dial of each piece, and the more expensive variant has a sapphire caseback with his signature.

The status-watch community was largely unimpressed and word soon got out. One of the most well-known websites in the business for watch knowledge and education, A Blog to Watch, was founded and edited by Ariel Adams, who claims that “this is cobbled together, patently unoriginal, and vastly overpriced.”

He is obviously using a white labeler, which is nothing new. A white labeler will Frankenstein a watch, put your name on it, and sell it to you if you go to them and say, “I want a watch with this case, this bracelet, and these other details.” However, you are free to choose your own price for it.

It is clear from this that someone on Trump’s team was responsible for the markup. Even the $500 piece from another brand would go for maybe $200.”

Agreed, said the marketing director of a well-known Swiss business who wished to remain anonymous so as not to compromise his views with his employer. The original thought was that it had to be a false group chat because I am a member of a collectors group that has a running group chat active.

Regarding the more costly piece, he remarked, “After that, everyone was laughing.” “Everyone of them screams Chinese-made watch when you look at them. They are all not worth the amount being asked.

Agreed, said the marketing director of a well-known Swiss business who wished to remain anonymous so as not to compromise his views with his employer. The original thought was that it had to be a false group chat because I am a member of a collectors group that has a running group chat active. Regarding the more costly piece, he remarked, “After that, everyone was laughing.” “Everyone of them screams Chinese-made watch when you look at them. They are all not worth the amount being asked.

Adams stated, “Fifteen years ago, a Swiss-made tourbillon would cost $50,000.” However, a less expensive tourbillon was introduced by the Chinese, and as a result, a tourbillon watch can now be purchased for about $6,000. However, it should not be mistaken for a tourbillon that is entirely manufactured in Switzerland.

A lack of quality is also evident in a few additional elements. The marketing director commented, “The gem-setting looks very rough, and the indices on the dial look set within the markers, not outset, which also looks very amateurish.” Additionally, you can see dust on every screw in the video. It is very awful.

Adam Craniotes, the founder and president of Red Bar Group, an international network of watch collectors with 85 cities worldwide, continued, “[The tourbillon watch] is as ersatz as the man himself.” The fact that it’s a half-Chinese, half-Swiss tourbillon that you can purchase off the shelf has already been discovered by collectors, despite the company’s use of all the adjectives they like on their website. The watch’s only worth would derive from melting it down and selling the gold and diamonds.”