Image courtesy: cbp.gov
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Van Cleef & Arpels (VCA) Alhambra earrings and Cartier watches undoubtedly remain in the top tier of fashion accessories. On August 13 and 15, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized $70 million worth of counterfeit VCA earrings and $4.2 million of Cartier watches, respectively (had the items been legitimate).
The first shipment contained 7,319 pairs of earrings in the Alhambra style, which included the VCA trademark stamp. Shipped from Hong Kong, it was heading to a residence in Miami, FL, before being seized by CBP in Louisville, KY.
Image courtesy: cbp.gov
The second shipment of 30 Cartier watches included unauthorized versions of the Cartier trademark. Found at the Indianapolis, IN CBP port, the shipment originated in Hong Kong and was being sent to New York.
Whether these were intended to fool anyone into thinking they were the “real thing,” or provide “the look” is unclear. Regardless, intellectual property theft , according to the CBP, is not a “victimless crime.”
CBP also noted that:
“For the last three years, the top commodities seized for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) infringement with the highest total MSRP have been (1) Jewelry, (2) Watches, and (3) Handbags/Wallets. Additionally, China and Hong Kong are consistently the top two source countries for IPR seizures. In Fiscal Year 2024, seizures from China and Hong Kong accounted for approximately 90% of the total quantity seized.”
Recently, authorities in Hong Kong, with the assistance of colleagues in China, intercepted trademark-infringing luxury goods intended for the US and EU markets.
Read: $5-6 Million of Counterfeit Luxury Items Headed for US and EU seized in Hong Kong
For more on the CBP activity, read here and here.
- Maura Carlin posted 2 months ago
- last edited 2 months ago
