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Hong Kong - Lining the glass display cases of Shenzhen's giant technology malls, knockoff versions of Apple's smart watch were on sale at many stalls, with some Chinese consumers eager to snap them up for a fraction of the cost of the original.
"It came on sale in mid-March and has been constantly out of stock," said one imitation Apple Watch seller, who declined to give his name. "On average, we sell about 40 a day. Some customers just come in and buy five or more at a time."
The imitation watches, built on Google's operating system, don't need a separate smartphone to work, said one merchant. At her store, one was retailing for 360 yuan (R695) - around one-eighth of the cost of Apple's cheaper watch models.
One version used a SIM card, could make calls, send messages, browse the internet and take pictures, she said.
Apple began selling its Watch - the first new product under CEO Tim Cook, on April 24.
Impact
Most of the shoppers from mainland China, who commonly cross the border to pick up the latest Apple must-haves, came to the official Apple Store for other gadgets.
"I'm here to buy an iPad," said a shopper from the south-western city of Chongqing, who gave her surname as Jian.
"I will take a look at the watch later... None of my friends has talked about the watch back home."
But the technology bazaars in the southern Chinese boomtown of Shenzhen were chaotic as merchants hawked their goods to Chinese and foreign shoppers, showing off different smart watches in various colours and models.
Some weren't impressed with the imitation Apple watches.
"I really want to buy the original one," said Vikram Jan, an Indian businessperson from New Delhi, India, shopping in Shenzhen. "The fake one is really bad."
Though the knockoffs have their admirers, some merchants are doubtful about the impact on genuine Apple Watch sales.
"You know some want the real thing and some just want to go for the cheaper option," said a woman selling knockoff watches.
"There are all kinds of customers, and people who want the cheaper one, would still buy our product."
