White House gate-crashers' Patek Philippe watch fake:Jewellers

The Salahi couple, who gate-crashed the gala White House state dinner for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, tried to pay their landscaping debt of over $ 2,000 with a fancy Patek Philippe watch, which turned out to be fake valued at just $ 100.

The Salahi couple, who gate-crashed the gala White House state dinner for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, tried to pay their landscaping debt of over $ 2,000 with a fancy Patek Philippe watch, which turned out to be fake valued at just $ 100.

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The watch was surrendered by Tareq and Michele Salahi to Warren County General District Court last week to be sold to satisfy a $ 2,063.35 judgement against the couple from a past due lawn-mowing bill.

But the Salahis' luxury timepiece had been deemed a fake by two jewellers, who were asked to evaluate the authenticity of the watch, an original of which can cost up to $ 15,000.

Ray Cosey of R E Jewellers Watch & Clock in Chambersburg, PA said he is absolutely sure it is a fake.

"You can tell by looking at the back of the watch. It's see-through. I could tell by the grade of the movement that it isn't a genuine watch. You can buy them on the streets of New York for a little bit of nothing," Cosey, who has 36 years experience in the jewellery and watch business, was quoted as saying by Warren County Report newspaper.

In a document filed with the court, Cosey estimates Salahi's imitation to be worth $ 100. Following this, the Salahis on Tuesday presented the court a check for the full amount to satisfy the debt and retrieve the watch.