Banky W recalls how peer pressure made him buy fake $14,000 Rolex

There was a time when Banky W believed owning certain luxury items could open doors and earn him respect. Looking back now, he says it was one of the most expensive lessons he has learnt

Speaking on The Mentality podcast with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, the singer and entrepreneur admitted that he once paid $14,000 for what turned out to be a fake Rolex after feeling pressured to fit into a particular crowd.

According to him, the whole thing started with a conversation with another artist, who questioned why he wasn’t wearing a Rolex.

Banky W said he explained that he had chosen to focus on buying property and making investments instead of spending money on  luxury  watches. But the response he got stayed with him.

He said:

“There are some rooms you won’t enter, and they won’t respect you if you’re not wearing a Rolex.”

The artist eventually introduced him to someone selling luxury watches, and Banky W convinced himself he was getting a great deal.

“I actually went through the process and bought a fake Rolex for like $14,000. Yes, I confess it”, he stated.

For a while, he admitted, wearing the  watch gave him the feeling of acceptance he thought he needed. That feeling didn’t last long.

“Maybe six to nine months down, the Rolex started having k-leg”, he said.

He recalled that parts of the watch began falling off and it gradually stopped working properly. About a year after buying it, the watch had completely fallen apart.

It was only later that he discovered the seller had been arrested by the police for dealing in fake luxury watches.

Reflecting on the experience, Banky W said the incident changed the way he thinks about success and appearances.

He said chasing status symbols or seeking validation from other people is never worth the cost, no matter how convincing the pressure may seem at the time.