How do I recognise a fake watch?
The market for watches is large and confusing. There are many shops, webshops and online platforms where watches are offered. Both new and used watches are currently very popular. This means that prices for watches are high, which also makes them attractive to fraudsters and forgers. But how do I recognise if the watch I want to buy could be fake? In short: How do I distinguish an authentic watch from a fake watch and avoid being conned?
The first step may sound logical, but is nevertheless very important. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. If you see a beautiful luxury watch that has a very low price, ask yourself why the seller would do this? Most of these kinds of watches are either fake or stolen. So be very careful with offers that are unbelievable, practice shows that this usually leads to disappointment.
The easiest quick ways to check a watch are when you can physically hold the watch in your hands. That way you can feel if the weight is right and if it feels authentic. In addition, expensive Swiss watches usually don’t tick, and cheap fake watches do. So hold the watch to your ear and listen carefully to see if it runs silently. In addition, bad fakes often have obvious signs that they are not right. For example, the logo is not quite in the middle or there are subtle details that are missing or not quite correctly copied. The lettering and serial number are also good parts to check.
If you are going to order your watch online, this is of course more difficult. How can you determine whether a watch is real, based on the pictures and information that you can find online? The first thing you should always trust is your feelings. If you have doubts about the authenticity based on the pictures on a website, that is already reason enough to look further. In addition, it is smart to read the reviews about the seller. If there have been hundreds or thousands of buyers before you, who are all satisfied and can confirm that their watch is genuine, you can take this as a good indication that the same is true for you. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s a good start. Please make sure that the reviews are collected independently, otherwise you can not rely on them.
Next, it can still happen that a watch is originally authentic, but a lot has been repaired or replaced, which lowers the value. Some sellers try to hide this or charge too high a price for watches of which not all parts are original anymore. Also here it is wise to do good research. If you still have doubts, it might be wise not to close the deal or to consult an independent expert beforehand. Especially on auction sites, it often happens that watches are genuine, but should actually have a lower price because of repairs or overhauls.
A mistake that many people make is assuming that fake watches only exist in expensive brands. Of course, everybody knows that there are a lot of fake Rolexes, Breitlings and IWCs. There are even manufacturers who copy them under their own brand. So then you buy a watch that looks like a Rolex but without the fake brand. Especially watches in the middle-segment are very interesting for forgers. Because a watch with an extremely high value is well controlled, it is also much more difficult to make a forgery that will not be discovered. Watches that people spend a little less on need to be less precise. So do not make the mistake to think that watches that are not as expensive as a Rolex, can not be faked.
A difficult market to find authentic watches is vintage designer watches. This segment has become very popular and therefore attracts fraudsters. The advantage for fraudsters is that many older models are almost non-existent and very little information is available. You can imagine that a Cartier or Rolex from 1960 is less well documented than one presented last year. Therefore, it can be a great challenge to expose a good counterfeit. If you are interested in these types of watches, we recommend that you only purchase them from a certified seller with a very good reputation.
Buying an expensive watch can be a lot of fun but also a lot of stress. Therefore, do not make any hasty decisions. If in doubt, it is worthwhile to find an appraiser to evaluate the watch. If the seller has nothing to hide, he will also have no problem with your request to have the watch checked by a third party. If you do not feel comfortable buying a vintage watch or a used watch, just choose an official brand dealer. Of course you will pay the new price, but this will save you a lot of stress.
Do not buy a watch that you know is fake. Not only is it illegal, but you are also perpetuating a market that takes advantage of a brand’s efforts to become known. These brands represent a considerable value for a reason, a lot of attention and money is put into developing and producing high quality watches. If you have accidentally bought a fake watch, report it to the appropriate authorities.
The most important thing when buying a watch is to use your common sense. Do not make hasty choices you may regret later. It is also wise to do your research, so read many reviews and ratings. Research very well what recognizable points your favorite watch has. This way you can research those points before buying and make sure you don’t make a wrong purchase. A jeweler with a good reputation will certainly not want to lose it. Good luck!
