Look for these stamps and check if they really are original. You can easily find out which model has which stamps placed where and how many there are on the watch online. A sapphire crystal top is placed onto the dial of every designer watch. Regular watches either have a mineral crystal top or glass top. The sapphire top gives a violet tint at a certain angle which can be used to make sure of the fact that a certain watch is genuine.
To prove this, tilt the watch at various angles under a light to see if it gives off a purplish-tint. Moreover, the sapphire crystal top also has a noticeable luster and shine that is obvious from even a few steps away. Designer watch bracelets are specially designed to ensure flexibility and durability. Examine the watch bracelet before buying it by making sure it is perfectly flexible and glides onto your wrist smoothly. Moreover, the clasp that closes the bracelet usually has 2 stamps on it.
These stamps can be searched to ensure the authenticity of the watch. Not only can you identify a fake by comparing serial numbers, but you can also check for the model number as well.
Do your research online to find out exactly what the model number of the genuine watch should be. If the watch is real, the serial number on the watch case and bracelet both should be exactly similar. Tally these numbers to differentiate between a real and fake watch.
Sometimes, the serial number is also placed on a sticker behind the dial of the watch, so you may want to check there as well. Essentially, I paid for my lesson by buying this counterfeit bracelet. There is another article on Watchtime. They know they are buying a fake watch; they have no intention of buying the real thing. You and I are not in this category and probably never will be. Fake watches are for fake people. A counterfeit watch — or bracelet, as I mentioned in my small introduction — is a complete fake.
Nothing is genuine about the watch. Some makers of counterfeit watches are quite good these days, which means they make them out of decent stainless steel, get most of the little details correct, and perhaps even provide a fake box and fake papers. Be very careful about those. Two things will probably give away it is fake: 1. The price. It is probably too good to be true. The movement. There will be some other things as well, mainly in the details of the watch.
So either make sure you are able to verify whether there is valid movement inside or study all the details of the watch to be sure. Ideally, you would bring a similar watch with you that you know to be genuine.
Frankenwatches are another thing, and in my opinion, even more dangerous. A Frankenwatch is a watch that consists of mainly original and genuine parts but they are either not period-accurate or did not originally come with that specific timepiece.
An example would be a Rolex Submariner from , with a movement from a more recent Rolex watch Rolex maybe not even a Submariner , a wrong bracelet, a bezel inlay from a later model, and an aftermarket plexiglas crystal. This, or another mix of ingredients, can make it hard to determine whether a watch is genuine or not.
In both cases, you need some self-education to avoid buying either a counterfeit watch or a Frankenwatch. The level of education varies, of course, and also depends on whether there is a lot of documentation on a brand or specific watch, or whether there is little or none.
The easiest way to prevent yourself from buying a counterfeit or Frankenwatch is by going to an authorized dealer and buying a new watch. Some discontinued and vintage watches are so high in demand — with corresponding price tags — that it also attracts scum. Scum that tries to make a fortune from of the passionate collectors and buyers of pre-owned and vintage watches that think they have found their Horological Holy Grail.
Some watch brands are eager to characterize the internet as a bad place, more or less the sewer of society. We know better, of course. This view, in my opinion, mainly comes from brands that do not have a clear strategy or vision regarding online sales yet and use it as an excuse to avoid the discussion. However, other brands are very helpful if you need more information about a discontinued watch or even a vintage watch. Some will inform you whether the parts are original, and sometimes may even offer to do a check-up on the watch.
Unfortunately, John Mayer came to this decision a bit too late, but it is how he found out some of his watches were no good. Buying a genuine watch is a matter of doing the homework. This rule does not only apply to internet sales, of course, but also to pre-owned and vintage watches sold by traditional brick-and-mortar shops and auctions yes, people, Frankenwatches and counterfeits even show up there once in a while.
Common sense and education is key when it comes to purchasing a watch from any channel other than an authorized dealer or brand boutique. There are some really great books out there that can make you a virtual expert on this subject matter, brand forums with a lot of knowledgeable contributors and of course various watch blogs that have covered a lot of different of wristwatches.
Absorb as much information as you can and do not forget to ask about a second opinion when you are in doubt. However, this is contingent upon taking appropriate watch care and maintenance. Naturally, the better a watch is maintained, the longer it The secondary market for luxury watches is booming.
Rolex is by far the most in-demand, easily recognized watch brand in both the primary and secon Get Your Offer Diamonds. Watch Articles. How to authenticate a luxury watch Determining the authenticity of your watch can be a difficult task, but it is possible. To authenticate a luxury watch, some of the most important factors to look for are: Incorrect Model Number — Phony model numbers are common amongst fake watches, particularly Rolexes.
Looking for incorrect ending digits of your model number can alert you to a fake watch. Incorrect Serial Number — Fake serial numbers are also common amongst counterfeit luxury watches. There are a number of membership sites that provide databases of known counterfeit numbers. You can cross-reference the serial number of your watch in one of these databases to determine the authenticity of the number. Watch experts will often have access to these databases. Color Discrepancies — Counterfeit watches sometimes have off-colored metal or colors that are slightly different than the original version of the watch.
Some buyers fall victim to the misconception that box and papers are the most crucial element when buying pre-owned. Instead, a smart buyer knows that the quality of the watch itself is the most critical thing when buying pre-owned. This should be your number one factor when shopping in the second hand market. This is what a Patek Philippe watch looks like with its box and papers:. This is true for two reasons.
First, watch box and papers were once considered relatively unimportant and therefore discarded. In addition, watch box and papers are more likely to be lost or misplaced over time. Alternatively, they made plans to ditch their box and papers to cut down on environmental waste. Instead, the manufacturer expects to deliver their timepieces in pouches made from recycled materials.
With the growing consciousness around unnecessary and environmentally damaging packaging, it will be interesting to see if other watchmakers follow suit in the coming years. Could a trend like this in fact increase the value of box and papers as they become more obsolete?
Will it result in the demise of box and papers and render them worthless altogether?
0コメント