Luxury watches don’t simply tell time, it portrays an image, makes a statement along with the feel-good feeling that comes with wearing one. It also creates a bond and community among owners of the watch brand. It is not only a sign of excellent craftsmanship, it appreciates as a collectible item. Buying a luxury watch is like buying gold jewellery. You can use it and sell it to a jeweller at a profit or use it as collateral for a short term loan from a pawn shop.
It can be used to mark a milestone achievement or birthday, it expresses personal style and can be passed on as a family heirloom.
Many people want to own one, hence there is a booming market for fake or replica luxury watches. How do you know that the luxury watch you want to buy is original?
One main way to do that is to buy from reputable luxury watch dealers or a marketplace for luxury watches.
What if you are offered one to buy are you want to be sure you are buying an original? You must be familiar with the original so that you can spot a fake. You must do your research and become familiar with the features of the watch before attempting to spot a fake or consult an expert.
1) Ticking
One of the easiest ways to detect a fake luxury watch is to put the watch to your ear and listen for the ticking sound. On original designer watch hardly makes any noise or ticking sound. This is because the original is made of many well-crafted tiny parts that hardly make a sound.
2) Weight
An original luxury watch is made up of precious stones, precious and heavy metals and alloys which make the watch heavier. Fake watches are made from inferior materials which are usually lighter. If you have handled the original before, you can easily tell a fake from the original from the weight.
3) Incorrect Model Number
An online check can reveal if the model number is genuine or fake. Incorrect ending digits of your model number can alert you to a fake watch.
4) Incorrect Serial number
A quick check of membership sites that have databases of known counterfeit numbers can show if the serial number of the watch is listed as a counterfeit. There are also databases of genuine serial numbers of the watch model, including stolen watches. You can also contact a watch expert to search for you. If the watch is original, the serial number on the watch case and bracelet should be exactly similar. The serial number is also placed on a sticker behind the dial of the watch
You also need to look for hybrid watches reassembled from original components from different brands, especially if you are buying used ones. You may want to have the watch checked by an expert before you hand over your money.
5) Colour Discrepancies
Fake watches often have colours that are slightly different from the original version of the watch. Incorrect colouring is a key sign that the watch is fake.
6) Watch Hands Design
Compare the watch to an original to determine if the watch’s hands are the same. Check to see if the watch hands are of the correct material, shape and size. A careful examination can expose small design discrepancies.
Luxury watches usually have a sapphire crystal top placed on the dial. The sapphire top gives a violet tint at a certain angle which can be used to authenticate an original. Tilt the watch at various angles under a light to see if it gives off a purplish tint. The sapphire crystal top has a noticeable lustre and shine that is obvious from even a few feet away.
7) Hand Movement
An incorrect movement is a sign that the watch is fake. A fake watch may have an error in the watch mechanism which may then make the hand movement shaky and unstable unlike the smooth movement of an original.
8) Cyclops window
Wrong cyclops window magnification over the calendar window is another indicator that the watch is fake. The date in the cyclops is either over magnified or under magnified. Authentic models have a specific magnification.
9) Typefaces and engraving
Luxury dial printing is nearly impossible to replicate. Luxury watch brands use proprietary fonts that are hard to reproduce.
Here are some tell-tale signs of replica watches:
- The unequal spacing between letters
- Incorrect logos
- Spelling errors
- Crooked text
- Sloppy fonts
Luxury watch model and serial numbers are etched with solid, very fine lines. Luxury watches have a couple of stamps placed all around their body. The finishing is smooth and polished without scratches.
10) Watch bracelet
Luxury watch bracelets are specially designed for flexibility and durability. It is perfectly flexible and glides onto your wrist smoothly. The clasp usually has 2 stamps on it. These stamps can be also be used to verify authenticity.
11) Packaging
It is also possible to spot a fake watch from the packaging. Watches without a box and papers are usually fake or stolen. Original boxes are usually leather made with superior stitching. The boxes come with original papers and official authentication of a watchmaker which includes the serial number of the watch and the dealer named on the certificate.
12) Price
Before you pay for a watch, you need to be familiar with the price range for originals. If the deal is too good to be true, it usually is. You are either buying a fake watch or a used one, or a hybrid watch. “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.” as the saying goes
These tips are very handy especially when buying a luxury watch from private sellers. If you are not a watch expert or do not feel comfortable, only buy luxury watches from official and trustworthy dealers or marketplace for luxury watches that guarantee and certify the 100% authenticity of all watches.