Anyone who wants to invest in luxury watches should definitely know how to how to Spot Fake Watches? Anyone who wants to invest in luxury watches should definitely know how to spot a fake. The market is flooded with counterfeits that look deceptively real at first glance. In this article, you'll learn what to watch out for to distinguish a genuine luxury watch from a replica – and how to protect yourself from making a costly mistake.
This way, at least superficial and lower-quality counterfeits can be quickly exposed.
A trustworthy and experienced dealer like UHREN-FAN.DE can support you in making informed decisions and provide expert advice on your investment.
BREITLING | Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46 | Ref. AB0137211B1P1
Are counterfeit watches common?
Counterfeits and watches of diminished value have always been in circulation. These are not only counterfeit luxury watches, but also stolen watches or luxury watches that are repaired after defects with inferior spare parts and placed on the market.
According to authenticity testers, the quality of these authentications has improved noticeably in recent years. So much so that even less experienced watchmakers can hardly tell the difference from the originals.
How do authenticators recognize counterfeit watches?
Experienced authenticators use a series of tests that a counterfeit can rarely pass. However, this is not a standardized procedure. Only with years of expertise and experience is it possible for a luxury watch connoisseur to recognize an imitation or a watch of diminished value with the naked eye.
First of all, an authenticity tester can often tell the difference by the weight of a watch. Luxury watches are made with high-quality materials such as gold, stainless steel and platinum. Counterfeits use cheaper and therefore lighter raw materials. However, this is not reliable proof of a copy, but rather an initial indication for the authenticity tester.
It is therefore necessary to carry out more in-depth investigations.
Visual differences to the original are examined in detail. This may involve damage to the strap, inferior stitching or generally inferior craftsmanship. Experts often find that the dials have been replaced or luminous paint has been applied retrospectively.
The condition of the material surface of the case provides information about the quality of the material used. Sapphire glass, for example, is much more robust than inexpensive mineral glass. Deviations in the structure or print on the dial or the cut are further clear indications of an imitation.
Testing the movement
The functionality of the movement is checked in detail, as this is often where the most noticeable faults in counterfeits creep in, as the movements installed often do not have the necessary functions.
Luxury watches are manufactured with a high-quality automatic movement, while the corresponding fake version is often offered with a much cheaper quartz movement or a fake mechanical movement without any surface treatment and missing or other functions.
Furthermore, engraved details such as the serial number on the case provide information about the origin and manufacturer of the luxury watch. A verified serial number is a positive indicator of the authenticity of the watch.
The enclosed certificate is also checked in detail. Here, too, counterfeiters proceed skillfully and try to imitate decades-old documents in terms of smell and feel. Specific printing presses are used to simulate the age of the original papers.
You should generally be suspicious if the price of the watch on offer seems unusually low or if „adventurous“ stories are told about the watch, such as that the watch was given as a gift and therefore there is no box or papers, or that the watch was found or inherited. In nine out of ten cases, these are inventions.
Professional counterfeiters focus primarily on entry-level models in the luxury world.
These are produced in larger quantities and are therefore in circulation more frequently. This makes it easy for counterfeiters to bring their imitations onto the market inconspicuously. Rare luxury watches are in most cases a masterpiece of craftsmanship with functionality and/or hand engraving that is difficult to copy. For the impostor, this means more work and a higher risk of being discovered.
Generally speaking, copyists are guided by the following rule: the more mechanical processes are involved in the production, the easier it is to counterfeit the watch.
Furthermore, the corresponding movements for the entry-level models are easy to obtain.
Counterfeits of the following brands are particularly popular:
ROLEX | Submariner Date Oyster 41 mm Oystersteel STARBUCKS | Ref. 126610LV
With UHREN-FAN.DE you can be confident that you are making the right decision for your investment with competent advice. Mario Gensicke has been working in the industry for 25 years and his passion for watches is proof of his extensive expertise.
With UHREN-FAN.DE you can view the product range of Mario Gensicke and benefit from the renowned expertise.