If you’re in the market for a genuine luxury timepiece, be aware that replicas have flooded the marketplace. Some people want the look of a luxury watch but don’t want to pay the price, and for these people, they may choose a fake. But if you’re looking to invest in a high-quality precision timepiece, the last thing you want is to be fooled by a clever copycat. That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips to help you identify a replica luxury watch. With a bit of careful research and a savvy eye, you can avoid the replicas and zero in on the perfect timepiece for you.
Materials
High-end timepieces are made from luxury materials, and though some replicas are now using finer materials, most of them are crafted with imitation metals and leather. Look for the following as you investigate:
- Genuine gold, usually 18k – Hallmarks with 18ct or 750
- Genuine titanium, normally Grade 5 – not easy to determine
- Genuine platinum, usually 950 hallmark
- Stainless steel, 316L or higher – not easy to determine
- Genuine leather
- Genuine diamonds
- Genuine gemstones
With luxury watches, the excellent materials don’t end with the timepiece itself. You should also look at the watch’s packaging, which should also be constructed from quality materials, how sharp is the printing on the marketing material.
Weight
To keep manufacturing costs down, the producers of replica watches use cheaper materials, and inevitably, these materials weigh less than the real deal. Hold the watches you’re interested in and be aware that not only are forgeries lighter in weight. Wherever there is a screw or a connection it will not be sharp and clean.
Luxury watches feature hand-finishing, and this process is time-consuming and expensive. Replicas are rougher around the edges and have irregularities here and there. Machines just can’t imitate the quality of finishing of luxury watches.
Movement
Many luxury watch brands pride themselves on the intricate internal mechanics that govern their products’ movements. Their complex components are expensive, so replicas can rarely imitate them. The fakes generally rely on battery-driven components, and strange anomalies often occur. For example, you might see that the watch hands are ticking (what we see in digital watches) when they really should be gliding flawlessly around the dial.
Typefaces
Luxury dial printing is nearly impossible to replicate, and that’s good news for you because you’ll be able to recognise fakes if you examine the faces carefully. Fonts are generally proprietary to luxury watch brands, so if you’re familiar with each brand’s font, you’ll have a simple way to tell if a watch is fake.
Search for an image of the legitimate luxury watch you’re interested in and compare every detail of prospective watches with the image. Look for the following tell-tale signs of replica watches:
- The unequal spacing between letters
- Incorrect logos
- Spelling errors
- Crooked text
- Sloppy fonts
A great example is Cartier using the name as part of the button, but you need an eye glass to see it.
Engravings
A watch’s engravings can give you important clues about its authenticity. Model and serial numbers are etched in luxury timepieces with solid, very fine lines. If a replica has a serial number, it’s usually made up of tiny dots, and therefore, it has a sandy appearance.
You can also check the timepiece serial number for further verification. Each luxury watch has a unique serial number to identify it, but most replicas share a serial number with many other replicas because engraving each one is time-consuming and costly. Start by searching the serial number online. If there are multiple listings for watches with the same serial number, they’re replicas. If you run across a watch without a serial number, it’s a fake as well.
Date Windows
Here’s another detail to check when you’re trying to distinguish between a genuine luxury watch and a replica: the date window on a replica is usually covered with glass, and glass can become scratched and hazy quite easily. On the other hand, the date windows on luxury timepieces are covered with sapphire crystal, which is scratch-resistant and extremely durable. Also, the crystal is usually shaped in a way that magnifies the tiny numbers representing the date, making them easier to read. Glass-covered date windows don’t have magnification properties, so the numbers will be smaller and more difficult to read.
The “Frankenwatch”
Some replica watches are cobbled together from various luxury watches, thus giving them the name “Frankenwatches.” For instance, the face may be a genuine Rolex, but the mechanics inside could have come from different manufacturers. This kind of replica can be difficult to detect. Your best bet is to shop from a reputable dealer who guarantees the watch’s authenticity.
Luxury Watch Insurance
Once you have found the perfect luxury timepiece, it’s time to cover it with watch insurance. With our Q Report cover, you can return to your original jeweller for repair or replacement, and your watch will be covered worldwide so you can take it with you wherever you travel. For more information, or to get a free instant quote, get in touch with us.
