When searching online for a luxury timepiece, the sheer number of results can be overwhelming. It can be easy to unknowingly be sucked into the world of fake, or counterfeit, watches. This post will outline the best ways to avoid buying a fake luxury watch to make sure that you do not fall for buying a fake. Fake watches are replicas that are designed to look like genuine luxury timepieces. They are often sold online or at markets.
Fake watches tend to be of considerably worse quality than the originals and can be easy for experts to spot. In some countries, owning counterfeit watches is considered a criminal offence, so is absolutely best avoided. It is often recommended that people purchase more affordable models rather than counterfeit luxury ones. This will allow them to get a better quality timepiece. If you are searching for a luxury watch, keep reading for our guide on the best ways to avoid buying a fake luxury watch.
1. Only buy from authorised retailers.
The most obvious and straightforward way to ensure that you do not buy a fake watch is to only buy timepieces from authorised retailers. Good watch brands tend to only sell their timepieces through their own website or through an authorised retailer. These retailers will provide a genuine timepiece that is in the advertised condition and will come with an authorised warranty. This gives the customer reassurance that the watch is real and of good quality. It should also be possible to return the watch if anything was wrong. Watch retailers will advertise their authorised status on their websites. Often this can be doubled checked through the brand’s website too.
By buying from an authorised retailer, a customer can shop online with confidence and does not necessarily need to examine the watch in person. This can be slightly more challenging when searching for a second hand or vintage timepiece. However, some retailers sell second-hand timepieces. Alternatively, the customer could view the watch in person to check that it is real and genuine.
2. Check the logos and details on the watch.
The logos of watch brands are copyrighted, making it illegal for fake watch manufacturers to replicate them. However, many counterfeit watch producers get around this by altering the logo slightly. This makes it easy to spot a fake luxury watch if the customer has familiarised themselves with the genuine logo of the brand. Before viewing a potential luxury watch purchase, it is best to study the logo and distinguishing features of the brand. This will allow you to spot a mistake in the branding of the watch from a mile off and will save you from unwittingly purchasing a counterfeit timepiece.
Some brands even feature very small and subtle details on their watches so that experts can distinguish the real thing from the fakes. The brand name may be featured in very small font somewhere on the dial, for example. Cartier has been known to use this tactic of identifying their watches as being genuine. Luxury watch brands are very aware that people are creating fake versions of their iconic watches and are continuously finding ways to try and prevent their customers from accidentally purchasing a fake.
3. View the watch in person.
Watch sellers often recommend that a collector should view a watch in person before they purchase it to ensure that it is the right size, style and fit for them. This is absolutely the case if there are any doubts about whether the watch is genuine. Seeing the watch in person and being able to handle it will mean that the feel and weight of the watch can be properly assessed. Often, counterfeit luxury timepieces are much lighter than genuine models.
Additionally, the quality of the straps and bracelets of fake models will be inadequate. The sound of a watch can vary dramatically between real and fake models. A true luxurious timepiece is likely to be very quiet. If the watch is especially loud, be sure to double-check others features that may give the watch away as a fake. A genuine luxury watch is going to be better quality in every aspect, so if something feels off, be sure to start asking questions.
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What did you think of our best ways to avoid buying a fake luxury watch? Do you have any tips of your own? Let us know in the comments!
