GUEST POST: How to avoid counterfeit watches

Owning a luxury watch is not only a privilege, but it’s an investment and something that many of us will cherish for years to come. Designer watches are made to carry on shining and perform long after the day of purchase and with a little care and regular servicing, your timepiece can last a lifetime. But if you get your hands on a counterfeit watch, this may not be the case.

Designer replicas may look deceivingly similar but they are not made with the same love and craftsmanship as a genuine high end timepiece. At first glance, you may not even be able to tell the difference but look a little closer and there are ways of spotting a fake.

Here’s a guide to identifying the fakes from the genuine article. When buying a watch from a store or an individual seller, pay attention to the following indicators below.

 

Tips on Spotting a Designer Replica

·         Study the signature features – before you purchase your watch, make sure you research the look of your desired model. Try and pick out some signature features so that you can look for these before you buy. Many designers will create unique details which are only spotted when you look a little closer.

·         Inspect your watch thoroughly – if you are buying a watch from an individual or a second hand watch shop, make sure you get time to inspect your watch thoroughly. Original watches should have crisp and clean engraving; never smeared or unclear. Another big tell-tale sign is typos in brand names (and sometimes this can only be seen when you look carefully). If you are using an online company, make sure they are a trusted retailer.

·         Check the watch functions – so simple but so easily overlooked. If you are collecting your watch in person, always check that the chronograph and all of the watch’s functions are in full working order. Look out for the simple things such as a sweep second hand (many high end designer watches have these whereas fakes have a tick style hand). But always know your model before you jump to conclusions.

·         Check the mechanics – although today’s replica watches look and feel real and work just as intended, the quality of the mechanical timepiece can vary greatly. Fake watches offer mechanical movement just as you would expect from a genuine watch but because of the lower quality craftsmanship and design, they are not as accurate.

Buying a Designer Watch: Shopping Advice

Although auction sites and online forums are very popular for selling and buying designer goods, it is still not recommended if you want to avoid the counterfeit trick. With clever wording and great photography, it’s now very easy to sell fakes to vulnerable shoppers.

If you want to ensure that your watch is 100% genuine, use only trusted websites that have a good customer track record and always find watches with their original boxes and their original manufacturer’s documents.

Watts 1858 is an authorised dealer of designer watches and jewellery. Visit www.watts1858.com to find out more and to browse the full range.