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Detecting a counterfeit watch Counterfeiting watches is a global networking business, and its products can be found at tourist resorts, internet sites, local jewelry shops, and a flea market near you.
Types of Fakes
There are basically two levels of counterfeit watch. The first is an extremely cheap imitation. The watch carries a luxury name but there's no effort made to copy details of the real watch. Sellers assume a customer who pays $30 on a street corner must know it's a fake, must know he's not getting a "real bargain" on a $2000 watch.
A higher-quality fake is one designed to closely resemble the real product. It may incorporate real gold, diamonds and leather. It may have a case that bears a legitimate model number, but have other parts that are poor-quality substitutes. Such a watch will sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and an uneducated buyer could take it to be genuine. However, it is of inferior quality, made with questionable parts and workmanship. Because it does not come from an authorized dealer, it carries no warrantees.
In an example of quirky marketing, some fakes are openly sold on counterfeiters’ Web sites. The site might include pictures of brand name watches, then pitch its own replicas at a fraction of the price.
One counterfeit site ticks off the Rolex-like qualities its own fakes include, such as a sapphire crystal and screws in the links, rather than pins. It even boasts serial numbers, Rolex's magnified date at 3 c’clock position, the "characteristic Rolex green sticker" on the watch back, and "all the appropriate Rolex markings in the correct places." Who Makes the Fakes
It's a small world, as far as counterfeiters are concerned. In an increasingly sophisticated black market, watch components make their way to entrepreneurs around the globe. One Italian store owner purchased, through Georgian and Egyptian intermediaries, watches and watch parts that came from Hong Kong. Police found in the Hong Kong shipment metal plates and diagrams showing how to attach them to watch faces and how to forge a brand-name logo.
Closer to home, in October authorities arrested a Florida woman for operating a counterfeit watch business. Her rented storage unit held almost 2,000 brand-name fake watches, with a total estimated retail value of $8.5 million.
According to Interpol, the high returns have lured organized crime groups and terrorist groups into the trade, as well. A civil suit in New York involved a Vietnamese group that imported to the U.S. from China watch movements that cost 27 cents to make. After assembling the watches and adding fake logos, the group sold them to wholesalers for $12 to $20 each. The wholesalers resold them to street vendors and beauty parlors for $20 to $35 and to Internet dealers for even more. Consumers bought the watches for as much as $250. Who's Being Fooled?
The shop owner-turned-counterfeiter in Italy used, as part of his defense, the argument that "a watch that sells for 100 euros ($120) is clearly not the real one, so the consumer isn't being tricked."
In the U.S., a private investigator for Rolex visited a local flea market and purchased two replica Rolex watches for $27 each. Federal authorities eventually seized the offending flea market booth and found 742 replica watches. The seller was indicted on two felony counts, but the District Court dismissed the indictment on the grounds that no person could reasonably believe that a $27 flea market watch was in fact a genuine Rolex.
The Court of Appeals subsequently reinstated the indictment. It turns out some of the customers were bringing the fake Rolexes to authorized Rolex dealers for service. The court took this as evidence that the customers did, in fact, believe the watches to be genuine.
Things to keep in mind:
A logo is not enough!
Fine watches are identified by model and serial number.
In addition, most manufacturers have separate model numbers for parts of the watch, such as the dial, bezel and band. The sales receipt should be from an authorized dealer of the brand. Most high-end manufacturers sell only through authorized dealers, and generally do not sell directly on the Internet.
Fine watches not sold by an authorized dealer are considered by the company to be "second-hand" and do not carry warrantees.
Not every jeweler is competent to appraise luxury watches, able to judge authenticity of the watch and all its parts, and to recognize non-authorized "after market" add-ons as well as out-and-out fakes.
Many consumers may not be aware that luxury watches bought from sources other than an authorized dealer may be counterfeit, despite any logos or trademarks.
A few Rolex tips; Five 'No-s':
No see-through case backs: Rolex has never produced timepieces with a transparent case back that gives a chance to view the inner life of a watch. If you see a Rolex with a see-though case back, be careful - it's a replica.
No skeleton dials: Only fake Rolex watches feature skeleton dials displaying the moving inner mechanisms of a timepiece. Even if you'd like to have a Rolex with a skeleton dial, it is possible only in case of a fake watch.
No rubber parts: Authentic Rolex watches do no include even minor parts made of rubber. It is equally true about their cases and bands.
No gold-plated watches: You will not find an authentic gold-plated Rolex timepiece. The brand's timekeepers are developed in 14 or 18K gold.
No Chinese-made Rolex: Although Rolex is a Swiss watchmaking company, you will find authentic timepieces of the brand produced in other countries, for example, the USA, Italy, Venezuela and Mexico. However, a Chinese Rolex is no doubt a replica watch.
Important Peculiarities:
Rolex produces its Oyster Perpetual models in platinum, gold and stainless steel, but never chrome or chrome-plate. All the Oyster Perpetual watches are provided with screwed case backs.
Rolex President models have 18k yellow or white gold or platinum cases. Only fake watches have cases produced from stainless steel or two-tone stainless steel and gold.
Very few Rolex watches are powered by a quartz movement. Ten percent of the Oyster Perpetual models make up the exception. As for the other ninety percent, they are equipped with automatic movement of the brand.
Day and date indications are featured only by full-size Rolex watches for men.
General Tips:
Smart customers should avoid buying a timepiece from street vendors.
Buying a pre-owned Rolex watch through Internet dealers also implies some risk. Still, if an on-line dealer provides the customers with an opportunity to visit his store and examine the timepiece given a warranty, the interested customers may try out their luck.
It is better not to buy a Rolex watch in the Far East or Turkey. There are really few, if any authentic Rolex timepieces, offered by the stores in these regions.
While buying a watch, it is preferable to pay by credit card, not by cash or check. In this case you will be able to return the purchase if you have strong reasons to consider it is a fake.
How to Spot a fake Breitling Watch Breitling opened its first factory in 1884 in switzerland.The original watch maker was Leon Breitling. His granson took over the business in 1914. The watch was worn by German Pilots in world war 1 and The famous German pilot The Red Barron. Manfred Von Richthofen. In 1942 it was the first watch to have a chronograph. By 1952 Breitling now started manufacturing aircraft cockpit couters.
Over the last 50 years Breitling has proved to be one of the worlds top watch manufacturers.
Unfortunatly since 1980, The replicas and fake watches are also being produced. The major problem is that they are VERY good. Most popular fakes are the Fighter, Crosswind, Navitimer, Aviator and Sports divers watch.
1. On a Genuine Breitling the window for the date is large and eats into the second and minute markers, The fakes do not.
2. Original Breitling's do not have raised sub dials.
3.The inner bezel on the fake does not blend seemlessly into the dial, You can see a black ring between the inner bezel and the dial. The genuine watches do not have this.
4.Breilting and wings logo are embrossed on genuine watches, On the fakes they are Stamped on.
5. On a Breitling fighter watch the finish is completley brushed. On the fake its a gloss finish.
6. On an Original Breitling, Look at the very center pin that holds the minute, hour and second hand. It should all be the same color, Normally silver. The fakes all have a black pin. Is this a Fake Tag Heuer formula 1 watch? Just to start off with the obvious sign are chrome buttons and a chrome screw down crown, genuine tag f1s have black ones. On a genuine tag f1 the date will cut into the second markers to produce a larger date window,on a replica the date window is smaller and does not cover the second markers. A genuine will say 200 meters on face and a replica will say 200m usually,also the stopwatch is not one tenth of a second operational on a replica.a genuine second hand will be at the six o clock position Another sign of a genuine tag f1 is that it will have Tag heuer stamped on the side(except CAC1111) first issue,replicas never do.
How to spot a fake Gucci watch
# 1 - The back side of the watch has nothing but a crest or a crest + the Gucci name on it. This is common and a sure sign of a fake. Some real Guccis have the crest, come don't, you have to know what is supposed to be there, but NONE of them have just a crest and/or GUCCI and nothing else. These crests and Gucci names are generally huge as well - the larger they are, the more likely it is to be a fake. # 2 - Bracelet is a partial bangle look and partially links. What nonsense! Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I've never seen a real Gucci made like that. # 3 - It's a 3600 model with a "G" face. This is probably the most commonly faked model out there. If it has a second hand, it's fake. If it's laying out flat, it's fake - the real ones have a deployment clasp and won't stretch out flat. Ask questions.. does the back attach with screws (it's supposed to) or pop off.
# 4 - It is a 3900 ladies model. Most of these fakes have the crest on the back. The real ones do not. They have writing only. # 5 - It's a 9000 model and doesn't have a date window, or the GG logos around the face are not where they should be - they should be at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions # 6 - It says 1500 on the back but the watch is round. A real 1500 is a rectangular bangle style. I've seen quite a few of these fakes lately. # 7 - It has no model number on the back or it has the model number but it's the wrong one. I've seen several lately that say 9000I. There is no such animal and they don't even appear like they are trying to be a 9000L or 9000M. Just a lame attempt at throwing a number on there to make it look legit to the unsuspecting. Some models, the one with the enameled back and the GG logo do not have the model number on the back, but these are the exception to the rule # 8 - The movement is from Japan. Some of these acutally say this on the dial! Not real. Gucci movements are Swiss.
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