The worst thing that can happen after buying a pre-owned or vintage watch is to find out it’s a fake. At least unless you hear the news from someone else, while you’re out flouting your new timepiece, or called out on social media in front of thousands of people.
Avoid falling into the trap of counterfeit watches and damaging your ego with our four top tips for spotting a fake.
1. Research, research, research
It almost goes without saying, but even before thinking about buying a pre-owned or vintage watch, you need to do your homework.
The internet is a great place to start — websites, blogs, and online communities are chocked full of nuggets of wisdom that can help get you familiar with the movements and history of a particular brand or model and understand the commonalities among fakes.
But don’t limit yourself to the web. Records from top auction houses are also an invaluable resource — providing a database of genuine watch sales along with photos and pricing. The idea here is, if you get to know the real version of your watch well enough — appearance, weight, materials, sound — then you’ll be able to spot an imposter a mile away.
2. Get to know the seller
It’s always been a challenge, but today, with online auction houses, second-hand forum sellers, and pre-owned and vintage watches being in incredibly high demand, it’s getting even harder to spot a dodgy deal.
To avoid falling for a fake, not only do you need to do your research on the watch, but it’s also paramount to research the seller or dealership.
You should only buy from an established dealer you can trust. They should have a good reputation and ideally a record of selling similar timepieces. In the pre-owned watch business, for the sake of authenticity, the fact is it’s always better to pay more for a watch from a reputable business than pay less from an untrustworthy seller.
3. Provenance and paperwork
Some watches won’t come with their original paperwork. The reality is that it’s normal for vintage watches, especially those with particularly long and eventful histories, to become separated from their papers.
For this reason, point one and two can’t be stressed enough when buying pre-owned. However, if you get lucky and a watch does has its certificates, matching serial numbers, and original box, then all the better — but you will pay for the privilege.
Sure enough, however, if you do find a vintage timepiece with proof of authenticity and a documented history, it will only add to its value over the long term.
4. Know when it’s too good to be true
Many times buyers get landed with a knock-off watch, they’ve overlooked one if not a number of red flags.
For instance, if there’s an online dealer looking for a quick sale on a rare, vintage timepiece, ask yourself why. The fact they’re in a hurry is generally not a good sign, and can be a way of putting pressure on buyers to act without doing the necessary research.
Likewise, too good to be true pricing that undercuts auction houses is a major red flag. Sure, it’s possible you may have found a hidden gem at a car boot sale, but when buying from a dealer, more often than not a low price is a sign something is amiss.
Parker’s is a century-and-a-half old watch retailer built on loyalty, reliability, and value for money. Check out our reviews on TrustPilot or browse our catalogue to see the latest models in stock.
