Telltale Signs That Your Luxury Watch Is Fake

We’ll be the first to admit that genuine luxury watches are an investment, however, this never means you should settle for a fake. They're, by in large, a massive con and you could find your brand new ‘Rolex’ malfunctioning as soon as it starts raining. 

But with all these fake luxury watches around, how can you tell if yours is the genuine article? Thankfully, there are a few telltale signs which can help you sniff them out in no time. 

Location of Purchase

Where you bought your ‘luxury watch’ is an enormous factor in its genuineness. If it was laid out on a mat in front of the Venetian canals before purchase, you can almost guarantee that what you have is a fake. 

What about online, though? Sometimes, it’s worth the hassle of researching and going to a genuine dealer so you end up with the product you want. Even buying your watch through sites like eBay and Gumtree carries enormous risk. 

Dodgy Deals

If you bought that Paul Newman Rolex Daytona for more than 25% off the RRP then we have some bad news for you. While the discount may sound attractive, be wary of any discount you hear. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. 

People who spend money on real Rolexes and Omegas know that every penny was well spent due to the quality and lifespan of their products. It’s always worth the investment while fakes aren’t worth anything.  

Scant on Details 

This applies mostly to when you’re purchasing online, but if the watch you’re planning to get has photos that don’t show off the product in detail, this is definitely a red flag. Blurry, zoomed out or covered up photos of the watch are especially suspect as it’s pretty evident the seller doesn't care about quality. 

Whenever you’re buying a real watch, you want every single detail to be shown off, even the flaws, so you know it’s authentic. You also want a written account on when the item was bought/sold on, how often it was worn and any potential scratches, dents, etc. 

The ‘Weight’-ing Game

Finally, the last telltale sign of a fake watch is how it feels in your hand. If it’s too light or feels ‘rough’ against your skin, it’s more than likely you’ve got yourself a counterfeit. This is due to the fakers resorting to cheaper materials to make the watch and using machines for the finish. 

A finish on a genuine watch is done by hand and nothing can replace this feeling, hence the roughness of the fake. Other signs include irregularities in the texture and sharp corners. 

If you’re in the market for a genuine luxury watch, feel free to see what we have in stock at Cuttings Jewellers.