Watch counterfeits and watch plagiarism
Fakers love Rolex, Breitling, TAG Heuer and Omega
One can find them on the beach, at the airport, in auctions, at jewellers and even in museums. We are talking about watch counterfeits and watch fakes. The start into the world of fake watches begins with just a few Euros and ends in the six and seven-figure region. While counterfeits and fakes in the lower price segment are still relatively easy to recognise, watch experts even struggle with those in the higher price segment.
The entry-level
But one step at a time. Most watch counterfeits are traded in a price class of between 5 to 50 Euros. These watches can commonly be found in typical holiday destinations such as North Africa, Turkey and Eastern Europe at markets and beaches. The most common watches that are faked internationally are watches with the brand Rolex, Breitling, TAG Heuer and Omega. The watches are always of low quality, which can be noticed, for example, by the metal that has been used, , cheap nickel alloy instead of stainless steal or the watchstraps (imitation leather instead or genuine leather). Quartz clockworks are used in only scarce cases; mostly the cheapest Chinese mechanical and automatic clockworks are used that often even have the same or similar functions as the originals. For those who would assume that these counterfeited watches are genuine watches, while taking into consideration the price, then these persons cannot be helped. Discounts in the watch branch of up to 50 percent are possible with individual models; the rule of thumb however is rather 10 to 25 percent. And a real Breitling or a Rolex will most probably never be available for 50 Euro.
The middle-priced segment
These are the alleged brand name watches in a price class of 300 to 2.500 Euros, commonly apparently slightly used and hung out with high reductions and discounts that arouse the interest of bona fide buyers. Most often in an original packaging or with alleged manufacturer papers, that the seller got a hold of on pertinent trading platforms such as eBay. Thanks to modern computer technology, the watches can barely be differentiated from the original - even by experts. Re-engineering is the magic word. Resourceful copiers – mostly from Asian countries – reconstruct entire watch components and then, with the most modern CNC machines, copies are created that have only minimal deviations. These parts then on the one hand – as also in other branches – appear on the market as expensive spare parts and on the other as a component of high-quality counterfeits. In this price segment almost only Swiss ETA clockworks as well as Seike and Citizen clockworks are used.
The upper class
These are the ultimate luxury watches and the prices start from beyond 10.000 Euros. Watches in these price segments are more than just a status symbol, they are also capital investments. Through the opening of boarders and the continuous strong demand from countries such as China and Russia, the luxury watches in the upper price segment are a lucrative field for counterfeiters. There is almost no brand that is not affected. In most cases though, it’s the antique watches and collectors watches that are faked. No effort is too great when taking into consideration the attainable prices and profits and the business is controlled through organised crime.
Growth market Marriage & spare parts
Especial problems with faked watches are Marriages. This term refers to watches that partially consist of original parts and partially from faked parts. The procedure is simple. One takes a luxury watch and organises the same watch but as a high quality copy. The one watch gets the casing, the crown and the certificate from the original and the other one the glass, the watchstrap with clasp and the clockwork as well as the warranty papers. What is also popular is i.e. exchanging individual parts from expensive metal watchstraps. Especially popular are gold watchstraps due to the current gold price development. If just one golden part from specific Rolex models is exchanged with a faked part, the net profit amounts up to several hundred Euros. Marriages are therefore so perilous because at first sight, they always also contain original parts, which even deceive experts. The lower the amount of fake parts, the more complex the recognition.
Complete history is what counts
The recognition for potential watch buyers is simple. Apart from the cheapest copies and fakes, recognising faked watches is nothing for laymen and “normal” watch buyers. Therefore, always take note of the plausibility with brand name watches, the conditions and especially a complete history with used watches. Check the invoice, the provided paperwork and the address of the first buyer. Check to see if the customer services with expensive watches – the so-called inspections – were undertaken by legitimate dealers. And finally, be sceptical! If you have even the slightest of doubt, especially with extremely low prices, go to an expert before making a purchase. For just a few Euros you will receive qualified information if the object of your desire is genuine.