Wanting to buy a watch from a renowned brand? Not buying it directly from one of the brand’s shops or an online portal? Worried you may not be buying a 100% genuine piece? Then, this is the guide you need: How to check for authentic watches. A couple of tricks exist that help you differentiate between a real watch and a replica. Let us delve into further detail of how it’s possible to track down an original.
Rotary Greenwich Skeleton Automatic Gents Watch - GB02940/06. Rotary Heritage Automatic Gents Watch - GS05144/70. Rotary Henley GMT Gents Watch - GB05108/05. Rotary Cambridge Gents Watch - GB05280/01. To prevent sales of counterfeit watches we have invented a legality confirmation system. All our wristwatches produced from November 19, 2012 and up to February 08, 2017 have a sticker with a special number attached to the instruction manual sheet. With the help of that number you can check your watches authenticity.
Ticking
An original watch will not create any noise or ticking sounds. This is because it consists of tiny parts that have been assembled carefully to create the perfect watch mechanism. Replicas, however, lack this quality and will create ticking sounds which can be easily identified by placing the watch close to your ear.
Authentic Watches Quality
A watch’s quality is the first thing that will be noticeably different. A replica can never match the quality of a genuine piece.
To identify a fake, look for unfinished edges, improper polish, scratches, and even wrong markings/engravings. Also, check if the watch’s clasp/buckle works fine, if the screw down crown works and whether the watch needles can be guided by the screw that adjusts the time. Look for any other errors such as misspelled words and even wrong stamps. It is also important to check if the markings are clear and properly engraved and are not fading out, which will only happen if it’s a fake watch. Also, the color of the fake watch can be visibly different due to the usage of low-quality material, so check that before you make a purchase.
Weight
A branded watch is made with precious stones, crystal, gold, silver, heavy metals, and metal alloys. Also, they are equipped with a dozen tiny moving parts which make a branded watch heavier and sturdier. An ordinary watch lacks this and is nowhere as heavy, robust, sturdy or durable. There is always going to be a noticeable difference in weight between a real and a fake watch since a real watch is always heavier.
Product Specifications
It’s always great to do your research on the watch you intend to buy. This enables you to get to know the product specifications of your desired watch in detail. Hence, before making any purchase, you can easily match up the specs to differentiate between a designer watch and replica. Looking at photos and also learning more about what the watch looks exactly like is going to save you from throwing money on a fake. Also, it is a good idea to make yourself familiar with logos, stamps and trademark designs of the brand you’re buying from as these greatly help in making the correct choice.
Stamps
Designer watches have a couple of stamps placed all around their body. Look for these stamps and check if they really are original. You can easily find out which model has which stamps placed where and how many there are on the watch online.
Sapphire crystal top
A sapphire crystal top is placed onto the dial of every designer watch. Regular watches either have a mineral crystal top or glass top.
The sapphire top gives a violet tint at a certain angle which can be used to make sure of the fact that a certain watch is genuine. To prove this, tilt the watch at various angles under a light to see if it gives off a purplish-tint. Moreover, the sapphire crystal top also has a noticeable luster and shine that is obvious from even a few steps away.
Watch bracelet
Check Serial Number
Designer watch bracelets are specially designed to ensure flexibility and durability. Examine the watch bracelet before buying it by making sure it is perfectly flexible and glides onto your wrist smoothly. Moreover, the clasp that closes the bracelet usually has 2 stamps on it. These stamps can be searched to ensure the authenticity of the watch.
Model number
Not only can you identify a fake by comparing serial numbers, but you can also check for the model number as well. Do your research online to find out exactly what the model number of the genuine watch should be.
Serial number
If the watch is real, the serial number on the watch case and bracelet both should be exactly similar. Tally these numbers to differentiate between a real and fake watch. Sometimes, the serial number is also placed on a sticker behind the dial of the watch, so you may want to check there as well.
Cyclops window
The cyclops magnification over the calendar window is another thing you can check to ensure authenticity. A fake watch may have an overly magnified or under-magnified cyclops window.
Watch hands
Check if the watch hands are of the correct material, have the correct shape and size and also whether they are moving correctly. A fake watch may have an error in the watch mechanism which may then make the hand movement shaky and unstable.
Packing
One of the first things you’ll notice when unboxing a watch and also one of the most important things to differentiate between a genuine and fake is the packaging. The box case should be of good quality and exactly like the pictures online. Moreover, it should be sturdy and should not be poor looking. Also, check the papers inside for low-quality print, fake information or a missing warranty or documents.
Price
Last, but certainly not the least is to check for pricing. A watch that is just too cheap to be true, is likely bound to be a fake or second-hand watch.
Post comments
Leave A Reply
Your email address will not be published.
This post was updated on August 2019
Even though most people now use their phones to tell time, watches remain a fashion statement for men and women. We may not use our old watches for their original function anymore, but we hold on to them for sentimental and aesthetic value. What you may not realize, however, is that your old watch could be worth a substantial amount of money.
Antique watches like pocket watches may not be practical anymore, but in addition to being neat to look at, they can also be traded for cash. If you’re looking to declutter your home of your old watches, this is something to consider.
If you are stuck wondering “what’s the worth of my old watch,” with the help of Muzeum’s expertise, you can get some answers. As gold and silver buyers, we are happy to appraise your watch.
That said, there are some ways that you can start to gauge the value of your old watches before you come in:
Serial Number: How Old Is Your Old Watch?
According to the manager of Muzeum, Max Smirnov, when it comes to your old watches, 'Just because it's old doesn't mean it's valuable.' That said, paired with other factors, your watch’s age can make all the difference.
If you want to identify the age of your old watches, look for their serial numbers – this number is typically on the back of the watch. The serial number on a watch will help you match it to the date it was made, as well as its manufacturer. This is another essential factor in determining the value of your watch. You can use a reference chart to match your serial number to this information.
That said, some old watches like Swiss or European watches don’t have any serial numbers — this can make it difficult to identify their age. Fortunately, there are other ways to find this information. For example, you can estimate the age of a switch pocket watch based on the style of its movement, and how it is constructed.
Materials: What’s Its Jewel Count?
You can also determine the value of old watches based on the materials they are made of. This can include jewel count, plating or any layers of valuable metals. After all, a lot of old watches were made with precious metals that have only gone up in value over time.
For example, some antique pocket watches have gold plating or gold layers, while others have a high jewel count.
To be clear, a jewel count does not reference the type of jewels you are thinking of. A watch’s jewel count indicates the number of functional jewels found within the watch. These are used in watches as the bearings for the wheel trains and in high wear parts such as the escape lever. The higher the jewel count of your old watch, the higher it’s value. A 17 jewel watch is considered to be fully-jewelled.
Historically, rubies were most commonly used as the functional jewels in antique watches due to the fact that they are hard and wear down slowly. This reduces friction and streamlines the process of watchmaking.
Jewel bearings were made of natural jewels from when they were invented in 1704, up until the 20th century when Auguste Verneuil discovered a more cost-effective method – using synthetic corundum. This made watches less valuable, but cheaper to make.
That said, watches with the jewels you may be thinking about are also valuable in their own right – but you may not find them on your old watches.
If you’re able to determine the jewel count of a watch, it can give you a better idea of what your old watches may be worth. At one point, manufacturers actually printed a watch’s jewel count on its face – a practice that has been long defunct.
When the jewel count isn’t explicitly indicated, determining a watch’s jewel count can be quite tricky to the average eye. In these situations, it’s a good idea to consult an appraiser like Muzeum. Not only will we help you identify your piece’s jewel count, but we will explain to you in detail the role it plays in determining the value of old watches.
Condition: Is It Still Working?
Even though many collectors want old watches not to wear but to hold on to, they are unlikely to buy one that is not in working condition. If they do, it will likely be at a lower price tag.
To determine the value of your old watches, test them out first to make sure they are working — you can do this by holding your watch up to your ear. If the ticking of your watch is clean and smooth with a faint metallic ring, it is likely still operating. If it sounds like something is dragging, however, your old watch may be close to its breaking point.
Another indicator of the working condition of a watch is the motion of its balance wheel. Does it look straight and true, or is there a “wobble” in its motion? Any wobble could be a sign of a bent or broken balance pivot, an 'out of true' balance, or damage to the balance jewels.
Of course, old watches should be in pristine condition to maximize their value. Look for any dings, scratches, or markings that could bruise a watch’s resale price. Be careful about doing any polishing yourself in case you do more harm than good.
Engravings: Has Your Watch’s Value Been Decreased?
What you may not realize is that, according to Smirnov, engravings can decrease the value of old watches. A watch with a personal message engraved makes a great gift, but it doesn’t necessarily help its resale value. That is unless the timepiece was a gift from or owned by a famous figure — but you'll need paperwork to confirm the authenticity of the collectible in that case.
According to GQ, hand engravings “100% affect” the resale value of an old watch. These engravings run very deep, and while you can change the back of a new watch to cover an engraving, the same can’t be said for old watches.
Timepiece: What Does a Valuable Pocket Watch Look Like?
Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond novels, once said that 'A gentleman's choice of timepiece says as much about him as does his Savile Row suit,”
That said, what does a valuable pocket watch look like exactly? An extreme example is that of the Breguet number 160, a pocket watch manufactured in 1827 for Marie Antoinette. This extravagant timepiece features a full perpetual calendar, a jumping hour hand, 23 complications and 823 parts. This beautiful timepiece is encased in 18-karat gold and sapphires adorn every working surface. Its value is estimated at $36 million.
Manufacturer: Who Made the Watch?
Old watches can very well be brand name — they just may not be from the brand names you recognize. Some brands like Longines have been in operation since 1832 – and these watches just increase in value over time as they are no longer made and there are fewer in circulation.
Another example is Omega, who has been making watches since 1848. Look at the back of your old watches to see if the manufacturers are indicated. If not, you can also use the serial number to identify this information.
When assessing the brands of old watches also consider the value of brand names that are now defunct but are still worth a pretty penny. For example, Hamilton and Elgin are two high-value brands that stopped producing watches in the 60s.
Bring Your Old Watches to Muzeum
At Muzeum, we are experienced in valuing old watches. Will help you evaluate your old timepieces and pocket watches in order to determine their value. If the item proves to be of value, we will happily take it off of your hands for a fair price.
We do evaluations for a number of items besides watches as well, including antiques, collectables, and silver and gold coins. Our prices for gold are based on market values, and we are transparent about the way we evaluate your old coins, bullions, and jewellery. When you visit us, we use professional tools to weigh and test the purity of your gold, and everything is done right in front of you.
If you’re looking to sell gold in Toronto or any other valuable items, then come to Muzeum! Our customers are welcomed guests who are always treated with respect and courtesy.
1 Response
D.Bizmark
How To Tell If Rotary Watch Is Real
Would like to get an appraisal done on my pocket watch
Leave a comment
Apple Watch Serial Number Check
Comments will be approved before showing up.