The fake watch industry is alive and well, and such is the skill of those who make these vintage look-alikes, that many unsuspecting buyers end up with a watch that is not a genuine vintage piece. As you would expect, the fake vintage timepiece looks and feels like the real thing, and they even have their clever ways of ageing the watch, to make it appear well worn. If you are new to the antique world and are looking to acquire a vintage watch, here are some tips on spotting a fake.
- Steer Clear Of Unusually Low Prices – Of course, we all know about the fake Rolex watches that you can buy on any Asian street corner, and should you be looking at vintage watches and you see one that is very low in price when compared to other items of roughly the same quality, you are advised to look elsewhere.
- A Fine Line Between Vintage And Antique – The word “antique” is used widely, and for some, anything older than 30 or 40 years would be classed as antique, yet the correct definition of an antique item is one that is 100 years old or over. Vintage would be any item that is more than 20 years old, but not yet a century, so a post WWII watch would, in fact, be a vintage timepiece. Check out vintage watches for sale from one of the leading UK antique dealer who has an extensive catalogue of both vintage and antique jewellery items at very affordable prices.
- Feel The Weight – Any antique or vintage watch would be heavy, as they did not have the grade of lightweight metals we use today, and by comparing the weight of the watch to something similar, you should find both are reasonably heavy for their size. Here is an informative article on how to spot a fake watch that comes complete with pictures.
- Check The Serial Number – Every watch should have a unique serial number, and if you Google the serial number and find the watch listed somewhere for sale, then either that one, or the one you are looking to acquire isn’t genuine. Should a timepiece not have a serial number, it is more likely to be fake, and should not be purchased. Often, the fake watch maker will copy a serial number from an authentic watch of the same type, but sometimes, they simply omit the serial number.
- Buy From A Reputable Dealer – If you are a novice regarding vintage and antique watches, it is important to buy from a reputable dealer, as they would never risk tarnishing their good reputation by selling a fake item. The online antique dealer would have a nice collection of vintage watches, and with his seal of approval, you can buy with some confidence that the piece is authentic.
There are replicas of all the major brands of watches, including Rolex, Omega, Waltham, Tissot and Hamilton, to name but a few, and if you are looking at a particular watch and you aren’t sure of its authenticity, take note of the above aspects. You could always ask someone in the know for an unbiased appraisal of the watch, which would confirm things one way or the other.
