Can You Distinguish a Fake?

At present day fake watches have become serious competitors to authentic timepieces. Revenue gained from fake watch business sometimes exceed the revenue of legal dealers of authentic timepieces. To buy a replica watch, you do not have to find a suspicious-looking guy glad to put you off a cheap fake. Qualitative fake watches of most prestigious brands are available on counters of respectful boutiques and trade centers.

If you are a simple customer, it is up to you to decide what kind of a watch to acquire. Some people find many reasons to own a replica watch - if it is a good copy, it looks almost the same and is provided with the same functions; its price is affordable, so a customer may even buy a few fake watches and do not be afraid of a loss or a theft. Everything seems fine as long as a person realizes he becomes an owner of a copy. But the situation is absolutely different if a customer takes a risk of acquiring an original watch for outrageous price of the original that will finally turn out to be a fake one.

If you want to own a 'real' Swiss watch, how to avoid the danger of purchasing a fake presented as "Swiss Made"? In fact, it is not always a piece of cake. The watch market sells mockery-like fake watches that make watch specialists laugh, so even a usual customer who knows almost nothing about horology, will immediately see the timepiece's 'doubtful' nature. However, a customer may also stumble upon qualitative and expensive analogues of authentic timepieces that have even been produced from original materials. In this case a fake watch may be determined by some significant factors:

1. Price: Before you buy a watch, make sure to find out the price range for models of the watch collection you are interested in. Swiss watches are mainly distributed through a network of official distributors that sell timepieces available at just slightly different prices. A thousand dollars may seem quite a sum of money, but it is almost nothing if it is a Rolex or Patek Philippe watch on your mind.
2. Swiss made: The dial of a Swiss watch always features the inscription 'Swiss' or "Swiss made'. A timepiece with inscription 'Made in Switzerland" is a fake one.
3. Documents and package: Along with a model of a Swiss watch, you must get all the necessary documents concerning the timepiece. An authentic Swiss watch goes in a nice package. Still, in case of qualitative fake watches, a package is not the guarantee of the watch's authentic nature.
4. Certificate: While buying a Swiss watch, ask a shop-assistant to show you the certificate of conformance and health certificate. These documents are processed by the importer only in case of authentic timepieces.
5. Catalog: Take your time to consult the watch catalog. Find and compare the model you like with its analog in the catalog. Read through its description. Fake watches often have minor differences in their functions and even the name of the model.
6. Length of warranty: If the watch dealer says the timepiece is provided with ten years of warranty, remember that Swiss watches are given a 2-year warranty. In some specific cases, a watch warranty may last for 3 years. This guarantee concerns first of all the watch's movement.

If you consider all the above mentioned factors, you will have more chances to acquire a long-wished-for timepiece of a prestigious Swiss brand.