How to Spot Counterfeit Brand Name Watches

Buying high quality watches can be a fun process, but also a risky one. Whether your buying in person or online, too many people try to scam others by selling fake and counterfeit brand name watches. Most people don't know what to look for or don't care to second guess what they are buying. You don't want to spend hundreds, even thousands on a watch that isn't legitimate. There are some basic things you can educate yourself on so that you know exactly what product you are getting.

First, if you are looking for a specific model for a cheaper price, you should actually go out to a store and handle the real thing. Get a good feel for all the details; what it feels like, what the face and backing look like, the material and durability of the band, etc. If you can't get your hands on one, look up the model on the brand's official website. This will make for good comparison photos.

Check for any engravings or hologram stickers that seem funny, or just shouldn't be there at all. Some high quality watches don't have engraved casebacks yet a counterfeit might. Hologram stickers should be just that, a hologram that changes when viewed from different angles. Replicas usually don't have a real hologram sticker but instead a flat sticker with a similar pattern that doesn't actually change.

The hands of the watch are another big indicator. Look carefully as you might find that a counterfeit has a different shape or may be longer or shorter than the hands on the genuine watch. Replicas are made from whatever parts are cheapest and the hands themselves will look cheap if you Panerai replica  look closely.

Cheap parts are also going to be included with the bracelet and clasp. If it seems like the clasp is very simple and easy to open on it's own, it most likely isn't a genuine luxury watch. It's easy to tell if it's made of flimsy material by just playing around with it and trying it on your own wrist.

Look for a serial number. Most brand name watches will have some sort of serial number printed on them to authenticate the model. Most replicas won't even bother to have this done. If you see one and you still don't think it looks right, you can take a picture and have the manufacturer validate the serial number.