First off, let’s talk about the obvious: the logo. I mean, duh. But seriously, look CLOSELY. It should be crisply printed, like, no blurry edges at all. And it’s gotta be in all caps: MOVADO. Not “movado,” not “M0VAD0” (I’ve seen it all, trust me), but MOVADO. If that’s already off, forget about it, toss it in the bin (or maybe try to return it if you got scammed!).
Now, about the face. A legit Movado, it’s gonna say “Swiss Movado Made” or just “Swiss Made.” Anything else? Red flag. HUGE red flag. Like, someone’s waving a communist banner in your face red flag. Okay, maybe not THAT dramatic, but still… be suspicious.
And then there’s the movement. Ugh, this is where it gets kinda complicated, right? Unless you’re some kinda watch expert (I’m def not), you probably can’t just *look* at the movement. But, generally, a real Movado’s movement will be smooooth. Like butter. If it’s jerky or makes weird grinding noises, probably a fake. Tho, tbh, even I have a hard time telling sometimes.
Oh, and! Don’t forget the serial number! Every Movado should have one. Double-check it, Google it, see if it matches the model you *think* you have. If it comes up with “Sparkly Unicorn Watch” when you’re expecting “Museum Classic,” Houston, we have a problem.
Here’s my personal opinion: sometimes, even if everything *seems* right, something just *feels* off, ya know? Like, the weight of it, the way the band feels, the overall finish. If your gut is screaming “fake!” then listen to it. Your gut is usually right, even if it can’t explain why.
Also, where did you get it? Was it some dude in a trench coat in a dark alley? Probably fake. A legit authorized dealer? Much better odds. Although, even *they* can get tricked sometimes. Sigh.
