First things first, where’d you get it? If you bought it from some dodgy back alley dealer or a website that looks like it was designed in 1995, alarm bells should be ringing like crazy. Authorized retailers are your best bet. Think reputable stores, you know, the ones that actually pay taxes. They’re way less likely to be peddling fakes. It’s kinda obvious, I guess, but hey, gotta start somewhere, right?
Now, let’s get down to brass tacks and actually LOOK at the watch. I mean, *really* look at it.
* The face and screen: Check for any wonky fonts, misspellings (because, you know, a real Casio would never misspell “Water Resist”), or a screen that looks kinda blurry or cheap. A real Casio will have a crisp, clean display. If it looks like it was printed on a potato, it’s probably fake. The buttons should work smoothly, too, not like you’re wrestling a gorilla every time you try to set the alarm.
* Build Quality: How does it *feel*? Is it light and flimsy like it’s made of recycled plastic bottles? Or does it have a decent heft to it? Real Casios, even the cheap-ish ones, usually feel reasonably solid. Plus, look for uneven gaps, bad finishing, or bits that look like they’re about to fall off. That’s a major red flag.
* The back casing: This is where things get interesting. Check for the model number and serial number. Google that sucker! Does it match the watch? Does the printing look clear and precise, or kinda smudged and amateurish? A lot of fakes just slap on a random number that means absolutely nothing. And if the serial number is missing entirely, well, duh.
*The strap and buckle: Don’t forget about the strap! A cheap, flimsy strap is a dead giveaway. The buckle should be properly stamped with the Casio logo (or whatever other markings are appropriate for that model). If it’s just a plain, generic buckle…you know the drill.
Okay, so here’s my completely unsolicited opinion: The biggest tell? The price. If it’s too good to be true, it almost certainly is. You’re not gonna find a genuine Casio Royale for five bucks, no matter how lucky you think you are. Sorry to burst your bubble.
Also, and this is just me, but if you’re buying something like a Casio F-91W, are you *really* that bothered if it’s fake? I mean, they’re already super cheap anyway. Just saying. But hey, to each their own, right?
