First things first, and this is kinda obvious but still needs sayin’, look at the brand. Like, seriously *look*. Are we talkin’ a Bulova? A G-Shock? Chanel? Apple Watch Ultra? Movado? Each brand has its own tell-tale signs. Trying to make one-size-fits-all advice simply doesn’t cut it.
Let’s start with the easiest, the Apple Watch Ultra. The article I was looking at, they were pushing inspecting the serial number. Makes sense, right? Find that serial number in the watch’s settings or, you know, on the back of the case. Then, cross-reference it. Should be able to check its validity somewhere on Apple’s website, hopefully. I mean, if it’s not even *recognized* by Apple, that’s a massive red flag. Duh.
Then there’s Casio G-Shocks. Apparently, a “3-button test” is the way to go. Supposedly, the fakes often miss this functionality. Uh, okay, but what *is* the 3-button test? The snippets don’t say! Pretty useless advice, if you ask me. But, if you’ve got a G-Shock, google that “3-button test.”
Now, for the fancier stuff, like Chanel and Movado. The advice seems to circle back to a few key things, across different brands. The weight, materials, and finishing. A real luxury watch, well, it feels like a luxury watch. It’s got a solid heft, the materials are high-quality, and the details are pristine. Think smooth edges, perfectly aligned everything, no dodgy glue or wobbly bits. A fake will probably feel cheap, light, or just “off”. Basically, if it feels like something you’d get out of a gumball machine, it probably is.
I think, personaly, the weight is a big tell. Cheap materials are lightweight. Simple as.
Speaking of details, check the serial number. Again, this seems to be a universal tip. See if you can verify that bad boy! If it matches the model on the manufacturer’s website, you’re probably good. If it doesn’t, well, you’ve probably been bamboozled.
Okay, so what *really* grinds my gears is when the advice just says “go to an expert.” Like, yeah, thanks Captain Obvious. If I had an expert on speed dial, I wouldn’t be reading some random article on the internet, would I?! But, I guess it’s the safest, most accurate way. Like that one snippet said, you need a *real* expert to be truly sure. So, if you’re dealing with something super expensive or sentimental, maybe it *is* worth ponying up for an authentication.
The packaging is also important. Real packaging is professional. Spelling errors on the box is a huge red flag.
