Are they Fake?

The myth is that you can never trust anything illustrated on the web, as all is not what it seems. Thisis not necessarily true, as many sellers do offer verifiable and genuine items. However, there are a number of hilarious fakes, and obviously fraudulent items floating around. Having been in the Watch & Jewellery industry for many years, I will attempt to offer you a step by step program by which I would look at potential purchases.

By no means is my method foolproof (the emphasis on fool...as I'm sure we've all had our fingers burnt on the internet), but if it helps one person, then at least my prescence here was worth it. Please note that on my store, www.stores.ebay.co.uk/marylebone-jewellers (shameless plug), I do advertise our ability to obtain watches but do not advertise the actual items. This ties in with my guide, as whenever we source an item for a client, we obtain it fresh from the various stock rooms. Thus the watch has not been sitting idle in someone's window and has been chased in on, nor has it been gathering dust in storage. Watches are expensive, and I would never purchase something that looked like it had been beaten up, but my experiences tell me that some people are not so picky, hence the guide...

1. Instinct...

The eternal message that if it looks too good to be true, it often is rings true of this industry more than any other. Some watches are genuinely very difficult to obtain so when a Rolex Daytona in steel is advertised as going for cheap, alarm bells should start ringing. Cartier is another brand where due to the popularity, terrible copies and stolen watches do a roaring trade....follow your instinct, our moral compass rarely lies.

2. Guarantees & Paperwork

If the item is advertised as new, there should be an official guarantee stamped by an authorised retailer...simple as that.  If the company offers you their own guarantee, or the guarantee card is not stamped, consider the watch a fake. Even if it is genuine, should the watch go wrong and you return it under guarantee, most watch houses, in an attempt to conquer fraud, consider these items as forgeries, and Cartier for example, will keep and destroy the watch. A new Patek Philippe requires registration of ownership as does Breguet, while all Breitlings & Rolexs should come with Chronometer Certificates. Any watch sourced via Marylebone Jewellers will have the original box, paperwork including guarantee and be stamped by an Authorised Dealer. This is our promise, and we will stake our reputation on that.

3. But it's Cheap!...

In the short term, yes, it can be cheaper to obtain the watches from non offical sources, however should you be the unlucky one and something goes wrong, or should you later wish to part eschange it, no one will be interested if it does not have the original paperwork, and especially if the serial number comes up as stolen! Watches sourced from unauthorised dealers can cost you more than the watch in the long term, as they are often badly handled. Always think quality first, price second....remember, these watches are often mechanical...thus just as you wouldn't buy an Aston Martin from a dodgy source, the same wisdom is required here.

4. Serial Numbers...

If something is advertised, any genuine seller will not be afraid to provide you with the serial number with which you may contact the watch house directly and verify the item is not stolen, or its service history. In the instances where we have sold new watches, we have not needed to have the clients do this as the watch came from an authorised dealer, but anything suspicious should always be verified. However good the deal is, if a serial number cannot be supplied, walk away. The same applies to Certified Diamonds....always request to see the Certificate Number, and ensure it matches the Certificate you receive.

5. Returns...

High quality mechanical watches are like top end cars. Sometimes the engines requires some bedding in before it operates at its optimum. Automatic and manually wound watches can gain or lose time, but the supplier should be happy to deal with this issue for you. As all our items come from reputable sources, the watches could be rectified by the watch houses without issue. Any non authorised dealer would request you send the item back to them so their own watch repairer may look at it, or wash their hands off your complaint entirely. You bought it...now the problem is yours...

6. Knowledge...

I love watches, I collect watches and fortune has smiled on me as I deal with them for a living. My passion is backed up by knowledge. I can answer all the questions my clients throw at me, from industry generals to movement specific. Watches are expensive, and expensive mistakes are costly. Ensure the person you deal with for your watch is both knowledgable and trustworthy...again, your instinct is usually correct.

7. Presentation...

Has the seller been open with you? Is their company registered with Companies House in the U.K., which is viewable to anyone who cares? Have they contacted you in a good and orderly fashion without seeming too pushy? Did they answer your questions, or did they palm off your questions focusing on just how good a deal it is? A genuine selller, especially of luxury goods takes pride in their persuasions, thus it will not be rushed nor tacky. The quality of the product is most important, with a good price being a bonus.

8. Walk away...

It doesn't matter how good the deal is, if any of the above are mssing, walk away or you may be contributing to an industry that prides itslef on dealing outside of the authorises parameters.

Any questions...

It can sometimes all be a bit confusing, so should you ever require clarification on any of the points, or are thinking of buying something that you would like a second opinion on, don't hesitate to contact me via my store. My business is retail, and reputation is built on word of mouth. If my advice can stop one person getting ripped off, then hopefully I have also gained my self a client.

I wish you happy hunting, & I genuinely look forward to hearing from you...

Kind Regards to all.