To spot a fake among pre-owned luxury watches, check four things: the seller, the price, the paperwork, and the watch itself. Make sure you have the correct reference and serial number. Check that the dial is well printed, well finished, and has all the right details. Make sure the movement is correct. None of these alone guarantees an authentic watch, but it is always best to have an experienced watch technician inspect it before paying.
Used luxury watches can be a great purchase as they are often cheaper than the original retail price. Many models hold their value well. Unfortunately, that value and demand are also what make them a target for counterfeiters.
Poor-quality fakes are easy to spot, but high-quality fakes can be very difficult to detect. They can look very authentic in pictures and even when held. There are also Frankenwatches. This is when parts from different watches are used to make one watch, or when parts aren’t original. For example, the dial, hands, and/or movement may be changed. Even if the parts are authentic, the watch will not be what it claims to be. These watches are usually worth less.
The risk is highest when purchasing from a private seller or online marketplace. This is because you can’t inspect the watch before buying, and you have little recourse if there is an issue.
Pre-owned watches come at a discount, but a common warning sign is pricing that’s much lower than similar watches. It would be helpful to compare the price of your watch to other watches that have the same reference number.
A reputable seller can tell you where the watch came from, whether it has been serviced, and its overall condition. If the seller won’t show the case back or serial number, tries to pressure you to buy fast, or only accepts payment methods that don’t offer buyer protection, be careful.
Original boxes and papers add value, but they can be faked too. Check that:
Papers that look brand new on a heavily worn watch, or vice versa, deserve a closer look.
This will help you identify any visible issues. However, a well-made counterfeit may pass some of these tests, so that you may need a professional check.
Dial & Print. Using a magnifying glass or your phone’s zoom feature, examine the text, the logo, and the indices. Genuine luxury watches usually display clear, evenly spaced text with clean printing. Blurry text, uneven spacing, grammatical mistakes, or crooked indices can indicate something is amiss.
Check features. Find the reference number of the watch and check that all features listed are present and working. For example, the Omega Planet Ocean 600M in our pre-owned collection has a helium valve and a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides. If a watch that claims to be this reference doesn’t have the above features, this would be an issue.
Movement. If your watch has a clear caseback, you can check whether the movement is the correct caliber. For example, the Omega watch in our listing shows its Co-Axial caliber 8500. If the caseback is solid, only a watchmaker should open it.
Second Hand. Mechanical watches generally have a sweeping seconds hand. Quartz watches generally tick once a second. This only helps if you know what type of watch your model should be. Some luxury watches are quartz, such as the TAG Heuer 2000 and Formula 1 models we have in our pre-owned collection. A ticking seconds hand on a watch that should be automatic is a red flag. However, a sweeping hand doesn’t prove authenticity, as many fakes use inexpensive mechanical movements.
Weight, finish, bracelet. Try to compare with a known genuine model. Check the clasp, chain-end links, and bracelet engraving for sharp edges, a loose fit, or poor engraving.
Water resistance. Don’t try to check water resistance by putting it into water. Have a watchmaker pressure-test it, especially if it is a diver’s watch.
Though you can certainly spot fakes yourself, verifying a pre-owned watch’s authenticity will require opening it up. An experienced watchmaker can examine the movement, components, and finish, and match them against the brand’s specifications. This way, they can determine whether any replacement parts have been used.
Seek a professional opinion if:
For the most valuable items, the brand may be able to verify details about a watch they service at their own service center. Find out how they do this before you purchase.
Clifton Jewelers offers complete watch repair services. We repair both mechanical and quartz watches, from rebuilding an old mechanical Hamilton to fixing a Seiko quartz watch. Pocket watches, Rolex, and chronographs are no problem. If you are considering purchasing a pre-owned watch from another vendor, give us a call and ask if we can service your watch. All of our repairs, batteries, and watchbands are guaranteed for 1 year.
Buying from a reputable store you can visit means you can see the watch before you buy. We currently have 8 watches for sale in our category of pre-owned luxury watches. Our prices are between $995 and $6,995:
| Watch | Reference | Price |
| Breitling Navitimer Chronograph GMT 46 | A24322121C2X2 | $6,995 (was $7,500) |
| Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M, 42mm | 232.30.42.21.01.003 | $4,500 (was $6,200) |
| TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph | CBM2112.BA0651 | $3,950 (was $4,800) |
| King Seiko KSK Re-Creation Limited Edition | SJE087 | $3,300 |
| TAG Heuer Aquaracer Automatic, 43mm | WAY201B.FT6150 | $3,250 |
| TAG Heuer Link Calibre 5, 42mm | WJF2010-BA0592 | $1,800 (was $3,200) |
| TAG Heuer Formula 1 | CAH101A.BA0860 | $1,500 |
| TAG Heuer 2000 Quartz | CN1111.BA0337 | $995 |
Each item has a reference number so you can check them against this guide using the model numbers. Before purchasing any watch (either from another seller or us), please check the return policy. We offer a 7-day return policy on unused, brand-new items that include all original materials. Please contact us to find out how this will apply to your pre-owned watch.
Clifton Jewelers was founded in Union City, New Jersey, in 2000 as Oro Italiano. In 2005, we moved to North Bergen and became Hudson Jewelers. We have since expanded to our current location in Clifton. Our store sells a wide range of jewelry, branded watches, and sunglasses.
Clifton Jewelers
852 Rt 3 West, Suite 216, Clifton, NJ 07012
(973) 777-7288
info@cliftonjewelersinc.com
