Something horrible you should know
In china, a lot of people decontruct some pp, remove their movements and for making fake nautilus and aquanaut. These fake watches are very difficult to spot because they have real movement. At the beginning, people only decontruct some old ref like 5117,5054, 5127 etc. Now, we have some real case for 5227,5296, even 3940. Time only watch for making fake 5711. 5054, 5055 for making fake 5712. 3940,5140,5940 for making 5740...The price of these real cases without movement only for $2000-$5000.
This message has been edited by FabR on 2022-04-23 23:21:57
This message has been edited by FabR on 2022-04-23 23:21:57
Not new, in the 90’s they used real Rolex steel datejust movement into fake gold cases
ongoing trend
One of my relatives had a Datejust during the 90s and had the diamond indices plucked from the dial by shady watch repairer. This was in Shanghai, not the boonies...
It's really hard to trust a nice watch in China, too many counterfeits out there...
It's really hard to trust a nice watch in China, too many counterfeits out there...
Thanks for sharing this. Unfortunately (and unsurprisingly) criminals can be resourceful, hence if you buy from a secondary/non-authorized dealer, ascertaining authenticity of a watch and its accompanying documents is *always* of paramount importance.
I have suitably rotated and/or cropped the above pictures. Thanks again for sharing with the forum! 
Most definitely! ;-) Of course, the competition for the most sought-after brands (Patek, Rolex, FP Journe, etc.) is very stiff, but if you are given a chance, that's *always* my best suggestion... ;-) Enjoy.
A big +1 for several reasons --- as already stated on many occasions, I have in fact *never* bought second-hand! ;-)
Me too
The same as Chronometer i never bought second hand watches.
Why?
I do not know, but i like if everything shines, glitters, and pops out.
Buy new gives a start for a watch, and i have no message for the journeys a watch made on a wrist of a pre owner. Even famous people.
The scare of buying fake is huge for me, so if it is not possible to get the watch new at a brand boutique, i go lower and take an Omega from an Omega AD.
Why?
I do not know, but i like if everything shines, glitters, and pops out.
Buy new gives a start for a watch, and i have no message for the journeys a watch made on a wrist of a pre owner. Even famous people.
The scare of buying fake is huge for me, so if it is not possible to get the watch new at a brand boutique, i go lower and take an Omega from an Omega AD.
Definitely a reasonable (and safe) approach, at any level of watch collectingđź‘ŤThanks for commenting, Weems.
I suppose the levels of the present second-hand prices are making increasingly elaborate schemes worthwhile and profitable, unfortunately.
Not to mention the increase in unsophisticated buyers looking for a status symbol, which is fertile ground for these scams.
Always ask for original papers or Extract from the Archives
Even when they produce these fakes with real movements, if the movement numbers were matched with the papers then may reveal true nature of the watch. I wonder if Patek has a service to confirm movement numbers via ADs? One method to thwart this would be to have some way to confirm that the movement matches with the watch type. Hence, papers or Extract from the Archives…but then again these certificates can also be forged. I guess if purchasing from secondary market, best to ask for Archives papers DIRECT from Patek before making that important purchase.
Thanks for the warning !
If one were buying not from an AD but paying dealer a “market” price, he/she should check the watch with a Patek service center before pulling the tigger.
