Determining whether your pre owned watch is genuine or not can be daunting, especially if you’ve purchased an investment piece that may have cost you and arm and a leg. The most commonly asked question when doing research before purchasing a second hand watch is in regards to its authenticity and how it can be proved. There are a few easy things that you can do to help find out the authenticity of the watch and if you speak to an authorised dealer, they can also reassure you that their products are genuine.
Firstly, it is always important you purchase your investment timepiece from an authorised dealer. Shopping on the internet can be a great way of finding bargains but purchasing a luxury watch via auction sites can open up endless consequences. The internet is the easiest place to find fakes, especially when not purchasing from a reputable dealer.
It is normally very easy to spot a fake or replica just by looking at the item. There is normally a very clear difference to the knock off item you bought abroad last year, to the real thing in the window at TH Baker. Always check the branding on the item, the majority of the time this will be slightly different to avoid any copyright issues that may appear. Again, the weight of the item is also normally a good indicator to its authenticity, mostly fakes tend to be lighter in feel and weight as the materials being used to create the watch are also knock offs of the originals.
However, there have been times where replicas have been created to such a high standard that brands need to take much harder measures in how to determine their own products. If you are buying a second hand watch from an authorised dealer, they will normally provide you with a certificate of authenticity, paperwork and hopefully the original box that the timepiece came in. The majority of dealers select their investment pre-owned watches very carefully before putting them up for sale. In many circumstances, the dealer will also send the item off to the brand for true authentication or the watch. If the piece purchased goes off to the brand to be checked, under any circumstances that the item purchased by the deal was a fake, the brand will automatically cease the item from circulation.
If the price of the second hand watch you are looking to purchase seems too good to be true, usually in this case it is. You should always be careful when looking to spend a large sum on a watch that is no longer in production by a luxury brand. Another good indicator of a genuine pre owned watch is if the dealer selling the item is offering a warranty or guarantee with the purchase. When purchasing a second hand watch with T. H. Baker, you will always receive a full manufactures guarantee.
Any second-hand watches stocked at T. H. Baker are hand selected for the collection, come with over 130 years experience within the industry. Each individual watch is screened and tested prior to being advertised as for sale. As well as coming with a full manufactures guarantee, each timepiece will come with its box, authenticity certificate and any other additional paperwork required with the item.
Come into your nearest T. H. Baker store today and ask one of our members of staff any questions you may have regarding purchasing a pre owned watch.
