Patek Philippe watches are a guilty pleasure for all those who know a thing or two about horology. And rightfully so, as these watches are designed to last generations. It is very easy to fall prey to offers on the Internet that propose Patek Philippe watches.
The problem is that many watch lovers do not know how to tell the difference between a genuine and a fake. As such, they do not know that pre-owned or even new Patek Philippe watches are sold exclusively by official partners. Unfortunately, many irresponsible sellers take advantage of it. In consequence, they sell fake watches to those in love with Patek Philippe, pretending that they are authentic. Under the pretext of a hot sale, they offer a price of several thousand dollars for a watch that actually costs several tens of thousands.
On the other hand…
Consumers who do not know about these pitfalls can easily fall prey to such offers. And without analyzing in depth the source of the watch, they pay exorbitant amounts for a Patek Philippe that is, in fact, a fake.
Yes, such scenarios are not at all optimistic, unfortunately. But it illustrates today’s reality. With these in mind, every watch lover must think reasonably and be aware of the possible risks. This means the deep analysis of the seller who proposes a replica watch claiming it’s a genuine one.
In this article, I want to share with you all the details of a Patek Philippe that shows that it is an imitation. Therefore, you would do well to familiarize yourself with these differences. In the future, if someone offers you to buy a “genuine Patek” at a dubious price, you will have enough knowledge not to fall into the race of evil-doers. Let’s see what it’s about!
How to read a genuine from a fake Patek Philippe?
The replica industry has evolved a lot in recent years. As such, we all see replica watches getting better and better. Actually, this is gratifying for those who are looking for fake timepieces consciously. On the other hand, those who know too little about this matter, turn out to be victims of scammers.
However, there are certain details that replica factories will never be able to make as genuine. This is because they lack the knowledge and tools that luxury brands have. These are the details that make the difference between a fake and an authentic Patek Philippe. Further, I will enumerate and describe each one. Your job is to take them into account. These will help you not to fall prey to dubious offers circulating in the online environment.
1. Perfection is the essence of genuine Patek Philippe watches
Patek Philippe is a watchmaker who leaves no room for flaws in his works. He meticulously processes every detail, no matter how small, in his watches. As such, the essential element that will reveal a fake watch will be the lack of perfection in certain places.
Whenever someone offers you a “real” Patek, start to visually analyze it as thoroughly as possible. The contours, the silhouettes of the details, the lines of the cases, as well as the genuine Patek internal movement components are perfect. These are at the highest level of excellence and refinement. All is due to the know-how and exclusive manufacturing capabilities of the watchmaker.
On the other hand…
A replica factory will never be able to reproduce the same refinement and attention to detail. On the whole, the watch can look good, even very good, if it is a Swiss copy. But the lack of refinement of the smallest details will give it away.
The meticulous detailing of genuine Patek watches is the result of a high human touch. On the other hand, replica factories assemble the watches with the help of brute machinery. While they generate decent replica watches, they are not able to reproduce the finesse of handwork in genuine watches.
2. Dial detailing
The face of a watch is what makes the watch enthusiast love it or hate it. Patek Philippe dials are so fascinating that it is impossible to leave anyone who loves time-telling accessories indifferent.
The watchmaker puts a lot of emphasis on the dial detailing in its watches. Moreover, an entire team decides how and where the details will be placed in order to preserve the unique concept of the watches. As such, Patek Philippe dials have unique characteristics that replica factories find difficult to reproduce.
So, pay attention to the details of the Patek Philippe watch dial. The brand uses a crisp texture for its name on the dial. The fonts are unique and the spaces between writings and letters are identical. Also, the “Geneva” inscription is a special symbol for Patek Philippe. The watchmaker integrates it proudly and prominently, endowing it with rounded and extremely refined contours. Also, the Calatrava Cross design, which is also the brand’s logo, has an intricate design. More than that, it is present both on the dial and on the bridges, crown, as well as on some components inside the movement. They all look equally exquisite.
On the other hand…
A fake watch will necessarily have at least one flaw in any of these details. This may include irregular spaces between the letters of the inscriptions or slightly steep edges of the “Geneva” writing. Also, the logo on the dial of a replica watch will not be identical to the one on the inner mechanism. Replica factories have limited resources in the execution of the mechanisms and most of the time, the logo is missing from them. This is an indisputable argument that you are dealing with a replica. It could be a high-quality imitation. But by no means a genuine watch.
3. Numbers indicating the Patek Philippe model
Every authentic Patek Philippe watch comes with a unique serial number inside. This is like its passport which is officially registered in the brand’s database. It contains information about the model and the specifics of the watch, including the year of production. As such, no other watch in the world has the same serial number as a Patek Philippe watch.
The sequence of the serial number itself includes 4 digits and a letter at the end. They carry certain unique information. For example, the letter at the end of the sequence talks about the material from which the watch is made. For example, “A” is for stainless steel. The French name of the material is “Acier”- which explains the “A” abbreviation. In the same context, “J” is for yellow gold, which in French sounds like “Jaune”. “P”- refers to platinum and “G” and “R” are for white and rose gold (Gris and Rose in French).
So…
These are the list of materials with which Patek Philippe normally operates. A replica watch though, will have a different sequence from what we see in an authentic model. Either it will be longer, or it will have more letters, or it will be missing altogether. As such, opening a Patek watch will help you understand how authentic it is with the help of the inscriptions inside.
Even if they look a lot like a genuine watch, you should draw attention to the refinement of the engraving. Don’t you think the printing is a bit brutal?!
4. The source of the Patek Philippe watch
Authentic Patek Philippe watches are not sold anywhere. And no matter what stories the seller tells you, check the information twice. If we talk about new Patek Philippe watches, they are available exclusively in specialized stores with price tags to match. Before deciding on a genuine Patek, check the authenticity of the store and if it is an official dealer.
If we are talking about a pre-owned Patek Philippe, these are available on specialized sources that have all the documents in order. This means that they authenticate the originality of Patek Philippe watches through experts. Pre-owned watches are unlikely to be sold by individuals. This is because an owner of a genuine watch will want to leave the watch in good hands for the subsequent sale.
As such, check the source of the pre-owned watch. If you confirm that it is an official store with proper documents, you can trust its authenticity. If it turns out to have a dubious background, it is most likely that someone is trying to deceive you.
It is ok to want a Patek Philippe replica watch
More and more people accept the idea of wearing a replica Patek Philippe watch. This is because not everyone can afford a new or pre-owned model. If the idea appeals to you, it is important to know where to buy a good one.
First, look for sources that openly talk about the fact that they sell imitations. This speaks of the honesty of the seller and the lack of intentions to deceive you.
Second, look for high-quality replica watches. As a rule, the replica industry offers different quality segments. You need the AAA-grade segment or a Swiss copy. That’s because everything below these levels differs too much from genuine watches. Instead, Swiss copies and AAA-grade imitations look very similar and work great.
Thirdly, you need a reputable seller. You must opt for replica dealers who are responsible for their customers. This means that they take care to offer them an exceptional customer journey, starting with the assistance and ending with the high quality of the imitations.
In this sense, we can help you if what you want is a Patek Philippe replica watch. We do our best to make our customers as happy as possible with our products and to feel as if they are wearing an authentic watch on their wrist.
Why are Patek watches so popular in the replica industry?
This brand enjoys enormous respect in the world of watches. Patek Philippe set standards and brought innovations that changed the concept of watches 360 degrees. As such, watch lovers have enough reasons to love this brand. But not everyone can afford an authentic model.
I will not debate the moral rectitude of the replica industry here. Opinions are divided and the fake industry is a rather painful topic for big brands. They use different techniques to reduce or even eliminate replica watches from the market. One of the main causes is that many replica factories distort the design of authentic watches.
In this sense…
We want you to know that we strictly respect the value that Patek Philippe has brought to the horological field. As such, we can only reproduce authentic watches as identically as possible. Thus, the final consumer who cannot afford an authentic watch can enjoy a high-quality imitation.
Today, an authentic Patek watch is worth between 20k and 500k USD. We have to admit that such prices are beyond the financial means of many of us. So, is it to blame that most people want a reputable but affordable watch? It’s hard to say. Either way, the replica industry, the high-quality one, satisfies the desire of many of those who worship the Patek Philipp brand but can’t afford an authentic watch.
Bottom line
I hope that now it is clearer to you how to differentiate an authentic watch from a fake one. This article is addressed to those who can be potential targets for mall-intentioned sellers. You never know when a seller will appear and offer you an “authentic” watch for a price that is too good to be true.
If you are consciously looking for a replica watch, know that there are no perfect imitations. You have to accept this truth because precisely for this you pay a much more affordable price than for an authentic watch. If you are okay with this thought, the replica industry has a lot to offer.
It is important to find a reliable source that offers you a good ratio between quality and price. After all, Patek Philippe replica watches deserve to be in their best version. Even with minor flows, they can be of superior quality and surprise you with the way they look. We can give you a helping hand in this regard. That’s the only way you’ll be able to enjoy all the refinement and quality that the replica industry can prove.