How to buy

How to authenticate a watch

Authenticating a watch means confirming it's a genuine configuration from the stated maker: not a counterfeit, not a “frankenwatch” of mismatched parts, and not a different reference than claimed. You do it with visual checks, documents, and a professional when the stakes are high.

What you can check yourself

Study official photos of the exact reference: logo printing, hands, date font, caseback markings, clasp codes, and where the serial sits. Weight, finishing quality, and the movement (if you can see it) catch many fakes. Good light and close-up photos make a big difference.

Where people get fooled

High-quality counterfeits and frankenwatches exist. Papers can be forged. Aftermarket dials and bezels may not be disclosed. A cheap price on a popular model is a reason to dig deeper, not a win.

When to pay a professional

For expensive watches, unfamiliar brands, vintage complications, or any bad feeling, have a respected watchmaker or authentication service look before your money is released. Dealer guarantees and platform authentication reduce the need for judgment. They don't remove it.

A second set of eyes

Photos can't replace a watchmaker, but someone who handles a lot of watches can often tell you from a listing whether something looks off and whether it's worth paying for a full inspection. That's a quick, cheap question to ask a creator on curated.watch.

FAQ

Do holograms and cards prove authenticity?

They're supporting evidence only. Cards can be swapped. The watch itself has to match.

Is an exhibition caseback enough to verify a movement?

It lets you see the movement, but not always well enough to spot a counterfeit rotor or the wrong caliber. Treat it as one clue.

What is a frankenwatch?

A watch assembled from parts of different origins and presented as original. If it's disclosed, price it accordingly. If it isn't, walk away.

Should every purchase be opened by a watchmaker?

Not every $400 daily watch. Above the amount you'd lose sleep over, yes, especially without a strong dealer guarantee.

Ask a watch creator

Stuck on a listing, a model or a term? Get an honest answer from a creator before you buy.

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