One of the things we love about working with independent brands is that everything is real – the tech, the people, the designs, and the ethics.
The know-how and mastery that watchmakers invest in each piece, coupled with the pride and care that imbues each brand, is a nod to their high standards and innovation.
So sometimes, it’s time to speak up in the defence of good practice and call a fake a fake.
We get it, you’re walking down the street in (…….) and see your dream watch on a rug, on the ground, at the night markets and, it’s a bit of fun, right? Well… not really.
You see this fake has probably broken several patents and copyright laws, is a slap in the face to the original inventor and current production team, will definitely be made of substandard parts, and more than likely has a very sketchy production and distribution chain. Put like that, it doesn’t sound like much fun.
In general, big brands are usually the target of counterfeiters due to larger numbers produced and sold, but we have seen a few fakes from independent brands over the years e.g. a Sinn U2 with a printed blue dot where the dehumidification capsule should be, and a UX without oil filling! We wouldn’t normally make a comment on this, but recently we had a client who was very disappointed and shocked that their U1 watch (purchased at a higher price through a re-seller) had a basic Chinese movement in it, scratched and dented at the slightest bump, and failed to operate after a short time. Upon inspection we noticed some other tell-tale signs that we thought might interest you. The pictures below speak for themselves.
Superluminova
Note the odd colour, messy application and uneven thickness
Bezel
Note the scratches (a real U1 has a hardened bezel), printed on triangle (a real U1 has an inlay) and flaking print on the FAKE
Hands
Note the jagged cut, and short length on the FAKE
Movement
Sinn’s movement with in-house balance secured into position – and the ‘surprise’ inside the FAKE,
Screws in band
A real U1 has Sinn’s hexagonal screws!
TIP: If you do buy from a reseller, make sure they have the original box and paperwork so you can check the warranty card is stamped, and trace the sale back to the retailer (and they are authorised). This can be tricky, especially when you buy from an ‘authentic-looking’ shop but the brand’s own website should always list their authorised dealers, so you can check.
This story isn’t about judgement, but if you’re thinking about, or even own, a replica/fake watch there are some legalities that affect individuals differently to re-sellers, and laws may vary by state. We’ve tried to sum these up in a nutshell to give you a rough idea, but please always do your own research so you know what you are doing and where you stand.
Basically, you can privately own a fake and wear it yourself, but can’t legally (or ethically) re-sell it, and it is illegal for any dealers/retailers to sell fake timepieces. The takeout is, if in doubt check and always purchase your watches from authorised and validated dealers/retailers. Support and respect the people and teams who pour their life into creating something that brings them pride and hopefully delivers its wearer joy.
So, let’s band together to support watchmakers, uphold industry standards, and help maintain ethical and respectful business practices so we can all help to ….keep it real 😊
The watch community thanks you for your support.
