Swiss Replica Guide
The replica guide is designed to help you negotiate the world of online replica watches and make your online purchases secure and informed. How can you tell a high quality replica from a low grade knockoff? How can you tell a viable, honest retailer apart from a scam artist? These are essential questions to ask before making any online purchase. The SwissExpert.net replica watch guide will give you the knowledge base necessary to avoid disappointment, or worse, being taken, when buying replica watches online. There is no reason to feel uneasy when making Internet purchases -- all you need to do is educate yourself!
Take the easiest, yet often neglected, first step. Once you’ve narrowed your search to a few watch models and a few select retailers, visit other websites. Pay attention to the pictures and specifications provided for the watch you’re interested in and compare. To come to tell the difference between a good replica and a poor replica, you need to compare features, appearance and characteristics against those of others. Keep this in mind as you go through the sub-sections in the guide to follow. The more sites and guides you visit the more informed you will become. Remember: the measure of a good replica is how closely it resembles the original Swiss Rolex.
Get to know the retailer you’re buying from. Anyone can uncover a dishonest online dealer -- you only need to test them. Your impression of the site should be your first starting point. What do you think of the design and presentation of the site? How is the writing and the content on the site? Do they display professional and detailed photos of the products? If the site has been thrown together, if the photos and writing are terrible, then it’s quite likely a bad business or a sham business. Your inquiry should start with, but not be limited to, these sorts of questions.
We all know a glamorous presentation can sometimes mask an ugly reality. Don’t be fooled by a company with a beautiful website and horrible products. Contact them, and find out if they have reliable telephone and online customer support. These are invaluable aspects of a reputable company. Are the photos of their own watches or did they come from another site? Do they provide guaranteed delivery? How about a guarantee on the quality of their watches? A retailer of expensive Swiss replica should definitely offer a warranty on their products. How long have they been in business? This is an excellent way to uncover scam artists who change sites regularly to avoid prosecution, and to find retailers who are ready opportunists because they don’t know the replica business well enough to provide quality products and adequate customer service. Are their claims and prices realistic? Reading the following replica guide will, above all, allow you to answer this final important question. If you know the truth about the manufacturing, materials and grades of replica watches, you’ll be able to spot outrageous claims and avoid being taken to the cleaners. And, you’ll ultimately find a fair price on the Omega replica watch or any other watch you’ve been looking for.
This is a Swiss replica guide. Genuine Swiss replica watches are the highest grade replica available, made from the exact materials as the originals with authentic Swiss ETA movement (much like those of Vacheron Constantin watches). As such, you won’t find a genuine Swiss replica for under $500 online. Sites claiming to offer wholesale prices on Swiss replica timepieces for $150 or so are selling Japanese or Asian-made replicas. A Swiss replica watch is a luxury in itself, and if it’s authentic, it’ll be 99% like the original. This guide will also help you determine whether a Swiss replica is what you want or if a Japanese one will do (although cheaper, it can still be of exceptional quality). Visit AmatoryWatches.com for a guide to the three standard grades of Japanese and Asian replicas.
What to Look for in a Genuine Swiss Replica
Markings/Engravings
The average person can be fooled by replicas that lack some of the more minute markings of a genuine designer watch. Collectors and appraisers can easily recognize watches as fakes if the finer details differ from the originals. A genuine Swiss replica will always have the exact markings of the original. There are way too many markings on the thousands of replica watches out there to go into detail for each and every one. It is always up to you to research the particular watch you’re interested in buying. What follows is a guide to the most common engravings that will help you distinguish poor from quality replicas.
Rear Cases:
The first thing you need to notice are markings and engravings on replica watches that aren’t actually on the original model. For instance, apart from a few special edition exceptions, Rolex does not engrave the rear case of their watches. Genuine Rolex watchesare either: solid and unmarked, or have a green hologram sticker on the rear case that displays the Rolex logo and serial number. Be on the lookout for green stickers that are not holograms. In addition, there are cheap replicas with engraved rear cases like these below:
Cheap Replica
Another common giveaway is a see-through rear case (also known as a skeleton case) which allows you to see the watch’s movement. Not to date has Rolex made a watch with a transparent rear case:
Cheap Replica
Pay attention because some other commonly replicated watch dealers do make watches with engraved or see-through rear cases. For instance, SwissExpert.net carries the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean (pictured below). A common mark of Omega watches is an engraved picture and serial number on the rear case.
Swiss Replica
The Panerai Luminor Marina (pictured below) is an example of a watch with a transparent back. Always make sure to find out what the rear case actually looks like before purchasing a replica.
Swiss Replica
Case, Crown, Dial and Bracelet Engravings:
The Bracelet and Case
All genuine Swiss replica Rolexes will have a Rolex crown logo engraved on the clasp and a laser-etched Rolex crown on the crystal above 6 o’clock whenever the original model does. Most Rolexes have the model number engraved at the 12 o’clock position on the case between the lugs. The serial number is engraved under the 6 o’clock position.
Many of the watch models with stainless steel bracelets have specific engravings on the bracelet clasp. On Omega stainless steel models the clasp is always engraved with the Omega logo. The Rolex crown logo is engraved on the clasp of many Rolex models such as the Daytona below. Ensure that this marking is on the watch you purchase.
Swiss Replica
The Crown/Winder
The crown is the knob used to set the time on a watch. The crown of a Rolex watch will either have the Rolex crown engraved or a jewel set directly into it. Rolex uses a one piece crown with the Rolex logo at the end. With a cheap replica, the logo is glued on after the watch is made. This creates a visible seam between the crown and the glued cap. Current Rolex watches have three dots below the emblem on the crown indicating triple-lock capability. On some cheap replica the dots are missing as seen below:
Genuine Rolex Cheap Replica SwissExpert.net
Most Audemars Piguet models have the AP logo engraved into the crown. The lack of this marking will easily give it away as a fake:
Swiss Replica
The Dial:
The dial is the most prominent aspect of the watch. The way to decipher quality from cheap replica here is in the materials used and the fine details. Is the color of the dial exactly like the original? Is the font of the date display exactly alike? The numbers in the date bubble of a Rolex should be exactly in the center of the magnified Cyclops lens. On virtually all replicas the date will either be high or low in the date window:
Genuine Rolex Cheap Replica SwissExpert.net
Also, as the date and day change with an original Rolex or a genuine Swiss replica, they snap into position. With a cheaper replica, they slowly move into position. This means that as the time gets closer to midnight you’ll start to see the date slowly roll over to the next day. With Rolexes, the change is instantaneous.
Are the hour markers correctly positioned, sized, and styled? Cheap replica dealers will sometimes substitute components like this with materials from a different watch model to save money. It is either that, or they just haven’t done their research. The Daytona in the cheap replica picture below has hands from a Day-Date model, which are flat at the tips rather than rounded:
Genuine Rolex Cheap Replica Swissexpert.net
Browse other sites to find out what the dial should look like. Check also for embossing and logos that should be on the watch face.
The length of the hands on a Rolex watch should reach the second markers. On many replicas it is short by two to three millimeters. The illuminated circle on the second hand should also exactly hit the top of the12 o’clock triangle.
Movement and Mechanism
There are Japanese and other Asian grades of mechanisms as well as automatic and quartz movements. Think of the mechanism as the engine of a car. It’s what’s under the hood that counts.
Genuine Swiss replica watches have real Swiss ETA movement made in Switzerland. The watches are either assembled there or shipped to Japan or Asia for assembly, but the watch mechanism is always Swiss. You’ll typically find that this is a 25 or 27 jewel automatic movement system. Beware of claims of 31 jewel or 33 jewel movement which doesn’t exist (and if it does, it’s not ETA).
The number of jewels in the movement refers to the microscopic increments in the gear that spins the watch hands. (Think pixels in a computer image). ETA movement creates a smooth sweeping second hand with no stop/start or tick-tick movement. The increments (like pixels) should be indiscernible by the human eye.
Another aspect of genuine ETA movement is the hacking mechanism. This mechanism makes the second hand stop moving when the crown is pulled out to set or adjust the time. If the second hand keeps moving, the watch doesn’t have the hacking mechanism that is present in the authentic version.
Watches that do not have genuine ETA movement may be unreliable. You won’t know unless you know the company that manufactured them. The automatic movement could slow or speed up over time, or eventually stop entirely. Watches made with ETA movement have durable and precise instrumentation. Some retailers will claim to carry watches with ETA movement, but they’re actually mechanisms made in Asia. Do your homework -- you need to contact them, read what others have said about their products and get a guarantee. If they’ve skimped on the mechanism, your watch will stop working within short order. A genuine Swiss replica, not only will look magnificent, it will work magnificently as well.
Materials
Using common sense, you can make your own judgments quite easily when it comes to discerning the materials used in quality watch construction. For instance, do you think a solid gold watch would be on sale for $400? Of course, never. Are fantastic replicas available in triple-wrapped 18K gold? Yes, they are -- in fact, many authentic designer watches are commonly made with triple-wrapped gold. More than anything, materials affect the price of the watch. How important it is to you to have the real thing will help you decide which grade of watch replica you’ll want to do more research on.
Your primary considerations when it comes to materials are how they affect the weight, appearance and durability of the watch.
Bracelet/Case Materials
Gold: Things to consider when looking to buy a gold watch are color, weight and whether or not it’s plated, solid or triple wrapped. Be aware that Rolex and Cartier in particular often use pink hued gold or common yellow gold. A gold that is too shiny or the wrong color will be a dead giveaway. True gold shouldn’t fade whereas plated gold will eventually wear off to reveal the steel beneath it. A faded gold bracelet will render a watch disagreeable and unwearable. Gold Swiss watches are triple-wrapped 18K gold which means the gold is 100% real and is layered thickly enough that it won’t fade.
Two-tone refers to models with integrated stainless steel and gold bracelets. Two-tone Swiss replicas require less gold, but should still be genuine solid 18K gold and 440 grade stainless steel. All full gold Swiss models are triple-wrapped 18K gold. Remember that a solid gold watch would cost thousands of dollars to manufacture, and even luxury watch designers generally use triple-wrapped gold unless it’s a $25 to $50 000 special model they’re selling. Be careful of retailers claiming to sell solid gold watches at substandard prices.
Solid stainless steel Swiss replicas are durable 440 grade stainless steel. This is forged steel that is extremely durable, weighted material. Only 440 steel will have the exact weight and durability of the originals. Only forged top quality steel is virtually dent and scratch proof and can withstand intense underwater pressure. The first giveaway in this case is the weight. The density of the metal is what determines its quality. It is quite possible to make an excellent replica using 220 grade stainless steel, but to be exact it should be 440. On the cheaper end, some companies may use alloys (mixed metals) which can really affect the strength and appearance of the bracelet. Be on the lookout for bracelets that have too much shine, or conversely, are too dull looking. Besides appearance, a more malleable, weak, metal will easily dent or scratch, and will be too lightweight. Some retailers will sell plated stainless steel that is stuffed with weights and cheaper metals. If you’re paying for a Swiss replica, this is unacceptable. It has to be 440 grade stainless steel.
Bracelet Links
A common shortcut taken by Rolex replica dealers is to use pins as links on the bracelet instead of threaded screws like the originals. This is extremely important: Not only will it give away the fake immediately, it makes adjusting the bracelet size a terrible hassle. Swiss replicas have the same, exact threaded screws as authentic Rolexes. The screws can be easily removed and adjusted. Pins are a dead giveaway for cheap watches.
Crystal
The crystal is the dome over the face of the watch. The consideration here is whether or not it is genuine sapphire crystal or if it is mineral crystal, a similar but duller and weaker glass. A very cheap replica may have standard glass or even plastic. Sapphire crystal has a hardness rating only slightly less than diamond. It is an exceptionally strong glass used by all the designer watchmakers and genuine Swiss replica dealers. The reason is that it is scratch proof, impeccably clear and glare resistant. Take advantage of the warranty period and take the watch into a jeweler to ask if it is sapphire crystal. If it’s not, it’s not worth the money of a Swiss replica. Mineral crystal is a lower grade of essentially the same thing. But since you’re looking for Swiss replica, demand the best.
Features
You will need to familiarize yourself with the special features of the watch model you are purchasing. You want to ensure that your replica will look exactly like the original and have all of the same functions.
Water Resistance
Swiss replica watches should be impermeable to 30 meters. This is extreme water resistance to have available for the average person. The depth refers to the pressure the crystal, crown, seal and components can handle before cracking or leaking. What’s important to most people is to know whether the watch can put up with rain, swimming, dishwashing and showering. This is an essential aspect of a Swiss replica. You don’t want to end up with a broken watch because you forgot to take it off in the bath. Therefore, pay attention to what retailers say about water resistance. A watch retailer who warns against wearing your watch in the shower is honest, but not selling Swiss, or even Japanese, replicas.
Every Swiss replica will have a rubber seal system around the lugs and crown. Inquire directly about this component. Rolex models featuring the triple-lock crown (e.g. Submariner, Sea Dweller and Daytona) utilize an extra seal among the threads of the winding crown’s tube. This gasket resembles a black O-ring and is visible when the crown is fully unscrewed. This is essential for the watch to be waterproof. As shown below, many replicas don’t have this seal, but instead have basic screw-down threads.
Genuine Rolex Cheap Replica Swissexpert.net
Chronographs/ Tachometer Functions
Many sport and professional models of designer watches have chronograph functions. Particularly Omega, Breitling and Rolex have developed very precise and complicated mechanisms for simultaneous time keeping. The original Rolex Daytona, for instance, has 3 chronographs on the dial which measure distinct time intervals. A Swiss replica with genuine ETA movement will have the correct functioning chronographs. Before you purchase a watch, inquire into chronograph functions. If you purchase a watch and one or all of the tachometer functions don’t work, use your warranty to return it immediately. It’s possible to find yourself with low end Asian replicas with the chronograph dials just there for show. It depends on what you want. If you’re reading this, you probably want a watch that has those functions and you want them to work.
Keep in mind that specific professional models, like those that Breitling, Panerai and Omega produces, that are tested for use in deep ocean diving and trips to outer space, you won’t find a replica anywhere with those same capabilities. An honest dealer will be upfront about the workings of the watches they carry. After all, not many of us are out there buying replicas for trips to the moon. A Swiss replica will have highly advanced functions for everyday use. Again, as with these claims of solid gold replica watches, be realistic and look out for dealers with outrageous claims. If they say the watch will work in orbit, they probably know you won’t be headed out into space anytime soon.
Luminox/Luminor
Luminox is the Rolex name for self-luminescent or glow-in-the-dark hour markers. It comes from the Luminor technology developed by Panerai for high visibility in underwater darkness. Most every Panerai model as well as certain Rolex models will have a Luminor or Luminox dial which will glow an iridescent green when it’s dark out. In most cases Panerai has Luminor in the name of the watch model. Oftentimes you can tell by the pictures on a site (that is, if quality pictures are available) whether or not a specific replica dealer has luminescent dials. Take a look at the photo below -- the 6 is well lit and is white whereas the 9 is beginning to glow green to counteract the shadow that’s cast on it. In full darkness, this watch dial will glow bright green.
Swiss Replica
Cyclops lens
Many Rolex models have a magnification device over the date called a Cyclops. This small lens makes the date easier to view at a glance. Because of the depth of the face under the crystal or because of poor magnification, some replica watches don’t show a true 2.5x magnification. For a real Rolex and a quality Swiss replica, the image of the date should nearly fill the Cyclops lens. This Cyclops lens should also have a sharp edge where it meets the sapphire crystal. This is hard to see with the naked eye, but can be felt for and found quite easily by running your fingers over the lens.
Genuine Rolex Cheap Replica SwissExpert.net
Summary
When you put on a Swiss replica watch, no one should be able to tell that it’s a replica. If it can fool a watchmaker, it’s a genuine Swiss replica. This means that every component needs to be exactly the same in feel, weight and appearance. Before making the investment, inform yourself, contact the company and do some online research. If you educate yourself, you’ll be able to see through and avoid any outrageous claims. Remember to take advantage of the avenues you have to get in contact with the retailer. If you aren’t able to get a hold of them, don’t do business with them. Making online purchases can be secure and easy if you educate yourself. Anyone can uncover a dishonest dealer – all you need to do is test them!