The Truth About Fakes
written by A.Morgan - 30th Jan 2012
A nice pair of Breitlings for sure, but what if I told you that one of them is worth precisely nothing?
Now more than ever you need to be sure of what you’re buying, because long gone are the days when a fake watch had a miss-spelled name and glued-on hands. Sure, these watches still exist, but so too do fakes of such accuracy that they have been known to fool even authorised dealers until they checked under the caseback, by which point, for them, it was too late.
You may think that fakes are knocked together by poorly paid workers on a night-shift in a factory somewhere in the far-East, and you’d be right, except what you probably imagine that factory to be like is most definitely inaccurate. These factories are clean, efficient and capable of accurately reproducing pretty much any luxury item you would care to think of.
So good now are these reproductions that the companies making them are even reproducing copies of European milling machines from which to make their fake watches with. And without the high labour costs, research and design costs and marketing costs that the brands we know and love have to stomach to bring us the superb watches we have come to expect, they can make them at prices that can prove to be very tempting, particularly when taking into account the recent price increases we have been seeing from the Swiss originals.
So how do you spot a fake this good? Well, there is no straightforward answer, and every case has to be approached differently. Sometimes even removing the caseback can be a dead end, as the movements used by both the genuine and the fake can be ETA (a company in the Swatch group that make off-the-shelf movements) based. The only sure-fire way to know is to buy the seller, to purchase the watch from a person or a company who knows watches inside and out, who have relationship with the manufacturers and so can trace serial numbers and movements numbers back to the source.
It’s not worth the risk to second-guess it yourself – take a look through the slides above and see if you can tell which is genuine. Yes, there are differences (and bear in mind that these photos are heavily magnified), but it just isn’t as simple as spotting the poorly printed logo or the badly brushed metal anymore, so just keeping your wits about you is no longer good enough. It’s a scary thought, and perhaps more so for the manufacturers as more and more people start to question their margins and price rises as the days tick on.
Which do you think is the fake? Tell us which one and why by pressing the ‘Discuss’ button at the top of the article, then find out if you’re right by clicking here
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Sean
I think ONE is the fake watch, the brush stroke on logo TWO looks more detailed.
Oli
ONE is the counterfeit watch. The nunerals in the bezel and the lack of finish on the logo give it away. Otherwise it is a very convincing fake.
Ivan
It is number TWO, “Swiss Made” on the inside rim of chronometer next to 30min is missing
David
Watch 2 is real – I hope!
Carl
I think TWO is the real one, sharper finish on the hour indices,the logo on the crown looks of a higher quality and the crown appears to sit closer to the case
philippe
i think number one is the fake
JOHN BABBS
The watch on the left is a replica. It does not have the same brightness in all aspects.
Mark Turton
Watch two is the original watch, therefore watch one is the copy
Michael Greaves
Watch 2 is the fake good perhaps too good.
Nigel
Number one is the real one, maybe?!
Mike
Number 1 is the fake. In image 3 the small slotted screw is missing from the outer edge of the bezel
chris
The one on the right is the fake…
At 6′oclock the one on the left has a makers ‘mark’ on the vertical face of the dial which the fake one does not. Go on now tell me im wrong!
Mark
I think the one on the left is the fake. Its very goof though
Nick Hannam
I would say that No.2 is the fake.
Gavin
No 1 is the fake lack of sharpness in logo and general detail
Phil
The breitling on the left is the fake. The detail of the winder and the gap it fits in doesn’t look like a precision fit.
Stef
One is the fake, classic low quality wings logo, the general sharpness of print etc, from a quick glance though, who could tell, much, much more convincing than the fake Breitling for Bentley tat that is around!
Ken BRUNTON
Number One is the fake.
But then, I like fakes, they are often as good as the ‘Real’ thing; they mock the marketing created brand snobbery attached to often quite inconsequential artifacts as well as prick the hubris exhibited by those small minded, often patronizing and usually condescending ‘cognoscenti’.
These things are not important in life; what is important is altruism not what football club one supports or what watch one wears or what car one drives.
Wouldn’t it now be so funny if Number One is in fact the real brand.
Paul
I think 1 is the fake and 2 the pukka, must have, item. Generally the artwork is clearer and crisper on watch 2, and the steelwork more polished and exact. Comapring the wings on the two, those on watch 1 are shinier and more polished, this time, but in fact too gaudy for the real thing.
If I’m right, how about watch 2 as the prize?
fatih
I think number one is the fake one. If not, than I would never buy a watch again!
Glenn
Watch 2 is the fake, The Breitling Logo (image 5) is corrupt on watch 2. Om image 7 the spidle is closed and not open.
Michael
The Breitling SuperOcean on the Left is Fake.
Adam
Left is the fake.
Roy
first I thought it would be #2 which is the counterfeit watch, strangly the Breitling website doesn’t seem to show neither one….? What I mean is that the website doesn’t show “swiss made” in the pics underneath “versions” and where is the green arrowhead? So not sure at all, let us know!
Azz
The one on the left. Its certainly difficult to tell just by looking at the first image but the magnified images give the game away. The crown is clearly fake on the first one. The finishing on the depth rating text is not neat and the lume at 6 looks suspect
Mike
Watch 1 is the fake. When heavily magnified, the differences are obvious. But from arms length, the tell is on the lume dots on the rehaut. They are blobby as opposed to flatter on the genuine. Also, the wings logo has a shiny background as opposed to matte on the genuine.
Phil G
I think #1 is the fake is but very close on detail on both units shown
Michael
As you look at them the one on the left is the fake.
Ian Reed
I think the fake is the one on the left. It seems not to be as sharp in detail and the Breitling symbol seems slightly different
bigkev
I am going to say “one” is the fake, based on them overdoing it with the “swiss made” on the rim
mike steven
watch number 2 is the fake?
Trailboss
Easy! Rep on left, the hash marks are centered on the ring on the gen and at the inner edge on the rep.
Oliver
There seems to less glare\reflection off watch 2 suggesting that is the genuine article but they are so close, maybe they are both fakes!!
Andrew
I think ONE is the fake as the finish doesn’t look as clean and sharp as TWO
Malcolm Haig
I think no 2 is the fake,the 15 min mark is mis-shaped and the rotating bezel seems large.The lugs also seem to be small.
Spencer Robertshaw
The first is real
Mark
I will go for number 1 as the fake, everything on number two seems to appear sharper and clearer.
Howard Clewes
In my opinion the watch in picture 2 is the genuine one
Jim
Not able to tell which one is real or fake, they look the same to me other then light reflections on the photograph
john galt
i think number 2 is copy as the crown logo is too big ,the number 7 is not in line , the 60 is not round enough and the hands look shinny not matt as they should be , well hopfully im right or a have just slagged off an excellant watch from brietling .
John Collins
Left is fake….next please!
Rob P
I think one is the fake, because two looks “crisper”. However I wouldn’t have stood a chance if they weren’t seen side by side or magnified. Makes you think!!
Bob
I think one is the fake two is a lot sharper and brighter finish unless the photograph was taken that way deliberatly
Archie
Ivan that swiss made on the inner chapter ring is a reflection.
Number 1 is the fake !
Johnny Ankar
The one to the left is the replica, the crown is big difference, look at the close text and the anker it look like shit on the left one,
SO DONE DO I GET A PRICE NOW?:D thanks
Adrian
I think ONE is the fake. For example, the detailing (eg main logo) is less sharp, the base of the B logo on ONE is not as carefully rounded as on TWO
Archie
Often the Bezel will yield the answer ! If it is Breitling it will have 120 very fine clicks.
The Beijing will have 60 sloppy ones.
Darren
I think the one on the left is the fake, the Breitling logo is not as clear as the one on the right.
Danny
I think number 1 is the fake?
Danny
I think number 1 is fake?
mike parkin
it is my opinion that image number 2 is the genuine time piece it appears to be a more crisp item
and the hands have sharper profiles
John
Really hard to tell! I think watch one is the fake, less detailed logo, less snuggly fitting crown, less sharply defined hands, reflection of “swiss made” in the crystal
AHOY
The first watch is fake. Bad dial indices, radium application, poor Breitling logo, less than sharp bezel printing.
Paul maxey
I think one is the fake, the logo just doesn’t look right
Alan Bullock
I think No2 is the fake.
lee
i am thinking 1 is the fake, the numbers are more rounded, the gap around the crown is a bit bigger, the finish on the logo is not as good, the loop of the B on the crown does not extend down far enough.
but i think if you were to be given the fake you would think you had the real thing, unless it did not feel as you would expect a quality watch to feel, eg the strap felt poorly made.
eVo
One is a fake, the lume is poorly applied to the markers. Also look at the hands, you can see lume or somthing that wasn’t properly cleaned off. The font and pring isn’t as bold either, the biggest tell is the crown on number one is rather poor compared to the second.
In all this is a very accurate…
Ken
I think that 2 is the genuine Brietling. My reasoning being that the Brietling B on the winder matches the B on the face in the wing logo. In addition the wing logo quality of watch 1 is not so good. That said without a direct comparison I would not be able to detect that one of them is not real. I have seen may fake watches in Shanghai markets, expensive [250RMB = £25] quartz watches are almost impossible to detect from the outside. Mechanical fake watches I have seen usually sound wrong.
Ashley Kitchin
Watch number 2 is the genuine article I think, the finish just seems to a higher standard. There seems to be an uneven “stroke” on the type on the 1st watch as seen in pictures 5 and 6. When are you going to let us know?
Dave49
I think the left hand watch is the fake, mainly because of the quality of the Breitling logo on the watch face but I’m not 100% sure. Very difficult if you cannot have the two to compare.
Peter
The fake is the watch on the left, the give away is the crown being too small and judging by the look of the numerrals they’re not raised as they should be. The face also looks slightly dull, which would suggest that the glass is not crystal or not coated with an anti-reflective coating.
Kevin
One looks like it slightly lacks the finishing quality of the second watch
martyndogs
I think 1 is the fake, the B on the button is not right, apart from that very convincing….
Ian Reed
Number one is the fake. 100% but where are they saying which one is. If you look at all 6 pictures it the workmanship stands out clearly. Would still like to know the answer though.
Danny Symonds
I believe number one to be a fake.
The printing on the watch is not as clear, same with the logo.
Also the crown wheel doesn’t seem to be as well made.
GARY
I think the fake is 1 too. Go on, put us out of our misery and tell us that they are both fakes!
A.Morgan
We will reveal all next week!
D Gee
I think the Left one is the Fake
w.saunderson
i hope its the one on the left if not i’ve bought a expensive fake and a well know shop will be getting a call
w.saunderson
i hope its the one on the left,if not i was sold a fake
Douglas
I believe that number one on the left is the genuine watch, but I would not put money on it, as halfway through I suddenly thought the right hand watch looked more real. Dont know enough about Breitlings at the moment. Please tell me.
CHARLES
i think no two is the genuine one
f.mccourt
watch no. 2 is genuine
B
I was going to say #2 was fake until I took out my breitling and compared the B logo on the crown and the dial. So I say #1 is fake but incredibly accurate.
Maurice Tennick
The watch on the right is the genuine Breitling. The winder crown sits closer to the case than the fake, and the Breitling logo on the crown is better defined on the real watch. Thee Breitling logo on the dial of teh fake is incorrect inform, and the numerals are less crisp. In the enlargement (5) it is quite clear the logo on the fake is incorrect in ouline and detailing. In enlargement (6) the differences in quality are obvious, the fake does not have the precision of numerals and letters of the real thing.
andy c
well i think i can spot a fake in a glance, very good fake number1 is fake,i think
Michael Viney
The watch to the left of the two I believe to be the imitation piece.
Why? Essentially the finer details.
- The bezel edges seem sharp looking an unfinished, jagged almost.
- There is a cheap glare coming from the dial, suggesting this has not been glare proofed and possibly a cheaper glass has been used in place of sapphire crystal (two things you’d expect from a divers watch of this capacity)
- There appears to be a flaw to the 30 marker, one that will have been produced presumably through poor manufacture.
- The baton in the 6 o’clock position is off centre. The whole dial seems slanted.
- The crown doesn’t screw down entirely.
Essentially, you need to ask yourself when looking for a fake, would I pay (in this case) £2900 for the quality of this watch. If the answer is no, you need to ask yourself why.
I wouldn’t pay it for the watch on the left.
richard
no 2 fake logo wrong
Ron
2 is fake, i hope.
Nr. 15 are a little of at watch 2.
Bruno Coutinho
Number 1 is the fake one. The images 3 and 5 shows logos more preciselly finished.
Owen
I would say ONE is fake. If it’s not then the fakes are doing a better job than the gen and that is a scarey thought.
des darbyshire
The watch on the right is genuine sharper deinition in the breitling logo
geordie
ONE is genuine, TWO is fake.
D Oldfield
watch one is fake – no swiss made sign on inner and no ‘cap’ on hand pin
nigel favill
Twos real Ones a fake ,its in the breitling logo …
john
I think number 2 is the real watch, might be wrong but all the numbers look right
Catherine Taylor
I reckon the one on the left is the fake – a very good fake. The crown does not seem to be screwed down flush against the case (although it might) compared to the other, and the logo and numbers are lacking the clarity of the watch on the right – when clarity is a key point of all Breitling watches. Also the one on the left has slight variations in the fonts on the bezel compared with a more consistent use of font on the right with exact matches between dial and bezel not present on the one on the left. Also the close-ups, quality of the polishing finish on both the top and side surfaces of the left bezel, as well as the quality of the logos is far inferior and of poor quality on the left watch. The crown on the fake is very good but does not define the ‘B’ as clearly as on the genuine Breitling – on the right!!
Alan walker
I thunk one is fake because you can see more surface scratches on the steel case which would indicate to me a cheaper grade steel, and the logo on the face is not as crisp and is a slightly different shape, number two is a really good copy though!
Catherine Taylor
The one on the LEFT is certainly the FAKE, albeit one of the better fakes.
Just compare the finish quality of the steel polishing; the clarity of the indices and text on the faces; the inconsistent font (bezel v dial) on the left watch, particularly the ’5′; the terrible quality and variation of the Breitling marque on the left dial; the rough cutting of the grip ring around the bezel on the left; the crown is not screwed down flush to the case on the left although it may be in as far as it will go (crucial simple feature on a deep dive watch) – unlike the right. The crown on the fake is very good, but lacking the definition of the genuine Breitling crown.
AJ
Two for me because the edge’s look sharper and the fakes I see always feel sharp on the edges of the case and the bracelet
khashayar
i sure that two is the fake because of bad brushing steel on it and the deffrences of the form in the logos.
khashayar
i sure that one is the fake because of bad brushing steel on it and the deffrences of the form in the logos.
Dan Suh
TWO is fake… Edges of numbers on the bezel is smoother on the watch ONE, so I am guessing it’s real. A
Adrian
i think the real one is number 2 on the right hand side
Thomas Spain
Watch 1 is the copy
OliQ
Number 1 is the fake. The Breitling badge is all polished without any matt finish and the crown doesn’t sit flush… But I wouldn’t bet £2000 on it!
Pierre
I think it’s number 2. Some of the writing seems to be missing on the inside of the watch.
richard
i think it is number 2 as the detail seem to be too clear and precise with the real version number one?
Greg Horne
Wow. Hard to tell the difference, I would say the one on the left is correct.
gary
The one on the left.
Dean
I’d say that 1 was the rep but it’s very very good
Sunil
ONE is Fake.
alan
The watch on the left is fake as it lacks the definition and manufacturing precision as the genuine article on the right.
Andrew Holmes
Hi
I think watch number 1 of the Breitling Superocean is fake looking at the finer details, but they are scarily close even with the macro shots, what chance would you have if your eyesight wasn’t up to scratch.
Ian
I think no2 is the fake. It just looks too good. Also there is a mark, Ithink it may say “Swiss Made” on the vertical part of the bezel near the 6.
jay
watch 1 is teh fake
Andrew Bailey
Watch number one is the fake, it lacks the sharpness precision of watch number Two and the Breitling logo is substandard.
Jack
I think One is fake and Two is real.
Ken willo
One is the fake, two is a much cleaner watch
kraki
Number one is fake.
John Phillips
I believe the watch on the left to be a fake!
Steve
Number two is the real one. It just has a better all round finish. Although it would be tough to spot the fake on its own!
michael
I think it is no 1
Grevillea mills
They are getting so clever 2 is suspect it is only that you pose the question that i look so very closely can we see the back and does it have a bracelet which may give More of a clue
paul jones
The one on the left is the fake.
Mikes
I think watch 2 is the Fake
Mikes
i think watch 2 is fake
Keith
I believe the one on the left is the fake. because of the lack of non-reflective glass – reflection of Swiss Made on P1and the more circular loop of the B on the face of the crown. I also think the flash shows more on P2 and on the way light reflects off the luminous oblongs on image 6 and 7.
Srdjan
number two is real one