First off, and this is crucial, like *super* crucial, is the price. I mean, come on. If someone’s trying to sell you what they say is a Corum Admiral’s Cup for, like, a hundred bucks? Red flag city! Run, don’t walk. Legit Corums are *not* cheap. Jomashop even has real ones listed for a pretty penny, so do a little Google-fu and see what the actual going rate is for the model you’re eyeballing.
And this is where things get tricky because these fake watch factories, man, they’re getting *good*. Like, scarily good. Apparently, they’re getting better at replicating the movements and the overall look. The question is HOW?! I’m picturing some dude hunched over a workbench in a dark room, magnifying glass in his eye, meticulously copying every tiny detail. It’s kinda wild, right?
Thing is, they *always* mess something up. Always. It’s like a law of physics or something. Maybe the font on the dial is slightly off, maybe the weight feels wrong, maybe the finish isn’t quite as refined… look at pictures of the *real* deal. Trusted sources only, okay? Don’t just rely on some random eBay listing. Pay attention to the details.
Oh, and the “tick.” This is an old one, but still worth mentioning. Real high-end watches don’t usually have that super-audible “tick-tick-tick” sound. If you’re holding the watch up to your ear and you hear a loud ticking noise, alarm bells should be ringing. It just screams “cheap, mass-produced fake.” But modern fakes are even getting better at this too.
Speaking of mass-produced, always be wary of the seller. Gut feeling is important here. Does the dealer seem shady? Are they pushy? Do they only accept cash payments? Do they not have a return policy? Trust your instincts, people! If something feels off, walk away. There are plenty of other fish in the sea… of watches.
I even saw a listing for a supposedly “old” Corum Gold Coin watch, and the listing said almost nothing else. Sketchy! If someone is selling a valuable watch, they should be providing tons of details, not being all vague and mysterious.
