Okay, so listen, we’ve all been there. That feeling when you stumble upon a deal that seems too good to be true? Yeah, that’s usually because it IS too good to be true. And when it comes to Citizen watches on eBay, especially Eco-Drives, you gotta be *extra* careful. I mean, I’m not saying everyone on eBay is a crook, but… let’s just say there’s a reason you can find what *looks* like a $300 watch for like, fifty bucks.
I recently saw a Bryzen BL5470-57L (a nice watch, by the way, almost got one myself) going for peanuts on eBay. My first thought? “Score!” My second thought? “Wait a minute… this smells fishy.” Why? Because, honestly, the price was just *way* off. Like, suspiciously off.
See, the thing is, Citizen watches, especially the Eco-Drive models, are pretty popular. And where there’s popularity, there’s bound to be counterfeits. And these counterfeiters? They’re getting *good*. Like, scarily good.
So how do you tell if your supposed bargain is the real McCoy or a cheap knock-off that’ll probably break down faster than you can say “solar powered”? Well, it’s tricky, and no one thing is a dead giveaway, but here are some things to look out for, based on my own frantic Google searches (which I recommend you do too!):
* The Price. Duh. I mean, seriously. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t let your desire for a good deal cloud your judgment.
* The Seller. Check their feedback. Do they have a history of selling watches? Or just random stuff? Are there any complaints about fakes? This is a big one.
* The Details. This is where it gets tricky. Look *really* closely at the watch in the pictures. Are the date numbers aligned correctly? Are the hands the right shape and length? Does the dial look crisp and clean, or blurry and cheap? Compare it to pictures on the *official* Citizen website. Little discrepancies are red flags. I saw a comment about someone thinking their hands were too long and pointy, and the crown guards were weird. That stuff MATTERS.
* The Packaging. Does it come with the original box, papers, and warranty card? If not, that’s a red flag, although not always a dealbreaker. Some legit sellers might just be selling a watch they got as a gift.
* The Movement. This is harder to check unless you’re a watch expert, but if you can see the movement, look for telltale signs of a cheap, generic movement. A genuine Citizen Eco-Drive movement will be well-finished and have the Citizen logo.
I saw someone mention getting a fake Citizen watch for *two dollars* on AliExpress. TWO DOLLARS! That’s insane! It just goes to show you how cheap these fakes can be.
And don’t even get me started on watches from India on eBay. While there are some legit sellers there, the market is flooded with franken-watches (watches made from mismatched parts) and outright fakes. I’m not saying all Indian sellers are bad, but… just be extra cautious.
Honestly, if you’re even remotely suspicious, contact the seller and ask for more pictures. If they refuse, that’s a HUGE red flag. If they do send more pictures, scrutinize them. And if you’re still not sure, post pictures on a watch forum and ask for opinions from experienced collectors.
