To give you one example, there's a watch being sold on some eBay markets with these characteristics:
1. looks like an authentic case and dial 2. the case number is on IWC's list of known authentic Portuguese watches 3. the watch clearly has an authentic IWC Calibre 98 movement, with a number wthin range
So, a lot of people, I'm sure, will bid on it. But there's a few real problems with it, foremost of which is this case number shows that it had a Calibre 74 movement when it left the factory!
Wow...and then I checked further. A forum member from Portugal told me that this case was being sold alone (without a movement) some time ago, and even kept photos of it. The owner apparently decided to find a Calibre 98 movement and make his own marriage Portuguese wristwatch for sale. Only problem was the owner didn't know that the real watch had a different movement.
And then I reread the text of the listing. The seller was clever. He never said that it was an "authentic Portuguese" watch. In fact, he even mispelled "Portuguese", I'd bet intentionally. And the fine print says no refunds unless the watch isn't as listed, and only within a limited time.
It's a tough world out there. Someone is going to lose thousands of Euros or dollars or francs, thinking they just made a real find.
188 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 5, 2011
Canada
It is scary buying on the second hand market if you aren't careful..
I know of forums out there where you can buy an IWC that looks just like an IWC, because it has been built with genuine IWC parts, but, never left the factory in a full state.. Some of these watches are 50/50 IWC parts and parts of Asian movements etc..
166 Discussions and CommentsMember since July 9, 2009
Well I´d be a liar, if I said it has never happened to me before, but that´s the price you pay for learning the hard way ;-) You´ll only make that mistake once or maybe twice, the next watches you buy, you will have learnt to scrutinise the objects of desire more closely.
2,457 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 7, 2003
Thanks for the warning Michael. You might consider this listing as misleading and report it to the auction site. If we all report our concern we can prevent someone from being deceived and ripped off.
You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf - Jon Kabat-Zinn
2,637 Discussions and CommentsMember since Sept. 20, 2007
Thanks Michael, indeed we all need reminders of the risks associated with online buying - from time to time.
For this one it's clear - stay away. Often it's not clear - and someone pays a lot of money for a fake.
Recently I saw a PD Compass for sale out there - interest was reasonably high and it sold for a "descent" price. I and others thought it was a marriage !
1. looks like an authentic case and dial
2. the case number is on IWC's list of known authentic Portuguese watches
3. the watch clearly has an authentic IWC Calibre 98 movement, with a number wthin range
So, a lot of people, I'm sure, will bid on it. But there's a few real problems with it, foremost of which is this case number shows that it had a Calibre 74 movement when it left the factory!
Wow...and then I checked further. A forum member from Portugal told me that this case was being sold alone (without a movement) some time ago, and even kept photos of it. The owner apparently decided to find a Calibre 98 movement and make his own marriage Portuguese wristwatch for sale. Only problem was the owner didn't know that the real watch had a different movement.
And then I reread the text of the listing. The seller was clever. He never said that it was an "authentic Portuguese" watch. In fact, he even mispelled "Portuguese", I'd bet intentionally. And the fine print says no refunds unless the watch isn't as listed, and only within a limited time.
It's a tough world out there. Someone is going to lose thousands of Euros or dollars or francs, thinking they just made a real find.
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Last edited: 11 January, 2013 - 23:22
I know of forums out there where you can buy an IWC that looks just like an IWC, because it has been built with genuine IWC parts, but, never left the factory in a full state.. Some of these watches are 50/50 IWC parts and parts of Asian movements etc..
Be careful out there..
Big Pilot 5004
Aquatimer 2000 (3568-02)
It's definitely easy to get carried away.
Nice weekend
/Anders
watch the time...
Last edited: 9 April, 2013 - 19:22
Cheers Greg Chalk
Cvanwhite at aol dot com
Last edited: 21 February, 2013 - 13:47
You´ll only make that mistake once or maybe twice, the next watches you buy, you will have learnt to scrutinise the objects of desire more closely.
Regards
Jimmy
Last edited: 25 April, 2013 - 11:45
You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf - Jon Kabat-Zinn
Last edited: 12 January, 2013 - 08:11
For this one it's clear - stay away. Often it's not clear - and someone pays a lot of money for a fake.
Recently I saw a PD Compass for sale out there - interest was reasonably high and it sold for a "descent" price. I and others thought it was a marriage !
Best regards
Mark
Last edited: 16 April, 2013 - 00:36