[shuluke]

Hello everyone,

I am looking for someone who knows something about watches. I was given a watch for a gift, I am not sure if its a fake or not, but it needs to be worked on. A small dial from the second second counter came off and is bouncing around in my watch.. Now when I go to places like walmart, they laugh at me and tell me good luck. I looked online and the watch, if its real, is usually appraised about as much as a nice car(I am a college student). Lets just say if I could sell it for whats been asked for it, I could be purchasing a hayabusa with money for upgrades. But my problem is, I like the watch, and would like to keep using it. It does not have a battery, it winds from your hand or something, and it looks really nice. I had a friend suggest I service it, but when he gave me a rough estimate of $60 bucks, I cant believe how expensive it is. He said they have to keep it clean and stuff, and well if I can find someone who can show me how to take it apart, I would take it in the cleanroom and fix it in there. Does anyone know if this is a good price to pay to fix it, or should I start browsing the internet to find out how to take apart a watch? I dont know if it will help but the watch is made by IWC. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Shuluke

 

[snatfinder]

Go to an appraiser and they'll tell you real or fake

 

[donniej]

I have tanken a few watches apart. They make working on bikes seem like lego's and even make reassembling laptops look easy. Don't take it apart, don't mess with it... you'll only gouge it or mess it up (ask me how I know).

If you're in the Philadelphia area, I know a good jewler. Otherwise I'd look in the yellow pages and pay to have it appraised.

PS. If I knew someone I trusted, and they'd fix my watches for $60, I'd do it in a heart beat. And taking a valuable watch to Walmart is like taking your motorcycle to Pepboys

 

[VARIABLE9]

Hello everyone,

I am looking for someone who knows something about watches. I was given a watch for a gift, I am not sure if its a fake or not, but it needs to be worked on. A small dial from the second second counter came off and is bouncing around in my watch.. Now when I go to places like walmart, they laugh at me and tell me good luck. I looked online and the watch, if its real, is usually appraised about as much as a nice car(I am a college student). Lets just say if I could sell it for whats been asked for it, I could be purchasing a hayabusa with money for upgrades. But my problem is, I like the watch, and would like to keep using it. It does not have a battery, it winds from your hand or something, and it looks really nice. I had a friend suggest I service it, but when he gave me a rough estimate of $60 bucks, I cant believe how expensive it is. He said they have to keep it clean and stuff, and well if I can find someone who can show me how to take it apart, I would take it in the cleanroom and fix it in there. Does anyone know if this is a good price to pay to fix it, or should I start browsing the internet to find out how to take apart a watch? I dont know if it will help but the watch is made by IWC. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Shuluke

If it is a real IWC, I wouldnt take it apart. However a service could cost upwards of $300+ so up to you.

 

[Nexus242]

Find a local jewelry store and take it to them. Most sell fine watches or stop by Macy's or Bloomingdale's and ask where they suggest getting some work done. But if this is an expensive watch don't be a hack and try to fix it yourself. Get it done right or you'll have a worthless piece of crap metal after wards.

==> https://www.iwc.com/index-en.asp

They do have 3 US repair facilities you can try also. Got this from their website.

IWC service centres for New York, NY 10022, United States

RNA Service Center
10 E 52 Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10022
United States
Phone: + (800) 492-6755
Fax: + (917) 606-7065
(Send watch by mail only, no drop off)

IWC service centres for Brooklyn, United States

Superior Watch Service Center
(adress package to: SWS Inc.)
1116, 48th Street
Brooklyn
NY 11219
United States
Phone: +718 / 851 53 06 or 1-800/275-4687
Fax: +718 / 435 20 98
E-Mail: [email protected]
URL: http://www.superiorwatch.com
(For out of warranty watches and Porsche Design by IWC)


IWC service centres for Beverly Hills, United States

IWC Boutique
9490C Brighton Way
Beverly Hills
CA 90210
United States
Phone: (310) 734-0520
Fax: (310) 275- 1860
E-Mail: [email protected]

You can also find a local retail distributors that will send your watch for you if you want or they can tell you what it would cost too.

 

[shuluke]

Yeah, I thought it was a simple fix that walmart could do.. I realised it was worth something when they thought I was playing a joke on them or something..

I will be meeting the guy on Friday. Any way I can tell if the watch is fake? I dont want to pay top dollar for an expensive watch service if the watch is fake and costs less to just purchase another one.

Thanks for the help!

Shuluke

 

[SpeedisaVirus]

My guess is only someone that actually knows watches will be able to tell the difference. There is likely some markings somewhere that would be tell tale signs...You need a real watch guy. Does it look nifty? Pics?

 

[shuluke]

Ok thanks guys. I will check it out on Friday. I was told if it was fake, it would be taken away and destroyed.. Its too nice of a watch to be thrown out, I still wear it to fancy functions, and no one seems to notice the loose piece.. but everyone notices the watch..

Shuluke

 

[SpeedisaVirus]

I imagine IWC might toss it if they found it to be fake but a small local watch shop should do no such thing. Just have to find someone that really knows their trade and the finer products in it.

 

[NeverEndingNinja]

Seems like even if it was a fake, they couldn't just take it from you and get rid of it. At least not without compensating you.

:dontknow:

 

[SpeedisaVirus]

Does seem far fetched that they would take it. Wonder what the laws are here.

 

[r3t1awr3yd]

If it is a real IWC, I wouldnt take it apart. However a service could cost upwards of $300+ so up to you.

+100000

If the IWC you have has an internal rotating bezel and is called an "Aquatimer", PM me for my address and I'll tell you right where to mail it. ;D

Seriously.

lol.

EDIT: I suppose I should be kinda serious...

The watch is an automatic and needs no battery. I hope your friend didn't open the back (though depending on the watch, without the right type of tool for a screw down back, that may have been impossible anyways. (or maybe you're saying no battery because you can see the rotor through a saphire crystal window on the back of the case).

Anyhow, it's very normal for automatic watches to cost 2-500 bucks for an overhaul but it only needs to be done about every five years depending on use.

I'm a swatch/eta whore myself (hamiltons, tissots, longines, etc) but would love to see pics of your watch

 

[VARIABLE9]

If you take it to an IWC dealer or a service center and it is a fake, most likely they can confiscate it. Do some reasearch on the internet to see if there are readily identifiable ways of determining its authenticity.

 

[Zach]

first, you need to determine if it's real. (who gives you a gift that may be worth $10k but could be only worth $20?)

How to Spot a Fake Replica IWC Watch?

You can use a few approaches to identify a replica or fake IWC, I list some methods below for your references. If you want to buy a genuine IWC, you must ensure that the product you are getting is authenticate and not an elaborated copy.

Glue on Crown: Cheap replica IWC watches might have the logo actually glued to the end of the crown. These watches have so many other flaws that this won't be your first indication of problems. Make sure the crown shows no sign of glue or uneven edges. Also, the watch should wind smooth and free, without the feel of the movement moving in the case.

Dirty Dial: There should be no dust on the surface of the dial, and absolutely no fingerprints. Contaminants such as hairs have been known to be found under counterfeit crystals on replica IWC watches. There's no quality control in the replica factories; each replica IWC watch can exhibit a variety of subtle diferences, including such things as contaminants and print quality.
Grammar and Spell: Many of these replica IWC watches are made by people whose first language is not English. Because of this, several spelling errors have slipped into the final products and make determining if a watch is counterfeit very easy. Read carefully the dial and the case back. Check the spelling; don't assume that it's correct. We've seen spelling errors like "Eigtheem Jewels","NIMITED EDITION", and "Made in Swiss", which make it obvious that the watch is not genuine.
Luminosity: Most IWC watches use a substance called LumiNova to provide the glow to the dial and hands that allows you to read the time in darkness. Replica IWC watches normally have a poor quality luminous material applied compared to a genuine watch. The replica won't glow as brightly or as long when charged and viewed in a low light situation. It's also common that replica IWC watches will have missing luminous materials and not glow at all. Use a flashlight to "charge" a watch and observe the brightness of the dial and hands in the dark.

Question: You are offered an IWC: is it authentic or not?

Answer: All watches produced have a case number, which is registered
by IWC, before they leave the factory. This permits us for instance to
provide you with an extract from the ledger, for which a charge is
made, for watches more than 10 years old. Alternatively, the case
number together with the model number will give us an indication of
whether this could be an authentic IWC watch.

Only a physical check at our factory or by an approved IWC dealer will
establish whether the watch is in fact authentic or a fake.

Question: Where can I find the number?

Answer: In the majority of wristwatches the case number is on the
outside of the case back and should consist of 6 to 7 digits,
depending on the age of the watch. This number was engraved between
the leather strap attachment lugs on a small number of wristwatches.

If the number is no longer legible, it is repeated on the inside of
the case back of all watches.

In pocket watches you can find the number on the inside of the case
back. It would be very helpful, for older pocket watches, if you could
also provide us with the movement number, given the possibility with
these particular pocket watches that the movement and the case did not
originally belong together. This number is located directly on the
movement and should consist of 5, 6 or 7 digits.


Question: I have the number. What do I do now?

Answer: If the watch is more than 10 years old, you can send us the
number and a brief description of the watch.

We will compare the data provided by you with those in our ledger, and
we can then advise you whether such a watch was manufactured by us and
whether your description of the watch agrees with our records. You
should nevertheless be aware that the information provided in these
circumstances is without obligation on our part since, as already
mentioned, only a physical check can validate the authenticity of a
watch.

If the watch in question is of more recent date, we recommend that you
have the watch examined by us or an approved dealer.


Question: The vendor is not prepared to tell me the number. What should I do?

Answer: If the vendor is not prepared to tell you the number, you may
wish to reconsider and ask further questions. Please be aware that all
watches which leave the factory have a case number. Vendors shall be
prepared to tell you the number. If the number is no longer legible,
the case can be opened by a watchmaker, preferably one of our IWC concessionaires, and the number can be read on the inside of the back.

if you determine it is real, but you can't afford to fix it, I would store it somewhere safe until you can get it repaired. Wearing it while broke could only damage it more. And yes, I can confirm that you will be out at least $300 for service on that watch. I live with a Rolex that gains time every month for this very reason.

 

[Jiaguy]

I have an Omega Seamaster from the 1970's still runs dead on. I don't think its ever been serviced. PM me the brand and I'll let you into some tips on spotting a fake.

 

[Zach]

I have an Omega Seamaster from the 1970's still runs dead on. I don't think its ever been serviced. PM me the brand and I'll let you into some tips on spotting a fake.

he said it was a IWC.

post up your tips here, maybe you'll help somebody else out too.

 

[nyc rugby]

Seems like even if it was a fake, they couldn't just take it from you and get rid of it. At least not without compensating you.

:dontknow:

Like others said, an authorized dealer may confiscate it. Counterfeit goods are serious business to a lot of companies.

If it is real you're looking at at least $300 for the service, I'd be leery of the place quoting $60.

 

[saabsaviur]

i sold waches for a few years nothing that great, movados, swiss army, seiko... just bring it into any local jewelery store, itll annoy them, because belive me you get about ten people a day. " i got this as a gift is it real" they can give you there non certified appraiser "opinion"

 

[Zach]

i sold waches for a few years nothing that great, movados, swiss army, seiko... just bring it into any local jewelery store, itll annoy them, because belive me you get about ten people a day. " i got this as a gift is it real" they can give you there non certified appraiser "opinion"

I have to wonder, of the people that were checking to see if the gift was real, how many of them were fake?

 

[snatfinder]

I live with a Rolex that gains time every month for this very reason.

I had one that did the same thing. Good thing it was only 30 bucks in China Town.


30 bucks was for the "good" fakes, btw. Had a sweeping second hand and everything. Lasted about a year or so before it started gaining time.