Swiss watch Patek Philippe. Patek Philippe watches - original or fake

27.05.2019

The market for fake luxury watches is developed all over the world. According to some estimates, the annual turnover of the global counterfeiting industry is about $100 billion. We will tell you on what grounds you can identify a fake. Moreover, we will mainly focus on the most noticeable, external features of a fake. This will allow you to recognize a copy of the watch already at the first inspection.

Can a copy be better than the original?

First you need to decide why, in fact, you need to determine whether a watch is fake or not. After all, if the copy is good, its price is acceptable, then why not wear this fake Patek Philippe instead of the real one? Let's try to briefly answer this question.

Firstly, the highest quality of Swiss watches can only be guaranteed by the manufacturer. No matter how accurate the copy is, its quality is much lower. Is it necessary to talk about such properties of branded watches as water resistance and shock protection?..
You can pass on original Swiss watches, especially mechanical ones, they can become your family heirloom. Their value will only increase with time. While the fake will quickly become obsolete.

Secondly, replica watches are not covered by the manufacturer's warranty. And even if they stop shortly after purchase, you will have nowhere to take them for warranty repairs.

Thirdly, - and this is the most important thing - the question of the authenticity of your things, especially such "status" ones as cars, jewelry and watches, is a question of your self-esteem. No matter how accurate and beautiful a copy of a watch is, you will always know that it is a fake. You will be deprived of that inner confidence that people give their authentic things.

Fake: special signs

Replica watches can be divided into 3 categories according to price and quality.
1. Surface copies, at a price of 500 - 3,500 tenge;
2. Good copies, at a price of 3,500 - 12,500 tenge;
3. Exact copies, at a price of 15,000 - 90,000 tenge (some of them may be encrusted with low-purity diamonds).

Let's examine each of these groups in more detail.

1. Surface copies. These watches have a lot of obvious shortcomings upon close examination. Their dials are made sloppy. Numbers and serifs can be shifted, slightly rotated along the axis. The edges of the inscriptions are most often slightly "floating", that is, they have irregularities. There are instances on which the chronograph hands are simply drawn in the same way as the numbers. Often the dials for such watches are made of cardboard. This is difficult to detect on first inspection. But on the other hand, if a small amount of water or even steam accidentally gets into the watch, the flaw will be detected instantly.

Engraving on the case of such watches, as a rule, is absent at all. But sometimes there are very rude inscriptions “Swiss made” and even “Made in Switzerland” (such marking is not provided by Swiss watch manufacturers). The case itself may have a coating that begins to “peel off” from the very beginning.

The straps of such watches are made of leatherette, made sloppy. When the strap is bent, pronounced folds and wrinkles are formed. The stitching is uneven, the threads stick out in places. On the inside, obscure inscriptions are either applied, or there is nothing at all.
The bracelets of such watches also bear traces of handicraft production - rough stamps, poor polishing of the inside. Their outer side is often covered with paint, which, due to carelessness, also falls on the inside.

The mechanism of such watches is usually Chinese. Their service life is short. Often, watches of this quality are not even tried to be faked under well-known brands, but they invent their own. However, we have seen cheap Rados and the same Tissot and Rolex. To distinguish such a fake is not difficult for any person.
2. Good copies. These fakes can already be compared with the original. Actually, the differences between the copies of this group are precisely in minor deviations from the canon. And also, of course, in the quality and origin of the mechanism.

If you have seen the original watch many times, you can always identify a fake by the location and style of the marks. The inscriptions are located slightly higher or slightly lower than necessary. Marker paint may be uneven or slightly rubbed off in some areas. The shape of the arrows may also differ from the original.

On the cases and bracelets of such watches, a heterogeneous printing of inscriptions is noticeable. Counterfeiters use flat dies to print on curved surfaces. Therefore, the depth of printing is not the same for them. Stamps rarely change, from time to time their edges can be erased. Therefore, the extreme letters of the words and the protruding elements of the letters themselves are not printed clearly enough.

Cases of counterfeit gold watches in this category are usually made of brass and with poor quality gilding. Over time, the gilding will begin to peel off. But at first this shortcoming is difficult to detect.

Cases of the release of watches in this category under fictitious brands are rare, but there are oddities with the misrepresentation of models. Some fakes may not have any branded prototypes at all. There are known cases of sale of Franck Muller watches of the 1932 model. Whereas Maestro Frank Muller himself, the founder and chief designer of the company, was born in 1958. And the company that received his name was created only in 1992.

As for the mechanism of such watches, then, depending on the price, it can be either Chinese or Japanese or even partly Swiss (basic movements are often smuggled, as a result of which their cost is significantly reduced). Cases of substitution of the nature of the mechanism are common. For example, an original watch has an automatic movement, while a copy of the same model is equipped with a quartz movement. Sellers of such watches often "stand up", insisting that this is "such a modification" of a Swiss watch. At the same time, they can safely tell you that the watch is made in Dubai or even in ... Finland, but "under a Swiss license."

It is very simple to determine which mechanism is installed in the watch you are considering: the second hand of a quartz watch moves in jumps from division to division, while in a mechanical watch it shifts smoothly.

The straps of such watches can be both good enough and very rough. It should be understood that the better the copy is made, the more expensive its production costs the handicraftsman. Therefore, manufacturers of fakes are trying to save on everything.
3. Exact copies. High-precision replicas of luxury watches are called replicas. These watches are often almost indistinguishable from the original, except for the fact that they are not produced in their own factory in Switzerland. Making an exact copy costs a lot of money, so their price in most cases is quite high.

The processing of the case of such watches usually accurately reproduces the characteristics of the original. Parts of the body that should be polished are polished, and those that are sanded are sanded. Cases can be made of precious metals (silver, less often gold). And even encrusted with precious stones.

Fake jewelry watches are usually characterized by poor setting of diamonds. In order to identify defects in the installation of stones, it is enough to run your finger along the rim with diamonds. In real watches, all stones have the same setting depth. None of them sink in or protrude. The diamonds themselves in fake watches are not well cut, may contain inclusions and have a grayish yellow tint. However, the color of the stone is very difficult to determine by eye. Even with a sample in front of him, not every person is able to do this. But a specialist recognizes such a substitution at one glance.

Replica markings usually meet all the requirements of the original. But there may also be instances without a serial or catalog number. On the crown of many expensive models there is an embossed emblem of the brand or a specific series. For Rolex, this is an obligatory crown, which is modified on fake watches. Longines in the Flagship series has a frigate image on the crown, which is repeated on the case back, while other models have the firm's logo engraved on the crown.

To recognize an exact copy, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the original in more detail. Experts say that there are no or almost no copies that would be impossible to distinguish. After all, such a fake would cost absolutely fantastic money. And cost savings in production always turns into, albeit barely noticeable, shortcomings.

Some companies provide their watches with security features, like watermarks on banknotes. So, for example, it recently became known that Breguet makes cryptography on the dial, which can be seen only at a certain viewing angle. Genuine Frederique Constant watches have markings invisible to the naked eye that can only be seen under ultraviolet light. An invisible limited edition number is engraved on the dial of the platinum Heart Beat Day-Date and Heart Beat Retrograde models. Silver dials on genuine Frederique Constant watches will display the limited edition number and Arabic index at 10 o'clock. On watches with a black dial, the inscriptions will appear below and above the “swiss made” inscription. But these signs are kept secret, and not even available to all professionals.

In general, it can be said that it is extremely difficult to recognize a high-quality replica masquerading as the original. Without a detailed examination, including opening the case and inspecting the mechanism, the probability of error is extremely high, even for a specialist. However, an autopsy reveals everything. The CEO of vintage Swiss watchmaker Jaquet Droz, Manuel Emsch, says the easiest way to determine the authenticity of a Swiss watch is to open the case. “The elegance and beauty of the mechanism is what confirms the originality.” In addition, the details of the original mechanisms are branded with brand marks. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you contact the experts. Do not risk your money and your status!

Swiss watch markings

In Switzerland, these marks of origin are protected by several authorities, the main one being The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, which has issued a list of Swiss quality conformity parameters (Verordnung Swiss Made). Their illegal use is punishable by huge fines and seizure of products. To be eligible for the Swiss Made label, a watch must:

1. Have a Swiss movement.
2. Be assembled within Switzerland.
3. Pass the final quality check in Switzerland.

Today, only about a hundred watch companies can label their products with the inscription Swiss Made, since their products fully comply with the above requirements.

Many watches have the inscription Swiss movement (Swiss movement). This marking means that the watch mechanism was made in Switzerland, from Swiss components, and it passed the quality control there, but the watch case and the final assembly are of a different origin. Conscientious manufacturers usually indicate in such cases the country and the name of the company where these watches are made.

The inscription "Swiss quarz" can only be placed on a Swiss watch, that is, it fully corresponds in meaning to the marking Swiss made, and not Swiss movement, as one might assume.

The inscription "Swiss made" can also be marked on the bracelet. Then it means that the bracelet was made in Switzerland, and not the watch itself (of course, if there is no such inscription on the watch itself). The Swiss origin of the bracelet can also be confirmed by the inscription "Swiss wristlet" (Swiss bracelet). If only the watch case is made in Switzerland, then the Swiss case marking may be present on the back wall. Separate Swiss-made parts are marked swiss made or swiss parts (Swiss parts), but, we emphasize, these inscriptions are affixed on the parts themselves, and not on the watch dial or the back of the case. Such inscriptions should not be visible to the buyer, because they do not guarantee that the watch as a whole complies with the Swiss canons of quality.

Markings present on the dial, watch case or bracelet may be translated into other languages, but in any case they must correspond to the information contained in the certificate, which must be attached to the branded watch.

When buying a watch, you should pay attention to the box: genuine watches are always very well packed: moire, morocco, gold embossing. The box, of course, can be stolen or even faked, but the real one at the bottom must have detailed details of the manufacturer. And finally, the main thing is the certificate. The passport must have a clear number, date and place of sale with a seal. If there is a number, but there is no information about the sale, then most likely you are dealing either with goods hidden from taxes or with a fake passport. But in the reverse situation - when there is no number, but there is a place of sale - the confidence that you are offered a "left" product increases by a factor. If there is no passport at all, then there are many options - from the sale of stolen goods to the loss of a passport.

The first watch under the Patek Philippe brand was released in 1839. The founders of the brand, Antoine Norbert de Patek and Adrian Philippe, managed to combine the traditions and modern technologies of that time in this watch.

Over the entire history of the brand, the manufacturer has more than 80 inventions. In today's world, Patek Philippe wristwatches are considered to be the most perfect in the world.

Among the most famous and significant inventions for the watch industry are:

in 1845, the first invention was registered - a watch without a winding key (until that time, all watches in the world were wound using a special key that was inserted into the case, from 1845 to the present day they began to use the well-known crown);
1889 - the year of the invention of the perpetual calendar mechanism for watches;
in 1953 - the world's first wrist watch with automatic winding;
1959 - a watch showing the time of two time zones;
1979 - folding strap clasp;

1985 - Easter date indicator for wristwatches.

Since this is a very famous brand and many seek to become the owner of such an exquisite and luxurious watch, fakes can often be found on the market. Moreover, they come in very different categories in terms of quality:

Low quality, the flaws of which are visible at first glance.
Medium quality, to distinguish them you need to look at the small details.
High-quality copies that differ from the original only in internal structure and metal.

Let's look at the most basic points that you need to pay attention to when buying a Patek Philippe watch.

Main differences

In 2009, the Patek Philippe brand managed to protect itself from many fakes. The manufacturer has introduced a unique method - a special brand, which serves as a quality mark and guarantees compliance with the highest Swiss quality.

The main advantage of Patek Philippe watches is the use of hand finishing in all stages of watchmaking. Highly qualified watchmaking specialists are involved in the production of watches. A variety of hand-finishing methods allow to achieve the perfect appearance and absolute precision of such watches. Thanks to the hand-finishing of all parts, there are no irregularities and imperfections in such watches, which can occur during the manufacture on the machine and can affect the accuracy of the mechanism.

In original watches, the case and bracelet are made only of precious metals: gold, silver or platinum. The exception is watches with a leather strap. All details are processed manually. This also applies to the watch case and bracelet. The manufacture of a Patek Philippe case is as important a process as the creation of a movement. About 20 specialists are involved in this process. Thus, it is possible to achieve perfection in all the small details of such watches. Copies are mass-produced and little attention is paid to small details. Therefore, it is very easy to spot flaws in fake watches if you look closely.

A lot of Patek Philippe watch models are decorated with precious stones: diamonds, rubies, sapphires. All stones are of the highest quality, without any flaws. All of them are attached exclusively by hand. If you run your finger along the stonework, you will feel that they are all placed on the same level. In copies, not only are the stones most often not real, but they are also placed inaccurately.

Also, manufacturers of original watches widely use engraving. But an important point - there can be no engravings on the back of the watch. The only exception is the sample of gold. If you are offered a watch with Patek Philippe engraved on the case back, it is a 100% fake. The original watches use engraving in the form of unique patterns on the case.

Pay special attention to the dial. In the original watch, everything should be perfect. All marks must be applied very evenly, without even the slightest flaws. The process of manufacturing the dial of one Patek Philippe watch can take up to six months. In fakes, they are usually mass-produced, so perfection in this case cannot be achieved.

The original watch uses only sapphire glass. In copies, these are cheap analogues.

Also remember that the cheapest Patek Philippe wristwatch costs about 8,000 euros. This brand does not have discounts and sales. So when buying a watch for $500, do not even doubt that it is a fake.

You need to make a purchase only in the official stores of the Patek Philippe brand. This is the only way to get all the guarantees of product quality and confidence in Swiss quality.

How can you tell the difference between an original and a copy? What is the difference? let's just say I was offered a patek philipee watch by hand for a small amount and what should I pay attention to?

Patek Philippe S.A. (pronounced in Russian: Patek Philippe) is a Swiss company that manufactures luxury watches. Founded in 1839 by Pole immigrant Anthony Patek and Francois Chapek. The watch of this brand is one of the most expensive serial watches in the world. The symbol of the company is the cross of the Spanish Order of Calatrava; under the same name, Calatrava, the "initial" line of models of the company is produced (from 10 thousand US dollars).

If you are offered to buy supposedly real watches from your hands at a very attractive price, then it is best to contact a specialist, since it is sometimes very difficult to identify a fake by eye. And for someone who understands watches, it will be enough to carefully examine the watch, and in some cases, their mechanism in order to understand the original watch or a fake.

How to distinguish fake Patek Philipee from the original

A distinctive feature of the craft is the presence of engravings on the back of the watch.

In the original Patek Philipee watches, the reverse side of the watch does not have any inscriptions, the maximum can be the hallmark of the assay office and the carat of gold, given that the watch case is made of precious metals. All engravings are present exclusively on the movement itself.

fake Patek Philippe example

Original Patek Philippe branded watch under the lid

In 2009, the Patek Philippe brand managed to protect itself from many fakes. The manufacturer has introduced a unique method - special mark, which serves as a mark of quality and guarantees the highest Swiss quality.

None of the manufacturers of elite watches distributes any licenses for production in any other countries to any third-party companies. Even Swatch watches are going exclusively in Switzerland what can we say about such brands as Patek Philippe.

If you see the country Belgium, Germany, Italy, then this is definitely a fake.

A lot of Patek Philippe watch models are decorated with precious stones: diamonds, rubies, sapphires. All stones are of the highest quality, without any flaws. All of them are attached exclusively by hand. If you run your finger along the stonework, you will feel that they are all placed on the same level. In copies, not only are the stones most often not real, but they are also placed inaccurately.

The original watch uses only sapphire glass. In copies, these are cheap analogues.

Cheap price. The cheapest model of a Patek Philippe wristwatch costs about 8,000 euros.

This brand does not have discounts and sales. So when buying a watch for $500, do not even doubt that it is a fake.

Counterfeits are very different in quality from the original, while the appearance of a good fake can be indistinguishable without careful examination, and in fakes of the highest class - even without opening the watch.

If you are still convinced that original Patek Philippe watches can be cheap, then be sure to watch this video - the development process of Patek Philippe watches.

History of Patek Philippe

Patek, Czapek & Cie was founded in Geneva by Polish immigrants Antony Patek and Francois (Francois) Czapek in 1839. The first manufactory of Patek and Czapek, staffed by Polish craftsmen, produced up to two hundred watches a year according to individual orders. In 1845, Chapek left the company due to a conflict with Patek, and the manufactory became known as Patek & Cie ... On May 15, 1845, Jean Adrian Philippe, a watchmaker, inventor of the "keyless" winding mechanism, took the place of Chapek. In 1851, Philippe became a full partner of Patek, and the company acquired its modern name - Patek Philippe & Co ... In the partnership, Philippe was responsible for the production and development of new models, and Patek was engaged in sales, traveling around the world and attracting influential customers to the side of the company, including ruling monarchs. One of the first watches under the new brand was presented to Queen Victoria during the World Exhibition of 1851 at the Crystal Palace.
In 1868, the company produced the world's first wrist watch-bracelet, which is currently stored in the company's museum. This was followed by numerous patents and innovations - a chronograph, a perpetual calendar, a minute repeater, etc. In 1932-1933, the company took part in the “clock competition” on the side of the millionaire Henry Graves, having made the most complicated mechanism at that time by his order. In 1999, Graves' watch was sold at Sotheby's for $11 million, the highest price ever paid for a watch.

In 1901, when both titular founders had long since died, the company was renamed Ancienne Manufacture d'Horlogerie Patek Philippe & Cie, S.A… In 1932, it was acquired by the brothers Jean and Charles Stern, and at the same time the current name Patek Philippe S.A was established… In 2007 The firm is owned and run by the third and fourth generations of the Stern House - father and son Philippe and Thierry Stern. All production facilities and the firm's museum are still located in Geneva. 220 people are employed in production, in the modern catalog of the company there are 45 serial movements of 23 calibers. The volume of production, taking into account the exceptionally high prices, remains small - the production of Patek Philippe watches in the entire history of its existence is estimated at 600 thousand pieces.

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The Extract from the archive contains information from archival journals, in which, since 1839, data on all watches created in the company's workshops have been carefully recorded. An archive extract can be ordered for any Patek Philippe watch older than five years old. This is a detailed description of the finished watch.

The document indicates the type of watch (wristwatch, pocket watch, table watch), caliber, individual case and movement numbers, dial type, bracelet or strap type, release and sale dates, additional information available (for example, the presence of an engraving applied by Patek Philippe craftsmen) . The extract is neither a certificate of authenticity nor a warranty card. The document indicates only the information stored in the archive.

2 - What is the difference between an extract from the archives and a certificate of authenticity?

An extract from the archive is a document containing information that is carefully recorded in archival journals (see question 1).

The certificate of authenticity, which can rightly be considered the "birth certificate" of the watch, contains all the information necessary to identify the product. The certificate is also a warranty card and confirms the registration of watches in the company's archive. Copies of the certificate of authenticity are not provided, so the document must be carefully stored. If the certificate is lost, it will not be restored.

3 - Why is it necessary to provide a photo of my watch?

Photographs are required for visual verification of correspondence with the description in our archival magazines. The Extract from the Archives provides a description of the watch in its original condition. Therefore, we need to make sure that your photos match the description in the magazines.

You must provide at least four photographs:

Full view from the side of the dial (if present, the bracelet or strap must be clearly visible)
Close-up of dial (hands, numerals and Patek Philippe logo must be clearly visible)
A picture of the movement with the movement number engraved if it is visible through the transparent case back (if the watch is equipped with an opaque case back - a photo of the case back and a photo of the watch with the case back removed, which must be removed at an accredited service center)
A snapshot of the case number, which is indicated on the inside of the opaque case back of the watch or on the metal ring around the sapphire case back.

The following additional photos of the pocket watch must be provided:

Watch back view
In the presence of engraving or artistic painting, decorative trim should be clearly visible (several close-up views)

4 - What if the photographs do not match the description recorded in the archival logs?

The data stored in our archive allows us to determine the authenticity of any Patek Philippe watch. We compare photos provided by you or entered into our database with the registered description. An extract from the archive is provided only if all the data provided by you matches the information stored in the archive (see point 3). If the photographs do not match the description in the archival logs, then your watch does not match the data stored in the archive. In this case, we will not be able to provide you with an extract from the archive.

5 - Does Patek Philippe store my personal information and use it for marketing and advertising purposes?

No. Your personal data is used solely to send you the Archive Extract. They are not forwarded to the Patek Philippe Watch Ownership Office (see questions 8 and 9).

6 - What happens if the movement and case numbers do not match the data registered in the archive?

All Patek Philippe watches have individual movement and case numbers. These two numbers must match the data stored in our archive. Otherwise, we will not be able to provide you with an extract from the archive.

7 - If changes have been made to my watch by Patek Philippe, will this be reflected in the Archive Extract?

If the changes were made by Patek Philippe craftsmen, the extract from the archive will indicate the condition in which the watch first left our workshops, as well as any changes made to it subsequently.

8 - If my watch has been modified by someone other than Patek Philippe, will it show up in the Archive Extract?

Patek Philippe cannot take into account changes that were not made by Patek Philippe workshops. In such cases, an extract from the archive is not provided.

9 - Where are the movement and case numbers?

The movement number can be seen by removing the back cover of the watch. It is engraved on the movement. The case number is engraved on the inside of the watch case back. If it is necessary to remove the back cover of a wrist or pocket watch, we strongly recommend that you contact an accredited dealer, distributor or Patek Philippe Service Center.

10 - What information is confidential and is not provided when compiling an extract from the archive?

Patek Philippe does not provide information such as the name of the first and subsequent owners; the price at which the watch was purchased; the number of manufactured products of a particular model.

11 - How can I register as a Patek Philippe watch owner?

12 - At what price can I currently sell my Patek Philippe watch?

Patek Philippe cannot provide this information. We advise you to contact the auction house or a dealer who specializes in vintage watches.

13 - What was the last price for my Patek Philippe watch?

We can quote the current price, provided that your watch belongs to our modern collection. If they are not already included, we can tell you the latest price recorded in our archives. If your watch is so old that the price information has not been preserved, we will notify you about it; in this case, we recommend that you contact the auction house or a dealer specializing in vintage watches. You can send your request by e - mail . We do not charge for providing such information.

14 - What should I do if my watch has been stolen?

The archiving department also handles watch theft reports.

Please send us a copy of the police report issued on your claim of watch theft. This document with the numbers of the watch case and mechanism indicated in it must be provided without fail. We will also require a copy of the watch's certificate of authenticity and/or receipt showing your name.

15 - What happens to the payment made via the Internet if it is not possible to compile an extract from the archive?

Funds are debited from the account only if the Extract from the archive has actually been drawn up. Otherwise, no payment will be charged (the amount of 150 CHF will not be deducted from the account).

16 - Can I seek help elsewhere if the Extract from the Archives has not been provided?

The archive department is our only subdivision that has the right to provide an extract from the archive and refuse to provide it.