Some tips before you buy vintage swiss watches to avoid be scamed

[RolexthatFit]

1. If the price appears too good to be true, then it likely is.

2. Be very careful on sites like ebay. Some sighs to be wary of are the use of blurry low resolution images in listings, lack of details in descriptions and sellers with little or no feedback.

3. Just because the watch comes with an authentic looking box manual and certification it doesn't mean that it is genuine.

4. Buy in store follow your instincts. If the decor and location do not fit with what you would expect for a luxury high value item then don't take the risk.

5. Have the watch inspected by an expert, often better fakes require inspection of the mechanism to tell them from the real product.

[chickensmitten]

You seem like a rolex expert. any tips specifically for vintage Rolex watches?

[RolexthatFit]

Real rolex watches have a 'Cyclops' window which magnifies the date 2.5X. On fake the magnification is often 1.5X or less so the date will look small and be hard to read.

[ML]

For safety purpose, I think u should get something that's easier to maintain, majority are spare parts problem. Because vintage watches' durability are not like modern watches, they're quite sensitive & fragile in some ways. So personally I would recommend u to look for Rolex vintage instead of others, coz their parts are easier to find & have no problem with the servicing bit.

[nivek]

Have also seen movement stated does not match year of watch, wrong dial for that year, inverted roman hour markings, wrong fonts for hour markings etc 

[Cocas]

Have also seen movement stated does not match year of watch, wrong dial for that year, inverted roman hour markings, wrong fonts for hour markings etc 

Yeah, agree.

I once saw a Rolex case back with wording "Stainless Steel " printed.

 

[nivek]

Lol!

[Cocas]

Lol!

This is it. LOL

[nivek]

Should have added "Made in Japan"

[phat7]

From my personal experience buying both online and in shops;
Watch out for redials
Watch out for over polishing
I always carry a reference book or pictures, many a times the hands have been changed and though hard to tell it decreases value
Watch out for changed crowns and pushers ( depending , some manufacturers don't sign crowns circa)
Under lug damage
I also get shop to remove case back, many a times you have the service dates marked inside.

[Watched]

Please take note mudah.my is a lot of scammers

Be careful and not bank in ur money to anonymous

[Timeless]

It is not advisable to purchase vintage watches through online, unless the seller is reputable with solid references.