| Author | Message | ||
     Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 543 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: |
To get this topic started, here is a fake 18k Vintage Reverso I originally got from Antiquorum which to their credit they took it back. Suprisingly, the watch sold up later at Christies which despite my warning that it was fake, sold anyways to an unsuspecting buyer.   Now at first glance this looks like the real thing doesn't it? However, a couple of things identify this case as a fake immediately: 1. The movement holder is always a seperate part, it is NOT an itegral part of the case. 2. The caseback is lighly curved, this one is flat. 3. The back of the case should have a case serial number and some form of patent indication. 4. The serial number on the case SHOULD NOT match that of the movement. On this example it did. The fakers were going a little to far in this case! 5. The case size was 0.5mm too big. I did not picture the movement or dial which were genuine, but the case was completely made up. So not a bad fake from a foot away, but be careful out there! Zaf | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 545 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
 Note case back serial number  that is repeated on the case top  and the slight curve to the case back | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 546 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: |
 followed by a movement holder that is not an integral part of the case. Franted this is a stainless steel example, but the attributes on the gold cases are the same. | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 734 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Buyer BEWARE! More and more fake LeCOultre are making their way into the catalogs of the major auction houses. Last May, in New York, there was a an "1930s" 18k LeCoultre "Jump Hour" listed in one of the big auction houses. It had a cheaply made Swiss movement inside that was passed off as a caliber 480/CW, a caliber that didn't exist in the 1930s. The alarming thing about that Jump hour is that the case signature was identical to the fake Reverso I have listed here AND from the same auction house. I'd double and triple examine any "rare" LeCoultre in an 18k case going forward. Best, Zaf | ||
| Charlie Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
wot is worst is that Geneve JLC accept the watch and perform an overhaul. About five years ago an Vietnam make 18k pink gold reverso (fake case genuine movement)was sent to singapore JLC agent for oiling (it is a general practice for the second hand dealers so that they can get an agent service invoice proving indirectly the watch is 100pct real). The watch was sent back to Geneve for servicing (no parts available locally). Three months later an JLC overhauled 18K watch which carried a service invoice was in the market. | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 792 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Wow...that is truly scary. The JLC vintage service has a lot of catching up to do, they're losing most of their old watchmakers due to retirement and the young ones are not in tune at all with their vintage timepieces. | ||
| charlie Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
the change of agencyship is another problem. new agents do not have good understanding on the authenticty of the old watches. they have the right parts and maybe skills only. furthermore i heard most of the big name service centres only trained their technicans on a few current models. how to know vintage timpieces. | ||
| John Peterson Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Are these fakes 18K solid gold with real movements? | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 880 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Yes. Be very aware of 18k pink LeCoultre. The same auction house sold a fake LeCoultre Jump Hour with a crduly marked up Swiss movement. LeCoultre has never made a jump hour. |
