First off, the whole “fake watch” thing isn’t just a modern problem. People were knockin’ off stuff way back when, even before the internet made it super easy to do. Think about it: if a watch looks cool and sells well, someone’s gonna try and copy it, right? It’s just business.
Now, Hamilton Art Deco watches, especially the ones from the, like, 1920s and 30s, are *super* desirable. They’ve got that classic, elegant look, and some of the models are actually pretty valuable. I mean, who *wouldn’t* want a vintage Hamilton looking all fancy on their wrist?
But here’s where it gets tricky. Because these watches are old, sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s original and what’s not. You might have a watch where the movement is genuine Hamilton, but the dial has been repainted (a “redial”), or the case has been replaced with something that kinda-sorta-looks-like-the-original. Are those “fake”? It’s a grey area, ya know?
I saw one post where someone was talking about fake Hamilton Electrics from the 60s. Apparently, some Swiss manufacturers tried to kinda sneak in on the Hamilton name by making watches that *looked* like Hamiltons, but weren’t *actually* Hamiltons. Talk about sneaky! I mean, that seems kinda underhanded, honestly, but I guess back then it was a different world, business-wise.
And then there are the outright fakes – the ones that are trying to completely pass themselves off as the real deal. Now, those are the ones you really gotta watch out for. I remember reading something about a guy worried that his uncle’s Hamilton was fake. He was saying the word Hamilton shouldn’t appear. I’m not sure if that’s true for all of them, but it’s a good reminder to do your research!
So, how do you spot a fake? Well, that’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and honestly, sometimes you need to be a real expert to tell. Things like the quality of the movement, the markings on the dial, the type of case, and even the font used for the numbers can give you clues. But it’s definitely a “buyer beware” situation.
I always say, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. I’d be especially wary of anything sold super cheap on eBay or some other online marketplace. It’s often better to buy from a reputable dealer who knows their stuff and can guarantee the watch’s authenticity. Yeah, it’ll probably cost more, but at least you’ll have peace of mind.
