My 1st Luxury Automatic Watch turned out to be a FAKE...

Over the next 16 days, I’ll show my state of the collection, one watch at a time with individual stories behind them. Before I start, here’s my first luxury automatic watch and a cautionary tale.

My Dad loved James Bond. He would go see every new Bond film and catch it on TV whenever possible. As I grew up, 007 was something we spent time together watching and discussing. So naturally, when I thought about my first luxury automatic watch, the Bond SMP was the chosen one. Not having a lot of money back in 2005, and not educated about AD vs trusted sellers vs grey market, I sought the cheapest way to buy this watch. It was online, from what I know now to be a grey market shop. 30% off retail, they said the watch is real, so I was all in.

Upon receiving the watch, I immediately noticed issues. There was no warranty card, or any cards, no serial number. I called the grey market shop and was told that they kept the warranty card and the serial number was polished off to prevent tracking of where the watch came from, a common grey market practice back then. OK, I thought. Then I noticed that the waves on the dial were jaggedly, especially noticeable at the dial markers, logo and text. The watch also ran very fast, was off by a few minutes per day, and made a loud noise when moving around (rotor whirl). I called again and was told this is all normal. OK.

Suspicious, I took it to Tourneau and asked that they take a look. Their watchmaker opened the caseback and in there was a cheap movement, not the ETA one that Omega used. FAKE. I was scammed. I called the grey market shop, and demanded a refund. They refused, insisting that it’s real, even started to yell and lecture me about taking it to Tourneau and they are the real scammers. And how dare I open the watch, they cannot resell it, or as they claimed.

I opened a dispute with my credit card bank. I informed them of the dispute and they eventually refunded me. I sent the watch back.

This is the watch in question…

Notice the rough wavy pattern on the dial, especially noticeable at 12 o’clock and around the logo and text. Also the bezel is misaligned against the minute track.

A couple of days after I sent the watch back, Tourneau called to follow up. The sales rep said that she felt horribly that I was scammed, they coincidentally had the Bond SMP in stock and would sell it to me for the same price that I received from the grey market shop. Done!

Here is my very first luxury automatic watch…. The Omega Seamaster Professional, reference 2531.80.

I later wrote about my terrible experience on an earlier version of my blog. The grey market shop discovered it and months later, I received a threat to sue from their lawyers for false advertising, sent to me just a few days before Christmas. Through a lawyer that I retained and from the legal advice that was given to me, I reached a resolution some weeks later.

This was by far the WORST purchase experience ever.

I urge extreme caution if you decide to purchase from a grey market shop. These shops typically get their inventory from overstock or aged stock, and customer returns. Missing the full box and papers set, lacking the manufacturer warranty, withholding the manufacturer warranty card are all red flags to be weary of. If you have any doubts, just walk away. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of your watch, you can always ask an AD to verify it or take it the brand’s service center and request for a service inspection. The brands will never work on a fake watch and will inform you if there’s an issue.

Personally, I only purchase from brand boutiques, authorized dealers, and trusted sellers. Trusted sellers are technically grey market sellers, but they provide new and pre-owned watches, usually with the full box and papers set so watches will come with the warranty card, just as if you purchased from the boutique or authorized dealer. The Rolex Forum has a running list of trusted sellers here.

/ TOMMY