Okay, so I was browsing through Chrono24 the other day, looking for a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Date, and I stumbled upon this listing that seemed pretty legit. You know how it is, sometimes you find deals that are too good to be true, but this one had an original paper, though no box. I thought, “Why not?” and took the plunge.
After I bought it, a friend of mine hit me with the “Did you know some sellers on Chrono24 sell fakes?” I was like, “What? No way!” I started digging around online, going through forums like WatchUSeek, and man, did I fall down a rabbit hole. There were so many posts about real vs. fake JLCs. I got a bit panicked, to be honest.
I spent hours comparing the photos from the listing to genuine ones I found online. I was looking at everything – the movement, the dial, the bracelet. I even read a post where a guy said the second hand on a fake was too short! I checked mine, and it seemed okay, but I was still not convinced.
- First, I scrutinized the movement. The finishing, the engravings, everything looked right, but I’m no expert.
- Then, I focused on the dial. The font, the date window, the overall layout – it all seemed to match up with the real deal.
- The bracelet was another story. It felt solid, the material seemed right, but who knows? I read that fakes are getting better and better.
I found a post where a guy wanted 30 for a JLC, and everyone was screaming “FAKE!” Mine was priced higher, but not by much, and it got me worried.
I also noticed the listing mentioned it was from the 50s, but it was priced under 1k USD. The watch face did look intricate, though. Another listing I saw was for a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin, with a warranty until 2032. That seemed legit, but the warranty card on mine had a weird website on it.
Eventually, I decided to take it to a local watchmaker, this old guy who’s been in the business for decades. He took one look at it, opened it up, examined it with his loupe, and said, “It’s a good fake.” My heart sank. He pointed out a few things I hadn’t even noticed – some minor details in the movement that were off, the way the date changed, and a few other things.
The Result
So yeah, I got scammed. It was a well-made fake, but a fake nonetheless. I contacted the seller, but of course, they disappeared. Lesson learned: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always do your research, and if possible, get it authenticated by a professional before buying. I’m just glad I didn’t pay full price for a real one, but it still stings. I ended up wearing this fake for a few weeks and then I sold it to my cousin. He knew it was a fake.
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