How to Spot a Fake Panerai Watch: Detailed Comparison and Tips

Hey everyone, I'm Max, and welcome back to Hope On! Today, I'm sharing my recent experience with a Panerai watch that I found for sale online. This story includes some history about Panerai, my buying journey, and important lessons for watch enthusiasts. Let's dive in!

The Panerai 48

A few months ago, I stumbled upon a Panerai 48 for sale in a forum. Panerai watches are known for their large sizes, and with my smaller wrist, I never considered owning one. However, this model was advertised as 40mm. The seller needed to finance a car and was letting go of some watches, so I thought this might be my chance to try a Panerai.

Panerai has an intriguing history. In the early 20th century, they made watches for the Royal Italian Navy, particularly for their elite divers known as the Frogmen. When Panerai received a military contract for diving watches, they collaborated with Rolex, who provided their waterproof Oyster cases. Panerai then modified these with radium dials for luminescence, creating their iconic Radiomir watches.

Despite some red flags—the seller had no feedback, and the watch lacked box and papers—I made a quick search on Chrono24, put in a low offer, and it was accepted immediately. I figured if it didn’t work out, I could always resell it.

When the watch arrived, I was struck by its simplicity. It wasn’t intricate, but the brushing was clean, and the engraving was crisp. The only downside was the flimsy plastic strap it came with. Initially, I was surprised by how well it fit, but after a month, I found myself not reaching for it anymore, so I decided to sell it.

When I listed the watch for sale, potential buyers asked me to verify its authenticity. I borrowed a known genuine Panerai and took both to my watchmaker, Tom. The differences were subtle but telling. The fake had lower-quality engraving, screw heads, and damaskeening. My heart sank as I realized I had made a $3,000 mistake.

Luckily, I was able to get a partial refund from the seller. This experience taught me valuable lessons about doing thorough research and buying from reputable sellers.

While I had both watches, I compared them side by side. At first glance, they looked similar, but under close inspection, differences became clear. The genuine watch had a smooth center pinion cap and better overall quality.

Despite the setback, this story has a positive ending. I learned to be more cautious and thorough in my future watch purchases. Always remember: buy the seller, not the watch.

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