First off, let’s be real, these watches are *expensive*. Like, “I could buy a small house” expensive. So, if you see one going for, say, the price of a used Corolla, alarm bells should be ringing louder than a fire truck. Just saying. The real deal, like that UNWORN 2024 15407OR Rose Gold Skeleton Dial FULL SET mentioned somewhere up there? We’re talking serious cheddar – NZ$ 408,984 *plus* shipping! Ouch.
Now, the skeleton dial is key. It’s gotta be meticulously crafted. I mean, *really* meticulously. Think tiny gears, perfectly placed, no sloppy edges, no weird gaps. Look at pictures of the real thing online (Audemars Piguet’s website is a good start), and compare, compare, compare. If the finishing looks rough, if the lines aren’t clean, if something just feels “off,” it probably is.
And the rose gold… oh man, the rose gold. It’s gotta have that rich, warm hue. Not some cheapy, almost-orange imitation. Look closely at the color under different lighting. Fakes often use inferior plating that’s too yellow or too pink.
Also, don’t forget about the Frosted Gold finish on some of these bad boys. That’s a HUGE clue. It’s supposed to shimmer, like a light dusting of snow. Fakes often try to replicate it, but they never quite get the texture right. It usually ends up looking… well, fake. Kinda like those “diamond dust” finishes on cheap jewelry. Eww.
Grammar and typos? Yeah, sometimes the fake manufacturers are SO bad at this. I’ve seen AP “homages” (that’s a fancy word for rip-off) with spelling mistakes right on the dial! Seriously!
The weight is another thing. Genuine APs are made from solid, high-quality materials. They have a substantial feel. If it feels light and flimsy, that’s not a good sign. Hold it in your hand, feel the heft. It should feel like a luxury item, not a plastic toy.
And the movement… well, that’s where things get tricky. Unless you’re a watchmaker, you’re probably not going to be able to tell the difference between a genuine AP movement and a high-quality fake just by looking at it. But the ticking sound can be a giveaway. Fakes often have a louder, more noticeable tick.
