Well, first things first, don’t panic! We’ve all been there, right? That sinking feeling when you realize your “Rolex” probably cost more to ship than it did to make. But before you start hyperventilating and questioning all your life choices, let’s run through some checks.
One of the biggest giveaways is the movement. Seriously, AP doesn’t mess around with cheap, battery-powered junk. They use *in-house* movements. What does that mean? Basically, they design and build the whole thing themselves. It’s like the difference between a handmade Italian suit and something you grabbed off the rack at, like, Walmart. You can usually see this fancy movement through the back of the watch, if it’s a transparent caseback, which most real APs have. If you see some generic, mass-produced quartz movement, red flag city, my friend.
Also, lemme tell ya, the craftsmanship on a real AP is, like, ridiculously good. We’re talking microscopic details that would make a watchmaker weep tears of joy. Things like the finishing, the polishing, the way the screws are aligned…it’s all gotta be perfect. If you see any rough edges, uneven surfaces, or anything that just looks…off, it’s probably fake. Think about it this way: AP isn’t gonna let something shoddy leave their workshop.
And, uh, let’s talk about the price. If you bought an “Audemars Piguet Royal Oak” for, like, $200, I hate to break it to you, but you probably got scammed. These watches are *expensive*. Like, house-down-payment expensive. If the price seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is. I mean, come on, use your head!
Another thing you can check is the serial number. Every genuine AP has a unique serial number engraved on it. You can try contacting Audemars Piguet directly to verify the number and see if it matches their records. Of course, some of the better fakes are even copying serial numbers now, so it’s not a foolproof method, but it’s still worth a shot.
Honestly, though, if you’re really unsure, the best thing to do is take it to a certified watchmaker or an AP dealer. They’ll be able to give you a definitive answer. It might cost you a bit, but it’s better than walking around with a fake AP on your wrist, thinking you’re hot stuff.
