How to assess the quality of a watch?

　　Well-known watch brands on display today have histories of one to two centuries. However, the profit margins on luxury watches are currently so high that some individuals cannot resist replicating them to reap exorbitant profits. So how can we assess the quality of a watch?

　　1, Counterfeit movements

　　The main countries producing movements include Switzerland, Japan, China, and other nations with advanced watchmaking industries. Based on movement production and sales, counterfeit watches can be identified through the components used by each brand.

　　(1) Watches produced domestically use a wide variety of movements, including Swiss, Japanese, and domestic calibres. The key issue lies in the selection of inferior movements fitted into watches for sale, passing off shoddy goods as quality items to deceive consumers.

　　(2) Any imported Japanese watch must utilise a movement of Japanese production. If you find the movement is of Swiss, Chinese, or other national origin, the watch is a counterfeit product.

　　(3) Any imported Swiss watch must utilise a movement of Swiss production. If you see that the movement is of Japanese, Chinese, or other national origin, then it is definitely a replica.

　　2, Counterfeit exterior components

　　In terms of counterfeiting, replicating the exterior is relatively straightforward. Currently, exterior components account for a very high proportion of a wristwatch's price. For instance, a French-made Cartier watch costs 352 ten thousand yuan in our national currency. Set with natural diamonds totalling 36 carats, calculated at 6 ten thousand yuan per carat, the diamond value alone exceeds 200 ten thousand yuan. Therefore, counterfeit exterior components should be closely examined, mainly through the following aspects:

　　(1) Identification and counterfeiting of karat gold, gold plating, and acid gold plating: The surface colours of karat gold, gold plating, and acid gold plating are all yellow, making them difficult to distinguish and prone to counterfeiting. For example, karat gold cases can be categorised into 10K gold, 14K gold, 18K gold, etc., which are hard to differentiate without spectroscopic testing.

　　(2) Counterfeit watch crystals: As introduced earlier, the watch crystals currently used fall into three types: organic glass, standard quartz glass, and sapphire crystal glass.

　　(3) Distinguishing and counterfeiting natural diamonds, synthetic diamonds, and rhinestones (glass diamonds): Natural diamonds are the hardest of all substances, rated at hardness level 10.

　　3, Eliminating counterfeits and protecting consumer interests

　　Following China's accession to the WTO, timepieces produced by various countries entered the domestic market through numerous channels, intensifying competition. Effective measures must be adopted to fend off the invasion of counterfeit goods and reduce the quality risks of purchased goods. Strict controls must be enforced in the following areas to eliminate counterfeit goods and protect consumer interests.

　　(1) Strengthen market quality supervision for timepiece products, conduct regular random inspections and publish the results, notify manufacturing and operating units, and order unqualified timepieces to rectify within a specified period or ban their sale.

　　(2) Control purchasing channels for goods and monitor product quality from domestic manufacturing companies.

　　(3) Accept and handle consumer complaints regarding watch quality, ensuring accurate quality assessment and certification.

　　We must learn to protect our consumer rights. When faced with such a wide variety of timepieces, we should exercise extra caution. If you have any doubts or concerns regarding the authenticity of a purchased item, you can take it to a watch quality supervision and inspection station for testing and to obtain an official inspection certificate.

　　4 Counterfeit and substandard brand products:

　　Counterfeiters nowadays primarily target well-known brands to maximize their profits. Logos and external components are copied precisely from original products, making them look flawless at a glance. Everything from packaging and instruction manuals to guarantee cards is fully provided. However, these watches fitted with mismatched movements or inferior components cost significantly less to produce. They are often sold internally at prices far lower than the original brands while still yielding substantial profits. Sold in cities with inadequate inspection facilities and non-standard shops, they cause significant financial loss to consumers. Counterfeit Rolex, Rado, and Fiyta watches have all surfaced in the domestic market.