How to spot a fake Seiko watch
Do fake Seiko watches really exist?
In the multi-million dollar world of fake and replica watches, you are certainly forgiven if you thought that only Swiss marques are targeted by counterfeiters in the Far East. High end Swiss brands like Rolex, Omega, Breitling, Patek Philippe, Longines and TAG Heuer are the usual victims. The replica watch industry exists so long as there is enough demand and believe me, there is enough global demand for knock-off timepieces.
Most people who look for replica Swiss watches probably buy them to impress their friends and colleagues. Others buy a fake Swiss watch to have a taste of luxury timepieces before paying top dollar for the originals. Some purchase them out of sheer curiosity, for the fun of it and as inexpensive gifts. And there are also owners of the real McCoy who buy replicas for safety reasons - they would wear their originals to official events and switch to the replicas for casual outings.
Replica watch manufacturers have come a long way from the instantly recognizable el cheapo junk that you typically find in flea markets. It is a highly profitable industry, as evidenced by the increasing number of online replica watch vendors. These days even fake Swiss watches have different grading according to their quality. Some fake watch peddlers classify them according to their grades; you can find an “A” grade replica for as little as USD50 and an “AAA” grade one for USD500 or more.
Most top grade replica chronographs come with fully functional chronograph movements to fool most people. Short of opening the caseback and inspecting its innards, even experienced jewelers and trained watchmakers sometimes have trouble in spotting a fake watch. It is not the cheap knock-offs that the Swiss watchmakers are worried about - it’s the high grade copies passing off as originals that deceives unwitting consumers who pay almost the same prices as the real ones.
According to the Swiss Customs Service, there are some 30 to 40 million counterfeit watches being circulated every year. It is estimated that USD600 million worth of revenue is lost to the counterfeit industry.
Replica watch retailers have capitalized on the world wide web that you can easily find online replica watch sellers. Chances are you may have received spam on replica Swiss watches (I come across them in my junk mail folder frequently).
(All photos depicted in this article belong to their respective copyright owners).
A seemingly genuine Seiko Premier, but it’s not. It’s 100% fake.
Right above is an example of a bogus Seiko Premier automatic watch. From the twin push buttons it suggests that it’s a chronograph model. The irony is that Seiko has yet to introduce a mechanical chronograph version for its Premier lineup.
A Seiko watch always has its brand and movement code on its caseback. In the above photo on the right, the factory stamped “ALL STAINLESS STEEL” and “WATER RESISTANT” in huge letterings. Seiko does not conform to this practice.
Now who on earth would buy a fake Seiko?
That’s a pretty good question. The majority of the Seiko watches are priced well below USD500, particularly the quartz and Kinetic models, which are Seiko’s bread-and-butter products. They range from the very affordable, basic Seiko 5 to above average priced models like the Sportura and Premier models costing USD500 to USD800. A genuine Seiko 5 automatic watch can set you back about only USD60 or so.
At this point you may be wondering, why are counterfeiters making fake Seikos and still selling them? And why would anyone want to buy them?
The answer is plain and simple - one of the basic laws of economics: demand and supply. 
I live in Southeast Asia where there is a large presence of immigrant workers from neighboring countries like Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand and Vietnam. I would estimate 9 out of 10 of them who are looking for a “Seiko” prefer to source one at the local night and flea markets rather than visiting an authorized Seiko retailer.
Price is often the barrier as genuine Seiko watches could cost them a month’s wages. So why bother paying the full price when they can get a “Seiko” at one half the price of the original? Ignorance probably comes a close second - fake Seiko buyers are often those who couldn’t tell the difference.
An imitation “Seiko 5″, complete with bogus hang tags (left). The “SEIKO” print is in a straight line where it should follow the caseback’s curve (right).
The purpose of writing this article is to highlight that fake Seiko watches do exist and you may unwittingly buy one online. There are a few unscrupulous eBay vendors who pass off counterfeit Seiko watches as originals. This is a downright deception and cheating. Whether the sellers knowingly or unknowingly advertise them as genuine watches is besides the point.
The good news is that most fake Seiko watches (hobbyists call them “Feikos”) are so poorly made that it’s so easy to spot a fake one. The bad news is that consumers who buy them are usually ignorant and they think they’ve bought a Seiko at an amazingly low price.
Some replica Seikos are pretty obvious fakes with outlandish designs. Others are near exact copies (particularly the popular SKX007 divers and mechanical Seiko 5s) that can pass off as the original ones if you don’t know how to distinguish them.
Nonetheless, the counterfeit Seiko market is not a very lucrative one (as opposed to replica Swiss watches) therefore not much effort is spared to duplicate a genuine Seiko.
Fake Seikos often use cheap, substandard China-made movements (borrowed pic)
As with replica Swiss timepieces, fake Seikos also come in varying qualities. Some look so weird that they easily raise suspicions while others look so convincingly authentic that they baffle even the most seasoned veterans.
The most popular knock-offs of Seiko watches seem to be the Seiko 5 automatics. They are simple to produce, with cheap movements from various factories in the Far East but are easy to spot if you know how.
Spotting the Real Deal
The first thing you should know about a genuine Seiko 5 is that they are cased at Seiko’s overseas facilities in Hong Kong, China. The 7s26 movements are however, manufactured in Singapore and from 2006 onwards, Malaysia. The completed movements are then sent to Seiko Hong Kong for the final assembly.
Pictured below is an example of a genuine Seiko 5. A pre-2002 Seiko 5 comes with a stainless steel caseback and in some models, a faint “5″ logo laser-etched on the crystal, at the 6 o’clock position. Unfortunately counterfeiters also managed to copy the emblem and incorporate it into their fake products.
From 2002 onwards, in a move to reposition the image of the Seiko 5 and to thwart copycats, Seiko introduced the glass display back and did away with the etched “5″ emblem.
A post-2002 genuine Seiko 5 (model SNK379K) with a display caseback.
Various pre-2002 genuine Seiko 5’s with the stainless steel caseback.
Characteristics of a fake Seiko
A Seiko 5 is a mechanical watch. Therefore it should have a smoothly sweeping second hand ticking at 6 beats per second. If you see one that ticks once per second, it’s definitely battery operated quartz.
Update: According to Seiko Japan’s customer service, the company did release limited quartz versions of the Seiko 5 in the late 70s but I have not seen these quartz Seiko 5s in pictures. These were the exception to the norm. Therefore throughout the rest of this article, a Seiko 5 refers to the mainstream automatic Seiko 5.
(Thanks to seikokaki@yahoo.com for this bit of info).
Classic tell-tale signs of a fake Seiko include but not limited to:
- Wrongly spelled Seiko brand, e.g. Sieko, Aseikon etc, which is pretty obvious
- Seiko logo with the wrong typeface or font (harder to spot)
- Quartz movement in a supposedly automatic model, e.g. Seiko 5
- Rough finishing and shoddy construction
- Fictitious reference numbers (only experienced collectors will know this)
- A “5″ logo etched on the front crystal (pre-2002 genuine Seiko 5s had this logo)
- Generic transparent sticker with a red stripe on the caseback (genuine Seikos don’t use such stickers)
- “Seiko Japan” embossed on the bracelet clasp
- Poor grade luminous material used on hands and hour markers
- Lack of lume on the dial
- Hands that have different shade of color from the hour markers
For easy reference, I’ll categorize the fake Seikos according to their difficulty to distinguish them from the originals.
Category 1: The very obvious fakes
These are usually fake Seikos that come with the misspelled Seiko brand. They are very easy to spot. At least the manufacturers came out with “original” sounding names.
Three obvious fakes: MEIKO, SALCO and SGEKO.
Category 2: “Original” fakes
These are phony watches that misuses the Seiko brand but come with designs that are not copied off any known Seiko models. In essence, the copycats come up with their own designs and try to pass them off as “unique” Seiko models. Novices unfamiliar with genuine Seiko watches are prone to mistake these as originals. Most Category 2 fakes have outlandish and cheesy designs as you can see below.
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None of the above fakes resemble any actual Seiko models, really.
Seiko never made a Rolex Submariner copy, so don’t be fooled! 
Category 3: “Wannabe Seikos”
“Wannabe Seikos” are fakes that attempt to mimic the genuine ones but are not very good at it. They often are made to low manufacturing standards - cheap materials, rough workmanship and incorrect dial/hands and caseback typefaces or fonts. To the untrained eye, these counterfeits look like the real deal. However, there are evident and distinctive tell-tale signs of a phony Seiko.
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Top left: Fake SKX007 Arrow-tip second hand and white “Diver’s 200m” text signifies this is not the real thing. Authentic SKX007s have a lumed ball on the opposite end of the second hand.
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Top right: Imitation SKX171K diver with a black-and-red bezel. Note the etched “Seiko 5″ logo on the glass.
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Bottom left: Same as the one on the top left. Also note the hooked number “10″ font instead of the straight “ten” on the bezel insert.
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Bottom right: Fake SKX007 on rubber strap. The lumed ball is at the tip and the “SEIKO” font is spaced too closely. Also note the wide gap between the dial markers and the chapter ring.
Category 4: Convincing replicas
These are almost authentic counterfeit Seikos that at first glance even seasoned owners could mistake them for authentic Seikos at first glance. Photos don’t reveal everything and it’s quite easy to be fooled. A side-by-side comparison with a genuine model is the best way to discern the forgeries. Most people will say it’s a real Seiko but the trained experts will tell you that it’s not - and even that, after poring over the watch or photo of the watch for a few minutes.
In the photos below, both diver’s watches look quite alike. Newbie buyers are likely to the mistake of buying the ones on the left. See if you can spot the difference!
Fake Seiko diver (left) vs the genuine SKX007 (right).
Above: A very good copy of the SXX007 diver and it looks pretty authentic. Click the picture to enlarge and you’ll see that the etched “Seiko 5″ logo at the lower part of the crystal is the giveaway.
Also, fake Seiko divers often are issued with a hologram sticker on the glass to make it look convincing. Authentic Seikos do not come with such stickers.
Phony Black Monster (left) and the real SKX779K (right)
Above: This imitation Black Monster has the calendar with a white background instead of black. Also the lumed dot on the bezel is jutting out too far, instead of being slightly recessed. Fake Monster divers are rarely seen and this is the best example I’ve spotted so far.
Bogus SKX171K diver (left) vs the original SKX171K (right)
Above: The fake SKX171K watch comes with an all-black bezel and a lumed triangle that’s too large. Less noticeable is the laser etched “Seiko 5″ logo on the crystal and the “Made in Japan” text at the bottom of the dial.
Imitation SKX007 diver’s caseback (left) vs its genuine counterpart (right)
Above: You can see that the imitation watch has poor quality stamping on its caseback. The “wave” logo is also poorly etched compared to the raised logo on the original. The fake diver also says “7S26-7039″, which is actually a bogus caseback number.
Replica Seiko 5 (left) vs a real Seiko 5 for the Middle East export market (right)
Above: Though hard to spot, the fake Seiko 5 (left) has the words “Automatic” and “21 Jewels” that are placed too close to the center of the watch. Also, the font is too thin and faint.
Is it real or faux?
Below are examples of two dubious looking Seiko 5s albeit convincing copies. To be frank, when I first scrutinized these photos, I wasn’t sure if they were a phonies. I mean, Seiko made so many models based on this design and they sure look like authentic.
Upon further inspection I noticed some clues:
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The typeface used on the calendar wheel differs from the original Seiko 5. It’s probably made of aluminum instead of plastic used by 7s26 caliber Seikos.
- The lower dial text is also thin and of the incorrect typeface.
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The hands’ color also differs from the green Arabic numerals, it’s yellow. Genuine Seiko 5s have matching hand and dial lume colors.
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Real Seiko 5s with gold accents should have matching bracelet and case. Here, the hands, calendar window and “5″ emblem are gold plated but the rest of the watch is not.
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Hologram “security sticker” on the crystal.
Fake! 
Fake!
A genuine gold plated Seiko 5 should look like this example below. Note that the gold accents used are uniform and matching - the case is gold plated and so are the hands, markers, logos and the day/date window.
A lovely gold plated, genuine Seiko 5 on a classy aftermarket leather strap
OK, what about this Seiko Arctura below? Well, is it genuine?
No, unfortunately it’s also a fake. You’re forgiven if you thought it’s an authentic Seiko Arctura, right down to the Arctura logo. The dead giveaway is the “JAPAN MADE” text at the bottom of the dial. While Swiss watch manufacturers print “Swiss Made” on their products, Seiko never uses “Japan Made”, but “Japan”, “Mov’t Japan” or simply “Japan”, depending on the model of the watch.
The “Arctura” and “100M” text is also printed too high up and too close to one another on the dial. Seiko usually leaves a gap between these printings for legibility. The “100M” font is also not typical of the fonts that Seiko uses.
Another thing, absent from this watch are the identifying codes that represent the watch caliber and dial number. Every Seiko timepiece must have its caliber and dial codes.
(Thanks to Peter Horne who submitted this photo in the Seiko & Citizen Watch Forum)
Finding authentic Seiko sellers online
If you’re in the market for buying a Seiko 5 or SKX diver on the Internet, always look for reputable online sellers. On eBay, stick to merchants with thousands of positive feedback. Some of the online sellers I would recommend include but not limited to:
- Chronograph.com
- Roachman.com
- Skywatches
- 21jewels.com
- Pokemonyu (eBay)
- Premierwold (eBay)
- Time Paradise (eBay)
- Watchub (eBay)
- Capital Mall (eBay)
- Seiko5ers
- Watches88
- Easternwatch
- Poor Man’s Watch Forum
Note: I am not affiliated with any of the above merchants.
What’s a grey market Seiko?
Some of the sellers like Pokemonyu and Premierworld deal in grey market Seikos. Grey market watches are in fact, genuine products.
The only difference is that they are parallel imports which are not sanctioned by the local Seiko distributor of that country. Grey market Seikos are cheaper but they don’t come with warranties.
Warranties are not exactly free - you’re actually paying extra for protection against defects. Usually the grey market seller will exchange the watch for you if you receive a defective one.
Are there other counterfeit Seiko models?
Fortunately for us, it appears that the counterfeiters prefer to manufacture fakes that are:
- easy to duplicate
- cheap to manufacture
- highly profitable to sell
In other words, they normally won’t bother trying to duplicate a Seiko Kinetic watch or any of the higher range models like the Arctura, Sportura, Criteria, etc. The manufacturers will not bother with complicated designs and movements as it’s not worth the cost and effort. Even if they do attempt to copy, the outcome is usually very poor.
It seems that the most common counterfeit models are the Seiko 5 automatics and the SKX divers, both groups based on the 7s26 movement.
Fake Seikos are not to be confused with “Franken Seikos” which are genuine watches that are cobbled from parts belonging to other Seiko models. I’ll cover the subject of Fraken Seikos in a separate post later.
Is Seiko doing anything about this?
From what I’ve read, the Seiko Time Corporation is concerned about counterfeit watches spilling into the U.S. and have successfully prosecuted the perpetrators. There are articles regarding Seiko pursuing cases against counterfeit manufacturers but they are rather old news, dating to 2001.
Here are some references pertaining to fake Seiko watches:
http://www.jckonline.com/article/CA73636.html
http://www.larrybiggs.net/scwf/index.php?mod=103&action=0&id=1102331711
What can I do to avoid buying a fake Seiko watch?
Well, it takes some reading and researching on your part to be able to avoid falling into the Feiko trap. Familiarizing yourself with photos of authentic Seiko watches can help.
If you’re buying on eBay, check the retailer’s ratings and feedback. While eBay does its best to combat bogus watch sellers and shut them down, they always find ways to make a comeback under some other names.
A number of fake Seiko sellers on eBay are based in China, so you’ll need to be careful when buying watches on eBay. While eBay has a tough policy on sellers of fake products they are not always reported.
One infamous seller who went by the name “maimaichinaman” used to peddle in counterfeit Seikos until eBay closed his online store after complaints from buyers. Undeterred, the seller simply registered himself again and resumed his business. I don’t know if he’s still at it but I’m not surprised if he is.
When it comes to buying from unfamiliar sources, the caveat emptor rule applies. Beware of online sellers offering cheap Seiko watches at unbelievable prices. If you are ever in doubt of a Seiko watch, post a question in the Seiko and Citizen Watch Forum and the members will be glad to verify its authenticity. If you do, simply link the images of the watches into your SCWF post. Please do not post ongoing auction links in the forum - it’s against the forum rules.
Good luck and happy buying!
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Comments
Well, it’s kind of a supply-and-demand thing, Ed.
It costs a pittance to make fake Vostoks and Seikos. Counterfeiting is a very profitable business - if it isn’t nobody would bother to continue making fake watches.
Hello. I have a special Seiko Premier. It´s like the SNA585 model with blue dial(not black). The original Premier have a 7T62 quartz movement. My Premier have the V657 movement.
There are some diferences in the dial. If you want any photo, email me.
Hi Ruben,
Chances are your Seiko Premier is an older model that I have not seen before, with the 1/10sec V657 chronograph movement.
Most, if not all V657-based Seikos have a reference starting with SKSxxxP.
I will contact you shortly for photos of your watch.
thanks for the comment,
Quartzimodo
I’ve just Purchased this watch
http://cgi.ebay.es/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130200755108
After reading this article i’m afraid it’s a Fake.
Can anyone tell from the Pictures?
Thanx
Hello Mikey,
After looking at the photos I’m convinced that your 7002 is actually a genuine Seiko but with non-original parts.
The bezel insert is aftermarket (not made by Seiko) and the dial appears to be like it too. Many 7002s sold on eBay have non-original dials as they would have faded over the years - the index markers would have turned into light brown color.
The one you have has a very light green index markers - could be an aftermarket dial. However, the SEIKO font is very accurate for a non-original dial.
Your watch is not a fake. You can buy the correct straight-ten bezel insert for your 7002-7000 from http://stores.ebay.com/TheWatchWorks.
Quartzimodo.
Thanks a lot for your Answer.
I actually don’t care too much if it’s all original, I just need a Watch that’s affidable and durable.
hope i’ve found it
Anyway thanks for the link I’ll think about restoring it
( I haven’t payed too much indeed for the Watch itself)
Best Regards
Mikey
You’re welcome, Mikey.
I forgot to add that the hands on your 7002-7000 may be aftermarket. Original hands are treated with tritium paint which will turn brown over the years.
Many second hand 7002s are in bad shape, so the sellers replace the original dial with an aftermarket one. Finding a mint condition 7002 is not that easy - you must be willing to pay top dollar for one and find someone who’s also willing to sell it.
You can also replace the hands with those for the SKX173/SKXA35/SKXA53 7s26 divers as they are identical.
I have a 7002-700J with an aftermarket dial but its SEIKO font is not as accurate as yours.
Quartzimodo.
the seller “speedtimercollection” often has some “curious” moded seiko, but it’s easy to spot in. There is good watch too…
Is this ebay seller selling fakes?
http://stores.ebay.com/Time-The-Avenger
I bought one, but after reading your blog I’m not sure if it’s genuine or not.
I bought this one:
Many thanks in advance.
Hi Damon,
Rest assured, your Seiko 5 is an authentic Seiko, so don’t worry. I also checked the eBay store and all the Seikos advertised are also genuine.
The reason it doesn’t come with box or warranty is because the watch is a grey market Seiko. The store probably sourced it from a grey market supplier (non-authorized Seiko dealer) in the SE Asia.
I have bought several grey market Seikos on eBay and they are all 100% authentic. The 7s26 is a robust and reliable
automatic movement and it should last you for decades if the watch isn’t abused.
That is a nice watch, wear it in good health!
Great writeup! This will help tons of people. If you want to see something very disturbing:
http://www.watchesprice.net/Seiko-Watches.html
144 PAGES! of fake Seiko’s. If the photos are of the actual fakes, heaven help us!
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
The replica site is using photos of original Seiko watches. Look at the prices of the SBDA003/005 Ti Samurais - they are very much lower than the industry standard market prices. If something is too good to be true, it usually is.
Strangely, the seller also claims to have the Red and Blue Monsters - these are Thailand market Seiko models which are likely have been sold out. The offered prices are also unrealistically low.
Thanks for your submission. Stay away from this kind of seller too!
Hi Quartzimodo,
Thank you for your indept review & guide. I’m a newbee.
I’ve seen the same SKX007 (not sure if it’s K or J) in Sg Wang.
It’s on the ground floor. It’s asking for RM900-950.
What would be the bargaining price level?
As for the Pertama Complex, what would their price be?
cheers…
Qoo
Hi Qoo,
Firstly, there are no “J” versions of the SKX007 sold here. You can only get them in Singapore or Arabic speaking countries and they’re for the Middle East export market.
The price range you quoted is should be the list price. You should bargain for a minimum 25% discount (some shops can give you 30% off or more).
Back in 2005, the average discounted price for the SKX007K (on Z22 rubber strap) was RM480. Since then Seiko prices have gone up.
You should target between RM540-RM580 for an SKX007K on Jubilee style bracelet in Pertama Complex. Ideally, it should not be over RM600.
Do not buy from shops in the vicinity of Petaling Street as there are some unscrupulous sellers who try to pass off fake SKX007s as genuine ones and sell them for RM480.
I know this because I’ve seen such an example personally.
Happy buying!
Quartzimodo.
Hi Quartzimodo,
Thank you for the info…
You meant that SKX007J can be found in Singapore store? If yes,
any recommendation store to look for & the price range?
Anyway, I’ll check out the store in Pertama Complex.
Which store do you recommend?
Cheers…
Qoo
Hi
I bought this Seiko 5 on ebay :
http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220252008486&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=012
Is it a true Seko ?? Perhaps the grey market ?? The seller is in Honk Kong. Please tell me.
Thanks for your informations
Bonjour Greg,
You have nothing to worry about, mon ami. I checked the listing and although I’m not familiar with the seller, your watch is a genuine Seiko.
Since it comes with a 1 year international warranty, it’s most likely NOT a grey market watch and should anything happen to your watch, you can claim warranty from the Seiko service center in your country.
Quartzimodo
Hello Qoo,
Sorry for the late reply.
Yes, the SKX007J can be found in Singapore. It’s actually meant for export to the Middle East Arab countries.
I would recommend either Mee Sing Watch store (lower ground) or Pusat Jam Pertama (1st floor). Both stores have sales staff named Desmond (no relation) and I’ve known both of them for a long time.
Pusat Jam Pertama has a wider array of Seikos though.
Your choice of the SKX007K or J depends on whether you’re willing to pay extra for the Japan version. Quality-wise they are similar.
Happy buying!
Quartzimodo
Hi Quartzimodo, please cant you take a look and tell me your opinion.
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260261780639&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=016
On the dial is writen “made in japan” and on the bracelet “Seiko Japan”
So its a fake wach ?
Thanks you !
Hi Roberto,
Sorry for the late reply. I don’t monitor comments unless it requires moderation. Next time if you need to ask me, please use the “Ask Quartzimodo” contact form.
It’s an original, vintage 7019 Seiko 5, probably from May 1985.
Q.
Hi
Just bought a seiko sportura SNAA95P1 from an ebay shop. It looks genuine to me, the detail is incredible, but just want to be sure. The serial number is 754624 and the movement 7T62. This is also printed in tiny numbers on the face next to the date box. I’ve also posted this question on the Seiko Citizen Watch Forum with pics. The ebay vendor is http://stores.ebay.co.uk/GMC-WATCHES. Tried using your “ask quazi” page but there was no form on it?! Thanks in advance, Dave.
Hello Dave,
I just read your post over in the SCWF forum. The photos were to small for me to discern, but it appears to be a genuine Seiko from the design of the case and lugs. A Sportura’s design is too intricate and costly for a counterfeit manufacturer to copy, so they don’t bother to do so.
Replica makers usually go for the lowest costs and the highest profits possible. There’s hardly any demand for fake Sporturas as genuine ones are considered affordable (unlike the high end Swiss and German watches)
I have two Sporturas myself, including an SNL035P Kinetic and I’m familiar with its styling and layout.
GMC Watches doesn’t have anything for sale at the moment therefore I am unable to view their items. Sorry if you were unable to use the contact form, in my oversight I forgot to activate the contact form plugin.
Thanks for the feedback, the form has been fixed now.
BTW, your watch was made in May 2007 which makes it about right for the model.
cheers,
Quartzimodo.
Greeting Quartzimodo,
Am interested in a Seiko 5 Superior Automatic from skywatches. Don’t seem to have many info about their SNZD35: http://www.skywatches.com.sg/watches/product_info.php?cPath=51&products_id=1509
Is it the real thing?
Then saw this SNG085 Seiko Criteria Kinetic Auto Relay: http://www.skywatches.com.sg/watches/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=1711
errr… what’s with the extra 2 dials which are not found on others?
Hello Ken,
The SNZD35J that is sold by Skywatches is authentic. This design first came out sometime in 2006 if I remember correctly. There’s not much advertising on Seiko 5 Superiors as Seiko 5s are not considered an international sub-range like the Arctura, Sportura, Velatura and Premier.
The watch in question is genuine and is fairly priced, in my opinion. Skywatches is a brick-and-mortar store in Singapore and they sell authentic Seikos online.
As for the SNG085P Auto Relay, the watch that you see is a Photoshop copy and paste job. Auto Relay Kinetics do not have any push buttons on the case.
Skywatches routinely uses digital photo software to save time photographing their numerous models. What they do is to take one shot of a watch and superimpose the dials onto others to save time.
What you saw is an error which they overlooked. The case probably belongs to a 7T92 or 7T62 Seiko Criteria chronograph and they superimposed the SNG085P’s dial without realizing the mistake.
The correct photo of the watch can be found here
Hope this helps.
Quartzimodo.
Ok, on the page this says replica. Clearly labeled Seiko. Is it a fake? http://www.watchesprice.net/Seiko-5-Sports-Self-Winding-Automatic-Watch-Model-SNZD15K1-13066.html
I like the style and why would they charge so much for a replica seiko?
Hi Mike,
Here’s the dilemma. The website claims that it deals in replica watches. Yet the photos of the Seikos depicted in their site are in fact, pictures of genuine Seikos.
You wouldn’t know what you’ll be getting until you’ve paid and received the watch. Another warning is the fact that the seller offers a 30% discount on purchases made through Western Union.
Quoting from their website:
“You could pay by VISA, MASTER, WESTERN UNION, and BAND TRANSFER for your order. We supply 30% off if you pay by western union because of its cheaper service charge, and please contact server for western union information after playing the order. VISA, MASTER payment way with no discount.”
Something is definitely very wrong here.
1. For Western Union payments, it is the SENDER of the funds that pays the commission fees(you) and not the RECIPIENT (the seller). So what the seller claims is totally untrue.
2. Western Union does not impose a ridiculously high fee of 30% as commission.
3. Sending funds via bank wire and Western Union is a one-way traffic. Once you have sent your money, there is no way you can reclaim your funds. Western Union is just a funds transfer service and unlike PayPal or credit card, there will be no transaction record or invoice.
4. With credit cards, you can issue a charge-back to your credit card company or issuing bank. This provides you some protection when you find that the item is not to your expectations and you send the watch back.
5. A 30% discount just because the buyer opts to pay by Western Union is too good to be true. Brick-and-mortar stores in SE Asia typically charge three percent surcharge (max) for credit card purchases (although legally they aren’t allowed to do so).
6. Also note the poor grammar used in the payment instructions. Most likely the seller is based in mainland China.
I would advise you to stay away from this seller. Meanwhile you might want to read up on this article.
Hope this helps.
Quartzimodo.
Seiko time corp japanese parts assembld in hong kong 6091a seventeen 17 jewels unadjusted water resistant stainless steel 6109-8029 p n° ???? 5n5203 , 5n3090 , 5n4010
I’m confused now… my watch hasn’t arrived yet (from JustCalculators), but why would you buy a fake Seiko 5 for $178…
…when you can buy a real one for $80?
http://justcalculators.com/Seiko-5-Mens-Nylon-Band-SelfWinding/M/B000XT2LMS.htm
Or is mine fake, too? I guess I’ll be able to tell when it arrives.
Hi Alex,
I’m not familiar with Justcalculators.com… but you paid about the right price for a genuine Seiko 5. I guess replica watch sites sell “fake” Seikos at higher prices because they’re capitalizing on the consumer’s total ignorance.
I should think your Seiko 5 is an original one. Looks like the seller put in a lot of effort to describe the watch plus educate buyers about mechanical watches.
Enjoy your Seiko 5 “Flieger” in good health! I had the blue SNK807K once but sold it as it was too small for me.
Quartzimodo
Wow, nice response time!
Thanks for the reassurance. Yeah, this watchesprice.net… site is really suspicious. I wonder if they just take your money and run.
ola quartzimodo, estava vendo alguns relogio no ML e achei muiot estranho os preços, fui buscar mais a fundo e achei este teu otimo site, e em primeiro lugar parabens peli otimo trabalho de alertar dos vigarista que andam por ai.
de qualquer forma gostaria de saber tua opinião sobre este dois relogio seiko. como posso saber a vericidade deles?
http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-82918883-_JM
http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-83261466-_JM
http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-83313918-_JM
obrigao e abraços
Oi Carlos,
Obrigado por seus comentários. Os relógios vendidos pelo comerciante Seiko relógios são genuínos. Agradecia que se pudesse escrever em Inglês, no futuro, porque não percebi Português.
Espero que este ajude,
Quartzimodo.
Hi,
I recently got a Seiko watch from my Uncle ~ I love Seikos and I have been searching around for ages for one ~
My uncle got this from a Authentic Seiko Seller in Hong Kong ~ I’ve even got a warranty card and there is a model no. & the watch number on the back ~
But what bothers me is that….it doesn’t have the “Made In Japan” like some other Seiko 5’s do at the 6 - 8 area ~
I have realised by looking at some online that some have them and some don’t ~ Depends which country ~
My one is a Seiko 5 Ladies…..
http://udn.monday.com.tw/gdsale/gdsale.asp?gdid=680427
This exact one but doesn’t have the Made in Japan ~
So is mine still real ~
Jaspie ~
Hello Jaspie,
Your watch is an authentic Seiko - it’s just that it’s the “K” model (made in China instead of Japan).
Quality wise the Japan and China assembled Seiko 5s should be similar, so don’t worry about it.
Your watch uses the 4207 hand-winding caliber because the movement’s oscillating weight may be too small to wind the main spring efficiently.
Therefore the auxiliary hand winding feature is very welcome in the 420x calibers.
Quartzimodo
Hi,
Is the watch on ebay the real deal ?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=350115223247
Thanks,
Shaun
Hi Shaun,
The auctioned item has been removed or is no longer available at the time I checked your supplied link.
Therefore I am unable to verify the authenticity of the watch in question. It’s a suspicious situation when the seller de-lists the item from his/her auction.
cheers,
Quartzimodo.
Hi,
I recently bought a Seiko Chronograph SNA414 in Hong Kong - so I wonder - are there many replicas of this model? How can you see if this watch is genuine and not a replica. I have never seen a replica of this model before.
Best regards,
Kevin
Hello Kevin,
Without photos it’s virtually impossible to tell a replica from a genuine Seiko. However, you can rest assured that your SNA414P gold-toned “Flightmaster” should be authentic.
It is a 7T62 caliber model and should have a functioning alarm. Counterfeit makers do not bother duplicating Seiko watches as the money is nowhere as good as making fake Swiss watches.
cheers,
Quartzimodo.
Hi. I recently bought a Seiko 5 from a reputable high street dealer. It is similar to the one in your “is it real or faux?” section, with a grey face, gold accents but a stainless steel case. It does not have a hologram sticker, and the ‘12′ marker is one solid bar, not two as in the watch you have pictured. The face also just says ‘automatic’ and does not say 21 jewels. My understanding from this section of your article is that this watch should be a fake, as gold highlights should go with a gold case. Is this correct?
Hi Rich,
Thanks for the heads up.
At the time when I wrote this article, all the gold accented Seiko 5 pics I had seen had gold plated cases to match. Seiko does not have a catalog of the entire Seiko 5 variants that they have produced. There are too many Seiko 5 models to keep track of.
It’s true that most Seikos with gold accented hands and index markers usually have matching case and bracelet but there may be exceptions.
I later found out that decades ago, Seiko also produced a few models that have gold indexes but with stainless steel cases.
Such an example is a vintage 6138-8020 chronograph (from the mid 1970s) which I purchased this year. I discovered that there were also gold plated cases and S/S cases for this particular watch.
In light of this, I may have to edit my article pending further investigation into the matter.
I should think your watch is an authentic Seiko 5 unless proven otherwise. Do you have the caseback model and/or reference number for your watch?
cheers,
Quartzimodo
Just received a Seiko Sports 5 from a seller on eBay with lots of sales and 99.5%-plus rating. But with this Seiko:
- Rotating bezel shifts a bit if you press on it
- day/date dials appear to be metal
- day can only be advanced by sweeping hour hand by 12:00
- second hand can not be stopped whether by pulling crown out all the way or by backing minute hand
- case back came with plain plastic sticker with red stripe.
Counterfeit, I think.
Jim
Hi Jim,
A genuine 7s36 caliber Seiko 5 Sports should have the following characteristics:
- Non-hacking movement (second hand cannot be stopped)
- Quickset day/date by turning the crown at the 1st detent
- Plastic day/date dials. Metal calendar dials were used on older, discontinued calibers such as the 6309 and 7009.
Do note that backing the minute hand technique (to momentarily stop the second hand) will not work on all 7s movements.
Even then, it depends on the amount of tension on the main spring. If the watch’s has been wound sufficiently, the second hand will tend to keep moving even with the back-pressure technique.
I would think the red striped transparent protective sticker is the give-away that your watch is counterfeit. Sorry to hear about your bad purchase.
Quartzimodo Admin.
Thanks Quartzimodo,
Ah well, I didn’t pay that much and I think I may just leave negative feedback and call it a day. Interesting, though: up to a point, the build quality of this fake is *very* good.
I am going to Hong Kong in December and wonder if there are any (legitimate) deals to be had there given the weak state of the US Dollar. I am not much of a shopper, but I like to use vacatiosn as an excuse to get new gizmos, new watches….
Seiko lists *many* authorized dealers in HKG
Jim
Thanks!!!
This was AMAZINGLY helpful since the reason for reading this was to determine if a certain e-bay seller was for real, guess what you mentioned him by name!!! LOL That makes it a whole heck of a lot easier on me! (Even though I did pass the above quiz lol) As for the grey market and no warranty for what Im saving I can afford to buy a new one through the same dealer. He has some great deals on ebay right now if anyone is interested. Thanks for the awesome help!!!
You’re welcome, Kim. Glad that this article has helped you out. I don’t endorse any particular seller but I make it a point to mention vendors who I have dealt with positive buying experience.
Do note that due to stiff (and unfair) pricing competition, many Seiko dealers/distributors in Europe and North America do not like the SE Asian grey market sellers. Some would accuse the latter of peddling “fake” watches, which is much contrary to the case.
cheers,
Quartzimodo Admin
Hello,
My name is Barbara. I work for EUROPON company in Poland. We are interested in buying watches Timex, Casio, Festina, Fossil, Diesel, Tissot, Seiko, Jacques Lemans etc. in wholesale prices and closeouts and overstock too.
I have got a question, I want to ask you. Can you give me your current offer about watches. Let me know about your price and rebates if we do a bigger order.
We are interested in wholesale specially. And what about clearance-sale. We are credible company and we will pre-pay for watches every time.
Please give me an answer.
Regards
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
I’m sorry but Quartzimodo’s Time Journal is an information site on watches. I do not sell watches in bulk to companies or wholesalers.
Thanks for asking.
Quartzimodo Admin.
I am looking at two watches on ebay. A Seiko SKK-184 and a Seiko SKK-186. If I understood the posting rules I’m not supposed to link to an ongoing auction.
My question is .. are these fakes?
Thanks
Hi Char,
The watches in question are genuine 7N32 caliber dress watches. You can post a link to an ongoing auction in the comments section of Quartzimodo’s Time Journal (such as this) but not on the Seiko & Citizen Watch Forum.
cheers,
Quartzimodo Admin.
Thank you Quartzimodo. You were very helpful and I really appreciate how quickly you got back to me. I heard from the seller this afternoon and my new Seiko is on its way. : )
Thanks again,
Char
Hi Char,
Seiko watches are known for giving you a lot of value for your money.
Your watch is likely to be rated to 30m water resistance, therefore don’t immerse the watch in water. Swimming with it is definitely not recommended.
Enjoy your new SKK184P Seiko dress watch in good health!
cheers,
Quartzimodo
Dear Quartzimodo,
I need your help in verifying the following ebay seller:
Is this a genuine Seiko Kinetic?
or a pretty good fake?
Dear Rommey,
The SNL025P Arctura Kinetics in question are genuine watches, not fake. The eBay seller has a Powerseller status with lots of feedbacks. It even went to the trouble to highlight the warranty card with each watch.
There are no fake 7L22 Kinetics made yet - the design is too complicated and expensive to duplicate.
Buy in confidence!
Quartzimodo.
Hello! Thanks for a excellent site! I am planning to order a Seiko from Poor Man’s Watch Forum, which you have listed as a reliable seller. I guess you have bought watches from there, and no fake ones have occured?
Also the model I’m considering is a Kinetic with auto relay, so there should not be any actual feikos of these, right? The model I’m considering is SNP001P1, how confident can I be that I will actually receive a real Seiko? It says on their site that warranity is included etc, but just the site itself does not look very “reliable” to me…
Thanks in advance if you find time to answer!
Here is the link to the watch:
http://www.pmwf.com/Watches/WATCHSALES04/SeikoPremierKineticPerpetualSNP001P1WhiteBracelet/SeikoPremierKineticPerpetualSNP001P1WhiteBracelet.htm
Hi Sam,
Thanks for your kind comments. PMWF is run by Reto Castellazzi, who lives in Bangkok. He is well known amongst the watch collector circles and I hear that he owns over 400 watches.
Rest assured, Reto never sells any fakes. He has lots of satisfied customers who keep buying from him, so buy with confidence from PMWF!
As they say, don’t judge a book from its cover. Reto’s sales site may not look flashy but you’ll be getting real deals from him. It’s those replica watch sites that look attractive that you have to beware of!
Happy buying!
Quartzimodo.
Wow, didnt expect so fast answer! Thanks a lot, feel much better about making the order now! I know that they have a good reputation on some forums but still wanted confirmation. I actually like the site and how it looks
Your site is a gem and really helped me in deciding whether to purchase my watch from Pokemonyu. I just got myself a Seiko SKZ245 from them and I am really happy with it.
As for avoiding fakes, personally when it comes to buying online you have to do a lot of background checks. The people at SCWF were also very very helpful. I tend to rely on sellers who uses Paypal, at least your complains can be acted upon.
I’d advise potential buyers to try your local retailers too. My regular watch retailer in Penang has an extensive stock of Seiko, Casio and Orient watches and they too give a good deal on the watches. In fact, the prices are sometimes even better than what is offered online. No harm supporting them too and your purchases from them will not give you sleepless nights. Just my 2 cents worth.
Again, great job on your website.
Can you look to the picture of this watch and let me know if is a fake? here is the link:
http://my.att.net/p/pwp-cero
I noticed it do not have a serial number, there is more pictures on the photo album, Thanks in advance for you response.
I’ve seen fake Vostoks so why not fake Seikos. I couldn’t believe it. A $40 Vostok and someone bothered to fake one. Nuts.