Remember John Mayer's Fake Rolex Lawsuit? As It Turns Out, He's Not Alone

If you're looking to be the proud owner of one of the most expensive watches in the world and picture yourself flaunting a rare AP watch or a vintage Rolex on your wrist, it might be time to reconsider where you shop. At the very least, look closely at the details before you buy, because the number of fake watches in the New York City watch market has reportedly skyrocketed in the past few years, WatchPro reports. Sound the alarms and be sure to warn your Omega-collecting buddies in finance and that one friend who's convinced they'll find a vintage Patek Philippe at the flea market about the growing number of replicas on the market. According to findings by Watchfinder & Co., over 23.3 million fake watches are currently circulating amongst second-hand resellers in the United States, and as one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country, it's no surprise that New York City takes first place for the highest concentration of replica wristwatches. With one in ten people falling victim to watch dupes of the costliest watches in the world, utilize Watchfinder & Co.'s expertise to make sure you don't become another fake Rolex sporting statistic.

Leading the charge in combatting the wave of fake luxury watches that have cropped up in the second-hand market is Watchfinder & Co., a pre-owned watch specialty retailer. Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Cartier, Patek Philippe, Breitling, and Hublot are among the top-selling brands at Watchfinder & Co., meaning the company regularly deals with some of the costliest watches in the world and has developed a discerning eye for authentic AP watches and replica Rolexes alike. The company employs a 60-step authentication process with its pre-owned stock—a routine that may sound like overkill but has arisen as wholly necessary as counterfeiters have developed more accurate technology to replicate the most expensive watches in the world. Wondering what the wristwatch experts at Watchfinder & Co. do with the counterfeit watches they come across? They destroy them with hydraulic presses, á la TikTok ASMR video, tanks, and lasers, obviously. If you're morbidly curious—we don't blame you—head to the Watchfinder & Co. YouTube channel to get your fix. 

Unsurprisingly, the costliest watches in the world are often the most replicated. As three of the most expensive watch brands in the world, Patek Phillipe, Omega, and Rolex lead the pack in terms of the most common counterfeit watches. In fact, among replica wristwatches, replica Rolexes make up half of the watch dupes on the pre-owned market, Bloomberg reports. While fake Rolex watches and replica Rolexes remain on top in terms of sheer numbers, other watch dupes have recently made history, including the 2021 auction of an Omega Speedmaster, which was sold at $3.4 million, which would make it the most expensive Omega watch ever sold—that is, if it were real. Unfortunately for the buyer, Omega itself—which bid on the vintage watch, which was in suspiciously perfect condition, to add to its house collection—the fake 1957 Omega Speedmaster was a Frankenwatch that was vetted by three, now former, employees who were involved in a criminal plot, according to Omega. 

With renowned celebrity watch collectors like John Mayer, Neymar, and Adam Levine all publically falling victim to the rising rate of counterfeit luxury timepieces, there's no time like the present to learn how to shop for the most expensive watches in the world safely. 

While completely counterfeit watches are incredibly common, Watchpro cites "frankenwatches" as the real issue in the pre-owned luxury watch market. Frankenwatches are typically partially authentic and are often made up of genuine timepieces and watch faces, but small details like bracelets, links, dials, and clasps are typically replaced with counterfeit parts, hence the name. According to Watchpro, 21% of counterfeit watch sales are made up of frankenwatches, so if you're a frequent pre-owned luxury watch shopper, keep your eyes on the details. You'll never find any of the most expensive watches in the world for anything less than their market value, so remember that a lower-than-average price tag is always too good to be true whilst browsing for your dream Rolex or AP watch, lest you end up with a fake Rolex or replica wristwatch. 

“Sadly, it comes as no surprise to see how many people are being tricked into purchasing fake goods, especially as spotting them isn’t as easy as you would think," says Arjen van de Vall, the CEO of Watchfinder & Co. "What’s equally concerning is how the rise of counterfeit goods is casting a shadow over the pre-owned sector. Our research showed that 54% of Americans that have been conned with a fake, now say they will never purchase pre-owned again." 

To help educate luxury watch collectors and protect against purchases of fake Rolexes, replica AP watches, and Omega dupes, Watchfinder & Co. created an interactive game. If you have an eye for all things luxury, test your skills—or sharpen them, if need be—with the minigame and protect yourself against future fraudulent watch purchases and mistaken replica wristwatch buys.