Fake Swiss ETA?

[HaydenM]

Hi all,

I just bought a watch from a TD here and ordered the asian ETA movement. Since I have gotten the watch I decided to take the back off to check and unlike asian ETAs I've gotten in the past this one has ETA stamping. Do asian ETAs exist with the gen stamping and if so is it common for them to be in TD's watches or by some fluke have I gotten a swiss?

Thanks all,


HaydenM

[highoeyazmuhudee]

asian knock off etas did and do contain eta markings. it is possible you may have gotten an old refurb swiss piece, put it would appear dirty. so it is likely you just got a fake eta with eta markings. post some pics and know for sure.

[Stephane]

Chinese "Eta" do have the stamping.

 

From what I noticed, but hey we're not in the perfect world where everything can be 100% true, the genuine Eta (Swiss) have their Eta logo stamped slightly more under the wheel.

 

See the pictures here under.

I'm pretty confident about the fact that there are no rules because I have a Tissot with a 2836-2 and the stamp seems different from other Etas....

 

I personally prefer to consider my reps have all fake Etas so I'm not disappointed ;-)
I also do not buy genuine Etas from our TD...the Chinese ones work perfectly well.

 

For eagle eye experts, and I'm not, the probable way to spot a fake from a real is the finish of the wheels which seem to have smoother edges than the CN ones.

It seem obvious on my Deep Sea (first and last picture).

[mellons]

so finish on movement is only tell?

[Stephane]

In my opinion yes as I'm not able to spot anything else but some are more qualified than me.

If you take a look at the Tissot & Explo (roll your mouse over the photos to see the file names) they look smooth where the DeepSea is not ...

 

But then, if you (I) do not have both handy you might not able to tell.

[highoeyazmuhudee]

eta is obviously finished to a higher standard. if youve seen enough of them you can usually tell. just something about the way they sit finished and assembled. not sure if symmetrically theyre appealing or if just the parts arent as rough looking

[edigital]

Thanks guys. Very informative.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SSTEEL]

Just like watches themselves, movements are also replicated to look like ETA movements, the replica stampings are of poorer quality, and have nowhere near the clarity of the genuine Swiss stampings.  Plus, there are other subtle differences/tells too.

[mymanmatt]

The eta stamp on a gen is very very crisp. As of yet, not seen an asian with that clarity

[Stephane]

I did not take new photos but tried to show the differences.

- The two first one are from a Tissot, no question of course, this is the original factory 2836-2 custom made for that brand, Tissot.
 

- The third one is from a rep with a genuine Eta as long as I know. It's a OEM sold by the ETA factory for brands not belonging to the "Swatch Group".

 

- The fourth one is from a rep with a clone...This has nothing to do with the ETA factory obviously.

 

I tried to highlight the fact that the wheels are the most obvious tell.
Of course, if we want to compare the stamps I should take the exact same pictures from the same distance and angle of all the movements.
But it wouldn't be very helping as much as the wheels though...

 

NOTE: just realized that the third movement was NOT carrying any markings on the left of the 2836-2 engraving...

[krpster]

Easiest tell with the exception of a few super clones that are out there is the balance jewel retainer housing. The housing on the ETA has 3 relief cut outs to insert/remove the balance jewel cap retainer. The clone only has one. In 99% of cases this can be used to identify quickly if it is gen or not.

[Stephane]

Easiest tell with the exception of a few super clones that are out there is the balance jewel retainer housing. The housing on the ETA has 3 relief cut outs to insert/remove the balance jewel cap retainer. The clone only has one. In 99% of cases this can be used to identify quickly if it is gen or not.

 

Thanks for that.

If you have time one of these days, maybe you could post a photo of it for those, like me, who have less experience in movements ?

[Stephane]

Looks Swiss to me.

 

Which one sir?

[Mike on a bike]

Easiest tell with the exception of a few super clones that are out there is the balance jewel retainer housing. The housing on the ETA has 3 relief cut outs to insert/remove the balance jewel cap retainer. The clone only has one. In 99% of cases this can be used to identify quickly if it is gen or not.

 

That is how I learned to tell the difference.

[Stephane]

Both are Swiss in my opinion as they both have 3 ring jewel holder

There are three different ones Sir :-)

[Stephane]

That is how I learned to tell the difference.

 

 

Would be great to have a photo.

Or, if anybody can tell me what to show I can open the Tissot again and take close ups :-)

[Mike on a bike]

Stephane there is a thread some where with pics explanations etc  and great micro pics............... alas where.

[Stephane]

Take a look at this

http://www.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/61801-ETA-2836-2-vs-Clone-how-to-tell-quot-Swiss-quot-from-quot-Asian-quot

 

Thanks a lot.

Interesting.

[highoeyazmuhudee]

watch time magazine this month actually has a side by side comparison of the chinese made ETA vs the Swiss made ETA

 

in terms of finishing they said the chinese made one does not have deburring, which explains why they look less finished and more rough

[Guest irwgrev]

Hey guys, please read the reviews on the watch! To help you.