Dear community,
I have just bought a second-hand Pilot's Watch Chronograph 3777 dating back to 2012. It's one of the most beautiful pilots watches there is and I'm very happy with it :)
I'd like to share some pics to ask if somebody might see something which might indicate a fake. The seller made a trustworthy impression and everything looks sound.
Are there any suggestions on how to spot a fake 3777? The infos on the web are very rare (compared to the popular Rolex models).
Regards,
Marc
If this is a fake, it's a very good one ;-)
Congratulations on a great watch. Having this one, what's to want more?
Looks very real to me. ;-)
can't see anything from the pictures that would indicate a fake to me.
i will say however that price is often the strongest indicator though of a fake - if it's just too 'good to be true' it generally is in regards to luxury watches.
enjoy!
thang
To me only the date numbers are a little bit strange.
But that could be the angle though
Hello community,
Thank you for your kind replies and the fact that you're sharing my joy ...
However, the observation of the weird looking date numbers is interesting. Please take alook at the 4:
I had trouble to find the similar typesetting on the Internet (but it was possible to find some examples). Most pics show a different font. The font used in my image looks more like the one used in a 3717.
What do you think? Just a different series of 3777? A frankenwatch? A fake? I'm going to visit the IWC boutique tomorrow. I hope there will be a reasonable explanation for this difference :(
Regards,
Marc
Interesting. However i still think that the numbers are strange.
Since i own the watch, when i first saw your pics, the numbers were strange to me immediately.
In any case the best option is to visit a boutique.
Lets hope everything is ok.
Greetings
Hello Marc and welcome. One quick check you can do - take a look at the bracelet; Is it possible to separate each and every link (your watch should have come with a set of little brass tools to remove links with) and does it have a micro-adjustment under the clasp? If so, your watch is probably real as these are very expensive details to include in a counterfeit watch. A date font variation is a little odd and I would be curious about an explanation.
Hello community,
Thank you for your support!
Yes, the steel bracelet appears to be very high class. All the links and elements can be separated and there is the micro adjustment possibility. But combining a fake watch with a genuine bracelet isn't that hard ;)
I did some research yesterday and 99% of all 3777 pics (and pics of other pieces of the current pilot series) show a different font than mine. One of the rare exceptions of a 3777.
But 99% of all 3717 pics appear to have the same font. Examples:
Video
Pics
Comparison 3717/3777
Why should someone create nearly perfect fake and fail with such an obvious difference? Well, for me it remains a mystery until my visit today at the IWC store ;)
Regards,
Marc
Check the quality of the box. The fake boxes have a discernible lack of quality in the stitching and poor cushion material. Do you have the two brass bracelet adjusting tools and warranty card with matching numbers etc. if the box has the full complement of papers, polishing cloth and manual, you are probably OK
Even this one is strange, if you take a look at the case, you will notice that the dial looks smaller than original one. So this would be 3717 with 3777 dial.
Anyway, i think the best way is to visit the boutique. The box or the bracelet have nothing to do with the watch. Someone could combine original box, papers and genuine bracelet with the fake watch, and still would make money out of it.
Very neat case, but that lower pusher looks out of position in the mounting. Does the chronograph function well?
And the hand pins seem to be brass?
No presumption, just mentioning!
Dear community,
Thank you for still participating in this thread. The box looks quite good and so does the steel bracelet. But the tools to adjust the bracelet and a polishing cloth are missing (even though the watch was announced as "full set").
The chronograph works well and the ticking of the watch sounds "above-average" qualitywise as far as I can tell. I owned some low-budget automatic watches and there is quite a difference.
As mentioned I was visiting the IWC boutique in Zuerich yesterday. Unfortunately the people there could not tell me whether the different typesetting is just a variant, a part of another IWC watch or a non-IWC element.
I then decided to turn the watch in for authentication. Because I have just 14 days to return the watch I called IWC Schaffhausen today and asked how long the queue for such a task is. They told me that it will take between 4 and 6 weeks. This is way too long for my situation: I like gambling, but not in this case :(
Then I have decided to let them return the watch uninspected. But with a clear statement about the font difference. My main question remains: Is it possible to put the date shim of a 3717 (or a similar pilot watch) into an 3777.
In the meanwhile I have contacted the seller and explained the situation. I hope to solve this issue as soon as possible. Especially before the 14 days to refund are over.
The best case would be if that is a very rare edition of the watch, I would be rich and buy my son a Ferrari. The bad case would be that this is a fake. I would return the watch, buy a real one and my son would still have to ride the bus. But the not-so-easy-to-define-case would be a frankenwatch/marriage. What would you do in this situation?
Regards,
Marc
Lol! Not many IWC's trade at Ferrari level, so I'm Hoping you have that one!
Could be an aftermarket repair? I'm Interested to know the outcome! All the best.
I might be misinterpriting something but the "IWC" engraving on the bracelet clasp seems to be turned by 180 grades so "upside down". Cannot comment on the rest 'coz I have the grandpa of this watch (3706/Mk.I.bracelet).
Hi I have been watching (no pun intended) this thread for a while to see if it may help my situation. I have been offered a pilots chronograph for a crazy price (which was the first alarm bell) and for all my research I have been unable to confirm if it is real or not. The watch is being sold without its box, without any paper just as is (Second alarm bell). It just seems to good to be true, which again should be the cue to leave it well alone but I am intrigued, and having only just started my watch obsession, adding an IWC would be my crown jewel so far. if any one can help it would be much appreciated.
i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/QcQAAOSwwbdWQZ44/$_20.JPG
I'd say that there's a good chance that it's a genuine IWC,but in need of a full service.
Kenneth.
So what was the outcome after your research?
Did it turn out genuine?
Did you keep it?
Yes, would be definitely nice to hear the story behind..
