The difference between a high quality and a cheap skeleton watch
You want to buy a skeletonized watch?
But you want to make sure you don't get ripped off?
Besides, you already want to buy a high-quality skeleton watch?
Then you've come to the right place.
Because I'll answer the following question for you:
How to distinguish a high-quality skeleton watch from a cheap mass-produced one?
The simplest identifying feature is the edges of the skeletonization. Where the skeletonization is done by machine on cheap skeleton watches, it is done by hand on high quality skeleton watches. As a result, the edges are more polished and more beautifully broken off, creating a nice right angle.
Eye check
Look closely at the watch.
Was it cut by hand? Was the skeletonization ground out manually?
The legitimate counter question is, how can you tell if you are not a watchmaker yourself?
Look closely at one edge of the skeletonization. Were both sides ground? Or do they look like they were milled out with a machine?
Broken off
In watchmaking, as in carpentry, for example, the edges are "broken off" by hand. This means that you sand both sides towards the edge to get a fine, but sharp edge. If you can tell the watch has been worked this way it is a very big increase in value for the model.
Galvanized
Further, elements of the watch are galvanized.
One could give hours of lectures about the process of electroplating, but I'll try to summarize it very briefly.
The metal is cleaned in the cut individual parts in a kind of acid bath. Then you hang the parts in a water bath where they are electrified. This creates tiny holes, which are then filled with a different type of metal.
Through this process, the metal parts can be decorated on the one hand, and on the other hand, the metal can be made a lot stronger.
Whether a watch has been galvanized, you can not always tell from the naked eye. What you can be sure of, however, is that a "metal watch", if it has a color other than silver, has definitely been galvanized. Otherwise, the color would peel off at the slightest contact with a hard surface.
Is your watchknowledge up to date?
Here is our list of must-know watches!
Bet you'll find a watch on it that you've never seen before.
Before buying
Want to buy a famous skeleton watch, but thinking of buying it online to save some money?
Then you are like many people.
Only online there are a hundred times more fakes than in jewelers, so you need to pay close attention to the following points.
Certification
A luxury watch always comes with an official certificate. This confirms that the watch is an original.
When you see a certificate, first research if it is a company that is authorized to issue certificates.
It is important to keep this certificate, because without it you will not be able to resell the watch. It is best to leave it directly in the original packaging.
Also, be sure to keep the receipts of the services to be able to prove them.
Hidden costs
It may well be that in your research you stumble across offers of luxury watches, for example on Ebay, which are incredibly cheap.
These offers do not necessarily have to be fakes, possibly a private owner simply wants to get rid of the watch quickly.
Here it is important to note if there are any hidden costs lurking. You might find a Rolex Submariner for less than 10'000 EUR. But after the purchase you realize that it urgently needs a major service, which will cost again 2'000EUR.
Trustworthy sellers
Here you can't avoid the big sellers for second hand watches. You can of course look for a small, friendly seller, but unfortunately they can't offer the same assurances and guarantees as the big dealers.
In summary, you need to find a certified, refurbished watch from a large retailer to be able to shop online as worry-free as possible.
Ich habe meine Uhren bisher über Watchfinder sowohl gekauft als auch verkauft. Sie haben eine eigene Zertifizierung und jede Uhr wird vor dem Wiederverkauf aufgearbeitet, sodass man sie nicht mehr von einer neuen unterscheiden kann. Ausserdem kann man seine Luxus-, Skelettuhr kostenlos bei Watchfinder schätzen lassen.
Moreover, it does not hurt to buy a watch in its original packaging. As long as the certificates are genuine, this point is not the most important, however, it can only help you for future resale if you keep the original packaging. Besides, it has perfect space for the documents in the package.
Is your watchknowledge up to date?
Here is our list of must-know watches!
Bet you'll find a watch on it that you've never seen before.
Conclusion
When choosing which high-quality skeleton watch to buy, it is worth looking at the model in a watch store in reality and inspecting it carefully. To make sure that it is a high-quality model.
When buying, you should also look at the offers on the Internet, maybe you will find your dream watch at a better price. As long as you follow the above points, you can also minimize the risk of buying a fake.
Q&A
How does electroplating work on watches?
The watch is finished in its individual parts and cleaned in a kind of acid bath. Then it is exposed to electric waves to drill tiny holes in the metal. These holes are then filled with other metals or paint and the process of electroplating is finished.
What is the difference between a high-end luxury watch and a cheap model?
The biggest difference is in the processing of the edges of the skeletonization. Cheap models are punched and ground by machine. High-end skeleton watches, on the other hand, have everything sawn out by hand and then broken off and sanded by hand. The result is beautiful, square edges that are sanded but still sharp.
Can you buy luxury watches online worry-free?
Yes. As long as you take the time to do some research about the retailer, as well as the certification. But with a trustworthy and certified seller, one can easily buy luxury watches online conveniently.
Source cover image: Pexels | edited post
About the author
Benno Büchler
In pursuit of more charmingly atypical watches, the teenage interest developed into a real passion. I strive to find the perfect combination of deviant and ravishing for the wrist.
