HOW TO CHECK YOUR OMEGA WATCH’ AUTHENTICITY 

Omega, an iconic and household name when it comes to horology and watchmaking. Walking through any large shopping centre or city and it won’t take long to spot an Omega sign for their boutique. If you have bought a watch from an authorised dealer (AD) then you have nothing to worry about, however this may not be the case when looking at buying second hand. Unfortunately, we live in a world where people sell fake watches but claim they are legitimate. After browsing through articles online and YouTube, you may have even seen some unlucky people discovering what they thought was a legitimate Omega to be a fake. Fear not, we are here to help you and provide you with the best advice on the various methods on how to verify your Omega’ authenticity.

Attention to detail, a mark of authenticity

The advantage you have with Omega is that their watches are extremely detailed and made to perfection, unlike other swiss brands like TagHeuer and Rolex, the dials on Omega tend to have more details on them. What’s more is that the case designs of Omega’ often involve a case shape with lugs that twist elegantly into the bracelet, and these features are extremely hard to make. 


Omega spends millions of euros each year on research and development, machinery and watchmakers to craft these watches due to their complexity so it makes them quite hard to fake. Fake watch producers spend as little as possible on craftsmanship so therefore tend to make major errors on Omega making it even easier to spot a fake Omega and less common to even see one.

Source : BarkandJack

A good first step to take is to make sure you have either tired of your Omega, or the one you’re looking at getting, in an AD so you can get used to what the real Omega watch looks like. The more time you spend with it the more you will get to know how the metal feels, how much it weighs and how smooth the bezel (if it has one) and crown operate. 


By doing this, you will get more accustomed to exactly how the model looks and feels so when you compare it to one on the second hand market, you would be quicker to notice anything that seems off. Obviously, a high end fake is now scarily close to the real thing, however, if it isn’t then you might be able to quickly detect something doesn’t quite feel right.


Once you have your Omega or the one you are about to purchase, compare it to images online and see if the dial looks correct, make sure the text looks well printed and accurately placed. One of the easy ways to recognize a fake OMEGA is to analyze the inscriptions on the dial. On counterfeits, the inscriptions on the dial are less obvious than on real OMEGA. This is even more prominent on the bezel. The high-tech machinery at Omega have been extremely well designed and created to make the bezel engraving and printing clean and sharp. 

Source : Legit Check

A unique precision that guarantees authenticity

However, fakes do not have access to the same level of machinery at Omega so looking at how clean the engravings are on the bezel is an excellent way to start as well. Additionally, pull the crown out and wind it. Does it feel buttery smooth and move the hands gently or does it feel super easy to move the hands and have any crown wobble? If you feel that the hands spin round when you gently turn the crown and you notice the crown can wobble, then you may unfortunately be in possession of a fake instead of an authentic model.

Source : ZEALANDE

Another easy give away is to check the lume on your Omega. Put your watch in the sun or shine a bright light on the dial for a few seconds and then enter a dark room and look at how the lume glows. If you see that the luminance is unevenly applied and starts to fade quickly, it could be a sign that the Omega watch is fake. The application of luminescence on Omega watches are done to perfection and will have a bright even glow to them and should not fade quickly.

If you still do not feel confident with these methods or you have tested them and one of them makes you doubt the authenticity of your watch, you should head to your local AD or watchmaker. They should be able to help you, and for the most part free of charge, and can open up the case back to inspect the movement. This is the ultimate method to use to determine whether an Omega is fake or not. 

There are sadly plenty of fake Omega watches out there in the market, some are so badly made they might even make you laugh, however some are scarily accurate. Hence, if you have doubt, the best way to put your mind at ease is to have a professional watchmaker have a look inside your Omega. Despite fake Omega trying to replicate the movement, the finishing and construction cannot be compared to an authentic Omega.

Source : Watchadvise

These methods will help you to check to see if your Omega or the Omega you’re looking at  is authentic or not. The main thing to do is do your research on your watch, know what the real one looks like, and to spend time with it in the AD. In doing so, you will become familiar with the authentic model and how it feels and what the crown actions and bezel action are like,  that way you’re more likely to notice if something isn’t quite right. But if you really want to put your mind at rest, take a visit to your local AD and they’ll be able to help you verify the authenticity of your watch!


— James Talbot