First off, yeah, everyone bangs on about the serial number. That’s definitely a starting point. But just because it *looks* right, doesn’t mean you’re in the clear, ya know? Some of these dodgy dealers are getting clever. They’ll stamp something that *looks* legit, but it’s all a load of cobblers if you really get down to it.
I saw this thing the other day at an antique fair – looked like a proper G10 at first glance. But the font on the caseback? *Off*. Just a tiny little thing, but enough to make the alarm bells ring. And the bloke selling it? Shifty as anything. Said he’d “found it in his attic.” Yeah, right. Pulled the other one, mate.
The CWC website itself mentions fake quartz G10s, which is helpful I guess, but what about the older ones? The proper vintage stuff? That’s where the real danger lies, I reckon. They give you some clues, but it’s all a bit vague, innit? You kinda have to know what you’re looking for. It’s more of a feeling, if you get my drift.
And speaking of feeling, don’t even get me started on MWC (Military Watch Company). People *hate* ’em. I mean, seriously despise them. I picked up a CWC – *or what I thought was a CWC* – for, like, fifteen bucks once. Figured it was a steal! But then I started digging around online, and…well, let’s just say I learned a valuable lesson about doing my homework. New glass, new battery, looked the part… but still, probably a dud. MWC are often mentioned in the same breath when discussing fake military style watches, so be careful when buying those.
Another thing to consider is the caseback markings. It’s like a little code, telling you who the watch was issued to, when it was issued, all that jazz. Proper military watch nerds (myself included, admittedly) can spend hours dissecting these things. But that means the fakers have even more to copy, doesn’t it? It’s a constant arms race, this thing.
Prices have gone up on these things in recent years. Used to be you could snag a decent W10 (Army issue) for a reasonable price. Now? Forget about it. Everyone’s trying to cash in, which just means more fakes flooding the market.
