A.I. as a way to authenticate watches

For those of you who are tempted to ask AI about the authenticity of your watch, don’t bother.


Here are my experiences.

1. I took three different pictures of my Seamaster and Chat GPT identified it as authentic, fake and inconclusive in three attempts.

2.Here is what it says about my brand new Speedmaster purchased directly from Omega 3 weeks ago

I asked:
Is this authentic or fake.



ChatGPT said:
This appears to be an Omega Speedmaster Professional "Moonwatch", but with some unusual features that raise questions about authenticity:
🔍 Observations:
1 Dial Color & Text
◦ The dial is white with red “Speedmaster” text.
◦ Omega has made limited white-dial Speedmasters (e.g., the Alaska Project, Mitsukoshi, or Panda dials), but most have very specific subdial layouts and text fonts.
◦ The font and spacing of “PROFESSIONAL” and “SPEEDMASTER” here look slightly off compared to authentic models - the “Speedmaster” script seems too thick and a bit misaligned.
2 Subdial Spacing
◦ Authentic Speedmaster Professional models using the Caliber 1861/3861 have distinct subdial spacing. In your photo, the subdials look too close to the center, which is common on replicas using non-Omega movements (like the Seagull ST19 or Valjoux 7750).
3 Bezel and Case
◦ The tachymeter bezel font looks somewhat shallow and uneven in engraving depth. Genuine Speedmasters have crisp, precisely printed bezels.
◦ Case shape appears close, but the lug bevels and brushing seem less refined than on an authentic Omega.
4 Hands
◦ The hands look slightly thicker than genuine Omega ones. The central chronograph seconds hand tip appears shorter than usual.


⚠️ Verdict:
Based on the dial printing, subdial spacing, and case finishing, this watch is very likely a replica or a modified/custom build (e.g., a “Frankenwatch” combining genuine and aftermarket parts).


If you want to be certain:


• Remove the caseback and check for an Omega Caliber 1861 or 3861 movement with proper engravings.


• Verify the case reference number between the lugs or inside the caseback.


• Compare it against Omega’s official parts database or bring it to an authorized Omega service center.


Would you like me to point out the exact reference it seems to be imitating (e.g., Mitsukoshi or Alaska

I wonder if AI can access the content from OF easily. One would think that ingesting pictures and commentaries, as well as these great threads deep diving into references would be a pretty strong starting point!

Thanks for the link. I hadn’t found it on a search before posting mine.

I can understand that uploaded images may not be high res or great quality and result in poor analysis, HOWEVER:
Here was my biggest gripe about the AI answer.

“The dial is white with red “Speedmaster” text.
◦ Omega has made limited white-dial Speedmasters (e.g., the Alaska Project, Mitsukoshi, or Panda dials), but most have very specific subdial layouts and text fonts.”

Clearly the AI was not up to date on the White dial Speedy released in 2024. Not good enough searching by the AI. Not even close to good enough.