Fair enough, lesson learned! I thought the online checkers were accurate for older models such as these.
What is the range for the 2541.80 out of curiosity, do you know? Perhaps I have the year wrong on my own watch as well, it's a 5769XXXX.
Archer has confirmed that this serial number belongs to a 2531.80. Makes me think there’s another genuine watch bearing this number and now with a 2892 movement inside.
Has he? I don't see a post from Archer in this thread.
Hey folks! Thank you so much for all the intel from this post. Archer did check the serial, and the movement is for the correct model. I sent the seller this post, and he agreed to refund me. Thank you so much for your input! One more point to add: the bezel has a little bit more play than usual. So I would agree that there is a chance that this whole watch is fake, with a real movement and cards! That's scary to think of!
One more point to add: the bezel has a little bit more play than usual.
Good outcome! How strange.
Did the case have the correct serial number on the lug? I would expect if it was completely fake it would not have the serial number matching the genuine movement. If someone has gone to the length to fake the serial number to match a real movement, that's pretty unusual for a rep.
It used to be common for reps to all have the same serial number. The counterfeiters would just copy the serial number markings from the genuine watch they used to design the replica, and then apply it to all of them. There are plenty of replicas which have incremental serials too, but it would be highly unusual for a replica to have a serial number that matched a genuine sourced movement. Most reps will not have genuine movements in them, that's fairly rarely done by owners with second hand movements post purchase.
Sounds like an improvement, haha. The bezel on the real ones is a bit hard to use. 😜
I've seen and handled Indian produced fake Gen 1 dials. Well certainly repainted and passed off as original. They are out there and this could be one for all I know.
To the OP. A full refund is a good outcome for you. The scary thing is, if a genuine, used dial had been used you would not have had any suspicions at all and that is apparent to anyone reading through this thread. Genuine dials do crop up on eBay and is an obvious next step’ for an unscrupulous seller.
Can I suggest that you amend the title of this thread to include the movement reference? That way it will be easier for any future buyer/potential buyer to be alerted. After all, this was the full package with box and cards bearing the correct reference for a 2351.80.
For example:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/377592632481?_skw=2531.80+dial&itmmeta=01M5PR8EFY37Q9YP01YXE1XQ41&hash=item57ea4654a1:g:K1MAAeSwUGRq2hgi&itmprp=enc:AQALAAAA8CHNgUiiE/jQhlDTaMiAde8OMppsdUGcw44CjJuiGihF19q5GMoxl3PQmquwAsf98jGjjFOC7kwprzaoJGbx1dVk7z7zHRgqIIlqGAe/5aPeBt0XX9YHmEbJFctmWq2eh07iKKsbuePQp6komFNLCdnosQa6MT13mnaomHuO/mZwBkDIygrzSLhXKi1xYj6Jh1ap8qHo7Bx5bYGLooENbO+cl1QTZqEuRl29qLUORiC/kFYOAOMby1j5m/pDv2vOBFsxsYIH9zZeApXuuiGUdC4TRUBRdKLrZVBXQ9mTcAqS/1U8M8y6FWyWuAXPEtOnLA==|tkp:Bk9SR6DooditaA
Not the best photos but appears to be genuine. Not perfect but a huge improvement on what was originally used.
