Should Auction House be told of doubts about watch ?

prontoprint · Aug 29, 2020

Hi there,

I know we don't really discuss watches coming up for auction but wondered what thoughts are about ones that stretch the description too far. This one popped up on my alerts in UK but looking at photo I doubt the £700 - £1000 guide price is right. Maybe remove a zero or two ?

Question is , is it reasonable to send email to auction house expressing concern, or is it up to the bidder to spot the ones that shouldn't be there ?

Then again, it maybe that prototype that I haven't seen before .....

Foo2rama · Aug 29, 2020

Obvious fake. It’s a common quartz fake. Also it’s illegal for them to auction it.

contact them.

prontoprint · Aug 29, 2020

Foo2rama
Obvious fake. It’s a common quartz fake. Also it’s illegal for them to auction it.

contact them.

I thought so as well. I do know a local auction firm to me does sell fake Rolex watches but marked as "homage" and priced appropriately . I still don't agree with that policy and do mention it in a non-aggressive way when looking on preview days - usually a loud "tut tut" is my strongest attempt

prontoprint · Aug 29, 2020

Message now sent to auction house questioning their policy to sell a fake watch . Would hate someone daft enough to bid be robbed blind. They are not forgiving once purchased as I found to my cost many years ago with a mis-described piece of space memorabilia .

Marsimaxam · Aug 29, 2020

Definitely, and a reputable auction house will appreciate the information. Reputation is everything in the auction business.

Evitzee · Aug 29, 2020

Marsimaxam
Definitely, and a reputable auction house will appreciate the information. Reputation is everything in the auction business.

Depends on the auction house.....the bigger ones are usually more sensitive to the charge of selling fakes, the smaller ones not so much. At least that is my experience. But all house's descriptions need to be looked at carefully, all of them can be sloppy in their descriptions. You need to know what you are looking at, don't trust what they tell you, especially about age.

kip595 · Aug 29, 2020

These days I mostly only do actual auctions for artworks of different types. My overall experience in art, cars, guns, and watches, for auction houses, has been that if they're reputable they want to keep it that way and appreciate the info, if they don't care they'll act like you're a jerk and try to bully you or ignore you. I tell them either way - once a fellow was rude enough that I then proceeded to educate all the potential buyers around me...that was a fun afternoon. ::stirthepot::

ewand · Aug 30, 2020

See https://omegaforums.net/threads/bricks-mortar-auctioneers-openly-selling-fakes.76883/

In short, yes, report these things to the auctioneers - and if they don't act, then escalate. As @tyrantlizardrex pointed out in that other thread:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/26/section/92

"Unauthorised use of trade mark, &c. in relation to goods.

(1)A person commits an offence who with a view to gain for himself....

(a) applies to goods or their packaging a sign identical to, or likely to be mistaken for, a registered trade mark, or

(b) sells or ....offers or exposes for sale ....goods which bear, such a sign..."

"(6) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

(a) on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding (...) or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both;
(b) on conviction on indictment to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or both."

Engee · Aug 30, 2020

prontoprint
I thought so as well. I do know a local auction firm to me does sell fake Rolex watches but marked as "homage" and priced appropriately . I still don't agree with that policy and do mention it in a non-aggressive way when looking on preview days - usually a loud "tut tut" is my strongest attempt

An homage watch would not say “Rolex” on the dial, it would state the name of the brand paying homage to Rolex. If it says “Rolex” and it wasn’t made by Rolex it’s a counterfeit. End of.

prontoprint · Aug 31, 2020

ewand
See https://omegaforums.net/threads/bricks-mortar-auctioneers-openly-selling-fakes.76883/

In short, yes, report these things to the auctioneers - and if they don't act, then escalate. As @tyrantlizardrex pointed out in that other thread:

Thanks for link. I knew there had been one about this sort of thing but damned if I could find it . I do remember reading it as it mentions my local auction house that I was sad to see auctioning fakes !

dsio · Aug 31, 2020

Please always contact them, it’s the end buyer you’re helping by doing so and if they don’t act on it, well then we get to learn something about that auction house and how they do business.

Christie’s btw are about the best in handling these things, they will typically pull an item for review as soon as they hear there are concerns until they can make a determination

raitosan · Aug 31, 2020

An auction house in Sweden replied to my request for more photos of the watch other than blurry dial pic, that they can't open the case back for photos, because the watch is "on loan from the original owner".

I told them they lost a bidder just because of that response.

prontoprint · Sep 1, 2020

Thanks everyone for comments.

Glad to say auction house have withdrawn the lot, according to latest view on the-saleroom website

Stripey · Sep 1, 2020

prontoprint
Hi there,

I know we don't really discuss watches coming up for auction but wondered what thoughts are about ones that stretch the description too far. This one popped up on my alerts in UK but looking at photo I doubt the £700 - £1000 guide price is right. Maybe remove a zero or two ?

Question is , is it reasonable to send email to auction house expressing concern, or is it up to the bidder to spot the ones that shouldn't be there ?

Then again, it maybe that prototype that I haven't seen before .....

I saw that one, and thought it looked odd.

Should Auction House be told of doubts about watch ?

prontoprint

Foo2rama

prontoprint

prontoprint

Marsimaxam

Evitzee

kip595

ewand

Engee

prontoprint

dsio

raitosan

prontoprint

Stripey

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