First things first, that serial number, man. Apparently, ALL real Armani watches (Emporio Armani, anyway) are supposed to have this 6-digit serial number stamped somewhere on ’em. Usually on the back. If you *don’t* see that, uh oh, red flag city. Fake city, population: your watch. But hold on! Don’t throw it in the trash just yet. Sometimes… well, sometimes things are more complicated.
Okay, so you *do* have a serial number? Great! Doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in the clear though. The fakers are getting smarter, ya know? They’re actually putting serial numbers on the fakes now. Sneaky, right? So what do you do then?
Well, this is where it gets a bit more… subjective. (Yeah, I hate that word too, but it fits). You gotta look at the *overall* quality.
Think about it:
* The Feel: Does it feel cheap? Like, *really* cheap? Real Armani watches, even the less expensive ones, should have a certain heft and quality to ’em. If it feels like something you’d win in a claw machine, that’s not a good sign. The weight should feel substantial.
* The Details: Take a magnifying glass (if you have one) and look *really* closely at the details. Are the letters crisp and clear? Are the lines straight? Is the finish even? Fakes often skimp on these little things. A crooked logo? Misspelled words? BIG NO NO.
* The Price: Okay, this is kinda obvious, but if you got an “Emporio Armani” watch for, like, $20 on some shady website… come on, be real. If it seems too good to be true, it probably IS. That doesn’t mean *every* cheap watch is fake, but it’s definitely a reason to raise an eyebrow.
* Certilogo, maybe? I saw something about Fossil Group (who makes some Armani watches) using Certilogo. I’m not entirely sure how that works, but it might be a way to verify the authenticity. Google “Certilogo” and see if your watch has a code or something you can check. It is a company specializing in authentication of products.
And hey, this might sound dumb, but trust your gut! Does something just *feel* off about it? Sometimes, you just *know* something isn’t right.
