The company Le Petit-Fils de L.-U. & Cie S.A. isn’t likely one you have heard about on a daily basis…but you have probably heard of Chopard, and the two are one and the same. Chopard is a private Swiss company specializing in the creating, manufacture, and sales of watches and other luxury items. Louis-Ulysse Chopard started the company in 1860 in Sonvilier, but it has been owned and operated by a family named Scheufele family since 1963. Under their ownership, the beauty and quality of Chopard watches and other items has been highly maintained and is well-known and respected. Watch lovers, in particular, are a group who loves and cherishes any timepiece bearing the jewelers brand, as it should be. The owner, Karl Scheufele, was a descendant and member of a long line of well-known German jewelers, which means that he had a lot to bring to the table when he purchased Chopard, and he did just that. Today, watches made by Chopard are considered some of the finest in the world, with its most expensive timepiece being the Chopard 201 Carat watch, which carries an approximate value of $25 million. The truth is, all of their watches carry a very glittery price tag, with the least expensive running around $4,800 brand new.
Yes, you read that right. If an individual with less-than-ideal means to purchase one of these iconic timepieces realistically wanted to own one, the only way to do it would be to purchase one used. Even then you’re going to pay a pretty penny…definitely still in the thousands of dollars. You want to be sure that the watch you buy is certainly what you’re paying for, for starters. You want to make sure it’s the real deal, and you want to make sure it’s in good working order. Accepting anything less would turn your Chopard dreams into unforgettable nightmares, and no one likes to learn the hard way. So, for those of you out there who don’t feel you have the knowledge or experience to get the best deal for you, we decided to put together a short piece that will help you make the right choices when shopping for a used Chopard watch. It will help you dodge the bad experiences that so many go through in deals like this, and you will be able to take home the Chopard watch of your dreams with no regrets. Read on to further your education on buying used Chopard watches.
Keeping It Real
There are all kinds of places to shop for Chopard watches, especially in this day and age. When buying used, the Internet has really made things convenient, and anything can be found…for a price. However, one of the perils of purchasing online is the risk of getting taken for a ride. It’s very important to be able to look things over personally when making a purchase of this caliber, so unless you are familiar with the online merchant, or you should have implicit trust for the online merchant you are conducting business with. With that being said, there are specific ways you can tell a Chopard watch from those which are nothing more than counterfeit knockoffs. Here are some pointers that will help you see things more clearly when you shop. Fakes will usually have one or more of the following defects:
- Spelling mistakes of any kind
- Quality; your used Chopard watch so be made of only the very best gems and metals. No chips in ‘gems’, or wear marks on metals that are solid. It should also be heavy due to the use of gold and platinum.
- Familiarize yourself with the dimensions of the true Chopard you want so you can compare the watch you are considering; a watch that is off the mark by even a fraction is not the real deal.
- Is it a real vintage item? First off, Chopard produces some of the sturdiest watches available, so nothing should be missing. If it is, it’s likely faked to try to snow you.
- Look for residue from adhesives that may have been used to temporarily fix breakage. Such finds typically indicates tampering or outright forgery.
- Pay attention to the maker’s mark. These stamps and marks should be sharp, crisp, and clear, with no errors in spelling whatsoever, but spacing that is off or blurring in the stamp is a very clear sign that something isn’t right with the piece. The watch should be signed by Chopard, and the metal content should be listed with the signature (gold will be marked ‘750’, while platinum is marked ‘950’). Serial numbers should also be clearly stamped, and readable, on the piece.
- The serial number is important…if the watch you are considering is authentic Chopard that number will match with one the company has on record…it can be easily traced as legitimate. A call to Chopard will be all it takes to check the authenticity of the item and is a great way to make sure everything is on the up-and-up.
- Where is the seller actually located? If you do decide to purchase online be sure to verify where the seller is located. Many counterfeit Chopard watches seem to come out of China, so it’s likely wise to stay out of that lane altogether, unless the seller is reputable and trusted. Also, be sure to check your spelling when doing any searches, as near misspellings is one way that sellers of forgeries gain traffic on their websites.
- Go to your jeweler…they aren’t just there to sell you new things. A jeweler worth their weight will be more than willing to take a closer look at the prospect and identify any red flags you might have missed. You will also want to get an appraisal for insurance purposes, and your jeweler is exactly who you need to turn to for these needs. But don’t just go to any jeweler, go to one you trust.
Putting It All Together
In a perfect world we could all just go out and purchase a new Chopard watch, and they have so many to choose from. From the most expensive to the least, they are costly. It’s so important that you stick with your budget, but still enjoy the things you love, right? That’s why buying used is such a wonderful freedom, but with that freedom comes risk. Protect yourself by familiarizing yourself with the watch you desire, inside and out. You would do the same with a used car, right? Once you’ve located your watch look it over as well as possible, or acquire provenance, or take it to your jeweler to be authenticated. Refer back to the things you should look for, and make sure you don’t miss anything. You want to look it over with a fine-toothed comb, or you don’t want to shell out a cent. By putting these practices to use you will find purchasing your dream watch by Chopard has been a one-of-a-kind experience for the better. Good luck, and may time be good to you.
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