Do not fall into the counterfeit trap. It is now almost impossible to detect them without having an expert look! Catawiki explains to us.
The counterfeiting dates back to the dawn of time. Everyone copies and copies, even if it is not necessarily legal … but who has never asked a jeweler to make him a ring in the same style as a luxury brand? On the other hand, buying counterfeit when you think you are buying real is another matter. Especially since today it is difficult to detect it.
In the past, counterfeits seemed too beautiful to be true. Today, although the price makes us think twice, it happens that the certificate and the packaging, as well as the certification on the jewel, seem so real that we are certain that it is the authentic. While in reality … this is not the case.
The figures are also surprising. According to Catawiki, the online auction platform, in France, jewelry is one of the categories that recorded the highest increase in refusal for reasons of authenticity, with an increase of 75 % compared to 2023!
“Counterfeiting in brand jewelry has radically changed”explains Francesca Floramo, jewelry expert at Catawiki. “What was formerly simple gross imitations today becomes real precision counterfeits, created thanks to 3D printing, AI tools and high quality materials. This is precisely what makes them dangerous.”
But how can we make the difference between a counterfeit jewelry and an authentic jewel? Here are the expert’s recommendations. First, examine the jewel in detail. Are the hallmarks, logos and serial numbers clearly aligned? If this is not the case, this is a counterfeit.
The same goes for crimping stones and finishes. If there are slight imperfections, which is not the case for luxury products, this is not the real. Same for boxes and certificates: is the police too big? Is the logo poorly centered? The color does not comply with that of the brand? This is not true! The detail that no one checks is perfection.
As Francesca Floramo reminds us so well: “In high jewelry, perfection is the norm. The authentic parts have impeccable finishes: uniform microbeads, precise pavages, perfectly positioned stones. The counterfeits imitate form, but not precision: irregular texture, lack of radiance, approximate execution.“”
