Buyer beware!

The modern watch world is not immune to fake watches: where ever a buck is to be made, someone is going to try to make it, and faking rare vintage watches (beyond Rolex) is now not uncommon. Yesterday a Patrizzi Auction catalog arrived on my porch and I went right to looking at the VC's up for bid. Lot 70 is a triple calendar "Cioccolatone," Reference 4764. Clean, legitimate examples can easily be worth $100,000. I wouldn't pay $1 for this example.

There is so much that is wrong with the watch that I almost don't know where to start. VC had long stopped using bi-metallic balance wheels by the time this reference came out. No VC wristwatch from the 50's has a gilt finish. The moonphase looks wrong. The date pointer extends well beyond the date.

I contacted VC with the movement and case serial numbers and got confirmation that they were not born together. The case and movement may well be legitimate VC parts, but they didn't come from the factory this way.

I hope and expect Patizzi to withdraw this lot from the sale. While Patrizzi has a "Five Year's Warranty Of Authenticity" (section 28 in their "Conditions of Sale"), I would not want to test them on what they mean by "complete counterfeit."

If you are considering a vintage VC worth more than $10,000, I strongly suggest that the transaction be contingent on VC issuing a Certificate of Authenticity.

Bill