Although not as heavily faked as Rolex and Omega, there’s still a high chance that you’ll run into a fake Emporio Armani watch when browsing the Internet or visiting your local second-hand shop – I’ve seen dozens of them in those places.
In this detailed guide, I will show you five surefire ways how to recognize a fake Emporio Armani watch.
Buckle up, we’re taking off!
Read: The ULTIMATE Guide to Giorgio Armani Lines on the Internet
#1 – Introduction
In order to avoid…potential disappointments, I’d like to make several things CLEAR first:
(1) Although some information from this article is also applicable to watches coming from the Giorgio Armani, Armani Exchange and Armani Jeans lines (the last being discontinued), the MAIN FOCUS is on those from the Emporio Armani line.
(2) In order not to overcomplicate things (which are already complicated enough), this guide won’t focus on any specific models of Emporio Armani watches.
(3) I’m not affiliated with Giorgio Armani group (nor my second name happens to be Armani, in case you didn’t notice that). All information contained in this article is a result of my personal observations and research.
Read: How to Recognize a GENUINE Ralph Lauren Polo Shirt
#2 – Five Main Telltales of a Fake Emporio Armani Watch
Obvious Signs (logo and quality)
The first and easiest way of spotting a fake Emporio Armani watch is to check its logo and the quality of materials it’s made of.
I’ll start with the logo.
Every genuine Emporio Armani watch, REGARDLESS OF MODEL, has a Emporio Armani logo on its cypher, which is consisted of an Armani Eagle between the words “Emporio” and “Armani” (on some models, under the logo, there’s also the name of the line such as “Ceramica” for example). With the exception of some models with complications (like the AR11215, seen in the picture below), the logo will ALWAYS be located between the 11 and 1 hour marks.
On the other hand, on a fake Emporio Armani watch (seen in the picture below), nothing is as it should be:
(1) The Emporio Armani logo, as stated before, is consisted of an Armani Eagle between the words “Emporio” and “Armani”. This clearly isn’t the case here (the poorly imitated Armani Eagle is located above the words “Giorgio Armani”).
(2) On ALL Giorgio Armani mainline products (including watches, of course) you’ll NEVER, EVER see an Armani Eagle – ONLY products from the Emporio Armani line have it. This fake Giorgio Armani watch has it.
As far as the quality of genuine Emporio Armani watches is concerned, the craftsmanship and materials most models are made of is, apart from Swiss-made ones, decent (a step below Seiko’s). Still, they’re comfortable to wear and won’t be easily if properly used. On the other hand, their fake counterparts… :
(1) … have poor craftsmanship – they aren’t as comfortable to wear as their original counterparts and many functions (like a stopwatch) don’t work.
(2) … are made from poor quality materials that are more prone to scratches and wear and tear.
(3) … have straps that’re (very) hard to open and/or close even when new.
Read:Where are Seiko Watches Made?
Logo and Letters on The Case Back
EVERY genuine Emporio Armani watch that’s made in China should have an engraving (of an Emporio Armani logo or an Armani Eagle) inside of a circle that’s surrounded by an easily readable text that contains all information about the watch – name of the model, serial number of the watch, an Emporio Armani logo (if there’s an Armani eagle engraved), type of material of which the watch is made from and water resistance. In the pictures below, you can see how a case back of an Emporio Armani watch should look like.
The case back of a genuine Swiss-made Emporio Armani watches significantly differs from their Chinese-made counterparts – the Emporio Armani logo is in the center (OR on the movement if it’s visible, like in the image below) and the text containing all information about the watch is near the edge of the case back, separated into four parts by screws – the name of the model is on top, serial number of the watch of the right, water resistance in meters and feet on the left and “Swiss made” on the bottom.
On the other hand, a case back of fake Emporio Armani watch (two of which are seen in the pictures below) … :
(1) … significantly differs from the pictures posted above.
(2) … has an imprinted OR poorly engraved logo and product information that doesn’t contain all the information (missing serial number, for example).
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Model and ID Number on the Case Back
Each Emporio Armani watch, regardless of model, has ALWAYS (!) TWO numbers on its case-back – a model number (which is unique to each model and always starts with AR or, if made in Switzerland, ARS) and a serial number (a batch number unique to every watch of that model). In the pictures below (with which you’re probably familiar with) you can see where they’re located. In
On the other hand, a case back of a fake Emporio Armani watch usually won’t include the model and/or serial number(s), as seen in the pictures below. In some cases (on better made fakes), the model number and the watch won’t match (for example, a fake AR 2434 will look like some other model).
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Packaging and Barcode
All genuine Emporio Armani watches (REGARDLESS of model) come with three very well made boxes – an “wrapper” made from thick paper, a carboard box that’s usually white and a presentation box made from plastic that’s usually black. In the picture below, you can see how the last two boxes look like. It’s important to note that Swiss-made Emporio Armani watches come with an “wrapper” and a white box that’s made from very thick plastic or plywood.
On the other hand, fake Emporio counterparts either come in a bubble wrap (no, I’m not joking) or with boxes that’re scruffy, dirty (even when new) and badly finished.
Now…if you examine the “wrapper” and the boxes an original Emporio watch came with, you’ll notice THREE different stickers.
On the “wrapper”, you’ll see a sticker (seen in the picture below) that contains the barcode of the watch. Now…go to this page and type the barcode in the search box. If the model that this site will show is identical to the the watch the “wrapper” came with, it means that it’s very likely genuine.
On the carboard box, you’ll see a white sticker that contains the name of the model of the watch (AR-2434 and ARS-3363, for example) and the QR code. If BOTH (!!) of them are identical to the model of the watch the box came with, it’s very likely that the watch is genuine.
And finally, at the bottom of the presentation box, you’ll see a sticker indicating the country of origin of the box. That sticker should be identical (or at least similar) to the one in the picture below. If it is, great! If not … .
One more thing remains, the Certificate of Authenticity – something that even the best counterfeiters can’t replicate!
Read: How to Spot Fake Giorgio Armani Clothes
Certificate of Authenticity
Every Emporio Armani watch comes with a certificate (or to be more precise, a tag) of authenticity. That tag contains … :
(1) … hardly visible fibers forming the words GIORGIO ARMANI. You can see this easily when you view the front or the back of the certificate under strong light or direct sun light and by tilting the certificate at an angle. What you’ll see is a serial of beige and grey borders with the words GIORGIO ARMANI in small, hardly visible fibers. They’re IMPOSSIBLE to photo-copy and thus, they won’t be present on a fake certificate. In the picture below, you can see how they look like up close.
(2) … an unique serial number that’s consisted of a letter and a nine digit number (D – 123456789, for example). The letter in front of the the serial number (D, in our case) will be always, ALWAYS of olive green color and slightly smaller than the nine digit number (which is ALWAYS of black color) is written.
(3) … one vertical line printed using Microprinting Technique wording containing the words «FEDRIGONI CARTIERE S.P.A» in small letters.
(4) … rows with words Giorgio Armani which are only visible under UV light. In the picture above, you can see how it should look like.
If the authenticity tag doesn’t have ALL of the aforementioned 4 elements, it’s a fake. And if a certificate is fake, it’s absolutely certain that the watch is a fake as well! In the picture below (taken from eBay), you can see how a fake one looks like. Also…take a look at the box behind it.
Read: How to SPOT A FAKE Hugo Boss Suit/Blazer
#3 – Frequently Asked Questions
Are Emporio Armani Watches Worth It?
The answer to that question primarily depends on you, my friend.
If you’re looking for watch of a flamboyant design, then some models of Emporio Armani watches (particularly more expensive ones) ARE WORTH buying simply because they’ll be able to draw some eyeballs.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a quality watch which can last your for decades, then Emporio Armani watches AREN’T WORTH buying – consider buying a watch from Casio, Seiko, Citizen or Orient instead since the vast majority of their models are better made and significantly cheaper that their Emporio Armani counterparts – especially if you buy them used.
Read: 5 Reasons to Buy at Thrift Stores
Are Emporio Armani Watches Expensive?
The answer to that question depends on the model.
From what I’ve seen, Emporio Armani watches of more generic designs tend to be cheaper whereas Swiss-made and models of more unique and/or more blingier designs are quite expensive.
Read: Where is Armani Made? Is it in Italy?
Are Emporio Armani Watches Waterproof?
Yes, Emporio Armani watches are waterproof. Most models seem to have a water resistance of 5 ATM.
Read: THE BEST Men’s Dive Watches Under $100 you Can Buy
Are Emporio Armani Watches Made in China?
Yes, the vast majority of Emporio Armani watches are made in China by the Fossil Group.
Read: Are Giorgio Armani Suits REALLY That Good?
Are Emporio Armani Watches Swiss Made?
Yes, some of the more expensive Emporio Armani watches (from the ARS series) are made in Bienne, Switzerland by Zodiac Watches, a company that was acquired by the Fossil Group in 2001.
Thank you for reading. If you’ve liked this article and want to see more like them, make sure you bookmark this site and to follow me on Instagram!
Until next time.
Your man,
-Leon
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