Fake AMVOX 1 replica: the short answer
A fake AMVOX 1 replica is a copy of the Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX1, a watch JLC built with Aston Martin starting in 2004. No replica of this reference uses a Jaeger-LeCoultre movement. Genuine watches carry a JLC in-house calibre. Replicas carry Chinese or Swiss-clone movements, and most sell for $80 to $400. Genuine AMVOX1 watches trade in the thousands of dollars on the used market.
Fake AMVOX 1 Brand: A Comprehensive Guide
What the AMVOX1 is
Jaeger-LeCoultre and Aston Martin signed a partnership in 2004. The AMVOX name joins Aston Martin and Memovox, the JLC alarm name that dates to 1950. The AMVOX1 was the first model in the line. Later references added a vertical-trigger chronograph, a tourbillon GMT, and a world-time chronograph. Case material, case size, and reference code change from one AMVOX release to the next. The reference code and serial number are stamped on the caseback. Photos of one reference do not apply to another.
Fake AMVOX 1 Wristwatch Buying Guide: What to Check
Details that show a fake
- Movement finish. Genuine JLC calibres show Geneva stripes, perlage, and blued screws. Replica movements show stamped plates and burrs.
- Dial print. The JLC logo and Aston Martin text have sharp edges on genuine dials. Replica print looks fuzzy under a loupe.
- Caseback engraving. Genuine engraving cuts into the metal. Replica engraving is shallow laser etching.
- Crown and pushers. Replica crowns feel loose and the threads bind. Genuine crowns turn with even resistance.
- Weight. AMVOX cases use titanium. A replica in steel weighs more than the original.
- Complications. Replica chronographs and alarms stop working, or reset to the wrong position.
Price gap
Fake AMVOX 1 listings ask $80 to $400. Genuine AMVOX1 watches sell for thousands of dollars, and service from Jaeger-LeCoultre adds hundreds more. A price far under the market is the first sign of a copy. Auction results and dealer listings give the current range for each reference.
US law
Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. 2320. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine for an individual. US Customs and Border Protection can seize counterfeit watches at the border, and personal import of counterfeit goods is prohibited. Buying a fake for personal use is not the same charge as selling one, but the watch can still be confiscated.
Checks before you buy
- Ask for a photo of the caseback showing the reference and serial numbers.
- Ask for a photo of the movement. A seller who will not send one is a risk.
- Match the case size and material to the reference code.
- Ask for service papers from Jaeger-LeCoultre or an independent watchmaker.
- Compare the asking price to recent sold listings for the same reference.
If you were sold a fake
Report the seller to the Federal Trade Commission and to your state attorney general. If you paid by credit card, file a chargeback with the card issuer. Keep the listing page, messages, and payment records. AMVOX1 watches sold without papers or a movement photo are the common source of these disputes.