Many seasoned professionals have made mistakes in analyzing the authenticity of a Patek Philippe cork box. We hope to give you all the tools to distinguish the real from the fake. If you ever need help, we are here for you!
Released in 1976, the first Patek Philippe Nautilus reference 3700 in steel was sold in a cork box. A true work of art, few have survived the ravages of time, and their rarity makes them one of the most sought-after boxes by collectors, with auction prices ranging from €8,000 to more than double that!
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Illustration of the complete set of a 3700 and its cork box - ©Christie’s
As with a watch appraisal, the devil is in the details, which we will endeavor to show you with the most objective approach possible.
This guide was created with one genuine box and two fakes. The two fakes are not exactly identical and suggest that several counterfeiters were involved, possibly at different times. It is important to step back and consider that counterfeiters’ techniques can and will evolve over time.
Although aesthetically well-done, a perfect clone is very difficult to achieve if we examine each element separately.
The Metal Plate
The main way to distinguish the real from the fake is in the engraving. On the authentic box, it is sharp and flawless; on the counterfeit, it is less sharp and precise, with the text printed differently. The letters "i" and "s" are good indicators to compare...
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Illustration of Box No.1 (Authentic)
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Illustration of Box No.2 (Fake)
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Illustration of Box No.3 (Fake)
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Illustration of Box No.1 (Authentic)
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Illustration of Box No.2 (Fake)
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Illustration of Box No.3 (Fake)
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Illustration of Box No.1 (Authentic)
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Illustration of Box No.2 (Fake)
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Illustration of Box No.3 (Fake)
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The Box Lid
The interior of the real box is thermo-molded in one piece, with no right angles. With experience, one can recognize the quality of the thermo-molding, which gives a true "monoblock" feel. In contrast, the interior of the fake box is made of several pieces of cork glued together with right angles.
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Illustration of Box No.1 (Authentic)
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Illustration of Box No.2 (Fake)
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Illustration of Box No.3 (Fake)
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The Weight of the Box
Weight can be an additional factor to reinforce your doubts. However, in our case, the two fake boxes do not weigh the same, and one of the fakes is very close to the authentic box. The weight difference can be explained by the density of the cork used, as well as the metal parts.
It is also worth noting that slight weight variations are likely between different authentic boxes. The presence or absence of the folded metal watch support has an influence.
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Our authentic box weighs exactly 187.8 grams
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Fake box No.2 is significantly heavier at 226.4 grams
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Fake box No.3 is very close to the real one at 185.9 grams
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The removable elements inside the box all have differences between them.
We can first note a color difference in the watch support, which is a folded metal piece covered in suede. However, note that this support is often missing or may have been replaced during its life, which can complicate the analysis!
The real one is on the left, the middle and right ones are fake
Note the three different colors of supports: the real one is on the left, the middle and right ones are fake
The removable elements used to hold the watch support show slight differences. We can notice that those of the real box have right angles. The two supports of the fake boxes have beveled angles.
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The two supports on the right are fake, with beveled angles, in contrast to the one on the left, which is authentic and without bevels.
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Focus on the angles of the supports: the real one is on the left, the middle and right ones are fake
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This guide is purely for informational purposes, to advise our clients and collectors. We remain open to your constructive comments if you wish to discuss the subject with us.
This article reminds us that the world of collectible watches is a specialized field, and highlights the importance of quality professional support. No one is immune to mistakes, but there are essential checks to navigate around the pitfalls.
