The reason should be obvious, but if it isn't...

Never provide the serial number. It can be etched into a counterfeit and sold as real. Just don't do it.

 

I've heard that said before, but is it really true?
Did it ever happen?

One would think it would be a larger risk with cars, but cars have their VIN number proudly displayed for everyone to see...

 

It's like the people who cover their license plate whenever they post a pic of their car hahaha
I'd rather not live in that depth of paranoia.

 

It's like the people who cover their license plate whenever they post a pic of their car hahaha
I'd rather not live in that depth of paranoia.

I disagree.
At least where I live, the license plate is connected to my home address.
The serial number of my watch is not.

 

Depends on the watch.
Something expensive where there are known fakes? Nope.
Affordable watch? Could not care less.

My most valuable watches: Sinn 656, BB36. If it ever came to it, would sell them with case-back pix shamelessly displaying serial numbers, and not worry even a bit.

 

I'm trying to sell my Moonwatch so that is why I am trying to make sure hiding the SN is the correct move. I'd rather play it safe than sorry.

 

Not sure it makes sense for someone who is selling a watch not to give out a serial number because someone might copy it on another watch.

I'm not the free serial number counterfeit protection man and I don't work for the brand. I'm not sure I'm going to blow a deal over a legitimate question.

How does it benefit a seller not to give the serial number on an expensive watch to a prospective buyer?

 

If you're paranoid enough, "prospective buyer" is as likely as "prospective scammer."

If it got to that point on my end, I'd sell it to a jeweller or AD and call it a day with whatever they might give me. Further, especially if they had the watch I wanted to spend said funds on, would push for trade value against the other purchase.

 

Not sure what happened to your original post, but you mentioned you were selling on FB Marketplace. If that’s correct, then the probability is higher that you will be meeting someone to conduct a FTF transaction, so you can physically show both the S/N and matching warranty card to any prospective buyer.
Good luck.

 

One of the Admins did not like my Moonwatch..Jk they said my post was a For Sale ad and deleted it -_- So I re-created the post with a picture of my car instead of my watch lol I agree with showing the guy everything in person but he keeps asking for it over messenger which I found odd, which is the reason for this post lol

 

Another reason to not show the serial number is some nutcase who sees it could report your watch as being theirs and that it has been lost or stolen.

Then that could cause you, or a future owner, some grief down the road if the watch is ever confiscated when someone (a dealer buying the watch who runs it through a database, or a service company who runs it through a database), gets a hit on your watch's serial number.

Of course, you probably could ultimately win the ownership battle (since the nutcase who reported it lost or stolen could not prove ownership), but why take the risk?

A small risk, when multiplied by a big headache if it were to ever happen, is still best avoided if it is easy and not painful to take a little precaution.

It is trivial for you to hide your serial number until you have a deal with the buyer. Then, at that point, when they have agreed to the purchase, then they have a right for proof that the serial number on the watch matches the serial number on the original paperwork/warranty card.

 

Meh. I could think of a hundred and fifty better scams than reporting a watch that I don't own, as lost or stolen.

 

Back in the 80s, "southern car" was code for no typical New England rust issues.
Now: better check for flood damage.

 

Trying this again with a different picture to please the Admins

I've noticed some for sale posts where the Serial Numbers for the watch is covered or hidden, is there any harm with sharing the Serial Number with anyone? I'm fairly new to the hobby so that is why I ask.

View attachment 18198717

I'm only interested in how many doritos there is under the hood?

 

Old pic, but the yellow is a fully built LS3 and the white is a fully built LS7

 

Another reason to not show the serial number is some nutcase who sees it could report your watch as being theirs and that it has been lost or stolen.

Then that could cause you, or a future owner, some grief down the road if the watch is ever confiscated when someone (a dealer buying the watch who runs it through a database, or a service company who runs it through a database), gets a hit on your watch's serial number.

Of course, you probably could ultimately win the ownership battle (since the nutcase who reported it lost or stolen could not prove ownership), but why take the risk?

A small risk, when multiplied by a big headache if it were to ever happen, is still best avoided if it is easy and not painful to take a little precaution.

It is trivial for you to hide your serial number until you have a deal with the buyer. Then, at that point, when they have agreed to the purchase, then they have a right for proof that the serial number on the watch matches the serial number on the original paperwork/warranty card.

This would be my #1 concern when it comes to exposing serial numbers.

Meh. I could think of a hundred and fifty better scams than reporting a watch that I don't own, as lost or stolen.

They are not scamming you as the seller or owner, they are scamming the insurance company and you are caught in the middle. It doesn't even need to be a deliberate scam. If someone legitimately lost a watch, submit a claim and the insurance company asks for a serial number to process the claim, but the person didn't have the serial written down somewhere and decide to pull one off the internet, you end up being involved for simple having your serial number accessible.

 

This would be my #1 concern when it comes to exposing serial numbers.


They are not scamming you as the seller or owner, they are scamming the insurance company and you are caught in the middle. It doesn't even need to be a deliberate scam. If someone legitimately lost a watch, submit a claim and the insurance company asks for a serial number to process the claim, but the person didn't have the serial written down somewhere and decide to pull one off the internet, you end up being involved for simple having your serial number accessible.

Oh wow. I never thought of that

 

I don't buy that fakes will be made off the serial. If so, it's probably just a coincidence. Some factory is presumably making copies of a model, using an actual watch model that already has a serial for them to steal. Only legit reason for hiding a serial I believe is for hot watches sold to flippers that don't want to get blacklisted.

 

Idk the exact reasons to hide serial numbers but all the watch dealers in Japan do it so I follow the experts because I assume they know something that I don't.

 

No real downside to NOT showing a s/n in a for sale post, but I can't think of any upside to showing it. Earlier posts provide all the primary reasons not to do it, so why would you?

Most every buyer on the major forums understands that the s/n is often not provided until purchase, or sometimes earlier in the process if selling to a trusted buyer.

 

I guess tou haven't seen Guy Richie's Lock stock and two smoking barrels...

i have not, but well played. Too funny

 

Thank you very much.
I've been waiting for 25 years to borrow that joke.😁

 

Not sure where I stand on this but if in doubt don’t do it.

 

Yeah, I tend to go with my gut feeling but I figured I'd post on here to get some feedback and opinions.

 

I remember reading years ago when I started becoming interested in watches about some folks having issues with their Rolexes because of serial number-related matters. It has been brought up by someone earlier about having the Rolex you own being reported as stolen (may be true because the Rolex was bought pre-owned or it could have been due to other issues). The risk of counterfeiting others pointed out is also very real for watches like Rolex and other high-end desirable brands. If your watches are run-of-the-mill Seikos and Hamiltons (no disrespect intended), this serial number risk will not likely arise.

 

Yeah, I never cared to hide the SN when selling my old Gshocks but I'm in the process of selling my Moonwatch which is much higher value, so I'm taking precautions and trying to further educate myself with the watch market.

 

Post a picture of your face and it could be used for ads and future AI face generation uses. Teddy Baldashar’s wife’s face was used interposed on another model for x-rated commercials on YT. Post a picture of your watch with the serial and while 99.99% of the populace couldn’t care less, if someone wanted to misuse that information, it’s there for the taking. Post a picture of your house and it won’t be too difficult for some people to track you down. There was a member here posting nice photos. I was curious to see what camera settings were used and was shocked to see GPS coordinates of his home address in the EXIF data. Needless to say I contacted the member letting him know about it.

Any information you post on the internet is public domain whether we agree with it or not. The data will be scraped by millions of automated bots at some point especially if it’s not locked behind a basic membership privacy setting.

 

its generally not recommended to give out your watch's serial number to just anyone. The serial number is unique to your watch and can sometimes be used to track ownership or authenticity.

 

Paranoia level of this thread has pegged the red zone.

 

I know.
I've said it before...... You're a better person than I am if you aren't entertained by the amount of low-level mental disorders this hobby attracts. Even if I'm part of the psychosis too, it's still funny.

 

I really wonder how true this is, or has it just become part of the accepted wisdom? Many fakes are just near enough approximations for those who only have a vague idea of what the watch should look like, or no idea at all except for the brand name. Really well made fakes where it is worth the faker spending money as the upside is huge are not going to be purchased without papers. The faker doesn't want to spend too much money, so a real serial number on an off looking watch is not going to sell it to someone who knows what he is looking at. Coming from a manufacturing background a perfect fake is harder than it seems to achieve and the main target is the ignorant and unwary thinking they have scored a bargain. Fakers need to cut corners and that will show in the final watch.

 

I typically wouldn't worry about it, I've sold multiple watches that were under $1000 but trying to sell a watch that is over $5000 makes me very cautious not to screw myself lol