G-shock: are fakes a big problem?

[Doniger]

I've been on the hunt for a new G-shock for a while, since realising how rare my old ones have become: a 20 year old DW-5900 and a 14 year old DW-8600 Fisherman.

The 5900 needed a new bezel and I searched for months to find one, until finally I found a non-genuine replacement. I'm quite happy with it, as the watch is no longer just so many bits of broken plastic in a drawer but it's so close to the original that it and the references to fake watches I came across in my search got me wondering.

Since I absolutely can not find gaskets for either watch or spare bezels/straps for the 8600 I decided to 'retire' them both for preservation and now rather fancy a DW5600 of some sort, particularly a DW5600bb, but the prices on them seem to vary wildly.

So how do you tell a fake, and how can I make sure I get a genuine one?

Cheers in advance

[RichTT]

Buy from an authorised dealer. There's a few fake G-Shocks out there but buy the seller before you buy the watch.

[Eighteeteewhy]

Used by myself and a lot of other PHers. Very good prices too.

http://www.creationwatches.com/products/casio-g-sh...

[alfaman]

I have used these guys .. also based in SG and have a retail shop if passing through.

http://www.skywatches.com.sg

[Doniger]

Thanks for the advice - particularly that link for creation watches...I have a feeling that link is going to cost me a fortune in the long run

[CommanderJameson]

If you're really nervous, Amazon carry a lot of G-Shock watches at reasonable if not amazing prices.

And if you think eBay is tilted in the buyer's advantage - well, they have nothing on Amazon.

[AmiableChimp]

I just bought my latest G-Shock (GA-100-1A1ER) from these guys:

http://www.thewatchhut.co.uk/g-shock.htm