You immediately bring to where to authenticate? Chrono24 provides escrow service in case it's fake right? Have you deal with Japanese dealers before? Their prices seem lower.
I didn't authenticate. The watches I buy on Chrono24 are not commonly faked. Firstly, always buy the seller. If the seller has been selling for 10 years with hundreds of 5 star ratings, and they reply you quickly and straightforwardly, you know they are legit. Plus I always ask for the pictures of papers to and match the serial number or limited edition number to the watch. Almost no chance of any fakery.
Of course if you buy Rolex or AP or PP, you can do your own due diligence and bring it to your own watchmaker to verify after you receive the watch. For these brands, I buy locally.
The escrow service exists but not for every ad post. Dealers usually have this service, while private sellers don't. But again, not always. The payment will not go to the dealer until you mark it as received and all good. And you can reject the watch and demand a refund.
I have even dealt with a dealer that doesn't offer the escrow service. I had to wire the money directly to them, and my bank even called to ask me why I am sending a relatively large sum of money overseas to a new account, and warned me that once it goes through I will not be able to get the money back. I did it anyway. Zero issues.
Why? Again, I bought the seller. Mostly 5-star reviews with the dealer's actual name (not the company name) mentioned and people stating upfront that although escrow service is not available, deals go through without a hitch and that the dealer is reliable, even when the buyer wants to return the watch.
Always ask for actual pics of the watch and BP. New pics taken with handphone. If they are legit, they will have no issues doing it for you. You can then see details like an office environment, they handle the watch wearing gloves, the box/papers in the background at the same time...etc. Clues that tell you the dealer is legit.
