How To Spot Fake Panerai Luminor PAM

Ch Alex
how to see fake panerai luminor
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Looking to learn how to spot fake Panerai Luminor watches? Afraid of getting scammed with a replica Panerai watch?

Then don’t even worry, you’re in the right place, as our real vs fake Panerai watch guide will teach you how to easily identify the real vs fake Panerai Luminor watches.

Along with every step of our real vs fake Panerai Luminor authentication guide, we are going to link reference fake vs real Panerai Luminor images.

These images with the authentic vs replica Panerai Luminor watches will you visualise the flaws on the fake watches, as well as what the details on the genuine watches should look like.

How to spot fake Panerai Luminor watches

To spot fake Panerai Luminor PAM watches, you have to check the text on the dial of your watch, since the replica items never have their text on the dial at the correct font weight, while the genuine Panerai Luminor watches are never flawed, thanks to their higher-quality.

Step 1: Real vs fake Panerai Luminor PAM watch dial text

For the first step of the guide on how to spot fake Panerai Luminor PAM watches, we will have a look at the text on the dial of the real vs fake Panerai Luminors.

Just as how we’ve previously mentioned, we consider the dial’s text as the best way to tell apart the real vs fake Panerai Lminor watches.

panerai authentication guide

In the image with the fake vs real Panerai Luminor watches above, we have pointed out how the fake Panerai watch has its text on the dial at the wrong thickness.

Looking at the “PANERAI SUBMERSIBLE” text, you can see how the fake watch’s text is too thick, and how the genuine watch has its text thinner.

Then, the same flaw applies to the “AUTOMATIC 300m/1000ft” text, which is also too thick on the fake watch, while on the genuine item these inscriptions are thinner.

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Step 2: Check the crown guard on your Panerai Lumnior

As for the second step of the guide on how to spot fake Panerai Luminor PAM watches, we are going to have a look at the crown guard of the real vs fake Panerai Luminors.

The crown guard is a very specific piece and trademark of the Panerai watches and it actually protects the crown, as its name mentions it.

fake vs real panerai luminor pam

In the image with the real vs fake Panerai Luminor watches above, we have pointed out how the fake Panerai watch does not have a crown at all. This of course applies to a much lower quality replica, but you still need to keep an eye out for this.

Another thing, when inspecting the same area, is the crown’s thickness: on most of the replica items, the crown is thinner.

Step 3: Check the power reserve indicator on your Panerai Luminor watch

As for the third method on how to spot fake Panerai Luminor watches, we are going to look at the power reserve indicator.

authentic vs replica panerai luminor

The power reserve indicator actually indicates the power left for the automatic mechanism. This is a very useful tool on automatic watches and it offers Panerai Luminor PAM watches an extra function.

On most of the fake Panerai Luminor watches, the power indicator is not doing its job and is frozen. This is an easy tell to check, in case the indicator is not present in the full area: simply unscrew the crown and try winding the watch while looking at the power indicator.

If the hand present there moves at the same time as you winding the watch, then you are most probably looking at a genuine watch.

If however, the hand does not move from a lower point to the full point, while you are winding the watch, you are most probably holding a replica Panerai Luminor PAM watch in your hands.

A second option would be that the power reserve indicator is broken, but this should not happen too often.

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Step 4: Authentic vs replica Panerai Luminor crystal

For the fourth method on how to spot fake Panerai Luminor watches, we are going to look at the real vs fake Panerai Luminor watches for their crystals.

And, as always, let’s first have a look at the real vs fake Panerai Luminor watches below, in order to make the authentication job easier.

how to authenticate panerai luminor

From the profile side, with the watch tilted at an angle, the authentic Panerai Luminor will still have its dial visible and relatively easy to read, rather than the fake watch’s dial which cannot be read.

Looking at the fake Panerai Luminor watch, you can see how its window is covered by these curvy lines, which are also known as “the fisheye effect”.

The steps we’ve written so far are the best ways to authenticate this item.

The next few steps are still reliable signs of authenticity but are for non-top-versions of replicas available for this item. We recommend sticking to the steps we’ve explained above to make sure you’re not drawing the wrong conclusions.

Step 5: Inspect the sandwich dial of your Panerai Luminor

Proceeding to the fifth step of the guide on how to authenticate Panerai Luminor watches, we are going to have a look at the fake vs real Panerai Luminor watches for their sandwich dial.

For this step, the “the sandwich dial” is called this because the shape of the Panerai Luminor’s dial basically looks like a sandwich, and that makes this step easier to be kept in mind.

It’s like you have a base dial and on top of it, you have the main dial, first visible when looking at the watch.

real vs fake panerai luminor pam

In the image with the fake vs real Panerai Luminor image above, we have pointed out the 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock areas, where the sandwich dial is most easy to inspect.

Besides the wrong design of the numbers on the fake watch, closely inspect these areas and make sure that the main dial looks like it was applied on top of a lower dial – or, in other words, make sure that the numbers are not applied themselves on top of the dial, neither painted nor glued.

Step 6: Verify the strap and the clasp of your Panerai Luminor watch

The Panerai straps are extremely well known for their high quality. For the sixth way how to see real vs fake Panerai Luminor watches, you will have to flip your Luminor PAM to its bracelet, and have a close look at the strap and at the clasp.

It is a well-known fact that their straps are also replicated in a large number.

Just as always, let’s have a look at the fake vs real Panerai Luminior PAM image of the bracelets of the clasp, and after that, we’ll make it all clear.

how to spot a fake panerai luminor pam

It’s not very easy to explain this tell using images, but what you need to keep an eye out for is the material and its quality.

Be informed that the authentic leather straps provided by Panerai for your Luminor PAM are of the highest quality. The same thing applies to the rubber straps.

So in case anything looks or feels fishy about the strap, it might be the case that it is a replica strap, even if the material used is a good one.

Step 7: Look at the bezel of your Panerai Luminor watch

Leaving the strap aside, we now have to get back to the watch itself and have a look at the bezel on both of the real vs fake Panerai Luminor watches.

Precisely, we are now going to look at the fake vs real Panerai Luminor PAM items for their elements that are positioned all along the bezel.

real vs fake panerai luminor pam

As you can observe in the image with the Panerai Luminor PAM replica vs genuine watches above, the counterfeit watch has a darker colour shade available on its bezel.

Furthermore, the lines that are present between 12 o’clock and 3 o’clock are much thinner on the replica item.

Also, keep an eye on the pearl available above the 12 o’clock area. On the genuine item, the pearl is actually placed deeper in the ring that circles it.

On the replica Panerai Luminor PAM the pearl is actually fatter and has the wrong colour – again, the darker shade that we mentioned above too.

Step 8: Authentic vs replica Panerai Luminor case-back engravings

Proceeding on to the eighth step of the guide on how to spot fake Panerai Luminor watches, we will have a look at the real vs fake Panerai Luminor watches for their engravings on their case back.

how can i spot a fake panerai watch

Looking at the real vs fake Panerai Luminor PAM image above, you can see how the replica Luminor watch has its text looking too thin.

This applies to all of the inscriptions on the fake watch’s steel, where the letters, numbers and other characters are too thin, while the ones on the genuine watch are thicker. We are actually talking about a higher-quality engraving and a deeper one.

This flaw occurs on the replica Panerai Luminor PAM watch because the letters are engraved too little deep inside the material, and on the other hand, the authentic watch has its text fit deeper inside the material, therefore looking thicker than the one on the fake item.

Step 9: Inspect the lume effect of your Panerai Luminor

Moving to the ninth and the last way of our guide on how to spot fake Panerai Luminor watches, we are going to look at the real vs fake Panerai Luminors for their lume.

The lume effect can be inspected after your watch was charged in direct light for at least 30 seconds, before proceeding to look at the dial in a dark environment.

authentic vs replica panerai watches

As you can see from the real vs fake Panerai Luminor image above, the replica watch has its dial elements and the lume slightly lower visible.

This is of course easier to spot when having the genuine piece next to you too. However, it is an area to inspect too, so keep an eye out!

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How can I spot the fake Panerai Luminor watches in 60 seconds?

The 9 detailed real vs fake Panerai Luminor steps outlined above might not be so practical when you are in a hurry or when you want to buy the item online.

That is why we have compiled this quick 60 seconds solution to authenticating your Panerai watch. Below are the top 9 indicators that can help you determine if you have a fake or real Panerai Luminor watch.

  1. Check the text on the dial of your watch, as the fake watches usually have their text at the wrong thickness
  2. Examine the crown guard on your watch, since the replica pieces commonly miss the crown guard
  3. Look at the power reserve indicator of your watch. Usually, the fake watches have their power reserve indicator not working and broken
  4. Inspect the crystal of your Luminor, as the fake watches tend to have their window reflecting too much light
  5. Check the sandwich dial of your watch. Usually, the fake watches have their numbers badly attached to the watch
  6. Examine the strap and the clasp of your watch, since the fake watches use lower-quality materials for their leather
  7. Verify the bezel of your watch. In most cases, the replica watches have their bezel coloured in the wrong shade
  8. Look at the case-back engravings, as the fake watches usually have their characters at the wrong font-weight
  9. Check the lume effect of your Panerai Luminor watch, as the fake watches usually have their colours shining in a different shade than the genuine watches

Where can I get my Panerai watch authenticated? The Panerai watch authentication service

If you need help with the authentication of your Panerai Luminor watch, we’ve got you covered.

All you have to do is send us high-quality pictures of your Panerai Luminor watch and we will get back to you with the results within 48 hours. The results will also come with a report on why we believe your Panerai Luminor watch is fake or authentic.

That brings us to the end of our guide on how to spot fake vs real Panerai Luminor watches. We will continue to update this article as better and newer comparisons are put out.


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Thank you for reading this,

Ch Alex

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About the Author

Ch Alex is the co-founder and COO of Legit Check By Ch. Ch Alex is in charge of the "Watch Guides" section of our Legit Check By Ch Library. Alex is also the main host of our YouTube channel where our guides have helped people save millions of dollars in scams. Make sure you subscribe to our channel and check out the videos hosted by Alex!
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