In 2013, the counterfeit goods trade was valued at a staggering USD $461 billion with watches among the most commonly forged goods. With the advent of ‘super-fake’ watches making it harder than ever to identify phony timepieces – we speak to award-winning watchmaker, Robert Loomes, for his advice on how to spot a real from a fake.
Once upon a time, diamonds were a girl’s best friend. Nowadays, it’s coloured stones like rubies, sapphires and emeralds that compete for her affections. As more diverse jewels and jewellery become popular, the opportunities for fakes and frauds to pass unnoticed into the market grows. We speak to John C Benjamin, independent jewellery valuer, lecturer and jewellery historian, for his advice on how to make sure you’re buying the real deal.
In 2007, Shaun Greenhalgh was arrested and imprisoned for art forgery. After 28 years of creating and selling forgeries to art dealers, it was a trio of Assyrian reliefs, and the keen eyes of The British Museum, that got him caught. We speak to Greenhalgh about his experiences as a forger, and ask his advice on how to avoid investing in a fake.