Want to purchase a watch you would love to wear but cannot afford the price tag? Today a watch is considered a status piece and definitely compliments whatever you wear. Not only an accessory but you always know the time.

There are many wholesale watch companies listed on the internet, but before you take out your charge card, it is very important to make sure you are buying an original and not a knockoff of the original piece, and still paying high dollars instead of wholesale.

If you have seen a watch in a magazine, on the internet or in a store, make sure you can identify the face and all of its parts and components easily on the internet. Try to find the exact company name, model number and price.

There are certain identification words you should look carefully at when choosing a watch company. Make sure you read the fine print over and over. Subtle words such as "similar", "close too", or "matches closely to", may be seen in the description. A knockoff will never say "original" in the description, so you will know immediately it is not genuine.

When looking at watches online or even an online auction, make sure you notice the features of the dial face and the color of the dial. Even down to the hands and numbering to any specific words used on the face. It can be something very minimal, but it is most important not to pay top dollar for a piece that is not genuine.

A watch can be battery operated (quartz movement), mechanical winding or self winding. Batteries can last up to five (5) years, which is great because you never have to remember to wind your watch. However, even though some antique pieces might be self winding, they can be absolutely beautiful pieces of art, and you might not mind winding them, especially if they are a piece you are going to wear for just an evening.

There is nothing wrong buying a knockoff, because it can look very close to the real thing and only you will know the difference. Believe it or not, some of the high end manufacturers take it as a compliment to copy their pieces. However, they do not like counterfeit watches, because that hurts their sales.

It is important to remember that knockoffs will not have any warranty. You will get a warranty even for a counterfeit watch, but more than likely they are selling a piece from a previous year and stating that it is this year's model.

Another place to look for watches would be online auctions. Again read the descriptions carefully, and make sure you see what their return policy is. If you purchase a high end watch, you may want to bring it to a reputable jeweler just to make sure you bought the real thing. Also notice how many sales someone on an online auction has, and what their feedback is.

Enjoy purchasing!