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Thai Customs cancelled a 2023 auction and refunded buyers after four watches sold as genuine were rechecked and confirmed counterfeit. The incident involved three buyers and watches bearing Rolex, Patek Philippe and Richard Mille marks. Customs attributed the sale to an erroneous initial authentication and coordination confusion—not a deliberate sale of known fakes—and later said serial-number records showed the auctioned watches were the same items seized earlier.
What happened at the Thai Customs auction
Thai Customs auctioned seized watches in July 2023. Thai PBS reported that three buyers acquired four watches for a combined reported value of more than 9 million baht. The watches were sold without boxes or certificates. After taking them to dealers for inspection, the buyers learned they were counterfeit and sought to return them.
The watches came from a July 24, 2022 seizure at a watch shop in Bangkok’s Siam Square One. Thai PBS reported that 14 watches bearing brand marks were seized. One was initially identified as fake; the remaining 13 were assessed as genuine and later put up for auction. The subsequent recheck found that those 13 were counterfeit too. Thai PBS reported the buyers’ complaints and the initial Customs response.
How the authentication error was discovered and corrected
In its August 11, 2023 clarification, Thai Customs said a rights representative inspected the 13 watches on August 17, 2022, and notified the department on September 8 that they were genuine. Customs then approved their disposition and auctioned the items over July 5–7, 2023. Buyers paid and collected them on July 7. After buyers requested returns on July 10, the rights representative rechecked the same seized watches and confirmed in writing that they were counterfeit. Customs said it cancelled the sale and refunded payments or deposits in full. The department’s clarification sets out this chronology.
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Customs said its investigation used serial-number records to confirm that the 13 auctioned watches were the same watches seized in 2022, addressing speculation that the items had been substituted. Its account attributed the incorrect first finding to a misunderstanding and coordination confusion between the rights representative and the coordinator on the seizure side. The official explanation describes a process failure; it does not say officials knowingly sold counterfeit watches.
Reported watch models and buyer amounts
Time+Tide’s July 17, 2023 report relayed buyer accounts naming several watches and purchase amounts. These figures are reported purchase amounts, not independently authenticated market values or appraisals.
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| Watch named in buyer accounts | Reported purchase amount | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Richard Mille RM07 No. 3287 | 2.2 million baht | Buyer-reported amount relayed by Time+Tide in 2023 |
| Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167 | 1.89 million baht | Buyer-reported amount relayed by Time+Tide in 2023 |
| Richard Mille Rafael Nadal | 4.5 million baht | Buyer-reported amount relayed by Time+Tide in 2023 |
Time+Tide’s report relayed those examples; the available account does not establish that every buyer purchased a watch from each brand. A brand name or model reference in auction coverage is not proof that any individual watch is authentic.
What Customs said it changed
Thai Customs said it amended its procedures under General Order No. 21/2566. The August 2023 clarification described measures intended to strengthen identification and review before auctioning high-value seized goods, including watches, bags, jewelry and gold:
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- Record serial numbers in transfer documents.
- Set a defined period for a rights holder or representative to inspect suspected intellectual-property violations and certify the findings.
- Use an independent expert if certification is not provided within the stated periods.
- Document inspection results before putting high-value seized items up for auction.
These are measures Customs reported in August 2023. They should not be read as a guarantee that every later auction or individual item is free of authentication risk.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What a buyer can check before purchasing a high-value watch
The incident shows why an auction description, an initial inspection, or a familiar brand name is not enough to establish authenticity. Before committing to a costly watch—particularly one sold without its original documentation—consider how the item itself will be assessed and what recourse you have if it fails.
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- Independence: Find out whether the person authenticating the watch is independent of the seller and has no stake in completing the sale.
- Specificity: Ask whether the inspection covers the actual watch, including its serial number, reference and relevant components, rather than relying on photographs or generic documentation.
- Written findings and custody: Request a written result tied to the specific watch and records showing who handled it between inspection and delivery.
- Remedy: Read the return, refund or dispute terms before bidding, including deadlines and the evidence required to make a claim.
These are practical evaluation criteria, not a claim that any particular authentication service or certificate was used in the Thai Customs case.
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