Buyer Beware Mulco Escafandra and a Mea Culpa

November 06, 2020

Last week, I published an article on a newly received Mulco Escafandra in my #TBT series of articles. Youll note that the article is no longer online because I have serious doubts about the legitimacy of the watch. Actually, theyre really no longer doubts. Readers, for this, I hope you accept my apology C and lay off watching or buying these pieces. Mea culpa-these are not good pieces.Buyer Beware!? This Mulco Escafandra is not real!First off, I want to thank one of our readers, Kit Bloodkrishna Chung for contacting us at Fratello Watches with a rather complete explanation of why he felt the Mulco Escafandra was false. He cited a number of things related to the case back (a stamped EPSA logo on the inside) and the lack of a true bayonet closure system. Furthermore, he contends that Mulco never made this model – a version with paddle hands is actually correct.? Admittedly, the later part was the only area where I asked for more info as there were a lot of Super Compressor pieces made by many companies using similar cases, crowns, etc.? However, I m fully convinced, so thank you Kit!Despite showing Mulco signatures, the case closure is not consistent for a Super Compressor – nor is the stamping of the information on the inside case back – also, all of these pieces are strangely dated 7-62The interesting thing about this Mulco Escafandra is that only one had been sold in similar condition on eBay before I decided to buy the featured piece from Andreas (hes one hell of a standup seller as hes taking it back and the original eBay seller has agreed to do the same with refunds). Since I took delivery of the watch, several more have come up for sale through various sellers and that points to trouble. All are dated 7-62 on the inside case back and all feature similarly worn cases and roughly lumed dials. Sometimes, Id chalk it up to a watch getting exposure (like I sadly chose to do in my article last week) and then a few coming out so sellers can make money off of their newly found item, but the recent upsurge in similar models is too fishy.What else is questionable? Well, go have a look at the various sellers carrying the Mulco Escafandra on eBay right now and then go have a look at what other items most are currently selling or have recently sold. Its largely a pile of conversions, and frankens. That alone doesnt make the Mulco a fake, but its not a good sign C at all.The detail looks convincingly old and worn on the back of the fake Mulco Escafandra, but all pieces I ve seen look the same – down to the wear spotsFaking a Mulco Escafandra seems to be a weird and eccentric choice, but its oddly reminiscent of the oft-fabricated Fortis Marinemaster and the UG Polerouter Sub (another Super Compressor 42mm case). In fact, its a good guess that the fiends behind the Mulco also created the UG and perhaps are using up old parts now that the UG has been properly exposed C and theyre showing up everywhere. Furthermore, choosing an obscure watch like a Mulco likely ensures that it will go unnoticed for some period of time or even gain acceptance as a rarely seen model.Did I like being told that the Mulco Escafandra was fake? Not at all. Did I feel shades of wanting to say that its real? Absolutely C and thats pretty common for us watch collectors who think we might have gotten a good deal or, more likely, found something odd or interesting. For sure, oddball pieces do exist and survive without documentation, but this doesn t fall into that category.? Plus, it s?always good to learn something – and learn I did.? In the end, tts a shame as I actually like the watch and it even runs well. But-fake is fake and thats just not something we can support nor publish in good faith.Again, a big thanks to our reader, Kit, for writing in and to Andreas for standing behind his merchandise. I joked with Kit that Ill stick to chronographs in the future- Again, I hope youll accept my apologies for publishing something on a wrong piece. In the end, lets hope Ive a learned a lesson that you can avoid.