Counterfeits now reach very high quality, so even experienced buyers are deceived. Estimates suggest about 90 percent of eBay listings are fake; certain serial numbers (e.g. 05D06A8) point to fakes. Anyone wanting an original should choose only auctions explicitly advertised as "Original S. T. Dupont" — "original packaging" alone is not enough. In case of doubt, contacting the manufacturer directly or informing the buyer is recommended. Very detailed identification markers are documented in a multi-page discussion in a specialised collector forum; if in doubt, even well-faked pieces are worth at most about 40 euros.