When I bought a second hand pair of Swaros, I called in with the serial number and the lady I spoke with was very helpful. She told date of manufacture etc on them.
If you're buying a pair on Amazon, beware. I got a pair for a smoking deal. The serial number on the box had a white sticker over it and didn't think anything of it. Apparently, folks are buying these cheap over in Europe somehow then reselling them. There isn't anything illegal about it, but Swarovski will not warranty anything bought/sold over Amazon because of this. They are real Swaro's, but the manner in which they're obtaining them and reselling them in virtual stores goes against their policy somehow. I returned them promptly.
AND, if they're a screaming deal and they're listed on Amazon ... there may not actually be any binos! Amazon has been burned by this lately with listings for both Swaro and Zeiss. The sellers seem to be based in China, set up with a massive inventory in a very fast time, and then try to sell as much as they can before they take the money and run. Key thing to look for is how long they've been listed with Amazon, and read through the shop-specific feedback. Sure, there are now people being paid pennies to write fake feedback too, but the sellers who had the fake alpha glass usually had only been up a running a week, and zero feedback. Caveat emptor.
Yeah I saw a deal for 15x56 swaros for $800 on amazon the other day. I was tempted to buy them. The description said to send them an email before ordering. So I did just to see what would happen. They said that I could give them my information to order them, then amazon would send me something asking for payment. Seemed fishy so I didn't purchase them...
It does but if I'm reading the serial number correctly that bino was made in 1994, I wouldn't pay much over $600 for one that old. But if you are interested call swaro up and checkout the serial number with them, it's the bottom of the three numbers on the box.