Update: He wasn't wearing it today. I offered to validate whether it was a replica or not. He declined. He said he doesn't really want to know...
I don't know what is going on with him but, thanks to Bo's excellent thread, I'm prepared to give this thing a good inspection if he ever gives me the opportunity. All things considered, he's copping a 'weird' attitude about it and my BS meter is pinned. Something's fishy but I doubt I'll ever get the opportunity to know one way or the other... Thanks for all the help.