This is the inner ring that connects the dial to the glass or the bezel, and it has “Rolex” written all the way around, and it’s laser-etched. At 12 o’clock is te Rolex logo, the crown, and then at six o’clock, you can find the serial number. This is there to magnify the tiny date disc behind so that it’s more legible.
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If the watch has some weight, that is a good sign that the materials are the high-quality materials real Rolex watches are made with. Counterfeiters often don’t bother to vary the numbers, instead printing the same digits on each replica. A simple Google search for the serial and model numbers of the watch you’re considering should reveal whether it is actually a mass-produced fake. For example, a Submariner model number for a Yacht-Master,” says Abe Diveroli, of Primetime305.
Rolex Laser-Etched Crown
It can’t stop the production, it can’t stop the purchase or the shipment, it can try to stop the import—although many fake watches arrive in the country disguised within other products—but ultimately it’s a bit stuck. Fake watch manufacturers are known for using an original example to scan and replicate, but even then, there are small details that just aren’t quite right. Surprisingly, there’s an entire community dedicated to making these fake watches closer to the original. Shades of colour, thickness of print, size of markers—if they’re out, even by a small amount, the community will report it.
High-Quality Materials and Heavy Weight
- For example, a Rolex Yachtmaster in steel and platinum would have a platinum bezel with a sandblasted background and polished raised numerals.
- Oftentimes, a real example of the watch needs to be present and, for watches with a closed case back, as most Rolexes are, you need to take the case back off to see the movement.
- Of course, you’re not expected to understand the finer horological points, but you do want to take comfort in knowing they’re there.
- In an interview with the WSJ lifestyle/fashion editor Christina Binkley, Paul opened his vault to display his extensive collection of vintage Rolex Submariners and Daytonas.
- Exceptions include the Sea-Dweller, which has the name of the watch and some variation of “Gas Escape Valve” written on its titanium back.
- It’s an obvious thought that Rolex would be the most faked watch brand since it is generally the most popular Swiss watchmaker anyway, and that goes some way as to answering the question of why fake watches are so much cheaper.
The Cyclops is a really hard thing for lower-end fake factories to get right, not just because of magnification but also the clarity of the number behind it. A real Rolex won’t have a massively skewed, distorted number; it’ll be relatively clear. Also, Rolex uses anti-reflective material under the Cyclops to make it easier to read, but this anti-reflective material is clear. This is obviously harder for people to find, and so even higher-grade fake Rolex watches often have a little tint in the Cyclops which can be spotted under certain angles and light conditions. While it is not illegal to replicate the design of a Rolex watch, it becomes a legal issue when the imitation crosses into counterfeiting territory.
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However, when searching for genuine Rolex timepieces, nothing beats buying from a trustworthy source since all the homework has been done on your behalf. Another telltale sign on how to tell if Rolex is fake is the sapphire crystal, the glass that covers the dial on your watch. Modern authentic Rolex watches are outfitted with a scratchproof sapphire crystal to protect the face of the watch. What’s more, on Rolex date watches, there’s a magnifying lens on top of the date window to amplify the number for greater legibility. This lens, dubbed the Cyclops, is also made from sapphire crystal and it magnifies the date 2.5 times. Up until very recently, the only Rolex date models that did not have a Cyclops lens were the Sea-Dweller and Deepsea.
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The retail division S&R Jewellers also fully guarantees authenticity of all pre-owned watches and jewellery. When searching for indications of a counterfeit Rolex, there are various features on the watch case that reveal its authenticity or lack thereof. As previously mentioned, authentic Rolex timepieces are made of the finest quality materials, which is typically the most apparent indication of whether a Rolex watch is genuine or fake.
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Or if you have a genuine watch by another luxury brand such as TUDOR (Rolex sister company), Omega or TAG Heuer, then compare with that for an initial view. Real Rolex watch weight is also very specific, all watches of the same model are identical, for example a true Rolex Submariner should weight 155 grams. Since the turn of the millennium, Rolex has added a subtle yet distinctive authentication feature to its watches.
Movement
- This small etching is Rolex’s way of weaving security into the very fabric of their watches.
- Similarly, watches from Rolex’s Day-Date collection are exclusively made with precious metals, specifically gold or platinum, and any made with other materials are likely to be fake.
- This practice died out in the early 1870s, as the Swiss could not compete, so surrendered the mass-market field to U.S. firms and focused on branding high end status symbols.
- The reality is that the evolution of technology means a fake watch can indeed be very accurate, almost imperceptible.
- Cheaper replica watches can lack the crown or have it engraved rather than laser-etched.
- If you spend a lot of money buying a fake Rolex, you could easily have all that money wasted if your watch is taken away.
Understanding the key differences between a real and fake Rolex is important before spending your hard-earned money on a luxury watch. While some counterfeits are easy to spot, others can be well-designed with the intent to deceive buyers. Forgery of watches became a serious problem in the eighteenth century when Britain came to rival France as the leading producer of quality clocks and watches. Other, less obvious forgeries carried imaginary names with a vaguely English sound, such as ‘Samson’ or ‘Simpton’. In the following century Breguet became a frequent target for forgers; at the same time British makers continued to suffer, many forgeries bearing the name ‘M.
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Whether you are aware that you are wearing a fake Rolex or not, your watch can be taken away by the authorized dealers and by service centers. Fake Rolex watches are often sold on sketchy websites where you may be asked to put in some personal information. If you Fake Rolex don’t pay attention to whether or not the website that you are on is secured or not, you may be giving your credit card information to a fake seller. – They would also be open to you taking the watch to Rolex, or an authorized Rolex dealer, for authentication.
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The increasing flexibility of the equipment used to replicate genuine watches means that any marketing effort made on an original brand can be parasitically benefitted from. You’ll see fakes of less well-known Swiss brands like Ulysse Nardin and Corum, and even watchmakers that hail from outside of Switzerland, like Seiko and Sinn. More often than not, the only interaction people have with fake watches are with the ones that don’t look particularly convincing. It’s true that these extremely low-quality products make up the bulk of the fake watch production, but there is an element of bias going on. Only the fake watches that are noticeably bad register as being fake, and that can lead to a false sense of security when it comes to understanding the wider problem.
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It should be centered and perfectly aligned without inconsistent spacing, blurs, splotches or misspellings. A big red flag is ink bleeding, which results from the cheaper printing methods employed for Rolex replicas. Rolex movements are self-winding and mechanical, as opposed to quartz or battery-powered.
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A good starting point when assessing if a Rolex is genuine is to pay attention to the watch movement. The seconds hand on a real modern Rolex ticks 8 times per second (or 5-6 times per second on a vintage model), creating a “sweeping” visual. Many fakes use cheap quartz movements, so if it ticks only once per second, unless it’s an Oysterquartz or a Texano (not likely) it’s surely fake. As one of the most coveted luxury watch brands in the world, Rolex uses only the most durable and high-quality materials. Any authentic Rolex feels substantial and solid, whether it’s made from the heavy-duty Oystersteel or the lighter-weight RLX Titanium or platinum.
Rolex uses a combination of finishes on its timepieces, and they can be very difficult for counterfeiters to achieve. Research on the type of finish used on your preferred model, and try to see if the actual piece you want to buy matches it. For example, a Rolex Yachtmaster in steel and platinum would have a platinum bezel with a sandblasted background and polished raised numerals. The Rolex Day-Date’s Presidential bracelet has semi-circular links that alternate between polished and satin finishes. Fake watches tend to be a lot lighter in their weight due to being made with lower-quality materials. The difference between the weight of a real Rolex and a fake Rolex can vary, but will still be noticeable.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches are of course famous for their water resistance. In fact, Rolex made history in 1926 by creating the first waterproof wristwatch. Today, Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches have a minimum water resistance of 330 feet (100 meters). The Rolex Submariner is water-resistant to 1,000 feet (300 meters) while the Sea-Dweller is water-resistant to 4,000 feet (1,220 meters). Finally, the Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea is water-resistant to 12,800 feet (3,900 meters).
- Therefore, caution is advised when considering a Rolex purchase from these platforms.
- When searching for indications of a counterfeit Rolex, there are various features on the watch case that reveal its authenticity or lack thereof.
- It’s true that these extremely low-quality products make up the bulk of the fake watch production, but there is an element of bias going on.
- The casebacks of most Rolex watches are plain polished steel, without engravings, drawings or other decorations.
- You won’t find a transparent caseback that lets you see the inner workings of the watch except on some very rare pieces from the 1930s.
- Each watch is a masterpiece, featuring the renowned Oystersteel – a 904L grade stainless steel renowned for its exceptional resistance to rust and corrosion.
Counterfeit watch
Before the engraved rehauts, Rolex serial numbers were engraved on the case between the bottom lugs. Fake watches often re-use the same (or partially the same) serial numbers. If it starts with ER6J, K28, K25, Q66, S19, S28, S29 or S39 your eyebrows should also be raised. Counterfeiters tend to fake the most popular Rolex models of their day, primarily because they are liquid, and these are what they fake most accurately. The most common faked Rolex models seem to be the Datejust and Submariner, followed by the GMT-Master II and Daytona.
How to Spot a Fake Rolex with Weight & Materials
Generally, an authentic Rolex is heavier than a counterfeit one, as it is made of high-quality materials like 904L stainless steel, 18k gold, 950 platinum, or RLX titanium. In contrast, fake Rolexes tend to be made with cheaper materials, making them lightweight and weaker. Do they have reviews with trusted sources such as Google Reviews and Trustpilot? A London pawnbroker like Suttons and Robertsons are experts in Rolex watches and are aware that once sold they will need to stand by an item, as it can easily be returned. Remember a pawnbroker or second hand trader has already invested in the watch and will have undertaken comprehensive and undisputable verification checks.
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