The Rolex watch is a status symbol, It’s the Rolls Royce of all Watches. If you have a Rolex, you probably have money, It tells others that you have it. This is why it’s the most copied watch in the world today. There is no better looking watch than a Rolex. The Submariner is trendy and sharp, while the Oyster is classic. One of the most copied is the Rolex Mens datejust. Probably one of the best looking watches ever made. many will argue and claim the Daytona as the best looking mens watch, I guess its personal choice.
If you buy direct from a dealer or watch store you will pay full price and get a genuine watch. However it IS possible to get a genuine Rolex watch from newspaper advertisements or better still here on Watch Collector’s Blogs. The best deals on a Rolex watch can be found on this collector’s blog where GMT and Submariers can be found at 50% of retail.
Lots of the counterfeits now use mechanical movements that lets the sweep second hand glide around the dial chapters, Something common to all Genuine Rolex. Others use a quartz movement where the sweep second hand ticks every second as it steps around the dial, an obvious fake. However Rolex did make a few models that used quartz movements. This was in the 1980’s. They soon dropped the idea so don’t expect to see this. However a very few Rolex watches again with the quartz where made in 2003, These are the Air King models, rare and quite ugly, don’t expect to see one. If it has a second hand that ticks, it’s probably a fake. The latest model is the Geneve Cellini, these are classic watches and although produced by Rolex in 2007 the mens versions are Hand-Wound and the ladies version has a quartz movement. The watch on the right is fake, note short minute and second hand, they do not reach the minute markers. and they are cheaply just cut square, the genuine Rolex are rounded.
Some of the anti-counterfeiting methods are:
You can take your watch to a qualified watchmaker and let him/her determine if your watch is genuine Rolex or not. Or you can remove the watchband. Check between the lugs at the 12 position and see if it has an engraved "Registered Design" number. If you see no number, it is fake. Now check between the lugs at the 6 position. Here you should see a serial number of the case. If there is no number, again it is fake.
Small engraved Rolex crown at 6 o'clock on the crystal Most fake Rolex’s now have this feature, but use a much cruder and larger crown than Rolex uses. Rolexes crown is difficult to spot with the naked eye. Most replicas have a crown so large you can spot it easily while it's on your wrist.
On gold colored watches, look for signs of wear on the lug ends and on the case backs. Fake Rolex watches will often display area where the gold color has worn off, exposing the cheap white colored base metal of the case below. Check the watch bands and look at the clasp. The Rolex clasp is nicely engraved with the old original Rolex emblem. This appears on both gold and stainless clasps on watchbands.
Another thing to look for is the weight of the watch. Gold Rolex watches are very very heavy as compared to the fakes, which are Very light for their apparent mass. This is because the weight of gold is much greater than the weight of a base metal. Stainless steel Rolex watches also has more weight to them because stainless is also much thicker and heavier than the base metal used in cheap fake watches.
Engraving on band end-links, Some new Rolex models have added model number engravings on the end of the watch end-link. This engraving includes the band model as well as two small Rolex crowns. This however has started to be copied by fake producers.
This great looking Rolex Oyster Datejust is sadly a Fake. Its such a good fake that is also has the Hack Mechanism ( Second hand stops when the crown is pulled out. A standard feature on all genuine Rolex watches produced after 1982) It even has the green Rolex sticker on the back, Hiding clasp just like the original, Gold plated, Screws in the links not pins, and all the correct markings in place, I was nearly fooled, but the crown was not screw-in, and when I opened it and took the back off, It was easy to tell it was not genuine as the workings where cheap and poor quality. plus no Rolex symbol on the wheel inside. or the base plate. Overall a great Replica, only spolt by the inside. Plus a spelling mistake on the fake certificate.
The Tudor.
Rolex do also make a watch called the Tudor. They are basically the same watches, some may have fewer jewels and they are not so highly advertised, but in general the same watches, and still made by Rolex. It is VERY rare to come across a fake Tudor, but they are out there. Why? It’s really like going out buying a Roll Royce and sticking a Ford badge on the front.
Most genuine Rolex owners like the name, the brand and class that a Rolex projects. Either here is a successful man/woman or someone that wants the best. The Tudor has none of this its just a great watch. Producers of fakes will not go to the trouble of copying a Tudor, when the final sales price will be lower.
When buying a Rolex on Watch Collector’s Blog and Site, as always deal with someone who have a proven track record in selling Rolex watches. Check out the feedback. How long have they been selling on their site? Look at track feedback and look at the item listed, this way you can review what the feedback was left for. Another thing to look for are, sellers who have all documents associated with the Rolex you are thinking about buying.
Always ask a seller questions about any Rolex watch that is offered for sale on his blog. A good seller will always answer any questions that you have. A new scam just started, is a seller buying a mass of 99 cent items to obtain good feedback, and then start selling expensive items and fakes. He or She could be just selling out of an Internet cafe, so always check out all the feedback. See if they have been selling for a long time. If they have great. Enjoy your Rolex, It’s a great investment.
What do I do If I discover my Rolex is a fake? If you bought it on eBay or other auction site and paid by PayPal or credit cards. Contact PayPal and card issuer financial institutions. Plus contact the local Police (Commercial Crime Investigation) or Agency deals with IPR (Intellectual Property Right) like Malaysian Inland Commercial Ministry, they have a department to investigate fraud, and scams like this. It will help others in the future. PayPal will issue investigate, and you will probably get your money back.
Below are some tips on how to distinguish a true Rolex from a forgery:
Clear Caseback – As previously mentioned, my “Rolex” features a clear backing so the inner workings of the watch are on display. A few mechanical components inside even display the signature crown to appear more impressive. This is perhaps the easiest to recognize feature of a counterfeit watch, because Rolex has never made a watch with a “skeleton caseback”. Cyclops Magnification Bubble – The crystal on authentic Rolex watches features a “Cyclops bubble” that offers 2.5 times magnification of the date. On fake Rolex watches, this bubble is often off-center or made of glass, and usually approaches only 1.5 times the magnification. Micro-etched Crystal – My counterfeit watch doesn’t even attempt to mimic this feature, but many fakes will try to match the micro-etched Rolex logo that has become standard on genuine watches made after 2002. Rolex began micro-etching their coronet symbol into the crystal just below the 6 o’clock position. The mark is so small, it is often difficult to see with the naked eye, but can be identified under magnification. The detail is so precise that counterfeit models often cannot replicate the logo accurately. Hologram Sticker – Again, my fake watch can’t compete with higher-class fakes, but some forgeries will attempt to re-create the hologram sticker that comes on all Rolex case backs. The sticker features a hologram of the Rolex Crown positioned just above the case reference number. Most forgeries are not hologram stickers at all, but simply patterns that do not change when viewed from different angles. Triplock Crown Seal – The Daytona, Submariner, and Sea-Dweller models feature an extra seal between the winding tube’s threads. Many replicas will completely leave this feature off or possess a fake seal that serves no practical purpose. Size and Weight – although it is not the most scientific method for determining a fake, it should be noted that authentic Rolex watches are very sturdy and therefore relatively heavy. Fake watches are made from cheaper materials and typically feel very light. Also, the bands on genuine Rolex watches are full whereas fakes often display hollow links.
Hand Movement – The second hand on a genuine Rolex watch features a smooth and continuous movement that often cannot be duplicated by fake watches. Their movements are often in small, jerky increments. Sapphire Composition –Many faux-Rolexes will use regular glass instead of true sapphire crystal. A good test of the materials is to check the water surface tension. A smeared film of water will pull together on sapphire due to the extremely smooth surface.
Lettering – Be sure to check the dial of your potential purchase to see if the lettering is precise. Under high-magnification, the type should reveal clean edges not found in many forgeries. Case Reference Numbers – The serial and case reference numbers can be found in between the lugs on the side of the case. Authentic Rolex numbers are engraved with great detail and are very smooth. The numbers on fake watches often look “sand-blasted” or are roughly etched into the case.
The name Rolex has become synonymous with success and style, and it would be a shame for anyone to be suckered into paying premium prices for a forgery. Trusting a reputable dealer is the best way to obtain a genuine Rolex, but if you must go outside of the typical channels, be sure to use common sense. Do the research, ask questions, and remember if it looks too good to be true…it probably is.
Other Fakes.
The Cartier watch is now sadly being mass produced in China. Many had been traded in for Rolex watches. If an experience buyer can be fooled what chance has the average man in the street have. Buy a Cartier only from an authorized dealer, These fakes are really good. Many watch makers produced a manual to help with checking to see if its Genuine. Philip Stein, A.Lange & Sohne, Omega and Brietling have also come onto the fake markets.
