Pay close attention to the box and papers when buying a vintage Rolex, as they help establish whether the watch is authentic or not. ❌ Fake – If the bracelet style is mismatched with the particular Rolex model or the style you bought, chances are it is a counterfeit. A fake Rolex clasp is shorter than a real one, and the crown is placed differently. A duplicate Rolex model’s links don’t move smoothly and are not tightly joined.
The Oyster Cases of Authentic Rolex Watches
The Triplock crown, which bears the Rolex crown logo above three dots, was first used on the Rolex Sea-Dweller, in 1970. When the crown is fully unscrewed, you can see the black O-ring that seals off the inside of the watch from water. Some good counterfeits will have similar-looking gaskets, but they’re merely cosmetic and serve only to fool the buyer. The crown — the small winding knob on the side of the watch used to set the time and date — will always have the famed Rolex crown logo, known as the coronet, engraved on the end. The Rolex crown logo itself is very detailed, finely crafted and well-proportioned, with five symmetrical points of the crown — no more and no less.
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Some earlier engraved rehauts were hollow block letters, but they look very clean. Real Rolex rehauts aren’t always aligned perfectly, but they should be close. The minute lines might not exactly bisect each letter, but if any minute line is so far off that it’s not even touching a letter, that’s a pretty conclusive sign of a fake. 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. Rolex is copied in so many ways, and it’s really not easy to differentiate a real from a fake unless you have a trained eye.
Sell My Rolex Watches Now
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. The retail division S&R Jewellers also fully guarantees authenticity of all pre-owned watches and jewellery.
Choose A Trustworthy Rolex Dealer
Watch dealers sometimes pair genuine Rolex watches with aftermarket bracelets as the bracelets get stretched from wear and tear. In such cases, a reputable seller must always disclose any modification to the original design before sale. ✔️ Real – In 2002, Rolex introduced a subtle yet distinctive authentication feature by adding a crystal over the dial with a small crown logo positioned at the 6 o’clock mark. This micro-etching is a badge of authenticity for models crafted that year and following. It’s also crucial to purchase from a genuine, trustworthy, and reputable seller.
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There are numerous tips and indicators for spotting a fake Rolex watch. As the most counterfeited luxury watch brand, the quality of these fake watches has improved to a level previously unseen in the luxury world. This means that counterfeiters have become highly skilled at replicating Rolex timepieces, with some counterfeit watches being almost impossible to detect without the help of highly trained experts. While there are still many obvious tells that can give away a fake Rolex, the increasing amount of sophisticated counterfeits on the market is concerning. Rolexes are made with high-quality materials, either patented oyster steel or patented gold/platinum alloy, so they tend to be heavier than counterfeit ones.
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Finally, the Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea is water-resistant to 12,800 feet (3,900 meters). The dial of a brand-new Rolex exudes perfection down to the minutest detail. The precision of the fonts, the exacting spaces between letters, and the absolute absence of smudges or misspellings are hallmarks of their storied craftsmanship. Spotting any discrepancy here, such as uneven lettering or blemished finishes, should immediately trigger doubts about the watch’s legitimacy.
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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. A good starting point when assessing if a Rolex is genuine is to pay attention to the watch movement.
How to Research the Rolex Reference Number
They are typically much cheaper than a real Rolex which can make having a Rolex more accessible to the general public. However, there are very good reasons why you shouldn’t buy a fake Rolex. – The most recent Rolex Daytona Platinum watch (ref ) was introduced in 2023 with a transparent caseback to show the new Caliber 4131 movement.
Examine the Movement (Or Have Someone Qualified Do So)
And what most people don’t realise is that it’s taken Rolex over a century to get to this point. Fifty or so years ago, Rolex was just an upcoming manufacturer of affordable watches for professionals that sat in the shadow of its much older and more accomplished competitors. Through innovation, clever thinking and a whole lot of luck, the Rolex we know today is one of gargantuan proportions. So, the only way to avoid falling prey to this ‘super fake’ Rolex market is to buy Rolex watches from a qualified and authorised watch dealer. ❌ Fake – A smooth, brushed, or plain crown indicates that the watch could be fake.
Sometimes counterfeiters mix and match parts from genuine Rolex watches and fake ones, making distinguishing the two even more difficult. “They might get a real Rolex movement, and then they make a fake case around it. These watches may seem fake compared to modern Rolexes, but they could still be genuine. Because Rolex is so popular, it’s also the most faked watch brand in the world. And while the fake Rolexes of decades past were easy to spot — like when they were hanging from the liner of Times Square hustler’s trench coat — modern replicas are a bit more advanced. The joy a Rolex brings to its owner is unparalleled, yet for those looking to change their collection, selling a Rolex can be part of the journey.
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If you read this guide and still have any doubts about a watch you own, look up good watchmakers in your area and take it in for a service. And if it’s real, you can have it serviced and brought back to tip-top shape. Modern luxury watches should generally be accompanied by warranty documentation.
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“Buy the seller, not the watch” is an enduring mantra among watch enthusiasts for a reason. Wanting to make a watch and being able to make a watch are not exactly the same thing, and if this were a decade or so ago, we wouldn’t be having this conversation at all. If it feels like there’s been a recent swell in the rise of fake watches, that’s because there has, and it’s all to do with the way technology has changed.
Because counterfeiters became so adept at copying it, Rolex discontinued the hologram. However, you can now be sure that any seller claiming that a watch with a hologram was made after 2007 is almost definitely peddling a replica. 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.
That’s because the high precision of a Rolex movement is actually broken down into eight tiny micro-ticks per second, making it look like a continuous motion. Since the weight of any watch depends on multiple factors, it’s important to note that you can’t judge the authenticity of a Rolex by its weight alone. All lettering on the face of a Rolex watch should have an exquisitely crisp appearance. It should be centered and perfectly aligned without inconsistent spacing, blurs, splotches or misspellings.
Pay extra attention to “neo-vintage” watches
Additionally, knowing which material a specific Rolex model is made of can also help spot a fake. For instance, certain models like the Milgauss, Explorer II, and Deepsea have only been produced in stainless steel, and any made with other materials are replicas. 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. Rolex watches with a date window have a magnification lens called a “cyclops” that magnifies the date by 2.5 times.
- In fact, Rolex made history in 1926 by creating the first waterproof wristwatch.
- The crown logo still exists in the recent models, but dots and bars are added.
- – They would also be open to you taking the watch to Rolex, or an authorized Rolex dealer, for authentication.
- They aim to protect their brand integrity and ensure customers receive genuine products.
- If you want to learn how to distinguish a fake Rolex from an authentic one, a good place to start is researching the reference number.
- ✔️ Real – Rolex produces different types and styles of bracelet designs paired with each watch collection.
- Link spacing may stretch and widen with time, but the individual links should still fit together correctly.
- ✔️ Real – Rolex stands out as a beacon of luxury and unmatched quality.
- 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.
- Conversely, a transparent case back on a Rolex might be the lens through which a counterfeit reveals itself.
- Today, almost all Rolex dive watches have the Triplock crown, but older models still in production, including the Submariner 14060M, still use the Twinlock technology.
- If you have ever wondered how Rolex makes watches, remember that it uses a combination of finishes on each timepiece, which scammers cannot achieve.
- Genuine packaging reflects the brand’s impeccable standards and displays the same commitment to quality and attention applied to their watches.
- ✔️ Real – One of the most significant hallmarks of a genuine Rolex is its solid case back.
- If you do know what dial details to look for, you probably don’t need me to tell you to look for them.
A big red flag is ink bleeding, which results from the cheaper printing methods employed for Rolex replicas. As counterfeiting technology and methods advance, understanding the intricacies of genuine Rolex watches becomes increasingly important for prospective buyers. Fake watches are a billion-dollar industry, with an estimated 30 million to 40 million introduced Replica watches to the market each year, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. Founded in 2007, Gear Patrol is the definitive buying guide for enthusiasts. Our independent experts test the best in cars, tech, home, outdoors, style and watches. We combine hands-on testing, decades of experience and original photography to craft reports, reviews and guides.
The dial of an authentic Rolex watch is meticulously crafted — inconsistent fonts and spacing, as well as smudges are a giveaway of cheaper printing methods used in fake pieces. In the event that you are looking at what would be a vintage Rolex, then there is a chance you will see wear and tear due to the age of the watch. Any scratches on the case should be the same color as the case itself not considering shadows, as Rolex watches are made of solid metals. Although some obscure gold-plated vintage Rolex models (like 3386, 1550, 1024 etc.) do exist, Rolex has never used gold plating on any sports model, Day-Date, or Datejust. If you see gold plating that has rubbed off on these models, stay away. Replicating a watch to a high degree of accuracy is a never-ending game, with the manufacturer attempting to prevent it and the fakers trying to keep up.
Note that on vintage Rolexes, cheap aftermarket crystals are common, so bad magnification alone isn’t a guarantee of inauthenticity. Also, as noted below, If you’re looking at a Sea-Dweller manufactured before 2017, it should not have a cyclops. It’s easy to see how the manufacturers of these fake watches are able to build what they have for the money they’re asking, but it’s worth coming back to an earlier point to understand the implications.
For instance, certain Rolex watches such as the Milgauss, Deepsea, vintage Sea Dweller, some gold Lady Datejusts, and military Submariners do have specific patented markings on their caseback. However, in the case of the counterfeit watch being discussed, which is a replica of a non-military Rolex Submariner, there should not be any engravings or markings on the caseback. Additionally, when purchasing secondhand watches, it is possible that the previous owner may have had personal engravings made on the watch. In such cases, it is best to have the watch authenticated by a reputable source to ensure that it is not a counterfeit.
– If the timepiece is indeed fake, a water pressure test will ruin the watch, and you will be unable to return it. Then, there will be a Rolex Coronet logo engraved onto the center of the crown. If this design is missing from a watch, or has a sub-par finish, the watch is likely a counterfeit.
There are a lot of little details to contend with, right down to things like the shape of the luminous paint plots and the specific shade of colour the text is. In some cases, these differences will be down to the limitations of production—in others, they’re merely mistakes that slipped through the net. Rolex swears by 8 uncompromising gold standards, ensuring the watches reach unprecedented accuracy, technical brilliance, and distinction.
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. With that level of feedback, it’s no wonder that the fakes are getting closer and closer, and it doesn’t cost the manufacturers a penny. The end result is that it is cheaper, faster and more accurate than ever to quite simply scan an original shape and duplicate it to a high level. You still don’t get that last few percent of hand-finished quality offered on the genuine, but for the average consumer, that difference is virtually invisible. However, navigating the nuances of the watch industry requires more than knowledge.
✔️ Real – The crown has clear markings and a fluted design on a real Rolex. The crown logo still exists in the recent models, but dots and bars are added. These dots and bars symbolise the watch as a Triplock or Twinlock and highlight the material.
This level of detail in the finish and function is only visible upon opening up its case, revealing the flawless execution expected from such a prestigious brand. Checking the movement remained, until now, an easy way to weed out fakes. Fake Rolex watches are often sold on sketchy websites where you may be asked to put in some personal information. If you 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. The time-telling of a fake Rolex would not be as accurate and you would spend a lot of time and resources fixing the time-tracking capabilities.
With no reputation to stand by, however, that doesn’t really matter, because there’s an army of people all around the world ready to put those problems right. With low overheads and rapid production, the opportunity for problems to arise seems high, but even here the manufacturers of the fake watches have their backs covered. For Rolex to release a product, it must be finished, perfect, otherwise it will find itself dealing with an extremely detrimental backlash. When you’re making fake watches, you can, quite simply, let your customer act as quality control for you. ❌ Fake – The counterfeiters pay little or no attention to the detailing, which can be easily identified by how the watch is presented within the box. A fake Rolex watch comes with documentation that has printing errors, spelling mistakes, missing elements, and looks rushed.
If you do know what dial details to look for, you probably don’t need me to tell you to look for them. Often details like text alignment, overlap, hue, and dial texture can be dead giveaways. Knowing how to spot a fake Rolex is mostly about knowing what a real one looks like, but there are often some dead giveaways. Rehaut engravings on current Rolexes have a clean, sandblasted appearance.
A clear back that exposes the watch’s movement is an almost certain indicator of a non-genuine piece, and when you come across such a discrepancy, it’s a strong indication that the watch may not be a true Rolex. In contrast, a counterfeit Rolex might betray itself the moment it’s picked up. The absence of weight is often the first clue that corners have been cut, signaling the use of inferior materials and a lack of the solid construction that Rolex is known for. If a Rolex feels suspiciously light, or if its materials don’t convey the sturdiness expected from high-end craftsmanship, it’s probable that the watch is an imitation.
In most cases, they also fail to replicate the Rolex engraving, which comes as a seal of authenticity. Rolex produced only a handful of quartz watches throughout its history, such as the Rolex Oysterquartz, between the 1970s and the 2000s. So, it’s pretty unlikely to find a Rolex with quartz and not mechanical movement. Another thing to look for is the finishing of the movement, which is only visible upon opening the case.