Rolex uses Twinlock and Triplock crowns on its watches to ensure that they’re waterproof. The two different types are identified by small markings under the Rolex coronet. Other models that feature Twinlock crowns include the Sky-Dweller and the Datejust. Sometimes counterfeiters mix and match parts from genuine Rolex watches and fake ones, making distinguishing the two even more difficult.
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The cloned movements miss the mark on the exquisite finishing touches and the dependable accuracy that Rolex is renowned for -the very attributes that make a Rolex much more than just a timekeeper. The legality of Rolex imitations is a complex matter that revolves around the fine line between imitation and counterfeiting. While owning a Rolex imitation as a stylish accessory may not raise legal concerns for most individuals, it is crucial to remain informed and make purchases from reputable sources. Remember that the world of horology offers a diverse array of watches, including legitimate homage pieces that honor the legacy of Rolex without breaching legal boundaries. So, whether you’re seeking the prestige of a genuine Rolex or the charm of a well-crafted homage, it’s essential to choose your timepiece wisely and within the confines of the law.
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When buying a vintage Rolex the ‘box papers’ are highly useful because they assist the buyer in establishing whether the watch is authentic or not. A watch made in 1960 will not have a valid warranty, but the card will still have the serial number. 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.
They Don’t Just Fake Rolex
But that changed at Baselworld 2017 when Rolex introduced the new Sea-Dweller with a Cyclops lens. Now, the only Rolex date watch without a Cyclops lens is the Sea-Dweller Deepsea. Discovering a poorly constructed imitation Rolex can be straightforward, often revealing itself through lackluster details that fall short of the genuine article.
- Navigating the nuances of luxury timepieces requires more than just a keen eye – it demands expertise.
- Authentic Rolexes are carefully placed within the box, often with protective coverings and supports to secure the watch.
- The legality of Rolex imitations becomes more complex when consumers are informed about the nature of the product they are buying.
- But that changed at Baselworld 2017 when Rolex introduced the new Sea-Dweller with a Cyclops lens.
- Don’t panic if your watch is a few minutes off — that’s likely just a sign that the watch needs some maintenance.
- Fake watches often re-use the same (or partially the same) serial numbers.
Bezel Feel
It’s the level of hand-finishing and the dedication to quality that marks the real thing out from the fake. Of course, you’re not expected to understand the finer horological points, but you do want to take comfort in knowing they’re there. The ceramic bezel doesn’t shimmer; Rolex coats its bezels with a fine layer of platinum dust for exactly this reason – something the counterfeiters can’t copy (yet). And on the crown and pushers, the finely brushed and polished finish to the jagged, knurled surfaces isn’t as sophisticated.
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It is primarily distinguished by its lower build quality than the original and are significantly less accurate. Examples of commonly counterfeited digital watches are popular Casio watch models such as F-91W and various G-Shock models. A counterfeit watch (or replica watch) is an unauthorised copy of an authentic watch. High-end luxury watches such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Richard Mille are frequently counterfeited and sold on city streets and online. With technological advancements, many non-luxury and inexpensive quartz watches are also commonly counterfeited. Serious watch-nerd stuff, though, is what you’re paying for – even if what you thought you were paying for was just a brand name and one of the most desirable watches on the market.
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Counterfeiters often use whatever parts are available to save money, hoping the buyers will overlook this detail. The dial of a Rolex is a prime spot for finding inconsistencies that might indicate a fake. This is where most of the writing is located, and the appearance of the text can be a dead giveaway of a counterfeit. In addition to checking for replacement parts by evaluating the evenness of color and fading on your prospective Rolex, you also want to make sure the watch is worn evenly.
- Because counterfeiters became so adept at copying it, Rolex discontinued the hologram.
- While platforms like eBay and Craigslist have become household names for online shopping, they function primarily as intermediaries connecting buyers with sellers.
- It’s precisely for this reason that we’ve gone the extra mile to craft an informative video for you.
- Replica watches are solely for you, not to fool other people by taking money from them.
- That is because they are powered with fully mechanical movements, as opposed to the quartz battery used by less expensive watchmakers, which causes a distinctive “tick, tick, tick” sound every second.
- With a burgeoning counterfeit market, Rolex replicas have become better and more difficult to detect.
- Rolex takes their watches seriously and the selling of fake Rolex watches is considered criminal activity.
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The factories in China have invested millions of dollars in re-producing exact copies of various Swiss watch movements from ETA, and in-house movements from Rolex. The accuracy of the replication varies, as does the reliability of these movements. Another red flag is any spelling mistakes, crooked or misplaced text, different font style or size, misaligned hour and minute markers, or awkward spacing of features. Rolex watches are exquisitely designed and crafted, with remarkable attention paid to every detail, no matter how small. Therefore, anything that appears to be aesthetically off, even slightly, warrants closer inspection.
Crown Etching at 6 O’clock
When looked straight on, the date should be magnified, about 2.5 magnification to be exact. All Rolex watches are crafted in the company’s own facilities in Switzerland, from initial design to final assembly. Rolex has multiple production sites, including its headquarters in Geneva; the main manufacturing facility, located in nearby Plan-les-Ouates; and production outposts in Chêne-Bourg and Bienne. Ask the seller for references from watch associations like the International Watch and Jewelry Guild. The winding crown on a Rolex is always on the right side of the case for easy access — assuming it’s worn on the left wrist. The one exception is the left-handed GMT-Master II, which was introduced in 2022 to accommodate left-handed wearers.
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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.
That’s why it’s crucial to examine the watch against official images from Rolex, ensuring that what you’re considering for purchase aligns with the unparalleled quality the brand is known for. Be aware, on closer examination, counterfeit models may reveal significant variations in the design of the hands, the dial, and even the clasp of the bracelet. Rolex watches are made with high quality materials, and their modern bracelets are quite heavy. Some fakes are indeed lighter, but being heavy certainly doesn’t mean it’s real. And being light doesn’t mean it’s fake–vintage Rolexes are far lighter than new ones, and owners of modern Rolexes sometimes (wrongly) assume old Rolexes are fake because of their lack of heft. But fake gold watches are never solid gold, so they’ll never feel as heavy as a gold watch should.
The Metals of Authentic Rolex Watches
Just because a Rolex has had parts replaced, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s fake. It used to be commonplace for Rolex to replace worn-out parts when performing a service, and that replica rolex was also what most customers wanted. You just want to make sure that any parts that were replaced are disclosed in the sale because all-original Rolexes are generally more valuable.
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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.
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Japanese grade watches use 316L steel while the Swiss grade is manufactured from 904L Steel which is a much durable, rust and corrosion-resistant but at the same time more costly and complicated to produce. Swiss grade watches are manufactured on machinery that is cloned to match Swiss technology and standards, therefore a higher accuracy and finishing is to be expected. Our high-quality Rolex models feature a double core silicone “O” Rings, made of solid tube rubber create an airtight seal, providing decent IP65 water resistance (rain/spash proof).
Encountering a Rolex with a quartz movement should raise immediate concerns. Throughout its illustrious history, Rolex has produced only a handful of quartz timepieces, making them an anomaly rather than the norm. The advent of sophisticated counterfeiting technologies like optical scanning and 3D printing has narrowed the gap, empowering counterfeiters to produce ‘super fakes’ with movements that closely resemble those of a genuine Rolex. These imitations may initially look convincing, but upon meticulous inspection, they fall short.
- Our enlightening video, “How to Tell a Fake Rolex,” is more than just a guide; it’s a window into the meticulous world of Rolex craftsmanship, ensuring you have the confidence and knowledge to spot the differences with ease.
- Well, to be honest, it means that you can’t rely upon yourself to reliably determine if a watch is fake or not.
- This is a very subtle feature that can be spotted on newer Submariner models.
- The seconds hand of a true Rolex watch should look like it’s moving in a smooth, continuous motion.
- It stands to reason then that Rolex is also the most faked watch brand in the world, followed closely by genuine market runners-up Cartier and Omega, but what’s surprising is just how big the scale of that fakery is.
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.
Although this is not publicly available, official stockists and reputable second hand luxury watch traders can verify the authenticity of a Rolex using this database. This same source can alo validate that the watch has not been reported stolen. Rolex watches have a smooth, continuous movement of the second hand, often described as a sweeping motion. There is one design / model which is an exception to this, the Rolex Oysterquartz, which runs on a quartz movement instead of a self-winding or mechanical one, and does exhibit a ‘ticking’ motion and sound.
Your best defense against buying a fake is to purchase your Rolex from a reputable dealer. Doing so will ease your concerns of authenticity and condition, and you can be sure that you will be given proper assistance. With a burgeoning counterfeit market, Rolex replicas have become better and more difficult to detect.
Ultimately, taking these precautions will ensure confidence in your decision to buy an extravagant and expensive watch like a Rolex. Additionally, modern Rolex watches made in 2001 and later have a tiny laser-etched coronet/crown (LEC) on the glass at 6 o’clock. This feature is hard to replicate, and its implementation varies across different Rolex models.
For instance, fluted bezels on authentic Rolex watches are made of 18k gold. Hence, if you come across a watch with a fluted bezel made of platinum or stainless steel, it is undoubtedly a fake Rolex. All Rolex watches made from 2002 onward have a tiny etched crown logo at the six o’clock position, which can take a magnifying glass to make out clearly. The weights of Rolexes vary slightly, depending on the model, size, materials and year of production — older models generally weigh less than modern ones.
In the photos below, you can see visible discrepancies on the dials of a real Rolex (left) and a fake Rolex (right). 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. Modern luxury watches should generally be accompanied by warranty documentation. It’s very common for old watches to be missing paperwork; that’s understandable. Don’t let your guard down just because a seller has papers, though–they can be faked too.
Replica watches are solely for you, not to fool other people by taking money from them. The second reason why it’s so difficult to identify between a fake and a real Rolex is that Rolexes, however great the company and their attention to detail wouldn’t be, has flaws themselves. There are misaligned parts; there are poorly finished areas, both on the case and on tiny details like the hands. Rolex’s cyclops provides a distinctive 2.5x magnification, and the date should fill up the cyclops window nicely. The date numerals should be nicely centered within the white box; fakes are often off-center, like the two images on the left below. Watchfinder was able to point these subtle details out by comparing the fake side-by-side with a real Daytona; but if one isn’t to hand, spotting all the tell-tale signs just got a thousand times harder.
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.
Check that the serial number is located between the lugs (the metal pieces where the bracelet meets the watch case). Another thing to look out for is, on the right-hand side of the dial, one o’clock down to five o’clock, the “X” of “Rolex” is going to line up with the hour markers. On the left-hand side of the dial, so seven o’clock up to 11 o’clock, the “R” of “Rolex” is going to line up with the hour markers. Yes, there are legal imitation watches, often referred to as “homage watches.” These watches openly acknowledge their inspiration from Rolex or other luxury brands without infringing on intellectual property rights.