for Rolex experts

[doug sinclair]

Hi r,

What you have is a watch that resembles a Rolex and which has the name Rolex on the dial. Beyond that, there is nothing Rolex about it. Sorry, but are you surprised?

Regards,
Doug S
83914

[jagkar]

I would be grateful for a few rules of thumb on recognizing the real Rolex from the fake. One watchmaker told me that on opening the watch, if it is a high quality movement it is likely real. Anything to that?

[Dave Haynes]

Most fake Rolex watches are pretty easy to
spot. Look for chrome plate cases, usually
a bit heavier and thicker than the real thing.
A quartz movement used to give away fake
GMTs and Subs, but now some have mechanical
auto wind movts. I have never seen a fake Sea Dweller or Explorer. The band is another place to look, the edges are usually folded sheet stainless instead of solid like Rolex. The clasps and snap pieces are really good
w/dates and the right lettering, but look
for the cheap folded edges.
The overall finish on the fakes is nowhere
near a real Rolex, which is polished alot.
Having said this, there are solid gold
fakes out of Israel that are almost perfect
right down to the movement.
I would say this: if you are in doubt, wait and make sure. My personal opinion of Rolex
watches is they are really nice, keep great time and are worth the money.

[Larry Jones 98326]

I'll add a few more things to look for re: Rolex vrs Wannabe Rolex.

With the exception of some of the early models which are marked on the back or inside, all genuine Rolexes will have a faint serial number inscribed between one pair of lugs, and a 4 or 5 digit reference number between the other lugs. I have seen a few fakes that have these numbers, but they are cut more deeply than on a real watch. You gotta look at some real ones before you can tell the difference!
The bracelet is a poor determinant of fakery for several reasons, first, the bracelet is easily removed or added to the head, and real heads with fake bracelets are not at all uncommon. Second, a great variety of bands were made, and Dave, I'm quite sure that not all Rolex bands were solid on the ends.

The movement on a genuine watch will be marked Rolex, but again, that alone does not necessarily prove the watch is correct, some fake movements are marked Rolex.

My best advice is, buy from a reputable dealer who stand behind his merchandise until you have looked at and preferably owned a lot of genuine Rolexes. Few things are as unpleasant as finding out that what you thought was a great new addition to your collection is really a worthless mistake.
And by the way, if you get swindled and the seller won't make it right, please, don't try to pass it off on the next guy as real.........you can get a reputation real fast in the watch biz. (r, this is just a general comment, not directed at you...)

Larry

[Richard Morris]

You better be very nervous when you buy a Rolex from someone you can get it real bad. Buyer beware, here is a site where they sell fakes & how they get away with it is beyond me. I have seen these watches & your stomach will drop they look as good as the real thing down to the serial # so if you want a Rolex be careful have the watch checked by an expert it can cost you a bunch if you don?t. Now my question how dose this person get away with this. Click on the link & you can see for yourself. http://www.fakegifts.com/index1.html

[Dave Haynes]

Larry: Maybe I didn't make myself as clear as possible about the bands. Some of the Oyster
style bands have small rivets on the ends and are in fact not solid, which is O.K.
When I say a fake band, I mean smashed folded
metal visible from the side pieces, like
most cheap Hong Kong metal bands. I don't believe Rolex or J.B. ever made their bands like that.
The real Rolex watches have their serial
numbers between the lugs lightly and on the opposite side is "Registered Design" in
equally light engraving. It looks cheesy and
fake, but is a real Rolex marking. I once
passed on a Date because I thought that Rolex would never put something that cheap sounding
and that lightly engraved on their watches.
Wrong...

[Dave Haynes]

Steve: Thanks for the clarification about the bands. It seems that I may have passed
up a few genuine Rolex bands because of
ignorance. But at least now I know.

This fake Rolex examination is good for most of us. I'm also thinking that the fake watches wouldn't have the multi-colored
anodizing as on the 1500 series movements.
But then, I've seen 1500's without that feature too.

While I've got your ear, I've seen two 1500
series watches that stopped because the hairspring had jumped up onto the lug on the
balance cock. Is this common? I see that the
hairspring is long and supple, which probably
is one of their good features, but this
stoppage seems odd.

[Charles Medsker]

A couple things the guys may not have mentioned.
1. The "Hack Feature." Many of the recent cheap fakes don't have this feature. That is, "The Second Hand stops when the crown is unwound and pulled out to set the watch."
2. The "Beauty Ring." This is the ring between the crystal and the dial. On a genuine late model Rolex, such as Datejust model, this ring will have a satin finish. On most of the fakes I see, this ring will have a high polish! Just one more thing the fakers miss, and I look for when offered a Rolex.

[Charles Medsker]

Just wanted to clarify something in my earlier post. The crown is unscrewed instead of unwound. I wanted to catch this before there were numerous posts about my error? After sitting in front of this screen for a couple hours, my 60-year-old brain is sometimes at a loss for words?

[Charles Medsker]

To add another fake to Steve's list, I ran across a fake Seiko a couple years ago. I can't remember what it was that gave it away?
Might have been a Chinese movement or something? The only watch I haven't seen faked for sure, is the good old reliable Timex. BTW: Anyone know where we can get parts for Timex?

[Dave Haynes]

Charles,
We used to see fake Seikos when I was in
Vietnam in 1966-67. They were so bad that they would only run for a week or so in that
jungle rot climate. Remember, Seikos were
a hot, hard to get watch in the 60's

[Dave Berghold]

Some great helpful writings here. And not to belittle the situation of faked watches, but I came across a strange one:
If a fake Rolex is a pho-lex, then a fake Omega is a pho-mega (and I've been fooled by one of these). Take it a bit further in the watch brand list and you'll find a few more fun ones ... T. Heuer, Cartier,.... any others? Not to offend anyone, but I thought it was worth adding.
And thanks to all for the serious and informative insight!