How do you spot a fake Rolex?

This seems to be a very popular question these days as the number of fake replica Rolex watches entering the US market continues to grow.  See the full story on the top 10 ways to tell a fake Rolex: see http://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/rolex-info/the-top-ten-ways-to-spot-a-fake-rolex.htmlHow To Tell If a Rolex Is Real First off, please know that there are good fakes and there are bad fakes.  The $50 fake Rolex watches are much easier to spot than the $350 ones.  Real vs Fake Rolex WatchesBefore You Begin, Know Your Seller(Stay away from EBay & Craigslist and find a reputable dealer with a good name) Top 10 Ways To Spot a Fake Rolex1. Serial & Model Number Stamping2. Stampings3. Movement4. Dial5. Cyclops6. Waterproof7. Weight8. Clear Caseback9. Caseback Engravings10. Micro-etched Crystal

The only sure way is to send it to Rolex for service. But barring that (or finding an expert to authenticate it) there are a few things you can do: Compare it to photos of legitimate Rolex watches from trusted sources (like the company's web site, books, authorized online sellers, etc) and make sure it is exactly identical in every way. Look especially at the proper stacking of the hands, the font of the numbers and text, and the Rolex crown logo since many fakes get these wrong. Rolex movements are quite distinctive (being made entirely in-house these days) and many fakes look totally different inside. Have a watchmaker open the case or ask for photos of movement. Real Rolex watches are made of premium materials and have quite a bit of "heft" to them. They're also very sharp at the corners, even after a few years of use.  How does it feel? Judge the source - did you get it from someone likely to be dealing in fakes? Sadly, if you're asking this question, it's probably fake.

There are two different categories of fake Rolex watches to watch out for. The first group is a bit easier to spot, as it consists of cheap imitations that are marked with the Rolex brand, but that lack the special designs and functions associated with the real thing. These usually keep time, but that’s about all they do. These watches are often found at flea markets, street booths, and online.The second group of fake Rolex watches are more sophisticated counterfeits that are manufactured with the intent of resembling original designs. These are frequently sold online, and are often accompanied by glossy literature like the marketing materials that come with real Rolexes.Some characteristics to watch out for: Transparent back cases that allow the movement to be seen. Rolex produced some rare models with transparent backs during the 1930s, along with newer Cellini Price models. These are the only exceptions to this rule! If you find any other “Rolex” with a clear back, it’s probably counterfeit. Some ladies’ Rolex watches have engraving on the caseback, but most genuine models are smooth, with no markings. The only exception is the Sea-Dweller, which reads “Rolex Oyster Original Gas Escape Valve” in black, along with two Rolex logos. No other authentic Rolex displays a manufacturer engraving. If you find one with a design, logo, or the Rolex name on the caseback exterior, you are probably looking at a fake. Some pre-2007 Rolex models come with a 3-dimensional, hologram encoded sticker on the caseback. This sticker has the watch’s case reference number in black, with the Rolex crown floating above. Most fake Rolexes that try to take advantage of this feature have green stickers with a repetitious “Rolex” pattern instead of the hologram. Post-2007 Rolexes are laser-etched with a subtle, nearly invisible Rolex crown logo, which is located inside the crystal at the 6:00 position. But be careful, because some of the better fakes have the same etching (usually smaller than the ones on authentic Rolexes). Many fake Rolexes are made with regular glass rather than real sapphire crystal. You can test to see whether the watch has a real crystal by smearing it with a film of water, which will streak on glass and pull together into a single drop on the surface of a sapphire. These are just some of the ways to tell a counterfeit from the real thing. If you want to learn more, check out the link to this article on how to https://www.worthy.com/blog/its-about-time/spot-fake-rolex/. It includes several photos that can help you determine whether the watch you’re looking at is authentic or not. Hope this helps!The Swiss Customs Service estimates that there are between 30 and 40 million counterfeit watches placed into circulation annually! This means your chances of encountering one are significant.

Bad fake Rolex watches (See picture) have a piece of glass as the watch face instead of a Sapphire Crystal. Good fakes have gone so far as to put in Sapphire Crystals.Sapphire Crystals are durable and scratch resistant. Water tends to bead up on Sapphire Crystals. Glass will dull quickly and show signs of wear and tear like scratches and chipped edges. Besides, glass faces sound differently when tapped versus Sapphire Crystals. Hope you get your answer thanks!!!! SOURCE(S): http://www.u-fakes.com/replicas/de/Rolex/Rolex-GMT-Master-2010-Keramik-Luenette-mit-schwarzem-Zifferblatt.html

Our store created this video to help you determine a genuine Rolex from a non-genuine Rolex.  Taking the watch to an Official Rolex Jeweler is the best way.

1.Listen for the telltale "tick, tick, tick" - Rolex (and many other fine watches) have second hands that move almost perfectly smoothly because they have automatic movements not quartz. 2.Look for a clear backside to the watch- Some imitation Rolex feature a clear glass back which allows you to see the inner workings of the watch. This clear backing may or may not be concealed beneath a removable metal cover. 3.Test the watch's water-tightness- One surefire way to determine whether a supposed Rolex is real or not is to see if it is waterproof. All Rolex watches are made to be perfectly airtight — if your watch leaks even a little bit, it's probably not the real thing.4.Look for non-metal construction.- Take your Rolex and turn it over. Examine the back of your watch — it should be made of smooth, unmarked, high-quality metal. If the band is not made of leather, it should be made from high-quality metal construction as well.

Some very obvious ones 'tick'. (There are some ridiculously rare exceptions to this rule, but nobody is going to clone the revered 'jumping seconds' Rolexes of the 1950s) Some have the wrong colors, like on the Pepsi bezel of a submariner. But all should be caveated with: there are some Rolex fakes that can't be spotted even by watch experts- until they're opened up.

One of the simple ways to figure out if a Rolex is fake is to focus on the materials used to manufacture it.  Rolex uses very expensive stainless steel called 904L.  This steel is shining and heavy, compared to the cheap steels used to create replica watches.  However, there are still very good replica watches in the market which use high grade steels.  The bottom line is that you have to trust the seller.

See the steel finishing if its very shine thats a good quality casing and use a strong force to swing the watch and see the oscillating weight spin many round smiothly thats a good movement. Lastly see the mechanism finishing, and u will know if that is a real rolex.