Substance - August 24 2007How to Spot a Fake Rolex
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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.
By: sean hall |
payola (12) |
Point 7 has always been what I look for. But then I'm unlikely to be in the market for a Rolex; seeing if someone else is wearing the real thng is another matter. The bubble, links and whether the wearer would pony up for t he real deal are other great 'tells'. |
hans abenes (NR) |
here |
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(NR) |
A high beat rate (i.e. smoothly sweeping seconds hand) is not necessarily absent from fakes. There are Chinese-made automatic movements that operate at 28,800 bph. |
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(NR) |
The easiest method is the ticking of the watch. Hold it to your ear - if it ticks, it's a fake. This is because the gears of a real Rolex are buffed down allowing the second hand to glide easily, whereas a fake is made quickly and is not buffed down (takes time and money because of the oils, and process they do it by), so the second hand ticks into position, and makes a small clicking noise with each increment. |
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(NR) |
The exception to that rule is the Quartz series like the OysterQuartz. These have a quartz movement, not a self-winding one. They do not have a smooth second hand and they do 'tick'. |
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Poromenos (NR) |
Hmm, mine has the cyclops bubble (I never noticed before, but the actual date is TINY). It doesn't have the micro-etched coronet, the back hologram, and it does tick faintly. The second hand is smooth, and it's sapphire glass (I've ground it against walls many a time without even a tiny scratch on the plate). I'm rather certain it is real, though I don't know why it would have half the fake signs you said. |
saldb (35) |
My rolex does not have many of the features in this article. (sapphire, exactly the right weight, gold finish) It's a Cellini from Switzerland. It's a windup and it does tick. It was bought from a respectable dealer for a hefty price. However, it is a classic style; this article focuses on sporty watches it looks like. |
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Jeremy (NR) |
"Ticking" isn't an indication of a fake. A mechanic watch (with continous movement) isn't as exact as an quartz crystal based one. Many people prefer the quartz because it's more exact and you don't have to wind it every day. |
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(NR) |
OK - here's the scoop from a certified Rolex technician. Most Rolex watches - and EVERY Rolex marked "Perpetual" should have a mechanical movement. That means that the watch is powered by a mainspring, and the spring is wound automatically as the watch is worn by the movement of the wearer's arm (hence the "Perpetual" designation). These watches do tick - but they do so very rapidly so that the seconds hand appears to move almost continuously - if you look very closely you'll see that it actually moves in very small but discrete increments. Many fakes have quartz movements that are powered by a battery. In these fakes, the second hand jumps once a second and moves 1/60th of the way around the dial with every jump. However, some fakes do have mechanical movements that also tick rapidly much like the genuine Rolex. So, looking at the movement of the seconds hand may not be conclusive (if it jumps once per second and the dial says "Perpetual" then it is definitely a fake, but a mostly smooth progression around the dial does not necessarily mean the watch is genuine). Also, I disagree with the poster who said that if you can hear the tick it's fake but if you can't, it's real. Some of the better fakes are also very quiet when they run. The truth is that there are some very good fakes out there. That said, if you buy a "Rolex" from someone on the street, don't spend any money you're not willing to lose. |
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Scott (NR) |
Authentic automatic Rolex watches (such as the Submariner) *do* make a ticking sound, but it's very hard to hear. If you hold one up to your ear and listen very carefully, you should hear a very rapid ticking -- about 8 ticks per second. Again, it should be very quiet, but you'll notice it if you're in a quiet room and hold it right up to your ear. The second hand should sweep smoothly, but it's really ticking at 8 times per second, and if you look very carefully (especially with a loupe), you can make out the individual ticks. It's not a continuous motion. Many fakes use a quartz movement, which ticks at one tick per second. That's a big giveaway. A more sophisticated (fake) automatic movement might have a louder ticking noise or a rougher movement, but some of the fakes are getting very sophisticated. The better ones can only be caught by a certified jeweler opening up the caseback. I believe the only way to be sure you are getting an authentic is to buy one directly from a Rolex dealer. Rolexes tend to hold their value, so you're not likely to find a "bargain" anywhere. If you must buy a used one, meet the buyer at a Rolex dealer or authorized repair shop and have them verify its authenticity. |
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Brian (NR) |
The author didn't spend much time researching this. I collect replica watches. If you're willing to spend $200-250 you can purchase a fake Rolex nowadays that will fool most jewelers until the caseback is removed to expose the movement. (but why buy a fake Rolex when Omega's are 3x better)... Point-by-point: 1) author is correct, Rolex never made a 'round' watch with a skeleton caseback 2) Rolex has not always used true 2.5x magnification on their cyclops. Remember, they've made Submariners for 50+years and their are MANY variations of the real thing. In fact, vintage replicas are far more desirable. That said, it's hard to find a replica in the $200-range WITHOUT 2.5x mag. 3) Again, this anti-counterfeit measure was only introduced in 2002. The rep-makers all but mastered it by 2005. However, it can help I.D. a BAD fake in 3 ways: if you can see it with the naked eye from a few feet away = fake; if it's etched on the top of the crystal = fake; if you examine with a loupe the laser-etched crown will be PERFECTLY aligned to 6 o'clock. 4) hologram only matters on brand-new pieces - most peaople remove it if it's going to be worn daily. If you wear it with the hologram, your sweat + friction will quickly rub the black printing off. And again, virtually perfect replica Rolex holograms can be purchased in qty's of 50 on ebay... 5) crown-seal: almost laughable. Unless you paid $25, this piece of rubber will be present. The reps over $200 are actually more watertight than most legit brands in the $600-800 range (Bulova, Movado, etc...) 6) size/weight - this is helpful, but only if you carry calipers and a micro-scale. Rep-makers use ETA movements in their $200 models, Rolex produces their own 27-jewel movements which are a hair wider. This is easily disguised by fitting a genuine Rolex bezel to the case and only adds $25-40 to the price. The bracelet is another story, ESPECIALLY if meant to imitate solid gold. Gold is heavy. Even solid-steel replica bracelets don't have the same weight of the newer Rolexes - but keep in mind Rolex has had MANY bracelet variations over the years. 7) hand movement - BIGGEST myth about detecting fakes, or at least the higher-end ones ($200 range). Those fakes use ETA movements - the identical movement used in "top-notch" genuine watches sold at high-end dept stores. Rolex's 31-jewel "3135" movement 28,800 beats per hour (480 bpm, or 8 ticks per second) - that defines the "smooth sweep". The ETA 2824 movement also sweeps at 28,800bph yet costs $50-70 in bulk. 8) Sapphire crystals - irrelevant unless you are buying a $50 fake. Standard on anything over $150. 9) lettering is VERY important. Not only should every line be crisp and clear, but perfectly-centered as well. On Submariners, the itilacized "m" in '300m' will be perfectly on top of the "M" in 'Chronometer'. Also pay attention to the "SWISS MADE" with the 6 o'clock perfectly centered b/n the words. 10) lug engraving - again, only absent on junk reps. Do you think they'd overcome 1-9 above and not be able to do a clean engraving cheaply? The give-away with lug engraving is that they'll use the same sn# over and over in a production run. Here are my tips for spotting a fake Submariner (as the author uses): a) bevel pearl - the white dot at 12 on the rotating bezel. VERY hard to produce a convincing replica of this. If it's flat = fake. Too bright = fake. Too plasticy = fake. But like before, inexpensive to replace with an priginal Rolex part. b) date-wheel - modern Rolexes use a unique font on the date wheel. Closed 9's, unique 4's, etc... Since genuines are slightly larger the rep makers are limited by cost of mass-production and usually use standard wheels (open 9's, etc...). c) crown-guards - dead give-away but difficult to type why. Just go to ebay and compare 5 pics from known dealers and 5 pics of the "too-good-to-be-true" listings... Without after-market modding those are how you can spot a fake a mile away d) hand-stack - on GMT Master II's, the second-hand is the bottom-most hand, then the GMT hand, then minute, with hour on top. For Rolex Daytona's, a 95% dead give-away is if you see the long second-hand sweeping... that's not a second-hand, it's a stopwatch that sits at 12 o'clock unless you activate the stopwatch. e) "rehaut" - that's the depth of the watch from the crystal to the dial. Since Rolex produces their own movements the rehaut of their watches is very tough to duplicate. Rep-makers are limited to off-the-shelf movements such as ETA and aren't quite as deep. With a trained eye, you can spot most from 20 feet away. |
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Brian (NR) |
I mis-spoke above about halfway thru: The movement in the genuine Submariner is 31-jewel, not 27.... Got it right later in the post.... |
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(NR) |
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 cor |
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(NR) |
I never saw a guy who intentionally bought a Fake Rolex, did you buy it for cheaper? |
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(NR) |
I just got back from nyc. i decided to take a stroll down canal st. Not only did i get my mother a louis vuiton bag replica for $30 bucks. My Brother movado for $20, and I bought myself a replica rolex presidential for $50 after a few minutes barganing for these fakes, i had no problem spending $100 for these 3 items.. now on to my fake rolex.. i tried listening to the ticks.. i cant decide if its 7 or 8 ticks a second, but it glides almost exactly the same as my pop's watch he bought from a jewlery store at the galleria. the wrist band SUCKS, it looks great, but it feels so light and cheap - a dead give away if you let someone hold it - does anyone know where to buy good replica rolex bands online?? the crystal, definitely not the same as my pop's rolex. mine feels cheap and has a greenish tint to the edges when you look at it from the side, his feels real and is 100% clear on the edges and his date slightly magnifies larger also mine has no laser etching, his does. hologram on the back is there, but no model number or serial number... also, no seal under the crown. but this watch is blingin outta control, and for $50 bucks (negotiated down from $175) i feel like it was definitely worth it. I was more impressed with the quality of the movado, he threw it in for $20 after i bought the purse and rolex. i guess he was just trying to go home. |
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Travis MacMillan (NR) |
I have a submariner. I bought it from the only authorised Rolex dealer here in Jamaica so I have no doubt it's real. I bought it around 2001-2, because I know I bought it roughly a year after I finished school in 2000. Anyway. I don't have the etching, and I saw a guy with one and it had etching. I thought the etching was only on the anniversary edition 'GREEN' Submariner, so I told him it was most likley fake. He did eventually tell me it was fake, but it's interesting to know that Rolex do actually have the ecthing on all their watches now. Also, I saw a freind of mine with one the other day. He bought his this summer. He is not a honest person, but he does have rich relatives in Cayman that 'could' have bought him the watch - which he claims is what happened. The thing is, his Submariner has the word ' ROLEX' written repeatedly around the inner edge of the bevel (inside the watch, between the glass and the face of the dial.). Is that something the newer watched have, or is that just a rip-off 'over-doing' it to try and PROVE it's a 'real' rolex???? |
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Zachary Woodward (NR) |
yes the new Rolex watches have Rolex written repeatedly around the inner bevel. You can verify this by going to the rolex website. Another thing of note is that older Rolex watches have acrylic crystals, they are domed and much thicker than the flat saphire crystals, this allowed Rolex to make the cases thinner, and should not be viewed as a fake Rolex if seen on someone's wrist. Why would anyone buy a fake Rolex? Particularly for $200 and up? Those must be the same kind of people who would put Lexus badges on their Hyundai. Don't buy watches to impress people because 95% of the people you meet won't even notice your watch. I have a drawer full of watches and have worn a different one every day of the week before and nobody noticed. |
freqeist1 (4) |
i own a fake and a real rolex and as David & jeremy say the real Rolex do "tick" does very quickly..it annoys me when people go on about this rather misinformed fact, the fake is virtualy the same in all areas. when i ask my friends which is which only about half get it right!! |
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freqeist1 (4) |
good point Zachary, but ionly buy/ wear my watches for me . |
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Alasdair (NR) |
To get a good quality fake watch band go to ebay.com.hk There are bands for every model there but no watches. Does anyone know where to get good quality under 30GBP Rolex's in the UK cos i can't find anywhere? |
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Alasdair (NR) |
To get a good quality fake watch band go to ebay.com.hk There are bands for every model there but no watches. Does anyone know where to get good quality under 30GBP Rolex's in the UK cos i can't find anywhere? |
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(NR) |
Thank you fore that guide, if i ever get money to spend on Rolex i wont get cheated! |
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(NR) |
great .. thank you for this! |
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Collis (NR) |
I used to own a real rolex, it was stolen and I decided that I didn't need one. I now own an Invicta which is an excellent watch and didn't cost an arm and a leg. |
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caudex (NR) |
Yea i agree with the misconception about ticking rolex = fake rolex. I can 100% say that is not true. I recently brought a Rolex Oyster GMT-MASTER II directly from the Switzerland factory. When i got back to the hotel i listened to it, and it does indeed tick. Haha either its fake and Rolex factory is distributing fakes, or Rolex's do tick. Haha there is also 1 other way to testing if the glass used is sapphire crystal. Get something sharp like a screw driver and scrape it along the glass, if it scratches then its Mineral Crystal or even Normal Window Glass. If it doesnt scratch then its the real thing, Sapphire Crystal. (haha although i wouldn't want to try it on my rolex.... but that is the only real way to test if its sapphire crystal without looking at it under a microscope) |
laslo_holyfeld (1) |
If I am going to buy a Rolex, I 'll make sure not to look for one off Canal St. |
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(NR) |
www.sell.com has really nice fakes of all brands of watches and handbags and the sellers will even haggle on prices. The guy in Brooklyn has the best ones I've seen under $200. |
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Joe Woznicki (NR) |
Can I check the watch myself. How do you get the back off of the watch (oyster) as i would loike to know if I have a fake one or a real one thanks |
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neil brown (NR) |
To get a good quality fake watch band go to ebay.com.hk There are bands for every model there but no watches. Does anyone know where to get good quality under 30GBP Rolex's in the UK cos i can't find anywhere? YES, I KNOW .. i can get them for that price plus 5.00 GBP special delivery |
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Peter (NR) |
replica watches made in china.. all of it! Swiss grade, Japan Grade or China Grade.. all made from China.. but dont buy from online replica store which is from china... they only sent you guys cheap replica where you can buy at $50 at NYC. try to google for " replica watches" but don't select the top ranking result for "replica watches".. they all crap. Select last few pages of the search result... My current fav store is sevenwatch.com found from pay per click advertisement.. good service till today... |
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Kyle (NR) |
Just so you all know the replicas have got even better than you can imagine, for just over $300 you can get one that is virtually perfect on the outside. The replica I'm wearing now would fool a lot of jewelers, even after openening it, unless they new what a rolex movement looked like they would be very impressed. Gold-plated ETA2836, beats at 28,800 and it has the quick-set date (turns over in a single click, doesn't drag on for minutes or hours), all the markings are perfect, including those on the inside of the case back and on the movement it's self, the weight, feel, everything is right, all the fonts, the "pearl" on the bezel, etc. As a matter of fact the movement in the one I have on now keeps better time than most real Rolexes. I sync all my automatic watches with my atomic clock once a month and I keep them on a watch winder. Suprisingly the replica Rolex I own and a Tonino Lamborghini with a ETA2824 movement in it are both off by less than 30 seconds a month, most Rolexes will lose about 2 or 3 minutes a month on average. Yes people DO notice my watch, especially the Rolex(replica), I've struck up conversations with real Rolex owners and even let them hold mine and look at it, so far only a watch repaireman I go to has spotted it as a fake, and he told me it was only because the edges of the steel on the clasp were just slightly sharper than they should have been that he noticed. I did once many years ago buy a $40 fake, that was a piece of crap, but the one I have now is very nice, sometimes I even forget it's a replica. As far as buying one on purpose, a lot of people do, if you buy one on purpose so you can have one to wear and show off then I would say you bought a "Replica", just like people say they bought a "replica" painting. However if you think you are buying one that is real and it turns out it isn't then you would probably call it a "fake". I won't say what you would call the guy that sold it to you. I love watches, all kinds, mostly automatics, but Citizen makes some nice Eco-drive quartz watches and the quality of some of their cases and bands are on par with a lot of high end watches. As someone mentioned earlier Invicta makes a nice automatic watch that won't break your piggy bank, I have a couple myself. Kyle "Life's too short to be measured with a cheap timepiece" |
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Terese Costabile (NR) |
My husband bought me a fake Rolex on line. I got it and it is beautiful. One problem, the band is too small, what can I do...I took it to a jeweler and one said he can't do anything, he said no way to fix it...another one told me to see if I can purchase extra links from the people we bought it from and he probably can add them. Anybody else got any suggestions??? Another place to get a different band maybe? |
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Kyle (NR) |
I also need a slightly larger band than the one that was on mine, I emailed the place I got it from and asked how much they would charge me for one more link and they said he would send me one free! They sent it snail-mail so it didn't show up fro two weeks, but they did send it. |
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spacca (NR) |
I have a 2005 Kermit, bought from the only Rolex dealer in a Dublin, Ireland, as a present to myself after being in hospital for a couple of weeks and generally feeling sorry for myself. Not only was I not looking for one, I was told by the chap in the store that they were slightly more difficult to get your hands on than hens teeth. Imagine my suprise when, after saying that they only get 4 a year into that specific shop, he turns round after a hushed chat with the manager and asks me if I would like to view one. I was then escorted into their Chopard room, (nice and secure with cameras in all 4 corners, but lovely woodwork all over the place) locked ina and then let loose over a brand new Greenie. Shortly after this I made my creditcard wish it had never been born, catapulted myself 2 years up a waiting list and walked out of the jewelers £3k light and grinning. It's weird, I wanted a Seadweller and got something else but have not regretted it since. With regards to the whole fake thing, I have had soooo many comments since owning it about how good a fake it is that I now let people believe it is. the one thing though, that really separates the fake from the real thing is how it makes you feel. Like with every fine article you can buy, and for what ever reason they they are bought, the sense of enjoyment, fulfillment or achievement is real and measurable. This is something, if you own a fake and know it is such, that is completely missing from the experience. If you bought a fake or a real one just to impress people, I would say it is a hollow experience as one day, as Morrissey once sang, "there's always someone, somewhere with a big nose, who knows and who trips you up and laughs when you fall who'll trip you up and laugh when you fall" Someone will catch you out and if they don't, you will always know that you are just kidding yourself. With regards to buying them new or second hand, go to a reputable dealer, buy it right. If you don't, it is always a risk that the money you hand over will be for nothing more than just a watch, not the watch you wanted. |
trader (2) |
Kyle: Since you were very successful with your acquisition, can you share the source? Peter recommended sevenwatch.com, and I'd like to hear other successes. |
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trader (2) |
Kyle: Since you were very successful with your acquisition, can you share the source? Peter recommended sevenwatch.com, and I'd like to hear other successes. |
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Kyle (NR) |
I own this one: here The nice thing is that they take PayPal, so it keeps your CC number safe and gives you recourse if there is a problem. |
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Jonathan (NR) |
www.theonewatch.com they sell dirt cheap replicas i first i thought it was a scam but i bought a watch off of it just to see...it took about a week but i got it (i got a panerai that looks great)...i would highly reccomend it a bunch of my coworkers have ordered off of the site |
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(NR) |
If anybody is interested in a high-end replica, do not get fooled by many fancy replica websites who claim that they will give you some king of warranty(6mo./12mo.). They will almost never honor this. From months of research and purchasing a garbage replica from a website that claims to sell "High Quality Reps", I have found that the best replicas come from reputable dealers who can get their products reviewed in a forum whose buyers and users will post. Check the websitehereand you guys will see what I mean. They also have a very helpful list of websites that have scammed people. I will never again buy fromhereor any site listed in there list. |
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GT (NR) |
For some reason the link does not work properly so the website's name is .replica-watch.info Remember to putherebefore the name. The garbage replica site's name is exactreplicas. |
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Steve (NR) |
1) How do I know which one real rolex daytona and fake one? How do I research and find the real information? 2) let said, if someone told me 70216, 455B, 750 Geneve Swiss made 18K, Is that mean anything for the real rolex watch w/o paper and box? |
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makio (2) |
yes, i saw someboday recommend theonewatch company, so i went to have a try, the price is ok, i can accept , and the quality is also good , but have some small problem with the colour , so i ask for exchanging , they are very kind , and finally exchange a new one for me , i am so happy. i know two of thier saleman: MSN: theonewatch_alice@hotmail.com , theonewatch_helen@hotmail.com |
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makio (2) |
i saw somebody recommond theonewatch company , so i went to have a try, thier replica watches price is ok, i can accept , and the quality is ,good too, but when i received it , i find the colour is not the one i want, so i am alittle angry, i think they would not exchange for me , but they are very kind, and finally exchange a new one for me , and they pay for the shipping fee, i really like it . the saleman who serve me MSN: theonewatch_alice@hotmail.com |
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Mike (NR) |
I just received a "Rolex" as a gift... no applause, really. However, not ever owning or even thinking of owning a Rolex, I know nothing about them. So, after reading all the things posted here, I have a coupla' questions. 1) Do ALL real Rolex watches have the serial number between the lugs, and 2) is there or is there not an engraving on the back of the watch that says "Rolex" and under that "Swiss made", and under that a serial number? I'm really afraid somebody is gonna' tell me, "Nice gift... but fake." Anybody? |
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berry (NR) |
I am having trouble pulling the stem out to change the ttime after I haven't worn it for a day or two. It is very ard to putt the stem out to change time.....any trick to this. even a plier did not work |
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cody (NR) |
thank you, this is very informative. i will be purchasing a real rolex next week, and i will be sure to use these tips to see if i'm actually buying a counterfeit. |
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Djbwatches (1) |
Yeah that is very interesting. I was actually looking at this websitehereand it looks like they have a lot of great information on how to detect counterfeit Rolex watches |
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tracey (NR) |
I've had my fake Rolex, since 1985 works great. The problem I'm having is getting the back off to replace the battery. How do I do that? |
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tracey (NR) |
I've had my fake Rolex, since 1985 works great. The problem I'm having is getting the back off to replace the battery. How do I do that? |
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FUCK YOU (NR) |
You have STOLEN the images on this piece of shit website from legitimate websites... get a life a fuck off. You are no better than the fuck holes that make the fake Rolexes!!! |
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An AMERICAN (NR) |
Sounds like somebody needs a hug! These people are information sources and are here to help protect us from the real thieves,the people selling fakes as real rolexes. Another thing we live in AMERICA, where your free to make choices within the limits of the law., and if we want to own fake rolexes or real rolexes we have that right! Thank you! An AMERICAN |
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James McGee (NR) |
I'm not an American, I'm British, or English to be more precise., but despite that fact I whole heartedly agree with our American friend. Unfortunately the author of this topic seems to have a very limited vocabulary, and a norrow mind, so I agree he does need a hug, (but not from me I might add). We do have the right to buy and wear whatever we want. I think that if a fake is sold as fake then that to me is legitimate. In general only affluent people will buy a genuine Rolex, and I'm sure that they will continue to do so, and I wish them well. A lot of other people like Rolex watches, but can never hope to buy a genuine Rolex and so settle for a replica. In fact some of the better replicas are every bit as good as the genuine article, and I would go so far as to say that some are even better, because such fine attention to detail has been observed during their manufacture. The astronomical price of a new Rolex watch cannot be justified no matter how you calculate the cost. Manufacturing costs are probably less than than ten percent of the watches shop window price tag, though I very much doubt that Rolex would ever admit to this. |
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Garth (NR) |
Not to get as vituperative as the July 17, 2008 posting by “---- you:” but is it worth considering whether we are responsible for negative externalities to society when we create demand for these fakes? Last summer there was an interesting documentary on public television concerning the worldwide trade in this area. Apparently many of the same characters that make it possible for us to buy these products are the same people that are involved in the trafficking of drugs, humans, etc. Here is something from a public television website that I’ve copied and pasted about this program, I think it is worth watching if you get the opportunity: The world economy is being derailed by new networks of illicit traders, criminal groups that care less about specific products and more about profit margins. Based on the best-seller Illicit, by Moises Naim, this film tracks the manufacture and sale of goods ranging from fake purses and DVDs to counterfeit pharmaceuticals that can have a devastating impact on human beings, showing how the even most innocuous trades are connected in a global epidemic generating $ 3 trillion per year and unimagined human suffering. If you search “Illicit” on your local public television station’s website you should be able find whether this will be broadcast in your area sometime in the future. In my opinion, it is not unreasonable to question our involvement in purchasing counterfeit (or “fake” or “replica”) designer goods. It does not matter if you think a Rolex is overpriced or not. The price of a Rolex is based on the demand for it – it has nothing to do whatsoever with the costs necessary to produce it; and the value of a Rolex is based on each purchaser’s own utility curve – there is no argument that can change that. There is no way that any of us can deny that counterfeit goods are illegal. We may try to justify it in one way or another but it is still illegal. Worse yet: we may be aiding and abetting human trafficking (if you believe the “Illicit” documentary). Garth |
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Garth (NR) |
Not to get as vituperative as the July 17, 2008 posting by “---- you:” but is it worth considering whether we are responsible for negative externalities to society when we create demand for these fakes? Last summer there was an interesting documentary on public television concerning the worldwide trade in this area. Apparently many of the same characters that make it possible for us to buy these products are the same people that are involved in the trafficking of drugs, humans, etc. Here is something from a public television website that I’ve copied and pasted about this program, I think it is worth watching if you get the opportunity: The world economy is being derailed by new networks of illicit traders, criminal groups that care less about specific products and more about profit margins. Based on the best-seller Illicit, by Moises Naim, this film tracks the manufacture and sale of goods ranging from fake purses and DVDs to counterfeit pharmaceuticals that can have a devastating impact on human beings, showing how the even most innocuous trades are connected in a global epidemic generating $ 3 trillion per year and unimagined human suffering. If you search “Illicit” on your local public television station’s website you should be able find whether this will be broadcast in your area sometime in the future. In my opinion, it is not unreasonable to question our involvement in purchasing counterfeit (or “fake” or “replica”) designer goods. It does not matter if you think a Rolex is overpriced or not. The price of a Rolex is based on the demand for it – it has nothing to do whatsoever with the costs necessary to produce it; and the value of a Rolex is based on each purchaser’s own utility curve – there is no argument that can change that. There is no way that any of us can deny that counterfeit goods are illegal. We may try to justify it in one way or another but it is still illegal. Worse yet: we may be aiding and abetting human trafficking (if you believe the “Illicit” documentary). Garth |
anhta (115) |
That's a polemic for you. Thanks for the thought-provoking comment, Garth. Especially with the holiday shopping season upon us. |
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(NR) |
Great post, appreciate the extra information. I did not know how detailed a Rolex was until I read this. I purchased an OysterQuartz fake in Chinatown NYC in 1993 when my marching band was supposed to be in Macy's (we ended up marching in Philly at the last minute when we got knocked off the list to add more Florida bands, who knew?). I paid $13 cash for mine at a small store in between two nail salons. It was cheap and the backing plate began turning green within two years. But it was fun to be a high school student with a (fake) Rolex for awhile. Would I buy one again? ABSOLUTELY. But I would likely spend $150-$200 to get a really good knockoff. Why would anyone spend $200 to get a FAKE? Because real ones cost $5K and up. I typically spend $500-$1000 on cars to drive. My mortgage payment is $418 a month on a $35K house (not a trailer, thanks for asking, small town, small land values). I make $11 an hour and see no point in spending four months of paychecks on a WATCH. If I made $110K a year, I could understand wanting something to show for it (and that for me would be an Audi A8), but as it is, cheap and fake is good enough for me. As far as Lexus badges on Hyundais, I haven't seen that, but I did see a 2003 Kia Spectra made up to look like a 2003 Mercedes C240. Badges, wheels, chrome door handles and wheel lip trim, a custom handmade grille, custom HID headlight conversion and headlight capsule/header panel modifications, and even the rocker panel moldings were custom made to make it look right. Wish I had a photo to share, was for sale on CL last summer in Dallas. Maybe a Google search will find an image for you curious types. |
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(NR) |
Oh! Nice! Very informative |
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(NR) |
thanks for sharing your knowledge about how to spot fake rolex watches. there are too many fakes out there in the market today! ed here |
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thanks for posting your knowledge about fake rolex watches. i'm wondering what percentage of rolex watches on ebay are fakes? here |
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barb burkland (NR) |
I bought a rolex from a rolex jeweler. It has given me nothing but trouble since I got it. It often times 45 minutes off ,and now the dial has spun. I am so disapointed . I wish I had paid the fake price for this piece of crap. |
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mbt shoes (1) |
Excellent information and will use it when making my shopping trip |
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(NR) |
Great stuff. |
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(NR) |
Excellent information and much needed. |
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(NR) |
Excellent product, Apparently many of the same characters that make it possible for us to buy these products are the same people that are involved in the trafficking of drugs, I think it is worth watching if you get the opportunity: The world economy is being derailed by new networks of illicit traders, criminal groups that care less about specific products and more about profit margins |
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ajar krishna shrestha (NR) |
i had a watch and how do i know if it is registered or not there are three numbers weitten in the the numbers are 455B, 16628, 62523H 18 |
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(NR) |
Excellent information and much needed. |
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steve20 (NR) |
forget about replica rolex. rolex not nice in cheap replica.. i get Audemars Piguet instead... Rose Gold Rules!!! here |
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Robert (NR) |
At this point I would never buy a rolex just because of how many fakes are out there. I have a friend who got a really real rolex for graduation. very nice watch, but I could see peoples faces when they saw it. They all thought it was fake! Some people even wanted him to take it off so they could examine it under light. do yourself a favor, if you really want a rolex buy a real good fake. why pay the big bucks on something that everyone thinks is fake anyway? Want to buy a 2 carrot diamond ring? |
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(NR) |
Great post! I learned a lot, thank you! |
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Adam H (NR) |
This is all usefull but there is also a market for replica rolexes where your very purpose is to get a high quality fake from a reputable fake website that specialises in very high quality fakes for many very good reasons but i still think this is very useful to check the quality of your very own fake rolex |
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(NR) |
in this site have solid gold replica rolex watch looking artesanal manufactory www.macchinedapolso.com |
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(NR) |
in this site have solid gold replica rolex watch looking artesanal manufactory www.macchinedapolso.com |
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(NR) |
Thanks very much! This will become help for me when im starting to import rolex from alibaba. |
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(NR) |
Great Post! here title="Social Media Marknadsföring">Just updated mine! within Social Media Marknadsföring |
Posted: August 24 2007