This Video Shows You Exactly How to Spot a Fake Rolex
Most of us probably know that if you're paying 50 bucks for it, or buying it from a guy in a trench coat on 6th Avenue, a Rolex is probably a fake. But with so many counterfeit watches out there, sometimes you need a little more info to go on. Especially considering how good some of the fake Rolex's have gotten.
Fortunately the folks at Bob's Watches, the largest online retailer of pre-owned Rolex watches, have put together a video to help you figure out if a Rollie isn't on the up-and-up.
Some of the more obvious tips include checking whether the watch is real gold or gold plated, and whether it has an automatic movement. A real Rolex will always be made from solid precious metals, and it will always have an automatic movement, as evidenced by the smoothly sweeping second hand. So if the metal looks a little dull and the watch is ticking, it's a fake.
Another thing to look for is the date window. On a real Rolex, the date window will have a lens with a 2-4 times magnification, while a fake one will have maybe only a magnification of one, or even zero.
Of course, on the better counterfeit Rolex's, the movement will be automatic and the generally quality will be a lot better. But one area where even the better fakes don't measure up is on the printing. A true Rolex will look extremely sharp, crisp, and tight. On a counterfeit the printing will likely be a little fatter and just not as crisp.
Flipping the watch over, you can see a lot of hallmarks of a fave Rollie on the movement. Things like plastic spacers, the absence of any engraving, and an overall shoddier finish.
And finally, there is the hallmark stamp. According to Clymer, any gold watch that has been imported to the U.S. has an import hallmark that's stamped on either the inside of the case or the wristband (or both). Without hallmarks, the watch probably isn't real gold, i.e. it's fake.
Simple enough, right?
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