HOW TO SPOT A FAKE ROLEX Presented by Chapes-JPL
INTRODUCTION A MARKET FOR COUNTERFEITERS
LEARN HOW TO SPOT A FAKE
Rolex watches are a widely recognized
A knock-off may satisfy some buyers, but
status symbol of wealth and success.
for those who are determined to own the
Many people covet them, but the price
real thing, it is necessary to learn how to
tag discourages many would-be
distinguish a fake Rolex from an
buyers. Recognizing that there is a vast
authentic one. Being able to identify key
potential market for cheaper Rolex
characteristics of a genuine Rolex can
watches, counterfeiters have become
make the difference between getting a
adept at producing some fairly
luxury watch and getting taken for an
convincing fakes.
expensive ride.
HELLO!
I am Lee Benhayon I will be your instructor for today. You can find me at info@chapesjpl.com
1.
THE PRICE
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? ▸
If you spot a "Rolex" costing between $25 and $200, then it is almost certainly fake.
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Real Rolex watches cost between $5000 - $7,000 at the lower-end of genuine Rolex timepieces.
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Most people who buy cheap Rolex watches know that they are replicas, and they don't mind.
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However, some fake Rolexes can cost just as much as real ones. In these cases, further due diligence is required.
2.
THE WEIGHT
HOW MUCH DOES IT WEIGH? ▸
Authentic Rolex watches are exclusively made from premium materials and high-quality metals such as 18-karat gold or 904L steel. This generally makes their timepieces weigh between 100 – 300 grams.
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Rolex crafts its own alloys and does all metal rolling in house which translates to a product with greater heft than a cheaper reproduction.
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If your watch feels light or flimsy, it’s probably a fake.
3.
THE SERIAL
HOW CLEAR AND PRECISE IS THE SERIAL? ▸
Consumers aren't expected to verify the serial number itself but should take a look at the quality of the serial number digits.
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The serial should be deeply engraved with digits that are clear and precise.
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On fake Rolex watches, the lettering quality exhibits far less clarity because of the cheap process for marking the watch. Instead of clear and straight cuts, lettering may be etched with a series of tiny dots.
4.
THE MOVEMENT
DO YOU SEE OR HEAR TICKING? ▸
Rolex’s sweeping hand is a testament to their extreme craftsmanship.
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If your Rolex has a slight stutter to its movement, then it is probably a fake.
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A sweeping second hand indicates that a watch has a mechanical movement instead of the cheaper quartz movement.
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Similarly, if you can see or hear the second hand ticking, then the watch is likely not genuine.
5.
DIAL LETTERING
DO YOU SEE INCONSISTENT LETTERING ON THE DIAL? ▸
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In the spirit of precision and perfection, the dial on a real Rolex is crafted with clear, identical letters and numbers. Knock offs are more likely to exhibit inconsistent fonts and unusual spacing between characters.
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Some replicas have even been known to have misspellings or smudging on the dial.
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If anything seems out of alignment or otherwise irregular on the dial, then it is probably a fake.
6.
WATERPROOF
IS IT WATERPROOF? ▸
All Rolex wristwatches are constructed to be waterproof. Some models like the Rolex Submariner are designed to be worn while underwater.
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Fake Rolex watches are not as waterproof as the real thing.
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Testing a Rolex’s ability to withstand water is a difficult for consumers to perform themselves, so an inspection by an experienced professional may be required.
7.
THE CYCLOPS
WHATS THE MAGNIFICATION OF THE CYCLOPS? ▸
Any Rolex watch that features a date display has a Cyclops, or magnification window, over the display.
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The Cyclops magnifies the date by 2.5X, so that it is easier to read.
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Fake Rolexes that have a date typically only magnify by 0 - 1.5X , representing a major giveaway that a particular timepiece isn't genuine.
8.
THE STEM
DOES IT HAVE A DISTINCTIVE ROLEX STEM? ▸
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The crown, which also may be referred to as the stem or winder, is quite distinctive on a genuine Rolex. The stem is constructed with a single piece of metal consisting of finely engraved grooves.
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On waterproof timepieces, the stem should also have a black rubber gasket to seal it from water.
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If your crown is made with more than a single piece of metal or missing an oring, than it’s fake.
9.
MICROETCHHING
CAN YOU SEE A ROLEX CROWN MICRO-ETCHED? ▸
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Every Rolex manufactured since 2002 will include the distinctive crown logo micro-etched into the crystal next to the 6:00 position. This detail was added to provide an easier way to determine authenticity.
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However, it is quite tiny, and magnification may be required to see it.
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Consequently, many counterfeiters will not even make an attempt to replicate the etching.
10.
THE CASEBACK
DOES IT HAVE A PLAIN CASEBACK? ▸
Looking at the caseback may be one of the quickest ways to tell whether or not a Rolex is real or fake.
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Similarly, Rolex does not manufacture watches with a clear caseback that shows the movement.
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While Rolex puts plenty of details and intricacy elsewhere on their watches, there are no designs on the caseback.
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For the most part, the caseback on a Rolex should always be smooth and unadorned.
11.
THE BAND
DOES IT HAVE A UNIQUE ROLEX BAND? ▸
The Rolex company is diligent about marking their products for authenticity.
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The Rolex band should remain perfectly aligned when placed on a flat surface.
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This includes crafting their watch bands in a way that prohibits low-skilled counterfeiters from duplicating its design easily.
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Keep in mind that even if your watch passes all of the previous tests, the band may still be fake.
THANKS! Any questions? Chapes-JPL 3355 Lenox Rd. NE #875, Atlanta, GA 30326 Tel: (404) 504-7021
GET YOUR ROLEX INSPECTED. Don’t have the time or patience to inspect your Rolex? Save yourself the hassle and get your Rolex authenticated by a professional at ChapesJPL.
REFERENCES 12 Ways to Spot a Fake Rolex. (n.d.). Retrieved July 28, 2017, from https://visual.ly/community/Infographics/education/12-ways-spot-fake-rolex
Benhayon, L. (n.d.). Low interest Rolex Loan in Atlanta at Chapes-JPL since 1980. Retrieved July 21, 2017, from https://chapesjpl.com/watch-loans/rolex-watchloans/ Discover more on Rolex.com. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2017, from https://www.rolex.com/ How To Spot a Counterfeit Rolex. (2016, October 18). Retrieved July 21, 2017, from https://www.1stdibs.com/blogs/the-study/how-to-spot-a-counterfeit-rolex/ Shapira, J. (2017, January 01). J.A. Shapira. Retrieved July 27, 2017, from https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/rolex-watch-guide/