How do I tell if a Rolex is genuine?
Posted by: Markus S on 14 October 2004
Hi all,
a friend has inherited from his father a mechasnical watch that purports to be a Rolex Submariner. I know there are sites dedicated to all things horological, but I can't be arsed to find one. Anybody here knows what to look out for to tell the real thing from a fake?
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by 7V
quote:
Originally posted by Markus Sauer:
... Anybody here knows what to look out for to tell the real thing from a fake?
Don't you have to dive with it to the requisite depth? Then if it's still telling you how much air you have left in your tank it's a Rolex. Otherwise, re-surface fast.
I hope that this helps.
Steve M
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by Dave Hartley
Hi Markus,
I have a genuine Rolex which I compared some years ago against a £25 fake. I thought it was a good copy but if pull out the time adjustier and turn it slightly anticlock wise the second finger on mine will stop or even go backwards. This is obviously a accurate way to set the time. The fake one couldn't do this.
Mine is about 30 years old and I sent it in for a service this year..£170 If I remember but it came like new.
Hope this is of some help.
dave
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by Minky
Markus,
Your best bet would be to weld the watch in question to the back bumper of your car and reverse (fast) into the side of your house. If the house falls over it's the real McCoy. If the car explodes, it's a fake. Probably.
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by 7V
Perhaps you can judge by weight.
Steve M
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by jayd
Umm, surely a Rolex dealer could tell you. Try Fast Eddie - he usually hangs out on the corner of 128th and Main.
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by Mike Sae
Water poured on the sapphire crystal should bead. On glass, the water will sheet.
There's also a new book out that's right up your alley (available in e-format, too):
http://www.replicawatchreport.comPosted on: 14 October 2004 by Minky
In all seriousness ..
I have a Rolex Submariner. A friend decided he wanted to BE me, so .. he started wearing the same clothes, got the same haircut, underwent a battery of complex reconstructive surgeries (including having his femurs replaced with 30 inches of tropical hardwood) etc. Sadly my friend ran out of cash before his "project" was finished and was forced to buy a series of fake Rolii. I say "a series" because perfect though they appeared to be, even to me, in terms of weight, form and function, they all stopped working after a few weeks. The fakes (good as they are these days) just don't withstand the constant pounding that is the lot of the professional cottager.
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by Deane F
Professional cottager?
The best work for free! (They are "pro bono" cottagers.)
In all seriousness...
Deane
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by Deane F
The second hand on a genuine Rolex will tick with several small jumps between each second mark on the dial because the movement is clockwork.
The second hand on a fake will make a single jump from second to second because the movement is electric.
Deane
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by Minky
quote:
Originally posted by Deane F:
The second hand on a genuine Rolex will tick with several small jumps between each second mark on the dial because the movement is clockwork.
The second hand on a fake will make a single jump from second to second because the movement is electric.
This used to be the case but now even the cheap copies sweep like the real thing.
Probably the best test is to see if it tells the time. If it does, it's a fake.
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by 7V
quote:
Originally posted by Minky:
Probably the best test is to see if it tells the time. If it does, it's a fake.
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by ErikL
Drop it at the polo grounds this Sunday?
Posted on: 14 October 2004 by Phil Barry
I have a great Rolex (from Kuala Lumpur) - each second is divided into 4 parts/clicks. The Swiss versions do 7 clicks or so. If you don't have a Swiss Rolex for comparison, a dealer is likely to help.
Regards.
Phil
Posted on: 15 October 2004 by Berlin Fritz
If it dissolves in champagne then it's the real mac'koy innit.
Posted on: 15 October 2004 by Markus S
Ever so helpful, this forum. It's definitely a mechanical movement, not an electrical one.
Should the piece that shields the movement on the back of the watch (I'm sure there's a technical term for it) be marked as Rolex, too? On this watch, it's blank.
I'll probably tell the friend to take it to a dealer. I'll tell him to avoid sending it to Rolex.
Thanks for all responses.
Posted on: 15 October 2004 by Deane F
So what sort of watches do people post about on the Mana forum?
Deane
Posted on: 15 October 2004 by Berlin Fritz
quote:
Originally posted by Markus Sauer:
Ever so helpful, this forum. It's definitely a mechanical movement, not an electrical one.
Should the piece that shields the movement on the back of the watch (I'm sure there's a technical term for it) be marked as Rolex, too? On this watch, it's blank.
I'll probably tell the friend to take it to a dealer. I'll tell him to avoid sending it to Rolex.
Thanks for all responses.
There's that German humour slipping out Marcus me old bean !
G.G.V. Lachelnistgesund²
Posted on: 15 October 2004 by JohanR
quote:
Water poured on the sapphire crystal should bead. On glass, the water will sheet.
The cheaper Rolex:es has in fact a plastic crystal!
quote:
Should the piece that shields the movement on the back of the watch (I'm sure there's a technical term for it) be marked as Rolex, too? On this watch, it's blank.
It should be blank.
Go to Rolex dealer and let them have a look, I'm quite sure it's a real one from the description.
JohanR
Posted on: 15 October 2004 by Paul Hutchings
Sounds likely to be real, backs are usually blank, should be a rolex logo on the crown, also if you remove the bracelet the serial number is usually on the case between the lugs (is on the Datejust, not sure if it is on all models).
Best bet is take it to your local Rolex dealers, they should be able to verify it pretty easily.
cheers,
Paul
Posted on: 15 October 2004 by Martin Payne
quote:
Originally posted by Deane F:
So what sort of watches do people post about on the Mana forum?
Deane,
ferrous ones, with damping strips on the glass!
cheers, Martin
E-mail:- MartinPayne (at) Dial.Pipex.com. Put "Naim" in the title.
Posted on: 16 October 2004 by Markus S
I went to the local dealer yesterday with my friend. They said it was a fake, but a pretty good one.
Too bad for him.
Posted on: 16 October 2004 by Berlin Fritz
I can't believe you guys sometimes, at least I waste my time gettin drunk !
Graham George Von Badwineisanono
Posted on: 16 October 2004 by garyi
Put a picture of it on here and we will have a vote!
Posted on: 16 October 2004 by Deane F
quote:
Originally posted by Berlin Fritz:
I can't believe you guys sometimes, at least I waste my time gettin drunk !
Graham George Von Badwineisanono
Wasting your time gettin drunk
and reading this thread.
Timeless, Fritz!
Deane
Posted on: 16 October 2004 by o.j.
If the copy is good ,the only way to tell is
even for an expert is to open the watch and then take alook on the ingredients.
all other things outside are perfect ,concerning perfect so called grade 1
"swiss replicas"(highest and newest fake quality)they use also the same quality of light absorbing and emitting parts like original rolex.
O.J.
