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Step 1
The first step is consider the source. Buying online from someone who is not a known jeweler selling high end watches will get you a fake, even if you pay a lot. Online auctions are full of fakes. It will always be a risk if you can't handle the watch before buying. Online photos may be of a real Rolex and then what comes to you in the mail is the fake. Real Rolex dealers don't work from gmail or hotmail accounts and have phone numbers that always have the mailbox full. They also don't vend high end watches from street corners in New York, Mexico or large Asian cities. If you want a real watch buy from a know jeweler or have a knowledgeable dealer check out the watch before you drop the big bucks. If it is much cheaper than you thought it would be it is fake.
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Step 2
Look at the hand movement. Real Rolex watches have a very smooth sweeping second hand and minute and hour hands move smooth as well. If it ticks, moves jerky at all, or ever hesitates, it is fake.
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Step 3
Check the weight and quality of the watch and band. Real Rolexes are well made and heavy. The band edges are finished. Cheap fakes have open band links or hollow links. The watch should be solid and substantial with no flaws.
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Step 4
Look at the lettering and workmanship with a high powered jewelers loop. The lettering should be perfect even under high magnification. The serial number and case number should be very smoothly engraved with fine detail. Any roughness or lack of clarity in the engraved number it is fake.
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Step 5
Etched Rolex coronetA real Rolex made after 2002 has a micro etched Rolex coronet logo under the 6 o:clock position near where it says Swiss made. It is very small. It may be hard to see without being magnified. When magnified it will be well engraved and perfect. Any sloppiness or roughness and it is a fake Rolex. The face has a sapphire crystal, not glass. It will be very smooth and not scratch easily. Water will bead up on it as it is so smooth and perfect. The modern Rolexes have a cyclops magnification bubble over the date that magnifies 2.5 times. It is perfectly centered over the date. Knockoffs are often glass and only magnify 1.5 times and the bubble is not always perfect.
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Step 6
Many fake Rolexes have a clear skeleton back case to show the movement quality. These are all fake. Rolex only has 2 know examples of watches with a skeleton case. Both are vintage 1930s and were not production models. Also there are not engraved logos or hallmarks on the case back of a real Rolex. There is a hologram sticker on the back case of newer Rolexes. The fakes don't often have a hologram image. It may have multiple images but not often a good hologram. Look at a real one in a fine jeweley store and see what I mean.
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Step 7
Lastly if you are buying the real thing because you can afford it why chance online or a private unknown seller. Go with a dealer that has a brick and mortar store and a good reputation. If you worry about where you are buying the Rolex and have lots of unanswered questions you may well be buying a fake. If you want a fake buy the fake. If you want the real thing spend the money and know you bought from someone who will back it up and be there for years to come.
Comments
betterbody said
on 5/20/2009 Thanks for the details on spotting a fake Rolex.
johnrapp said
on 5/19/2009 i wish i'd have read your article on how to identify fake rolexes a long time ago. 5 stars!
e-Rambler said
on 5/18/2009 Interesting article and I had fun reading it. Good to know how to identify fake Rolexes.
Gardengates said
on 5/5/2009 I'd love to have a Rolex, but I've always stopped watches. Now I just have to hang out with other people who have Rolex watches so I can ask them for the time! :-)
Mitestarossa said
on 5/4/2009 Thanks, I keep a look out for a fake Rolex.