How to ID a Fake Rolex

Not all imitation watches are so easy to spot.

You don't have to do much searching to find an inexpensive "Rolex" replica; a quick internet search will yield hundreds of thousands of results. If you happen to be on Canal Street in New York City, you won't even have to go to the vendor stands, the vendors will come to you to reveal their "authentic" selections. Most discerning shoppers know that you probably won't be able to purchase an authentic Rolex if you're approached in this manner, but there are some specific ways to determine whether a Rolex is real or fake.

Instructions

1. Check the packaging. Your genuine Rolex watch should come in a Rolex box, not wrapped in a plastic bag.

2. Weigh the watch. You don't have to put it on a scale, simply holding it in your hand will reveal if it's real or not. Authentic Rolex watches are much heavier than counterfeit models made with cheap materials.

3. Look at the back of the watch. Authentic Rolex watches have a hologram sticker on the caseback with the Rolex logo. If you take the sticker off and see a clear caseback that displays the interior mechanisms, the watch is fake.

4. Find the crown logo. Real Rolex watches have this logo etched below the 6 o'clock position.

5. Put your ear down to the watch face. If the watch is authentic you should not be able to hear it ticking.

6. Observe as the second hand on the watch works its way around the watch face; it should move smoothly instead of in a jerking motion.

7. Drip one drop of water on the clock face. If it beads up, you probably have an authentic model. If it smears it may be a fake. Rolex watch faces are covered in sapphire glass, which is waterproof.

References

• Quality Tyme: Rolex or Replica
• WIRED: Gadget Lab
• Product Dose: How to Spot a Fake Rolex