How to Know If a Rolex Is Fake or Real
The global jewelry market is flooded with fake Rolex watches to the point that detecting what is real and what is fake is difficult if you don't know what to look for. Having a Rolex on your wrist signifies style, quality and success so it's not surprising that fake copies have emerged on such a huge scale, particularly on the Internet and street markets in cities all over the world. But naturally, when you are willing to pay big money for a Rolex, you want to ensure you are getting the real thing to show for it. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Look at the back of the watch, which is called the "case back." According to Quality Tyme, a counterfeit Rolex will have a clear back allowing you to see the mechanics of the watch. An authentic Rolex does not have a clear case back. If the back of the watch has any engravings, this is also an indication that it is a replica. Real Rolexes do not have engravings, with the exception of the pre-1990 ladies' model that has "Original Rolex Design" circularly engraved around the case back. Another exception is the Sea-Dweller, which has "Rolex Oyster Original Gas Escape Valve" circularly engraved on the case back.
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Identify whether the Rolex has a genuine hologram sticker. The face of a new Rolex watch is protected with a hologram sticker that features the trademark "crown." Most fakes will simply have a transparent sticker that does not alter in appearance if held at different angles or in different lights.
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Watch how the watch ticks. According to Jewelry Secrets, the second hand on a genuine Rolex ticks at eight ticks a second and moves extremely smoothly so that the tick itself is hard to identify. A fake Rolex ticks in a much jerkier fashion and at only one tick per second so the tick is much more pronounced.
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Examine what covers the watch face and the material that it is made out of. On an authentic Rolex, the face is protected by sapphire crystal, which is extremely durable and scratch resistant. A counterfeit Rolex normally has a glass cover, according to Jewelry Secrets, which will scratch easily and dull in its appearance very quickly.
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Hold the watch in your hand and feel the weight of it. A Rolex replica is much lighter than a real Rolex because fakes are made of a base metal instead of much heavier metals like gold or steel.
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Look at the band of the watch. According to Jewelry Secret, if it has hollow links and pins holding the links together, it is a fake. A real Rolex has solid links that are held together by screws.
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Check that the watch has serial numbers. These are found behind the watch band so you will need to ask the retailer to remove the band for you in order to see this. If the watch doesn't have a serial number, it is a fake because all authentic models have these.
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Check the price and if it has a warranty. According to Jewelry Secrets, you should expect to pay $2,000 and above for a brand new genuine Rolex. If the retailer is offering less, it is likely to be a fake. A real Rolex should also come with a warranty, which fakes don't provide.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to be certain that you are buying an authentic Rolex, purchasing from an authorized Rolex dealer will give you this guarantee and piece of mind. Authorized dealers can be found on the official Rolex website.
Buying your Rolex from a street vendor or on the Internet is not recommended. It is more difficult to verify the watch's authenticity with this method of purchase.
