However, when searching for genuine Rolex timepieces, nothing beats buying from a trustworthy source since all the homework has been done on your behalf. While platforms like eBay and Craigslist have become household names for online shopping, they function primarily as intermediaries connecting buyers with sellers. This means they don’t take responsibility for the authenticity of the items sold through their sites.
How to Spot a Fake Rolex Fluted Bezel: Too Smudgey
And what most people don’t realise is that it’s taken Rolex over a century to get to this point. Fifty or so years ago, Rolex was just an upcoming manufacturer of affordable watches for professionals that sat in the shadow of its much older and more accomplished competitors. Through innovation, clever thinking and a whole lot of luck, the Rolex we know today is one of gargantuan proportions. So, the only way to avoid falling prey to this ‘super fake’ Rolex market is to buy Rolex watches from a qualified and authorised watch dealer. 
Fake – A smooth, brushed, or plain crown indicates that the watch could be fake.
- There have been cases where fake Rolex watches have been confiscated at airports during security searches along with being confiscated at the mall.
- A white gold Triplock crown features a larger dot between two smaller ones than the platinum model, which features a small dot between two larger ones.
- If you see the quality of the watch is inappropriate like the dial has incorrect font or spellings, the lume is imperfect, or there are markings on the case and the bracelet, understand it is a replica.
- As we touched on, Rolex watches are made with the best materials on the market.
- All lettering on the face of a Rolex watch should have an exquisitely crisp appearance.
Louis Vuitton Watch Releases
The advantage of sapphire glass that is used in our Rolex Replica designer Watches over regular glass is that the sapphire crystal is much harder, and thus very hard to scratch. Cheap clones use mineral glass, which is 10 times more fragile than sapphire. Sapphire crystal measures 9 on the Mohs mineral hardness scale, followed by Diamonds on 10. Others in the community won’t buy watches from you if they know you are selling or even own fakes. Typically, those who buy Rolex watches want their purchase to be known by collectors and other professionals.
The weight of the watch
So, it’s crucial you are armed with the right knowledge to identify a fake Rolex. Below, we’ll directly compare a real and fake Rolex based on various factors to help you differentiate easily. The GMT-Master and GMT-Master II collections have a unique two-tone bezel in different color combinations. Any Rolex watch with a two-tone bezel will have a distinct line dividing the face of the watch horizontally through the numbers 6 and 18 on the bezel markers. If the two colors appear to bleed into each other or the colors split anywhere else on the bezel besides the numbers 6 and 18, then that watch is a fake Rolex.
Pay extra attention to “neo-vintage” watches
This level of detail in the finish and function is only visible upon opening up its case, revealing the flawless execution expected from such a prestigious brand. Checking the movement remained, until now, an easy way to weed out fakes. Fake Rolex watches are often sold on sketchy websites where you may be asked to put in some personal information. If you don’t pay attention to whether or not the website that you are on is secured or not, you may be giving your credit card information to a fake seller. The time-telling of a fake Rolex would not be as accurate and you would spend a lot of time and resources fixing the time-tracking capabilities.
- Remember, a Rolex is made to the highest standards – if even a minute detail comes across as sub-par, you can be certain that it’s not the real deal.
- And being light doesn’t mean it’s fake–vintage Rolexes are far lighter than new ones, and owners of modern Rolexes sometimes (wrongly) assume old Rolexes are fake because of their lack of heft.
- It should be noted that there are some exceptions to the general rule outlined above.
- In such cases, a reputable seller must always disclose any modification to the original design before sale.
- Additionally, knowing which material a specific Rolex model is made of can also help spot a fake.
Check the wear and tear
In the world of high-end timepieces, Rolex stands out as a beacon of luxury and unmatched quality. Each watch is a masterpiece, featuring the renowned Oystersteel – a 904L grade stainless steel renowned for its exceptional resistance to rust and corrosion. This isn’t just any steel; it’s a material so robust it’s also used in the aerospace and chemical industries. They craft their own exclusive blends of precious metals to guarantee that the look and function of your watch are preserved for a lifetime. If your Rolex was made after 2002, check for a very small crown etched into the crystal at 6 o’clock (above). Post-2005 models also have engraved rehauts reading “ROLEX ROLEX ROLEX” with a serial number at 6 o’clock.
Cyclops Lens
The ceramic bezel doesn’t shimmer; Rolex coats its bezels with a fine layer of platinum dust for exactly this reason – something the counterfeiters can’t copy (yet). Looking at the bracelet, you can see tiny gaps where it meets the case. And on the crown and pushers, the finely brushed and polished finish to the jagged, knurled surfaces isn’t as sophisticated. These are all things you’ll need to examine really closely to pick up, and it’s the same story with the movement. Rolex movements are mechanical and self-winding, while replicas are usually quartz or battery-powered.
Self-Winding or Mechanical Movement
The low-quality black writing, combined with the poor embossing of the Rolex logo, are more signs of a fake. The rehaut plays an important role in knowing how to spot a fake Rolex. Since 2008, all Rolex rehauts have had the “ROLEXROLEXROLEX” engraving. The serial number should be at 6 o’clock, so if the “ROLEXROLEXROLEX” writing goes all the way around with no break for a serial number at the bottom, that’s a sure sign of a cheap fake.
- Every watch in our curated collection is a testament to authenticity, backed by our commitment to transparency and excellence.
- A few vintage ladies’ models actually do say “stainless steel” on the back, and very old Rolexes often have serial/model numbers on the back.
- The band — or bracelet, as Rolex enthusiasts often call it — should lie straight and not kink when laid on a flat surface.
- When you’re making fake watches, you can, quite simply, let your customer act as quality control for you.
- If it feels like there’s been a recent swell in the rise of fake watches, that’s because there has, and it’s all to do with the way technology has changed.
- Some fake clasps are pretty convincing these days, but let’s tackle one that can be pretty quickly dismissed.
- The dial is the centerpiece of any watch and is usually the first thing people notice.
Omega Reissues: A Timeline of Omega’s Vintage Revivals
Do also try to run your finger over the lens – you should feel a bump which is dead-centered over the date. Look for high-quality photos from multiple angles and detailed descriptions. If a seller refuses to provide additional pictures or answer questions, walk away.
How to Spot a Fake Modern Rolex Movement
In addition, the counterfeit models often repeat identical serial and reference numbers, a shortcut that Rolex never takes. Each Rolex boasts unique set of identifiers, with reference numbers that tell its heritage and design story. If you see the quality of the watch is inappropriate like the dial has incorrect font or spellings, the lume is imperfect, or there are markings on the case and the bracelet, understand it is a replica. Fraudsters find it nearly impossible to replicate the kind of finesse each Rolex watch entails.
Avoid marketplaces like eBay, where fake Rolex watches are common, and make sure the photography is at least decent. Smartphone cameras are good enough these days to capture clear photos of a product, so anything blurry premiumrolex.io or out-of-focus is an automatic red flag. Today, almost all Rolex dive watches have the Triplock crown, but older models still in production, including the Submariner 14060M, still use the Twinlock technology.
On The Wrist: Vintage Tudor Submariner 75090 Review
There are a lot of little details to contend with, right down to things like the shape of the luminous paint plots and the specific shade of colour the text is. In some cases, these differences will be down to the limitations of production—in others, they’re merely mistakes that slipped through the net. Rolex swears by 8 uncompromising gold standards, ensuring the watches reach unprecedented accuracy, technical brilliance, and distinction.
The Top 10 Luxury Watch Brands in 2025
A yellow gold or steel Twinlock crown has a bar, while a platinum Rolex model has a single dot. A white gold Triplock crown features a larger dot between two smaller ones than the platinum model, which features a small dot between two larger ones. When searching for indications of a counterfeit Rolex, there are various features on the watch case that reveal its authenticity or lack thereof. As previously mentioned, authentic Rolex timepieces are made of the finest quality materials, which is typically the most apparent indication of whether a Rolex watch is genuine or fake.
It used to be commonplace for Rolex to replace worn-out parts when performing a service, and that was also what most customers wanted. You just want to make sure that any parts that were replaced are disclosed in the sale because all-original Rolexes are generally more valuable. Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches are of course famous for their water resistance.
A Rolex’s serial number is found where the bracelet meets the case of the watch, below 6 o’clock. The model number on the other hand, is found between the lugs above 12 o’clock, accompanied by the text “ORIG ROLEX DESIGN” right above the number. When you are looking at Rolex watches, try to find all the information you can about what materials the watch or particular model is made with. If you are looking at a watch in person, such as when buying from a private individual, you will need to use other methods to check the materials of the watch.
Red Flag Serial Numbers
On a fake Rolex watch, this lens might be of lower quality, misaligned, or may not magnify the date properly. This feature is unique to Rolex, so if you are looking at another luxury brand featuring one, then also do question the authenticity. All Rolex watches made from 2002 onward have a tiny etched crown logo at the six o’clock position, which can take a magnifying glass to make out clearly. As of 2002, Rolex started including a tiny micro-etching of the Rolex crown, aka the “coronet,” on the crystal at the 6 o’clock position. Extremely difficult to see without a loupe and almost impossible to replicate properly, this mini marking is a hallmark of authentic Rolex watches. Another marking of authenticity sits under the sapphire crystal on the rehaut, which is engraved with “ROLEX ROLEX ROLEX” all around, along with the serial number engraving at 6 o’clock.
The gears and springs inside a real Rolex are assembled with an unwavering commitment to precision and showcase flawless execution. 
Real – Many Rolex watches have a date on the dial, magnified with a Cyclops lens. This signature magnifying lens adorns the crystal over the date window. An authentic Rolex has the Cyclops lens bulging outward in a convex shape above the date display, enhancing the date with 2.5 times magnification.
Additionally, modern Rolex watches made in 2001 and later have a tiny laser-etched coronet/crown (LEC) on the glass at 6 o’clock. This feature is hard to replicate, and its implementation varies across different Rolex models. Therefore, researching when the LEC feature was applied to a specific Rolex model is advisable. Rolex watches have a smooth, continuous movement of the second hand, often described as a sweeping motion. There is one design / model which is an exception to this, the Rolex Oysterquartz, which runs on a quartz movement instead of a self-winding or mechanical one, and does exhibit a ‘ticking’ motion and sound.
In fact, Rolex made history in 1926 by creating the first waterproof wristwatch. Today, Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches have a minimum water resistance of 330 feet (100 meters). The Rolex Submariner is water-resistant to 1,000 feet (300 meters) while the Sea-Dweller is water-resistant to 4,000 feet (1,220 meters).
Of course the issue is not Rolex exclusive, it is a huge problem for all luxury watch brands. A Rolex is not only a luxury item but also an investment that can hold its value (or become more valuable) over many years. Rolex uses Twinlock and Triplock crowns on its watches to ensure that they’re waterproof. The two different types are identified by small markings under the Rolex coronet. Other models that feature Twinlock crowns include the Sky-Dweller and the Datejust. From the Air King to the Yachtmaster, Rolex watches have a consistent font style that’s unique to the brand.
