Guide on Identifying Fake Rolex

[JeepWH]

A guide to all those who are planning to buy a Rolex. This guide details how to spot a fake Rolex, all methods are gathered from online sources and pawnshop owners.


  (1) Price of the watch

If the price of the Rolex offered is too low to beleive, it probably is fake.

  (2) Caseback

Rolex does not make watches with display caseback or engraved caseback. (exception is Sea Dweller model with engraved with "ROLEX OYSTER  ORIGINAL GAS ESCAPE VALVE" on the caseback).


Fake with clear caseback.


Fake with engravings.

  (3) Weight

A real Rolex will feel heavy and solid in your hand. When you move the bracelet aroung it will not make any noise but flex smoothly according to the movement of the hand.

  (4) Dial Printing

Some lower grade fakes will have errors in printing on the dial, such as misspelled words. The printing on a real Rolex will be crisp and clear. If examined through a loupe it will not have excess ink on the side, it will be flush with the dial.



  (5) Hands

The watch hands will be thick and not thin. The lume on the hands will also be evenly applied. The second hand will extend onto the seconds marker. Fakes usually have thin hands and short second hands.


Fake with short hands.


Fake with thin hands.

  (6) Hologram sticker on case back

All original Rolex comes with a green hologram with the word ROLEX repeated on the design, when viewed from different angles. A hologram crown is also printed in the middle of the sticker. The serial number of the watch is printed in black ink below the holographic crown. Fakes usually have non holographic labels.



  (7) Engraved serial number.

All new Rolex have serial numbers engraved between the lugs at the 6 o'clock position. Real Rolex engraving is clean and crisp, fakes usually have etched numbers. At the 12 0'clock position between the lugs will be engraved Original Rolex Design. The serial number is also engraved on the chapter ring at the 6 o'clock position.





  ( Engraving on the Clasp

Real Rolex clasps are solid and the Rolex word is engraved onto the folding parts and not stamped or etched as in fakes.



  (9) Cyclops Date magnifier

Real Rolex cyclops magnifier will magnify the date by 2.5x and the date will seem to fill up the lens. Fake Rolex lenses are usually not magnifying at all.



  (10) Rolex triplock crown

Real Rolex such as Submariner, Sea Dweller and Daytona features the triplock crown. On real Rolex there will be a visible rubber seal when the crown is unscrewed.



  (11) Laser Engraved Crown (LEC)

New Rolex features a micro laser engraved crown (LEC) at the 6 o'clock position on the crystal. This will be visible under a loupe. On real Rolex the LEC is very crisp. On fakes, the LEC is actually etched and are usally blurred and the balls dimensions are smaller. Rolex with replaced crystal during servicing has a s in the bottom of the LEC.


Real LEC


Fake LEC


Original replaced crystal with LEC

  (12) Inside movement.

The best way to tell is actually to have a watchmaker open the caseback to see the movement inside.

This is just a basic guide and to all others out there feel free to contribute if you have other info. Hope this helps. 

Note: All photos credit goes to the respective websites.

[dpkong]

Some clarifications..

1. Or stolen goods

2. There are after-market clear caseback you can install on Rolex watches.

3. People with no experience won't know the "weight" of a Rolex

4. The printing is not flush. Letters actually look like they are embossed on the dial.

5. The Zenith based Daytona has thinner hands than the 4130 based Daytona

6. I don't think Rolex puts holograms anymore on the caseback. Now it's mostly just a clear sticker.

7. The latest Rolex now has the serial engraved on the chapter ring at 6 o'clock and not between the lugs. Some intermediate models have them in both places.

11. Not all service crystals have the "s"

[JeepWH]

Thanks for the update, the pawnshops i go usually deal with older models of Rolex

[erin8817]

Another tip for Submariner.

Bezel clicks. It takes 120 'clicks' to make a full circle on a genuine Submariner. Fakes often fail to copy this feature correctly.
Quick test: count the clicks for a quarter of a turn. You should count 30 clicks. 30 x 4 == 120 just like a real one.

[Yoda]

Yap

Thanks for the information. Since you have experience with old Rolex, do you notice there are some quality differences compare with the new ones?

I notice the old ones the crown logo is seated upright when fully wound in. While the new ones are observed with the crown upside down. And for those with bezels the 12 o'clock does not exactly point at the inner dial 12 0'clock. Its genuine though as these samples are from the authorized AD.

So I think for those looking for new Rolex should take note of this too.

 

[mykita]

On old rolex-es, there are many amazing quality fakes/frankens out there. The problems with the cyclops, dial printing, etc, are non-existant in these franken/fakes. Old rolex-es are a real minefield but that is what makes collecting vintage so fun.

It is also sometimes difficult to follow general rules because there are too many "variations" in old rolexes. I have learnt: minute markers vary on 1675s; 5513s have 5512s casebacks and vice versa are normal; Tritum aging should match the watch age; You can also "age" a dial.

I think the best is always buy the seller and do as much research as possible (you need to know your stuff). I am still learning till this day. Just my $0.02.

[2ndOpinion]

Good thread.

From experience, "if it's too good to be true, it usually is". Ability to be able to reasonably size up the seller, even test his integrity, works great.

RSC (Rolex Service Center) as a last resort is well worth the fee for peace of mind. And the payment receipt as a de facto confirmation of authenticity is worth the fee itself sans supporting papers for the watch.

[noobzpro]

Sometimes it not just about the outside....the inside worries me more...what parts they have changed and all...Cant be too sure so just send to rsc for a verification is the best

[JeepWH]

Yap

Thanks for the information. Since you have experience with old Rolex, do you notice there are some quality differences compare with the new ones?

I notice the old ones the crown logo is seated upright when fully wound in. While the new ones are observed with the crown upside down. And for those with bezels the 12 o'clock does not exactly point at the inner dial 12 0'clock. Its genuine though as these samples are from the authorized AD.

So I think for those looking for new Rolex should take note of this too.

 

Yeah, the shop owners I spoke to who sometimes has brand new Rolexes for sale did mention that customers sometimes questioned him about this. My take on it is maybe with the increased demand for Rolex, i.e China & Russia, the QC might not be as stringent as it was in the past. Anyway, it has been mentioned on other forums, Rolex is merely a status icon albeit with good quality too. However it does not belong to haute horology.

[JeepWH]

Sometimes it not just about the outside....the inside worries me more...what parts they have changed and all...Cant be too sure so just send to rsc for a verification is the best

I agree with you, however for most it does not warrant the extra cost. Unless you plan on selling it away in the future or if it is a vintage piece, then it is worth the price RSC charges. The last I heard RSC charges a bomb for it. BTW for your info, if the bezel has been changed with a aftermarket blinged up diamond set bezel (as many ppl like to do) RSC will most probably not issue a authentication as to them it is 'not original'. They won't even service it, from what I hear.

[JeepWH]

Hey all, here is an update on how to identify the dots on a Rolex winding crown.


Crown dots and measurements following case types.



General Crown identification.


Hope these helps.

[kiamat]

to tell a fake rolex from an original one you will need at least some experience of owning an original rolex. it is the same as genuine car parts, jewelry, pens, etc

so far i have not come across any fake rolex that crown winding is clockwise like an original rolex.

i guess this might be due to fakes using ETA which wind anti-clockwise.

i have spoken on this topic with Enkidu and he suggested referring to rolex weight charts.

[swleong]

Is a relieve to learn that 'scratch your watch hard with cigarette lighter' is not part of the means to verify Rolex authenticity 

[JeepWH]

to tell a fake rolex from an original one you will need at least some experience of owning an original rolex. it is the same as genuine car parts, jewelry, pens, etc

so far i have not come across any fake rolex that crown winding is clockwise like an original rolex.

i guess this might be due to fakes using ETA which wind anti-clockwise.

i have spoken on this topic with Enkidu and he suggested referring to rolex weight charts.

Here are the weight charts, thanks for the update.

[JeepWH]

Is a relieve to learn that 'scratch your watch hard with cigarette lighter' is not part of the means to verify Rolex authenticity 

That will be a terrible way to do it. Any watch will scratch if u use a cigarette lighter.

[kiamat]

to tell a fake rolex from an original one you will need at least some experience of owning an original rolex. it is the same as genuine car parts, jewelry, pens, etc

so far i have not come across any fake rolex that crown winding is clockwise like an original rolex.

i guess this might be due to fakes using ETA which wind anti-clockwise.

i have spoken on this topic with Enkidu and he suggested referring to rolex weight charts.

Here are the weight charts, thanks for the update.

 

[JeepWH]

 

[Aero100]

should hv read this 1st.... but "experience" tells me, unless u r very well versed in watches or the particular model, best is get new and not pre-owned. 

[windstruckk]

(11) Laser Engraved Crown (LEC)

New Rolex features a micro laser engraved crown (LEC) at the 6 o'clock position on the crystal. This will be visible under a loupe. On real Rolex the LEC is very crisp. On fakes, the LEC is actually etched and are usally blurred and the balls dimensions are smaller. Rolex with replaced crystal during servicing has a s in the bottom of the LEC.

The genuine etching on the crystal is very hard to be seen. It requires very specific lighting angle to reveal it.

Where else the fake ones they make it too obvious. With a slight tilt you can almost see it surfacing already.

[JeepWH]

Thanks for the update. 
Keep it up everyone. 

[kiamat]

should hv read this 1st.... but "experience" tells me, unless u r very well versed in watches or the particular model, best is get new and not pre-owned. 

even if you are well versed in watches you still gotta trust the seller.

anyway, for your first watch i would recommend getting it from boutiques or authorised dealers.

[JeepWH]

should hv read this 1st.... but "experience" tells me, unless u r very well versed in watches or the particular model, best is get new and not pre-owned. 

even if you are well versed in watches you still gotta trust the seller.

anyway, for your first watch i would recommend getting it from boutiques or authorised dealers.

Yup, trust is the most important factor and the first that one should consider above all else.