How To Spot A Fake Rolex
Spotting The Fake Rolex
Owning a Rolex watch is seen as an indication of wealth, success and secretly desired by all. Extremely valuable and, ‘the ultimate horological status symbol’. A Rolex watch can be a major financial investment. Pre-owned watches maintain most of their value and some models can cost over £30,000 to buy. It is advisable to purchase your Rolex watch from a reputable dealer, this will guarantee that it is genuine and will have the relevant documentation. If you have either been gifted or inherited a Rolex watch you may need to get it valued to ensure that it is authentic. Here are some tips to help you ascertain if your Rolex watch is indeed the real deal.
Every Second Counts
In 1914 the Kew Observatory awarded Rolex with the prestigious Class A certification for precision, which previously had only been reserved for marine chronographs. This precision results in a smooth second hand movement while quartz replicas visibly stutter. Rolex watches don’t tick so if your watch is making any type of sound it is worth investigating further.
How Heavy Is It?
When you are handed a genuine Rolex you will be surprised with its weight and how robust it feels. This is due the expensive metals used and the high quality craftsmanship. Counterfeit watches tend to feel flimsy and are much lighter because they are made from lower quality materials. Genuine Rolex watches are described as having, ‘heft’, and are not famous for being light weight.
The Back Is Clear
Rolex watches do not have anything engraved on the back and only rare special editions have a see through back. Therefore if your watch has any type of engraving at all referring to the branding then it is likely to be fake. The only engraving you should see on a Rolex watch would be a personal one from the sender to the recipient.
Magnification
Rolex watches with a date window are magnified using a cyclops window that magnifies the numbers by 2.5 times. Fake watches generally only magnify by 1.5 times and the difference is very noticeable.
Where Are You Buying It From?
If you are about to buy your watch from a Del Boy character at the local market for £50 you would be a complete fool to believe that it is authentic. You will want to be certain that your Rolex watch is genuine. It is advisable to contact a Rolex authorised retailer as they are the only ones who are allowed to sell and maintain Rolex watches. If you want to find your nearest retailer visit the official Rolex website.
When the watch you wish to purchase is within the £500 bracket you should still proceed with caution. Most second-hand Rolex watches sell for a minimum of £2000.