How Do I Distinguish Between a “genuine” and “replica” Rolex?

Today many people are using the internet as a means to buy and sell their Rolex watches and other luxury products. Around 650,000 to 800,000 watches are produced by Rolex in a year. Unfortunately about ten times more fake watches are produced each year. Such forgery business once carried out and limited to the street vendors has grown into a multi-million dollar industry. With fake products looking so similar to the original ones, it's quite difficult to tell the difference between an original and a fake, unlike before. This is mainly due to the fake products having almost similar markings as the originals that make it difficult to differentiate between the two. In fact you'll be surprised to know that the counterfeiters have gone so far as to include a replicated authenticity paper making it seem almost original.

Fake products are improving each day and most of the time only an experienced watchmaker can distinguish the difference. We have made this conclusion since the fakes watches are very similar to the “genuine” watches. Unfortunately, many people may have seen or purchased fake Rolex's because they were not well-educated about the watches. Although a true connoisseur may quickly point out which is an original $5,000 Rolex from a $50 fake one, the countless number of fake Rolexes in the market can affect the demand. So Rolex allocates time and money every year to regulate fake watches. And thus the purity of the brand is long-lasting unlike other companies.

In the midst of countless counterfeits and crooked jewelers, we at Melrose continue to promote honesty and integrity. Every Rolex that we sell here at Melrose Jewelers is GUARANTEED to be a “genuine” product. We cannot emphasize this enough. While we personalize our watches by adding some features such as aftermarket diamond dials and bezels along with replacing stretched out links or bands on certain models, rest assured that every watch that we sell is 100% “genuine” Rolex.

In order to ensure that you purchase a “genuine” Rolex, there are many procedures that you can follow. A “genuine” Rolex is perfect in every aspect such as detailing, quality and craftsmanship. We strongly advise you to visit your local Rolex Dealer and inspect the different types of Rolex watches. Feel the quality of the watch and you should be able to tell an authentic Rolex strap from a fake one. To increase your knowledge and awareness of the Rolex watches, question your sales representative on various features of a genuine Rolex watch. Learn more about its uniqueness, functionalities etc.

Research other ways that will help you understand and distinguish a fake from a “genuine” watch. The Rolex Report, An Unauthorized Reference Book for the Rolex Enthusiast, 4th Edition by John E. Brozek, is strongly recommended. First time buyers as well as frequent buyers recommend this informative book. Over 300 pages of relevant material which saves research time when one is considering purchasing a genuine Rolex, especially if it is a pre-owned watch.

Professionals use four main verification methods to tell a fake from a “genuine” Rolex. These methods include checking the serial number, model number, case back ID, and Movement Signature. In essence, look between its bottom lugs (part where the band connects to case), top lugs and opening the case back. This is the most efficient way to distinguish between a “genuine” and fake Rolex.

Clear Case backs – Notice that Rolex does not make watches with clear case backs. So if you find one that has a clear case back it is definitely not a “genuine” Rolex watch.

Engraved Case backs – No logos or slogans are engraved on a Rolex case back. You won't even find any engravings on it. The only exception to this case is the Ladies model (circa 1990’s) and the “Sea-Dweller” model.

Hologram Stickers – A simple way to distinguish between a fake and a “genuine” is to check the case back. A “genuine” Rolex watch comes with a 3-D hologram-encoded sticker on the case back. Moreover you can clearly identify the Rolex “crown” trademark which is place right above the case reference number. In most cases, the 3-D effect is not even identifiable in a fake hologram sticker.

Date Magnification – Common errors made by replicas include the cyclops being much smaller and not aligned properly, a large font date is another feature to fool a customer. With the case of genuine watches, all of the genuine ones feature the cyclops that magnifies the date by 2.5x, the only exception being the “Sea-Dweller”.

Triplock Crown Seal – The three Rolex models, namely the Sea-Dweller, Submariner and Daytona feature the “Triplock crown”. While a replica does not have a seal, a genuine Rolex uses the extra seal by the rubber o-ring on the winding tube. This is worth a mention as many original Rolex parts and accessories can also be replaced by fake ones, and so in the cases of pre-owned Rolexes this should be kept in mind.

Micro-etched Crystal – The Rolex “coronet” or “crown” just under the 6 o'clock marker was micro-etched on all Rolexes from the year 2002. If you use a jeweler's loupe, you will notice that in comparison to a replica, the “genuine” crown is much more evident and robust. In addition, fake ones have a poor overall design.