The Rolex Counterfeit Industry

Since Rolex has been considered the very top of the line in both quality and performance in the field of luxury watches for almost a century, the company and the brand have had to suffer the crime of counterfeiting. It is all too common to find fake or duplicate Rolex watches sold all over the world. You can find them offered at all different prices, ranging from $25 to $1500. In an official report published by Rolex itself, it has been claimed that the counterfeit Rolex industry is growing at an enormous pace. In fact, the total number of fake Rolex watches produced every year is 10 times what Rolex actually produces in its own facilities.

Known as “Folex” or “Trolex” or “Fauxlex”, the fake Rolex watches are available on the street as well as over the Internet. The business of fake Rolex watches over the Internet via e-mail spam has grown rapidly in recent years. It is worth noting that the quality of these fakes is quite astounding. Some of the counterfeits are so good and exact that even trained jewelers sometimes can be fooled.

Mass Produced Counterfeit Rolex Watches :-

The mass produced Counterfeit Rolex watches are available in the market at a price as low as $25. This category includes a wide range of counterfeit watches starting from low-level replicas to high-level replicas

A. Cheap Low Level Replicas: These watches primarily are produced in China and Taiwan and serve the fantasy of people who wish to flaunt a purchase engraved with the name “Rolex”. They wear such cheap fakes irrespective of their poor functioning or appearance so they can be associated falsely with the very best. Some of the prominent features that may help you identify them as fake include the following —

1. Incorrect stamps, model number engravings or hallmarks on the caseback, and even featuring clear casebacks.

2. Lightweight and even flimsy in construction.

3. Quartz movements requiring a battery. This becomes evident if the second hand ticks instead of the standard sweep movement.

4. The movement and the inside caseback contains no Rolex markings.

5. The dial sporting poor markings (often incorrect), wrong sized hands, poor quality Cyclops with no magnifying effect.

6. Brassy finish in the case of gold versions and such a finish usually wears off in a few months.

7. Bracelets featuring “push pins”, and not the screws used in authentic Rolex watches.

8. Loose crowns and bezels.

9. Non- functional registers in special Rolex models such as the Daytona.


B. Improved Versions of Low Level Replicas: As low-level replicas are easily identifiable, some counterfeit Rolex manufacturers have started improving on certain features. Moreover, to increase the demand of such watches from a high class of customer, they have started offering their watches over the Internet, charging comparatively higher prices ($200 and sometimes more). These watches are on the heavier side, but not as heavy as a genuine Rolex. Although these watches have a brassy finish, the quality of the gold plating is better than the low level replicas.

For The Full article please visit the Melrose Jewelers Rolex Information & Education section at : http://www.melrosejewelers.co.uk/content/rolex_education_rolex_counterfeit_industry.htm