An authentic Rolex watch is more than just a timepiece – it’s an investment that can be handed down through generations, increasing in value while at the same time providing useful service to its wearer for a lifetime. That is, if it’s real.
Every year, thousands of fake Rolex luxury watches fool consumers, and it’s important to make sure that you don’t get taken in when purchasing one.There are a number of basic steps to ensure you aren’t fooled by a fake timepiece, but the clues here are dead giveaways that you are dealing with a fake Rolex.
Clue #1: The Weight
Rolex watch materials are alloyed on-site and made with the highest quality materials. Because of this, they are heavier than mass-produced knock-offs, which weigh less. A Rolex is simply a heavier watch than the average because it is made individually with serious care taken to ensure a quality timepiece. If you have any concerns about a timepiece you want to purchase, go to an official Rolex dealer. They should allow you to feel the difference physically between a real Rolex and a knock-off without even opening your eyes.
Clue #2: The Cyclops
The cyclops is one of the biggest clues on the Rolex for authenticity. A cyclops is a small magnifying lens which appears over the date indicator of the watch to make the date clearly bigger. Signs that you’re dealing with a fake are unclear numbering beneath the cyclops, as well as poor magnification. If the cyclops isn’t even present or obvious on the watch, there’s no need to look further—the watch you’re looking at is likely a fake.
Clue #3: The Lettering
Rolex watches are lettered with great care, from their branding to their serial numbers. A quick look at a Rolex will show that every letter on the watch is completely clear and easy to read. With few exceptions, knock-offs are often quite hard to read. Another indicator that something is wrong is that the classic Rolex crown logo which defines the watch is often missing on a knock-off, and is very hard to reproduce. As an added security feature, Rolex has begun the process of engraving a small crown at the glass of the six o’clock hand. If there is no crown present on a newer watch—or no crown at all on an older model—there is a good chance you are dealing with a knock-off Rolex.
Conclusion: The Overall Feel of the Rolex is Different
The above clues are obvious giveaways, but they testify to the way in which a Rolex is made. Rolexes are hand-assembled and tested of the finest steels, which don’t lend themselves to counterfeit easily. While there are many different ways to tell a real Rolex from a knock-off, in the end, one can quickly tell from the feel of a Rolex if a watch even deserves further investigation. The way that Rolex designs watches is just that different.
