I'm about to buy a new Rolex. This guy who sells clocks on the street showed me a really nice Rolex clock and he assures me that it is a real one. I have no idea how to tell whether a Rolex is real or fake. How can I tell, is there something printed on the clock that indicates it's an original?
Rolex watches are probably one of the most copied watches in the world.
Probably one of the easiest ways to identify a fake Rolex is by the caseback. Counterfeiters will often use a clear display, or "skeleton" caseback, thus allowing you to view the inner workings of the watch. The problem is Rolex does not make such a watch, therefore, these models are easily identified as counterfeit.
Take a look at the second hand. Is it ticking or is it sweeping? If it’s ticking, that’s your fake. A Rolex second hand sweeps around in one continuous motion. But beware, as of 2005, the good fakes have caught up to this technology.
The crystal on authentic Rolex watches features a “Cyclops bubble” that offers 2.5 times magnification of the date. On fake Rolex watches, this bubble is often off-center or made of glass, and usually approaches only 1.5 times the magnification.
A real Rolex has a 3D hologram encoded sticker on the caseback. For models produced after 2002, a Rolex crown can be viewed on the sticker, and it changes patterns when you see it from different angles. A replica usually has a repetitious Rolex pattern printed on it, but does not change when viewed from other angles.
Tiny Crystal Crown: Only recently (after 2002), Rolex has introduced a tiny crown logo, etched onto the crystal at the area around the six o'clock direction. It is best seen with a magnifying device. Please note, this feature may not be applicable to all Rolex watches.
These are some clues to identify a fake Rolex, I hope it helps.
