Help.....authenticity of a Rolex??
 

How does one determine the authenticity of a pre owned submariner? A buddy and I are looking to buy one each and have located them but how do you determine they are genuine?

I have read the posts on here about the original fakes and they look pretty damn genuine. This is a big purchase and we wantto make sure we don't get burned.

Also, are the 2 tone models gold wrapped or solid 18k?

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Take them to a qualified jewler who can tell you if they are real or fake. Or buy new from a Rolex dealer.

Say you take them to a qualified jeweler and they have an issue...will they keep the watch? The guy I am buying them from is a personal friend and jeweler. My issue is not with him but with the people he buys them from. He generally buy them from other jewelers who pick them up at estate sales and such. Lets say he is passed a bad apple...how can I catch it? If I bring it to another jeweler as he suggests and it turns out he is getting burned, will they keep this watch? Obviously he wouldn't expect me to buy it but I would have to return it.

I ask these questions as I have a buddy that got burned in S. Florida.

A friend of mine told me that on a real Rolex the second hand sweeps smooothly,a fake one has the second hand that has a slight jerk while moving like a normal watch.

They can tell you it's a fake but I can't see why they they would not return it to you.

Take it to a jeweler that is familiar with rolex watches. He will have a special tool that is needed to remove the back so he can check the authenticity of the movement inside. He shold also be able to peg the year for you. Some of the fakes are very good and reproduce the fast tick of the real thing, so dont go by that. Having the boxes and tags is also a good sign, heck, ive had jewelers that deal in used rolexs offer my $100 for each of my boxes. The 18k on real rolex watches is solid. I dont think youll have an issue with the jeweler keeping the watch. It isnt his, its not stolen, no reason for him to keep it. Good luck with your hopefully authentic sub purchase.

A good friend of mine is a jeweler. He has purchased good replicas for some of his customers to knock around in. The replicas that he gets seem so authentic you can only determine by opening them up.

If it's hot they'll probably keep it just long enough for men in Blue to arrive... :D

when the men in blue arrive, i will sing loud and clear!

All newer watches come with a green sticker on the back of the case with the Rolex emblem and a model number. I've worn mine every day for the last 4 years and the sticker is still there. The movement is not a totally smooth sweep, there is a perceptable dwell but it's very subtle. The mechical movement and case are very heavy and usually there is a big difference between the weight of a knockoff (quartz movement) and the real thing.

Luxy60, Have we ever meet at the NASWA?

CALL OR LOOK UP GRAY AND SONS ON THE NET ,THEIR ALWAYS AT THE MIAMI BOAT SHOW AND HONEST PEOPLE .
THE SECOND HAND IS SMOOTH AND THE SERIAL NUMBER IS UNDER BAND BRACKETS AND NEWER ONES ARE SOILID 18K OLDER ARE 14 K . ,BEST IS TO TAKE APART AND JEWELER SHOULD NOT KEEP PERIOD IF SERIAL NUMBER IS NOT SCRATCHED OFF UNDER BAND ,PM ME IF NEED MORE HELP
I HAVE A NEW TWO TONE DAYTONA FOR SALE WITH ALL PAPERS ECT AND GREEN STICKER
THANKS

I agree...I have not seen a knockoff that I could not tell the difference between it and my Rolex.

My green sticker wore off and my wifes fell off. Both were bought from repuatable dealers. Both 2002 Yacht masters and both seem to "tick" about 3 times per second it's not totaly a smooth sweep.

I just bought two in NYC from a guy on the corner with the sweeping hands and the sticker, YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER to tell if you are buying the real deal. I've got a TAG that three jewelry stores have said was real that I also bought there in Sept.

The "tick" is either three or four times per second (I get dizzy trying to count).

The Rolex S/N is chemically etched in black on the side of the case and is visible if you remove the band.

Green sticker stays on well if the watch is worn as an occasional watch, but will come off if the watch is worn daily. Also, the sticker must be removed for engraving.

Rolex gold is solid on all parts except the band trim pieces that go between the band links and the case itself (those are thickly plated on 2-tone watches).

1989-ish and older oyster perpetuals have plastic crystals. Newer ones have mineral crystals (I think all Submariners are mineral but not sure).

A dealer will have no trouble determining whether it is real or not, but should remove the back to verify the movement.

good luck

My green sticker wore off too. If in doubt, I agree about removing the back.

Attitude, not that I can recall but I've spent plenty of time (& money) there over the years. We keep the boat at Channel Marine.

BD, must be the water:D Luxy60 We have the yellow 35 Sonic,last year is the first year we haven't stayed at the NASWA every weekend since the end of"99'. What are you running?

I HAVENT SEEN TO MANY FAKE ONES UP CLOSE,MINE THE SECOND DOES SWEEP,IT ALSO HAS MY NAME ENGRAVED ON THE BACK ALONG WITH A SERIAL # THAT ANY ROLEX DEALER CAN TELL IF IT IS AN ORIGINAL

The "seconds" hand sweep thing use to work. Until they scammed that too. I've seen fakes that have it and they are nearly impossible to tell apart by a layman.

TAKE IT TO A WELL KNOWN JEWELER THAT KNOWS ROLEX.

Better to be safe than sorry.

MY.02

Be safe, Buy new.

I agree,buy new....I am not gonna spend this kind of money and get burned....The fakes are awesome out there...Ask around I paid 6900 for a retail 8300 watch new...A lot of diamond brokers will be able to hook you up,they have connections in the industry.

I buy the real good swiss fakes it leaves me more boat expense money

http://www.thebestreplicas.com/TBR/specs.asp
this site above thebestreplicas is just for some info
i recommed replicalord for any actual purchase

http://www.replicalord.com/rcart/items.html?id=rvkM5CPc



Check ChrisK 's post for the link on the reputations of these sellers

You gotta face it EVERYTHING gets copied anymore

Music:D, Boat Hulls:( , watches , software, ect ect ect

Oh if you take your Rolex or any other self winder off get yourself
one of these winders, I got sick of setting the day/date on mine
this took care of it. it emulates your wrist action, NO not that kinda of wrist action.:D

http://www.replicanews.com/comparison.html

i found this site also... lots of good info on it.

Those Swiss knockoff's are pretty impressive...and pricy too. Makes me wonder whether the real one I bought is really authentic! I have a Rolex warranty certificate, didn't see any knockoff of those to go with the boxes. The jeweler was a so called "authorized Rolex dealer" probably a knockoff sign....who knows? Upside is my wife really liked the Fendi bag knockoff's, at least I could save a few bucks, now I just have to find knockoff Channel sunglasses to go with the KO Fendi...:D