Some timepieces have truly stood the test of time.
Vintage and pre-owned Rolex watches continue to rise in value. Although the Swiss maker creates 700,000 new masterpieces of precision engineering every year, a Rolex still makes a very wise investment indeed.
But, as quickly as new Rolex watches are created, counterfeiters are pumping out fakes into the market. In fact, Rolex is one of the most counterfeited brands out there.
The experts at William May have been selling specialised, high-quality watches for nearly 200 years. Here they offer their tips and advice to help you tell a real Rolex from a fake imitation.
But could you spot the difference?
How to spot a genuine Rolex and dismiss a dupe
1. The magnification
The fine workings of a Rolex mean that the date has to be small for everything to work perfectly. To compensate for this a cyclops window, or magnifier, is added to make the date more visible.
“On all Rolex models the magnification is 2.5X and the date really jumps out at you. On fakes this is often set to just 1.5X, so the date is harder to see.”
William May
2. The weight
If it feels light – it isn’t right.
“Fake Rolex watches are generally lighter, whereas a real Rolex is made of high-quality metals, and will weigh significantly more.”
William May
3. The water test
If the watch is dipped into water for a few seconds it will not leak water into its dial. All Rolex watches are 100% watertight, but many counterfeit watches are not.
“Rolex Submariner timepieces are the only watches designed for deep sea diving, but all models are waterproof and perfectly sealed.”
William May
4. The writing
Everything on a Rolex is made to perfection. Take a magnifying glass and examine all the lettering on the dial – if there are any imperfections you can be sure this is a fake.
“The writing should be convex and there should be no bubbling.”
William May
5. The case back
If the case back is made out of glass, plastic, or crystal so you can see the inner workings of the watch, it’s most likely a fake.
“There are two extremely rare Rolex models from the 1930s that have case backs made of glass. And no more. If you are buying a relatively modern Rolex with a clear case back it is a fake. You can also check for engravings - Rolex does not engrave anything on the case back’s exterior, but it does on the interior.”
William May
6. The tick
If you hear a loud tick from the watch then this is a fake.
“Counterfeiters can’t often perfect the precision gears of a Rolex and a ticking noise is the tell-tale sign of this.”
William May
Have you bought a Rolex – or have you been rolled?
As easy as it may sound it is getting increasingly hard to tell the real deal from a bad deal.
One sure-fire way is to buy your watch from a place that has stood the test of time just as well as those precision watches have.
For two centuries William May has been offering the finest new and pre-owned timepieces to its discerning clients.
Isn’t it time you took a look?
