Hong Kong is referred to as “the Asian watch capital” by the locals. I am a watch lover and was eager to check out the second-hand watches in watch shops. As I walked through the narrow, rugged streets of the city, I came across small stalls with elderly men selling second-hand Rolexes. They looked genuine, but I am not a Rolex expert. I visited several physical boutiques, and was pleasantly surprised to see that they had many brand-new Rolex sport watches for sale.
It was odd that this Swiss brand, back in 2019, had established a waiting list of one year for the majority of stainless steel sports watch models. It all became clear. Many people I saw in Hong Kong were wearing Rolexes. From elderly people doing tai-chi in parks to street vendors and museum security guards. They were wearing high-end replicas and not Rolexes. After my trip, I began to notice how many people were wearing Submariners. It’s not impossible, but it was strange to see so many people, of all ages, wearing Submariners despite the long waiting list. Perhaps I was mistaken.
In this article we’ll discuss how to buy an authentic Rolex watch and the current status of Rolex fake watches.
Rolex replicas are very good.
Let me clarify something before we continue: Everest does not support the purchase or sale of replica Rolexes, or replicas from any other brand. We are watch lovers, or’madmen’, as you might say, so we care about the quality of replicas. In New York City I was able to tell that the fake Rolexes being sold in local jewelry shops were not real. The fakes were ill-proportioned and had rough surfaces. They also offered prices that were too good to be real. I mean, a $250 Submariner? (Come on!)
What I saw from a distance in Hong Kong was decent, but what I’m seeing online looks like the real thing from a digital perspective. Today’s replicas are so high-quality that they come in different grades. Some of them can even cost $1,000.
How to spot a fake Rolex
It is best to buy only from authorized dealers, either in physical stores or online. You can have a Rolex authorized dealer or an expert watchmaker authenticate a pre-owned timepiece you buy from a private seller. My friend bought a used Rolex, and he did exactly that. The seller’s refusal to follow this procedure is a red flag. Some websites guarantee authenticity and are known for selling authentic Rolexes. Make sure you do your research before buying, especially on the used market.
Based on my research I have found several ways to identify fake Rolexes. This only applies to the current models being sold by Swiss brands, not to vintage ones. The manufacturers of replicas seem to only copy modern references. Rolex’s approach is similar to the U.S. Mint, which must constantly find new ways to make counterfeit dollar bills harder to produce. Rolex, for example, did not place a hologram image that resembled the crown logo at the center of its dial until a few recent years. They have it now, and replicas also have this feature. It’s hard to tell the difference between a replica and a real one.
The quality of the finish is a good way to tell a fake Rolex apart from the real thing. You’ll still need a loupe to make out the fine details of the dial and hands. Replicas are usually finished with imperfections, including tiny metal particles that protrude from the hands and rough edges. Because replicas are made of stainless steel and Rolexes from platinum, the edges around hour markers on Rolexes are thicker. The case may appear identical at first glance, but closer inspection reveals some differences. When observing the brushed finish, replicas are rougher with pronounced lines while Rolex has a satin-like effect. The font thickness on the fake Rolex Submariners is different, so that it looks bolder and faded in comparison to genuine Rolex Submariners.
Counterfeit manufacturers have to save on the cost of production and the machines they use, so they often skip some details, or although they present them on the watch, they cannot display/install/engrave/write/etc. They cannot display/install/engrave/write/etc. them perfectly.
If you look at images of fake and real Rolex Submariners, you will notice that the font on the genuine watches is the same thickness.
With the help of gestures emojis, we can more easily identify flaws in the counterfeit Submariners.
Mechanically, replicas have a rougher, less precise Glidelock, whereas the genuine Submariner has a smoother, more precise Glidelock. Opening and closing the clasp, winding the crown, and setting the time and date on fakes also feel rough. Replicas are not equipped with Rolex movement, but unnamed replicas. This results in a poor crown action. The movement of replicas is not as smooth as the genuine one. You can easily notice this when you put the watch on a timer. All Rolex submersibles are COSC certified, which means they’re accurate with normal amplitudes.
The steps that we have written so far are the best ways to verify this product.
These are still good methods.
But they only apply to the lower-tier copies of this product
Final Thoughts
Most replicas I’ve seen are Submariners, but there are also a few Explorer 1s, 2s, and 3s. The Submariner is by far the most popular Rolex sport watch. It seems that articles like this one should be updated periodically because replicas improve every year. It is better to buy from reputable dealers who are authorized or from authorized dealers than from people who will not let you bring the watch to an expert.