How to Spot a Fake Rolex

If there is one luxury watch brand that almost everyone knows, it’s Rolex. There are many reasons why Rolex has become a highly sought-after brand but with this high demand comes flaws. A big one is the endless counterfeit, fake watches out there. So, let's go through some quick and easy ways how to spot a fake Rolex.

Introduction to Rolex

Originally founded in London by Hans Wilsdorf in 1905, Rolex can now be found in the heart of the watchmaker industry – Geneva, Switzerland.

Rolex produces between 800,000 and 1,000,000 watches every year. In their 100 years plus of operation, Rolex has achieved many milestones including the world’s first waterproof watch, the world’s first watch to display the date through an aperture on the dial, the introduction of the perpetual movement and the Cerachrom bezel.

How to Spot a Fake Rolex

Weight

One thing that people love about luxury watches is the hefty weight they have. Even the lightest Rolex has a satisfying weight compared to non-luxury timepieces. The weight and feel of a Rolex can often give away its authenticity. Rolex watches are made from high-quality products such as patented oyster steel and patented gold/platinum alloy, so they tend to be heavier than fakes.  

Second-Hand Movement

Rolex are known for their sweeping movement of the second hand. Smooth. Consistent. Continuous. You can easily recognise a Rolex by its distinctive second hand, so make sure to check this detail if you suspect it might be a counterfeit.

Cyclops Lens

One of Rolex’s milestones is the invention of the Cyclops. In 1953, Rolex introduced the Cyclops lens, one of the watch's most important features. It is a convex lens placed right over the date window and magnifies the date by exactly 2.5x. The lens is made using sapphire crystal making it durable and scratch-resistant. When it comes to spotting fakes, quality is always a giveaway. Be sure to thoroughly inspect that Cyclops before making any decisions!

Serial Number

Since the 1920s, Rolex watches have featured a unique engraved serial number, originally located between the casing lugs at the 6 o’clock position. In 2005, Rolex moved the serial number to the inner rim, making it harder to counterfeit. Before 2010, these numbers were sequential, allowing easy identification of the production year. Since then, Rolex has used randomised serial numbers, making it more challenging to date the watch but improving authenticity checks for pre-owned models.

Rolex Logo

Finally, the last tip for spotting a fake Rolex is the logo and text on the dial. Examine the font, spacing and placement. These are usually slightly off, not accurate on fakes another key giveaway.

Rolex in Auction

This content is a statement of opinion only and intended solely for educational purposes. Fellows does not accept any liability for the correctness of such opinions. We aim to provide potential buyers with information to help them make decisions about whether to bid on a particular lot. Buyers must satisfy themselves as to the authenticity of any item(s) before they place a bid.

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