There are rumors that igrotum has the Rolex database of serial numbers and sells replicas with the same serial numbers as the originals

I'd be curious to know what % of people who bring their Rolex in to Watchfinder end up being told it's a fake.

google the serial number. Replicas tend to use the same number over and over again. And if google shows plenty of results, get a bit nervous.

This is why I prefer Seikos, if the 12 marker isn't perfectly aligned to the marker on the bezel then I can trust it's a real Seiko.

That is an AAA China watch. it cannot be compared to ziarex watches because they sell real super clones, basically the same watches as the originals.

I’ve got a fake Daytona. I’ve had it next to a real one and it’s identical. If there’s differences you’d need a microscope to spot it. The movement was identical too. It wasn’t even an expensive fake. It was about £150 in UK. Came with box, card and the little tag thing. Had to get it through an invite only group though so buying was a bit dodgy, but it’s worked great ever since and had a few admirers of it. If I ever get robbed for it, I haven’t lost £35,000 either. Went back and bought a fake tag heuer as a daily too. Was fantastic quality. Invested the money I would’ve spent on the real one, win win.

I’d love to see another one of those “guess the fake” videos

I'm gonna go ahead and say the rehaut on the inner ring is a really good tell for some fakes. On genuine pieces it is crisp and clean and the fake ones clearly don't use as strong or precise of a laser.

The other way to tell a Rolex is real is by buying one from an AD, oh no you can’t do that !

In the current Rolex models, there is a laser etched “Rolex” in the inner part of the bezel. The “R” of the Rolex lines with the hour markers from 6-11 and the “X” of the Rolex lines up with the hour markers from 1-5.

My advice is bring a loupe magnifier with you when making the purchase (if in person), its very easy to notice the imperfections, especially on the dial hands when you have a loupe at your disposal.

I use the camera, without the flash, on my newer iPhone in place of a loupe. Enlarging the photo with my fingers gives me amazing detail that easily shows “bleeding” and other sloppiness on the watch face.

Spelling is always a good sign, nobody wants a superlaxative chronomeater on thier wrist!

„the only thing worse than a fake rolex…is a real one.“ I love jerry clarkson for this 😏👍

I got a fake day/date like 15 years ago and it came with box and papers and the little tassel thing. It's still in good condition till this day

Since you are showing stela dials. The one thing I would look for is for hour markers, especially on 36mm watches. Those hour markers would take a lot of skill to replicate

How about the tiny etched crown on the crystal, and the serial number printed inside the edge of the dial. These can also be faked, but are still details to look for.

If you can’t tell, does it matter? I had an AD say they needed to open the back to confirm. If they couldnt tell, as far as I care, a fake is as good as a real, as long as it keeps time as good.

I stopped two minutes into the video. “First have a real Rolex in your hand. Hopefully that’s a real Rolex.” 😂😂😂 Yeah, I’ll go out and get a Rolex Daytona Panda tomorrow 🤣🤣

Trouble is that a used Rolex will show many signs of wear, tear and time making it differ from new images. They can also be underwhelming.

If you want to check the lume, take a small UV light with you. That's what I use to make the lume glow in a hurry. A few seconds under a UV light and it's bright as can be.

I’ve never seen a Rolex or Tudor without at least one minor defect, whether it was dust on the dial, scratching on the rehaut or other nearly invisible cosmetic issues of the sort.

Some other identifying tips Rehaut alignment Black hole effect on the date window Sharpness/dullness on fluted bezels Bezel coloring on GMTs Dial color on 126610LV General alignment on indices

Love the explanation, but they feel like tips and points an expert would be able to spot. I don't think I'd be able to sport fake from real based on these tips. And like others here say, that "is it real?" question would tick me off despite me hoping to own a Daytona ar some point in my life.

By the time it's 'your' Rolex, it's too late. The safest way, I have found, is to ask the seller to meet at your local Rolex AD, offer to pay for their travel (parking etc) and if there's any hesitation walk away from the deal.

The reason I would never get a rolex is the first question people ask," is it real" thats the reason not to get one

If grey stuff rubs off on your hand when you rub your Rolex is that a bad sign?

Regarding the magnifying cyclops: actually, there was a short period of time - roughly around 2013 - when there were original Rolexes (mostly Submariners and GMTs?) available that had a sub-2,5x magnifying cyclops. People got quite upset about this and pitchforks & torches were - at least - shown in the forums. The watches were still genuine though :)

I thought you shall compare the 2 and point out the differences, that would have been great. BTW, even Rolex services find it hard to state whether the one if fake or real, so they have gone that good.

Counterfeiters have gone so much farther than this video suggests. They often plate their movements with nicely finished platinum; they can create carbon fiber cases; they produce watches with different serial numbers in batches. Now some of them are identical in quality and finish to an original especially if you find a group that modifies/refinishes movements, some with real Rolex parts. You have to be insanely careful especially with steel watches now.

Listening to the watch is informative, Rolex watches have a distinctive sound.

My friend, what about the etched crown within the sapphire at 6 o'clock which is visible at 16x zoom???

Fun video, thanks!

when your counterfeit watch has better finishing and quality than the genuine one, it speaks for itself

Thank you very much for pointing out these details that the factories have been missing out. I have forwarded this video to the product manager for their reference and they promised to strive hard to improve the build and quality of the watches to be up to standard. 😉😎👍

Bought a brand new Rolex and the bezel didn’t align at 12 o’clock. They’re not always all that perfect.

This video perfectly illustrates how that ugly gel blob obscures the date window that it is supposed to be clarifying.

A good indicator is the price being asked. It’s a little like a good wine, the only way to really tell if it is exceptional is by the price.

Easiest way to tell in my book is by the seller. Any GM dealer worth their salt will have a profile on C24, will be known on forums, locally in the watch scene, etc. Not so with people selling fakes, or you can tell by a mile away. Beyond that, I'd take off the case back and look at the movement under a loupe. But my real answer would be buy Grand Seiko, bc no fake could ever even remotely approach their dials or zaratsu polishing, lol. That begs the bigger question---if a watch can be convincingly faked in a low cost factory, is it really that good?

What you address at 10:50 is the subject of the book "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell. Cool read.

where i can buy it?

Ok so step 1, own several rolexes.... well,,, dammit...

At 1:54 the Daytona has a flaw on the second hand and at 2:02 there are two other flaws visible .

You forgot to mention. The movement sound. The ting ting ting that gets louder then quieter. Very soporiphic.

Don't look after any overhyped watch (like these Rolexes) and it's more likely do get the real deal.

I can always tell by a few turns of the crown

What about the laser crown at 6?

The name of the person selling the watch is Guido.

How about the weight? I'm sure every reference has a registered weight, it should be easy to distinguish with a precision scale.

If a bargain seems too good to be true, then it usually is!

The first tip is already nonsense. Go look around on Rolex forums (or even the big replica forums) and you'll find example after example of genuine Rolexes with shocking manufacturing variance. People often talk about SELs (solid end links) being a tell on some replica Rolex models but then you see the exact same issues in genuine watches as well. There is absolutely no way for an amateur buyer to compare a top tier replica and a genuine Rolex and accurately determine between them, even if they have a loupe. There are plenty of blind side-by-sides under macros floating around the forums where pretty knowledgeable users will be split down the middle on which is actually the genuine. The issue is that, although this might be hard to believe, the replicas often look "better" in certain aspects". They might not look like the Rolex on a given detail but to somebody who doesn't know explicitly what that detail is supposed to like it's almost certain they'd guess that the replica is the genuine.

Watchfinder has been eerily quite about Rolex Certified Pre-owned program even though it would normally affect them significantly also it is very big news and finally everything Rolex will generate more traffic as previously explained, now this video comes out, my hot take: Watchfinder wants to be part of the CPO program, just like Bucherer.

One easy way to spot most fakes is to adjust the hands by twisting the crown clockwise. If the time moves forward its likely to be real or a super fake. Most movements turn anti clockwise. The other way to check is to take off the back and look at the balance spring. If its pinched then its a fake. Real ones are adjusted by small weights on the wheel.

The real Rolexes are perfect? I have seen many real ones that have more flaws than the fake ones.

I'd say the laser edged crown

Why does Rolex leave the hands center pinion hole open and do so much on the rest of the dial? Some models it is covered, some models not. If they are So focused on detail, why do they leave this? Grand Seiko didn't. I don't own either. But I do notice this detail.

Rolex doesn't put anti reflective coating on the crystal so the owners can see there selves in the glass.

I believe the only sure way to tell is the micro-stella screws on the balance wheel. The fakes still can't/don't make them.

Just to be safe is better to just buy a fake, zero chance of being scammed.

The odd thing is, with naked eye I think the fake one looks better 😮

I presume the authorised Rolex showroom is safe from fakes ..

It’s not a watch that’s a giveaway, it’s everything around it usually :)

The best way to avoid buying a fake Rolex is to simply not buy a Rolex. Buy an H. Moser or Glaschutte or 20 other brands that make better quality watches who the counterfeiters have no knowledge of nor interest in.

When there is reason to ask: fake or not? It‘s probably fake.

Since when do Rolex sports models have AR coating?

If it’s this hard to tell the difference then Rolex needs to up their game.

As far as I can remember, one surefire for me was always the weight, the original just feels more heavy and solid.

I have Golden rolex watch model72200cl5 genuva Please tell me price this watch

The fake manufacturers have also realised that actually they are making really good watches that if they branded them they could sell them for more!!

10 minutes in and I'm starting to wonder if the watches shown are actually fakes

I want to see some really good fakes... Please

Do you think Rolex will ever make a GPS Master to catch the watch thieves..?

My husband’s real Rolex was snatched…on Father’s Day, I’ll give him a fake one, or an Apple Watch that detects the heart along with his whole health.

The fact that people think that perfect replicas have not been produced and are in Circulation is just silly.

So you say, if it doesnt look and feel right, it is not right? Got it. :)

As far a retaining value goes, a $600 clone retains is value quite well. It can be sold on replica forums for the same money as long as it was made by a well regarded factory. At $600 or £500 , there is no risk of losing thousands as is possible with a genuine Rolex.

11:45 Except Rolex doesn't use SuperLuminova anymore, They use a branded compound called CromaLight which is blue rather than the luminova green.

I never thought I’d own a Lamborghini but thanks Swissarex I was able to one one that looks and drives just like a real one ❤

Use a loupe and look at the date window (if has one obviously 🤣) the white background that the date numbers are printed on Is grainy on a real Rolex smooth on the fake.

I expected to see a lot more of this fake vs real Rolex once the Certified Preowned Rolex program started. What better way to scare potential buyers into spending more for a CPO over regular second hand time piece

So the one that I got off Temu could be fake?

The 80:20 rule on the 80:20 rule.....epic explanation 👌

Clean factory..... unbelievable watches...I've only seen them in video...

Built it myself

You can tell if its a real rolex as sound as you try to wind it.

A bit disappointed with this video. As you stated initially, the best way to learn the differences between fake and real is by comparing them. Why not have a fake one to show us like you did some time ago with the Nautilus? Also, doesnt Rolex have a crown laser engraved in the glass?

My explorer is barely 2 months old and has a squeaky bracelet and also the lume ain't that great 😟 Bought from an AD

I bought a clone Rolex in Shanghai for $700 and took it to the Rolex store whilst still in Shanghai. I asked the sales lady to check it and tell me if it was fake. She observed the movement, felt the weight, even looked at the serial number and later informed me it was real (Provided she never opened opened the watch to closely inspect the movement.) So they must have improved their quality as I left the store laughing to myself as I honestly couldn't believe it.

It only works until the expert has a collection of varying quality fakes and is verifying them against each other. Then they call a real but poorly maintained one fake.

Rolex should keep a register of ownership.

Why need a watch when you can tell the time on your mobile!

Lum? Really? Rolex lum is considered poor - just check out comments on Rolex Forum regarding Explorer 2

New QR Code Moser Cie Monster out there !!!!!!!

The watch is iced in quartz.

Rolex does not use Superluminova as far as I know. That's a brand name. Rolex claim to use their own lume, called Chromalight.

I’ve bought four Paganis and saved myself boatloads of cash. Tom, I don’t have hair. So I’m not too fussed if it’s real or not. And the saved cash went into boats….. (well just one big one)

Rolex real or fake is a cat-and-mouse game which never ends. With copying technology advancing together with 3D printing rapidly increasing, comparing dial lettering and lume color together with exterior casing and inside movement finish aren't just enough. One and only way to avoid is to purchase new at your trusted Rolex Official Retailer or Authorized Dealer. That's what I do.

I hate it when people buy replicas, thinking they are original, and end up losing their money. Thats why mega-clone sellers like ziarex need to be stopped.

igrotum is the only replica factory that operates on United States soil without getting caught by the authorities

I've got a fake DayDate I found in my step-dads stuff after he passed. He traveled to Hong Kong a lot, so I knew it was fake. Plus, mineral glass crystal and stainless steel case on a DayDate. But biggest tell was when I took the case back off, and it says "MONARCH POLFY S.A. Gelena Shitinerand" on the inside.