How can you tell if a Rolex watch is real?

Question

My sister went to China and got me a Rolex watch. The second hand is fast and smooth, no 'tick'. There is a hologram sticker on the back with a serial number on it. The band has 3 rows of silver, the outer rows are more of a brushed silver, the inner row is shinier. It has the Rolex crown for the #12 on the face, and on the glass there is an etched crown. It is a wind up - no batteries.It is a beautiful watch regardless, just wondering if it's the real deal or not. If it is real, how do I register the serial number on the back? Thanks in advance all!

Answer 1

You will have to take the watch to a reputable jeweler to get an authentication. Chinese watch replicas are everywhere, and even the boxes and warranty documents are being faked.

The jeweler should open the back cover of the watch and look at the movement to verify that it is (not) an authentic Rolex--knockoff watches will have easy-to-identify counterfeit innards. The fact that it was purchased (probably inexpensively) in China is not a good sign. But if you don't care, then no worries.

Had the watch been authentic and purchased from a reputable jeweler, the watch would have been registered with Rolex there. If you take your watch somewhere for authentication and it turns out it is real, then ask the jeweler to register it for you. You should expect to pay for the authentication and registration service, from $50 to $100.

Just today I returned with the jeweler with my (real) Movado, which I plan to sell on eBay. The box and registration paperwork are long gone. However, impostor watches are such a problem on eBay these days that I was told to have the watch authenticated before selling it.

Enjoy your new watch!

Answer 2

If it does not have the jumping hand for seconds then it is more likely to be real. The fishy thing is that it is from China. It probably is a really good fake. You can get onto the website and try to register it. You can also call the manufacturer and ask how to register it. If your sister purchased it used it is more likely to be real than if it was new. Did it come with any paperwork? I think the fakes do not come with anything. I had a fake one and it was really obvious it was painted and it was not neatly done.