At Heritage Estate Sales, we want to make sure you get exactly what you pay for, and this means being able to spot a fake when one comes up. In the world of estate sales, there are some big ticket items that many people will want to get their hands on, but before you’re one of those people on the bidding block, you’ll want to know exactly what you’re bidding for! A Rolex is a timeless timepiece, and this investment is one that typically just goes up in value, but that’s only if the product is legit. The top 5 ways to spot a fake Rolex are:
- Magnification window – On Rolex watches, often there will be a small date mechanism located on the face of the watch. With a proper Rolex, this date mechanism has to be quite small, so there will be a magnification or “Cyclops” window on top of the date area in order to make the date easily visible. On all genuine Rolex models with a date, the magnification window will be around 2.5x in order to see the date clearly, but many faux Rolex models that include this magnification window will have it set to only 1.5x, causing the date to look significantly smaller.
- Water resistance – There are some Rolex models made to resist water to an extent that they can even be taken diving, but all Rolex watches are made with at least some water resistance. One great way to determine the validity of a Rolex watch is to check the watch for air-tightness. If the watch shows any loose components or spaces where water could get trapped inside, there is a strong chance that the watch may not be genuine.
- Model number and metal – Each type of Rolex watch will have its own unique model number, and doing a little bit of research on this model number is a great way to determine if the Rolex you’re considering is genuine or not. A quick search of the model number should bring up findings of identical watches of the same metal, and if it doesn’t, you could be investigating a counterfeit.
- Back casing – Only two highly rare Rolex models with clear back casings exist, and all modern Rolexes are made with steel or other metal backings which do not allow you to see into the workings of the piece. If the Rolex you’re looking in to has a flimsy or clear backing, it very well may be a fake.
- Engraving – Rolexes are made for quality, and the reason that these timepieces are so valuable is because they are made with ample precision to be perfect every time. If the engravings on your Rolex have misspellings or sloppiness, it may not be genuine.
To learn more about spotting Rolex fakes, or how to spot other types of valuables, our experts at Heritage Estate Sales welcome you to call us today!