Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to get a really good fake Rolex for a while, you know, the two-tone black Submariner, like the ones you see in the official stores. I finally decided to go for it.
First, I did some digging around. I mean, you can’t just jump into these things. There’s a whole world of replica watches out there, and the quality varies wildly. I wanted something that looked legit, not some cheap knockoff that screams “fake” from a mile away. After reading a bunch of stuff online, I realized a few key things to look for.
I started checking out the dial closely. Some of these fakes have really messed up fonts, the spacing is off, and some even have smudges. It’s pretty obvious when you compare it to pictures of the real deal. The “Cyclops” thing, that little magnifying lens over the date, I learned that’s a tough one for the fakers to get right. It’s usually a dead giveaway.
Then I got into the measurements. I found out that a real Submariner case is supposed to be 40 millimeters in diameter and 13 millimeters thick. The crystal itself adds another 2 millimeters. And get this, the whole thing, case and bracelet, should weigh 155 grams. So, I got myself a scale to check the weight of the replica.
Then, I tried to see the bracelet details. Apparently, the real Rolex President bracelets have all these stamps and markings on the inside of the clasp. You know, the Rolex logo, “Geneve,” “Swiss Made,” “18K,” and some reference number. I figured a good fake would at least try to copy that.
- Dial: Looked at the font, spacing, and checked for any smudges. The Cyclops lens was a big one to pay attention to.
- Case Size: Measured the diameter and thickness with a digital caliper. 40mm wide, 13mm thick.
- Weight: Used a digital scale. Aiming for 155 grams total.
- Bracelet: Checked the inside of the clasp for all those little markings.
- Movement:Listened to the ticking sound. Real Rolex movements are automatic, they don’t tick like normal cheap ones.
- Bezel:Checked the bezel rotation. The real ones have a softer click.
I spent a few days going through with a magnifying glass. Honestly, it was kind of fun, like being a detective or something.
I finally found one that looked pretty darn good. The dial seemed okay, the size was right, and the weight was close enough. When I listened to the movement, it was smooth, no loud ticking. And the bezel, it clicked really softly when I turned it, just like the real one is supposed to. The markings on the bracelet were there, though they weren’t perfect if I’m being honest. But hey, for a fake, it was impressive.
The Result
I’ve been wearing it for a few weeks now, and honestly, I’m pretty happy with it. It looks great, feels solid, and keeps time well. Most people can’t even tell it’s not the real thing. I’ve even gotten a few compliments on it! Of course, I’m not trying to pass it off as genuine, but for the price I paid, it’s a fantastic imitation. It’s all about knowing what to look for and being thorough in your inspection. You really gotta put in the work if you want a decent fake Rolex. So if you are going to buy a fake one, please be careful!
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