HELP - I inherited my first Rolex watch and I don't know what to do!

[mfoster978]

Hey guys,

I've been trying to do a lot of research and I keep coming to this page but I'm having a hard time figuring things out. All these parts I just don't understand. All I know is what I see. It's a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day Date. I inherited this watch from my grand father who I miss a lot and he wore this almost every day since he had it. He passed away in 1998 and my grandmother stored his stuff in a memory box which she recently gave me. The watch is about 25 years but I have no paperwork at all for it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I feel completely illiterate about Rolex watches, never released they were so advanced.

Question 1: This is real right? Reason is the second question.

Question 2: From my research, am I right that there is NO battery inside?

Question 3: Is the main spring broken? Details below
I have unscrewed the knob on the right and it pops out. From videos online position 0 is to wind, position 1 is to set the date, and position 2 is to set time. Position 1 and 2 seem to work fine but position 0 doesn't seem to work. When I spin it it seems like it's freely spinning like it's not attached to something? I'm completely lost. Maybe I'm doing something wrong or maybe something is broken.

Question 4: If it is broken what do you think this would cost to have fixed, serviced, and cleaned? I know you can't give me an exact but an estimate would be great. Also can it be diagnosed for free so I at least know how much exactly it will cost?

Question 5: What do I need to know about these watches?

Thanks,
Mike

P.S. 2 Photos attached. One with flash on one with flash off.

[Tools]

#1. Your watch is fake.

#2,3,4 - doesn't matter

#5. See number 1.

Sorry.

[EndlessEight]

Doesn’t look good to me either. Sorry bud.

[kieselguhr]

Aww sorry to hear.

[~JJ]

Someone wore the piss out of that fugazi!!

[Chewbacca]

mfoster978
"TRF" Member

Join Date: Jan 2020
Real Name: Mike
Location: Tucson Arizona
Watch: PENDING
Posts: 1

Sorry for your loss. It’s sentimental, so your call on what to do with it.

Let’s find you another watch!

[huncho]

yikes

[Nikrnic]

It probably needs a battery..

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

mfoster978
"TRF" Member

Join Date: Jan 2020
Real Name: Mike
Location: Tucson Arizona
Watch: PENDING
Posts: 1

Sorry for your loss. It’s sentimental, so your call on what to do with it.

Let’s find you another watch!

Best post of the day. You the man.

[BamaHammer]

Beautiful vintage piece!

[JayHantz]

I am so sorry to hear about your grandfather. But I agree with the fine gents above: it’s a fake and we need to get you steered to another watch.

[BigBoy17]

Wow bad fake

[77T]

Welcome to the forum. Be prepared for some poorly thought out replies as we do have a few members who revel in bashing people. (Not aiming that at the previous comments - but who knows what is to come?)

Let’s take your situation as stated and a true belief of your grandmother. Yes, the watch isn’t a real Rolex - but that is the last thing you need to say to her. Just say nothing.

If it isn’t working, then you simply have one possession of your grandfather’s among the many others in that box. Appreciate the man, not the possessions - and hope you have a good 2020.


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[mfoster978]

Originally Posted by 77T

Welcome to the forum. Be prepared for some poorly thought out replies as we do have a few members who revel in bashing people. (Not aiming that at the previous comments - but who knows what is to come?)

Let’s take your situation as stated and a true belief of your grandmother. Yes, the watch isn’t a real Rolex - but that is the last thing you need to say to her. Just say nothing.

If it isn’t working, then you simply have one possession of your grandfather’s among the many others in that box. Appreciate the man, not the possessions - and hope you have a good 2020.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thank you very much! I don't care if it's a fake but I'm just happy it was his it always meant a lot to him and that's what matters the most. Thank you for not bashing on me like most of the other people here. I do greatly appreciate it. So do you think there's a battery in it? Am I better off replacing the battery myself? Also you guys are 100 precent positive it's a fake, I don't want to open it if it's not. According to my grandmother it was from his job at IBM so I'd rather not break it especially where I know nothing at all about watches.

Thanks,
Mike

[EndlessEight]

Mike - You can take it to an authorized Rolex dealer and they can help you with authentication.

[Mr. Miami]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I am new within the last few weeks to the four, 1st fake I have seen.

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by mfoster978

Thank you very much! I don't care if it's a fake but I'm just happy it was his it always meant a lot to him and that's what matters the most. Thank you for not bashing on me like most of the other people here. I do greatly appreciate it. So do you think there's a battery in it? Am I better off replacing the battery myself? Also you guys are 100 precent positive it's a fake, I don't want to open it if it's not. According to my grandmother it was from his job at IBM so I'd rather not break it especially where I know nothing at all about watches.

Thanks,
Mike

She may be mistaken. IBM did give Rolex watches to long term employees who retired, but they were genuine Rolex and not poorly made counterfeits.

[csaltphoto]

Is there any engraving on the back?

[mfoster978]

Originally Posted by Bigblu10

She may be mistaken. IBM did give Rolex watches to long term employees who retired, but they were genuine Rolex and not poorly made counterfeits.

It's definitely possible. I'm sure you guys are right. Hence the reason I posted here but hoping someone can chime in on how to change the battery or whatever needs to be done to get it working again at least. Most watches I've seen have a notch you use to pop the bank panel off but this looks like a huge screw with no notches.

[Easy E]

Just for kicks, can you post a picture of the back side of the watch?

[locutus49]

It does not have a battery. Only one man's ROLEX HAD A BATTERY AND IT WAS CALLED AN OYSTERQUARTZ. Sorry for the caps. Anyway, it is definitely not real. But this happens fairly frequently so do not feel like you were the only one who inherited a fake.

If you are interested and have some money, we can help you find a good watch, either a Rolex or another brand.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by mfoster978

It's definitely possible. I'm sure you guys are right. Hence the reason I posted here but hoping someone can chime in on how to change the battery or whatever needs to be done to get it working again at least. Most watches I've seen have a notch you use to pop the bank panel off but this looks like a huge screw with no notches.

It is very unlikely that this watch is battery powered, but possible.

If you do choose to have it repaired, take it to a local watch repairman, not Rolex who will not touch it. Only the watchmaker can tell you what it will take to get it back running again.

The movements, even in the cheapest fake models, are standard movements that are repaired just like other watches.

[jitdc]

The caseback may be one that screws down and not one that pops off. If thats the case try taking it to a watch shop in your town and they will be able to help you so there is no damage done to the watch.

[GVAZQUEZ]

Originally Posted by mfoster978

Thank you very much! I don't care if it's a fake but I'm just happy it was his it always meant a lot to him and that's what matters the most. Thank you for not bashing on me like most of the other people here. I do greatly appreciate it. So do you think there's a battery in it? Am I better off replacing the battery myself? Also you guys are 100 precent positive it's a fake, I don't want to open it if it's not. According to my grandmother it was from his job at IBM so I'd rather not break it especially where I know nothing at all about watches.



Thanks,

Mike

Mike; don’t invest more time or any money into the watch just keep it as your grandfather left it. Put it on your counter or a display by your mirror etc..

One it will remind you of your grandfather, and use it as motivation to get your own real 1st Rolex. Welcome to the TRF form..


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[watchnut100]

Total junk fit for the bin

[Welshwatchman]

Your grandfather bequeathed you this watch and you are located in Tucson, Arizona.

I KNOW that the latter isn't true, I wonder of the former is true.

[GSDLover]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

Your grandfather bequeathed you this watch and you are located in Tucson, Arizona.

I KNOW that the latter isn't true, I wonder of the former is true.

Interesting. Let's hear more.

[lear60man]

Originally Posted by GSDLover

Interesting. Let's hear more.

Hes a mod and prolly did an IP trace that didnt end up in AZ. Just a guess. Its also helpful is booting sock puppet accounts. Again, just a guess.

[cht]

Originally Posted by mfoster978

Hey guys,
He passed away in 1998 and my grandmother stored his stuff in a memory box which she recently gave me. The watch is about 25 years .

Mfoster, dumb story, I'm NOT surprised you'd maked up a FAKE story for a FAKE watch...


Surprised no one noticed the "SWISS MADE" dial on a "25 year old watch" that he says must have been made prior to 1998 according to his bogus story.




Advice; make your fake stories more interesting so you can at least entertain us like a clown would.

[Tridor]

Originally Posted by cht

Mfoster, dumb story, I'm NOT surprised you'd maked up a FAKE story for a FAKE watch...


Surprised no one noticed the "SWISS MADE" dial on a "25 year old watch" that he says must have been made prior to 1998 according to his bogus story.




Advice; make your fake stories more interesting so you can at least entertain us like a clown would.

Good catch!