Interesting comparison between REAL and FAKE "LV"

[Downing]

Originally Posted by txrob779

They prey on the uneducated fake Rolex wanna be's.

These wanna be's get what they deserve. You lie down with dogs, you get fleas.

Originally Posted by txrob779

One more note, most of the guys I know in that rep world are just hobbist who like watches and can buy reps of there favorite brands to enjoy, dream and tinker with as a hobbie. They trade and collect but 90% never mis represent there reps as genuine and scam anyone, they kinda keep in a small circle of friends and board guys, however there are they scumbags out there that flat rip people off and those people need to be exposed and prosecuted.

Rob, I hear what you're saying, but even these "hobbyists" are engaging in slimy behavior. I've been racking my brain trying to come up with an appropriate analogy but unfortunately it's too early on a Monday morning for me to get my brain in gear. Collecting, trading, dreaming and tinkering with fakes is wrong and there's just no excuse for it. Screw 'em all.

[TimeOnHand]

A very nice and informative post... Really enjoyed it.

Can't believe how good the fake rolex watches are becoming. To an unexperienced naked eye there would be no difference between the two.

Thank your for taking the time to post this.

Cheers!

[thomas311]

excellent comparo! made me want to pull out my notepad and pen to take down some notes. thanks for sharing. these threads about real vs fakes are very educational, this one being one of the best.

its amazing how close a fake can look to being the real thing. before i purchased mine, i was on ebay constantly looking for the best and right priced rolex. always comparing. now, after being on this site for almost a month, i really am very happy i went through an AD and spent the extra ca$h. definitely worth the price!

thanks all.

[txrob779]

Originally Posted by txrob779

Here is a little insite on this subject. As some of you may know, I spent many many hours and dollars in the persuit of the perfect fake. This may clear up a few things about replicas. If you search for Role* R**lic* on google you get these sites claiming to sell Swiss made fakes at like $1000.00 or $1500.00.Grade 1, Grade 2 etc. These sites are designed to scam the fake buyer. There is NO SWISS made reps, never has been, never will be. They prey on the uneducated fake Rolex wanna be's. All reps are made in China, in chinese factories. Period. They vary in quality from the Canal Street NY $20 fake to the high end ETA 28,800 bph automatics. The 316L Steel is high quility, the cases are well done and their knock off trip loc crown will resist water to 5ATM. They use laser printed dials and so forth. I mean you see how close this rep was to the Genuine LV. The Chinese market for export in the black market is huge. If there is a swiss made watch, there is a replica made in China for it. One site I used to frequient has 600 Rolex Models and 200 Panerai Model reps for sale plus 4 or 500 more in various brands including chrono's. Here is the part that makes me sick. A replica as good as this on in this thread, from one of those chinese dealers cost $218.00, that is export retail, it probally cost $50 to make. They use sophisicated comupters to laser CAD the genuine watches to tool up for tens of thousands of units at a time. It will fool anyone who is not a WIS for the most part. There are guys on the rep boards that can modify these watches to accept genuine Rolex parts and THIS is why ebay is littered with fakes liie the guy who had a genuine movement in a fake watch. Unfortunatley, from what I have read here in my time on this board (after purchasing Genuine Rolex's, I need to clarify) you guys are just scratching the surface of what really exsists out there. It is a huge HUGE black market buiness, and it's world wide. Scary and drives home the fact that AD's a trusted dealers are the only way to go.

One more note, most of the guys I know in that rep world are just hobbyist's who like watches and can buy reps of there favorite brands to enjoy, dream and tinker with as a hobbie. They trade and collect but 90% never mis represent there reps as genuine and scam anyone, they kinda keep in a small circle of friends and board guys, however there are they scumbags out there that flat rip people off and those people need to be exposed and prosecuted.

I keep findin' typos LOL

[timebroker]

Originally Posted by txrob779

I keep findin' typos LOL

I stopped reading after 9 and I am not even mentioning the slang used

[txrob779]

Originally Posted by timebroker

I stopped reading after 9 and I am not even mentioning the slang used

Well I am Texan, that differs from American. It's a language all it's own. Is there really 9?

[timebroker]

Originally Posted by txrob779

Well I am Texan, that differs from American. It's a language all it's own. Is there really 9?

"Stopped reading" after 9 so yes at least

[Stef_Call]

Originally Posted by SLR

Thanks so much for the post Bo!
I used to think i had a pretty sharp eye, but i think not anymore. I would have been fooled.

Anyone know if any replicas have the inscribed chapter ring yet?

Yes I have seen pictures on the Web of a fake GMT II with the RolexRolex chapter ring. IMO it didnt look anything like the original. It was far less subtle than the real thing. No doubt they will improve this over time

[ron17402]

All I can say is that I'm glad I bought my GMT from an AD.

[ron17402]

Originally Posted by txrob779

Here is a little insite on this subject. As some of you may know, I spent many many hours and dollars in the persuit of the perfect fake. This may clear up a few things about replicas. If you search for Role* R**lic* on google you get these sites claiming to sell Swiss made fakes at like $1000.00 to $1500.00. Grade 1, Grade 2 etc. These sites are designed to scam the fake buyer. There are NO SWISS made reps, never has been and never will be. They prey on the uneducated fake Rolex wanna be's. All reps are all made in China, in black market factories, period. The fakes vary in quality from the Canal Street NY $20 fake to the high end ETA 28,800 bph automatics. The 316L Stainless steel is high quility as seen in Bo's post, the brushing and weight of the watch and the cases are well done. Their knock off trip-loc crown will help resist water to 5ATM. They use laser printed dials and so forth. You can see how close this rep was to the Genuine LV. The Chinese market for export in the black market is huge. If there is a swiss made watch out there for sale there is a replica made in China for it. One site I used to frequient has 600 Rolex Models and 200 Panerai Model reps for sale plus 4 or 500 more in various brands including chrono's. Here is the part that makes me sick. A replica as good as this on in this thread, from one of those chinese dealers cost $218.00, that is export retail, it probally cost $50 to make. They use sophisicated comupters, lasers, CAD and CNC machines. The measure every part of the genuine watches to tool up for tens of thousands of units at a time. The main fault, other than the blasphemy is the QC is horrible, most watches show up DOA or with issues that need fixing. There are hundredes of small watchsmith shops that will work on a replica too because they use ETA movements predominantly and those movements and parts can be ordered and replaced. There are also Asian knock off of the ETA movements that will live 4 or 5 years before crapping out. It will fool anyone who is not a WIS for the most part. There are guys on the rep boards that can modify these watches to accept genuine Rolex parts and THIS is why ebay is littered with fakes like the guy who had a genuine movement in a fake watch. Unfortunatly, from what I have read here in my time on this board (after purchasing Genuine Rolex's, I need to clarify) you guys are just scratching the surface of what really exsists out there. It is a huge HUGE black market buiness, and it's world wide. Scary and drives home the fact that AD's a trusted dealers are the only way to go.

One more note, most of the guys I know in that rep world are just hobbyist's who like watches and can buy reps of there favorite brands to enjoy, dream and tinker with as a hobbie. They trade and collect but 90% never mis represent there reps as genuine and scam anyone, they kinda keep in a small circle of friends and board guys, however there are they scumbags out there that flat rip people off and those people need to be exposed and prosecuted.

WOW!! Thanks for the info. Again, I'm glad I bought my GMT from an AD. This whole fake thing is scary.

[SLR]

Originally Posted by Stef_Call

Yes I have seen pictures on the Web of a fake GMT II with the RolexRolex chapter ring. IMO it didnt look anything like the original. It was far less subtle than the real thing. No doubt they will improve this over time

Man...scary. I'm REALLY going to have to sharpen my own perceptive skills. I'm going to buy a better loupe too - mine's only 5X. I've just been reading this Daytona fake thread that Ashu2289 posted back in May and I think it's equally frightening how good the fake is.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Most excellent post, Rob!

[veilstylez]

this is great! Thanks!

[watchdawg]

Totally amazing. Could have fooled me, its great that guys like Bo are here to help protect us from the vultures.

[bigmikebee]

i just got a greenie from an AD......nice pics/comparison

[Destroy]

Thanks Bo, as always, very informative.

Cheers!

[dodyj27]

well, great work... But the biggest problem out there is the the Grade 1 Swiss Made replicas... They are 100% identical to genuine Rolex watches.. You can only can spot the fake part when you open the movement!!!

Guys, be careful when you buy a Rolex!!

[thekino]

Really a great post man, I had to sign up for this website just to respond. I bought my 16610LV used and I was really starting to worry that I was the victim of a great fake, even though I took it to several Rolex specialists (I'm paranoid).

Anyway, I never saw the Rolex etched crown, even though I looked thoroughly, if it weren't for your post I still might've been in doubt.

Anyway, thankfully my $5800 was safe and I'm enjoying my first Rolex. I will never go back to Tag.

[dominick32]

Just wanted to say that this is an awesome comparison! Thanks for your tremendous effort in putting this together for us dude.

[YM_Guy]

Wow, truly an awesome, informative post! Thanks

[builtforspeed]

Thanks, Bo. That's good stuff. I think you really zeroed in on the toughest place to conceal the counterfeit -- the crown assembly.

I should point out, however, that my F serial LV has 93250 stamped into the bracelet. Apparently the earliest F serials (I purchased mine from my AD in December 2003) were stamped.

Cheers,

Chris

[travis_towle]

How does the weight compare between the real and fake? I have looked at fakes before and most of them I have seen sound and feel tinny is this one the same way?

Travis
Topeka, Kansas

[Beecher]

incredible....

thanks a lot, appreciate it, especially since I might buy the rest of my Rolexs used!

[JediRolex]

Very nice, I liked the bracelet info the most!

[CPCC]

Thanks

[Black Knight]

Thanks again, very detailed and informative.

[mdtddd2007]

excellent..great job!!!

[dweb]

Thanks, this was a very worthy post.

[bodybump]

IMPRESSIVE!!!!

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by T5AUS

Yes, great stuff Bo, you can never see enough of this kind of information.
(How many of us are having a nervous good look at our watches under the loop today i wonder )

X2!!!! Great effort and info Bo!!