Rolex vs Grade 1 Swiss made Rolex

[Taterman101]

Can you tell the difference between a real Rolex and a Grade 1 Swiss made Rolex  And if you can, what would the differences be  Does anyone ever answer any of these????

[watch-Collectables]

Hi  , there is no such thing as a Swiss replica watch . The best replicas normally use ETA movements exactly the same as Omega , Tag Heuer and Cartier but all the other parts are mainly made in the Far East .

There are obviously different grades of replicas from the types bought in Canal St , NY for a few dollars to the better made models.But the whole business is dodgy and dont ever buy from a web site offering Swiss made replicas for high prices they are nearly all scams!!

Watch-Collectables

[Brumus]

Re: Watch-Collectables comment

I would like to purchase a Replica Rolex and would be prepared to pay aound £400.00.
I take Watch-Collectables advice about those models being offered on the inter-net. So I won't go down that route. What alternatives are there for someone wanting a ETA movement in a model that looks like a Submariner.

[Anonymous]

Dont be cheap, save and get the real thing , w****rs buy fake. Would you buy a pretend middle of the road car ? ie a mondeo, if you knew if was made by some back street faker from Asia.

[Deryck]

It seems crazy to spend this much on a replica, £100 maybe. As far as I can tell all replicas are made in the far-east, I can't ever see the Swiss allowing the production of replicas in thir own country. It would totally destroy the reputation of their watches.

If you are going to spend that much, you would be able to get a much better quality watch from a less well known make.

If you just want to have a watch noticed get a Seiko Monster (in orange . ) or Samurai. These has the distinction of being big and a very good reputation with watch  people. Generally all the auto Seiko divers are worth a look. In the UK, timefactors and RLT Watches sometimes have them. They, together with chronomaster have some good watches in your price range. Zeno, O&W and Sinn are all worth looking at, I especially like the Broadarrow PRS-3 at timefactors. You should be able to get 1/2 to 2/3rds back on any diver selling privately.  Otherwise stretch and buy a secondhand Bond Omega Seamaster for £800-ish with papers, there are some on this site. These watch always have a resale value, a replica you will get back £50 if you try to sell it.

If you must buy a replica there is obviously no way you can guarantee the quality. You may as well try pot luck on ebay for a secondhand one.

[Roland]

Why buy a replica???  Its not a Rolex and by buying one you further downgrade the brand altogether!  Personally I think it should be a criminal offence to sell AND buy these things.  The more replicas out there the cheaper the brand will get.  Just save up and buy the real thing.  After all the only person you'll be fooling is yourself when you buy a FAKE time piece.  Its like faking qualifications for a dream job.  The employers may be fooled but will you feel good about it?  Deep down you'll know that your a fraud who achieved nothing in life.  Same with buying a replica (aka FAKE) Rolex.

[Aotearoa]

This is a fraught question for some folk.
I can make a few observations. I own both a genuine rolex and a replica and because of the type of work I do my watches have a hard time of it. To me it makes more sense to  
wear the replica when I am working and the Rolex during leisure activities. That way protect my rolex and its value and the replica takes the hard knocks.
Regarding the quality of the replica it is almost impossible to tell it from the original. With a 10+ loupe you can but even then to be sure you would have to remove the back
to check the movement.
Some will find it hard to believe but some replica makers take great pride in the watches they produce and are committed to a level of quality that is in its own way equivilent to Rolex. I have done a lot of research on the makers of replica swiss watches and they are often a small family business making a living and taking pride in what they are doing. None of them will claim that they are producing a watch of the same quality as a rolex  but they are very good. Mine keeps almost as good time as the genuine artical and in spite of the hard life it gets still looks the part. It's a tough world out there so don't be too hard on folk who make a living piggy backing on the reputation of large and very wealthy swiss manufacturers.
However in spite of all I have said there are some real sharks out there so if you are tempted to buy a replica be very carefull. Do the research take your time don't rush and you will be delighted with the result.

[Brumus]

Thanks for your reply Aotearoa. Since posting back in September I have joined a couple of Rolex forums and have been converted to the Ro0lex cause. I purchased a pre-owned GMT 11 Master at the beginning of October and haven't regretted it since. I wear the watch every day and as I'm a University Lecturer it doesn't get any rough treatment so I haven't considered buying a 'beater' to wear instead. If my circumstances change in the future and I do need a 'beater' I will probably go for a pre-owned Date Just. Season's greetings to one and all, and may you all have a prosperous New Year and get the watches of your dreams. Brumus

[KTM650M]

Either you buy a 300m Swiss made (brand name - that you know it or not is another issue) diver watch - ETA automatic movement - sapphire crystal for £250+
and wear it
or you can always buy the above and change the dial with a Rolex one (you will find dials on eBay0 - best place for "crooks"   .
In any case - like mentioned above - any fake selling for over £100 is rubbish anyway.

[tom629y]

I have 3 'Rolex' copies. 1 datejust, 1 submariner & 1 Gmt, all have swiss ETa movements, buy were assembled in Malaysia.
I recently bought a new genuine Rolex and their IS a difference, the real one has no slippage on winding and the bracelet is better.
If you are looking for a 'homage' Sub try www.steinhartwatches.com I have just got an Ocean 1 with green bezel and it's great!

[TJ]

Can you tell the difference between a real Rolex and a Grade 1 Swiss made Rolex  And if you can, what would the differences be  Does anyone ever answer any of these?

Hello all, a rather late reply, but I felt I could shed some light on the issue.
It can be possible to tell the difference, depending on the quality of the replica.  For example, I recently saw someone saying they had a Submariner, but, it was quite obviously a replica because it had a Maxi Dial, and the only Submariner to have the MD is the 50th Aniversary Edition (and this watch had a black bezel)  On the other hand, I've also seen replicas that are indistinguishable, down to serial numbers, holograms, laser-etched crown, even the little 'O' mark on the inside of the bracelet to identify where to press to deploy the diver's extension.
Personally, and this is just my own personal opinion, I do not think Rolex watches are worth their price tag.  I own both a Submariner and a Daytona, and both are dissapointments in regards quality of workmanship (although both are aesthetically lovely watches)  The Submariner developed two manufacturer's faults within the six months of purchase (first the luminous triangle over the 12 O Clock marker came loose and needed fixing, then, the luminous marker in the bezel fell out!)  As an art consultant, my lifestyle is hardly active or strenuous...  The disapointment with the Daytona, was that the leather strap is not adjustable enough, and as I had to put the end to one of the middle pins in the clasp, the back end of the clasp was able to 'stand up' over the strap.  In the end, I had to put a second spring-pin in the end of the clasp to hold if flat to the strap.  Now, considering the price tag on these watches, I do not consider that to be in any way acceptable quality of workmanship, so as far as I am concerned, Rolex are nothing more than a company that is all brand-name and hype, and sadly lacking in quality, so if anyone wants to get one of the Grade AAA replicas, I'd say go for it, you will be saving a load of money, and not setting yourself up for a disappontment if it fails.  With all due respect, I would avoid 'clone watches' (Virtually identical to the brand, but sold under another name) Morally, these are no different to replicas (in that they are copies) but their manufacturer has simply changed enough detail to get around copyright and slapped their own name on it.  At least (some of) the makers of the AAA Replicas have paid incredible attention to detail to actually reproduce the details of the original.
Alternatively, you may wish to consider an Omega Seamaster.  My fiance bought me a Planet Ocean (2201.50) for christmas, and I can honestly say it is a vastly superior watch to the Rolex Submariner.  For a start, the dial markings and hands are more visible at a quick glance, the case and clasp have no sharp edges, and the divers extension is easy to deploy (I've previously cut my thumb to ribbons trying to deploy the Submariner's diver's extension)  The fact that they retail for half the price of the Submariner's is also excellent.
Sorry for the long rant, I hope it is enlightening.

[r0lan6]

The newest addition is the lazer embedded brand logo within the sapphire crystal.  Near impossible for anyone to reproduced.  Of course the best way to know if it is a fake or not would be to open the back and view the internal mechanism.  Rolex do not use ETA movements but their own in-house patented technologies.

As I had said before please dont but replicas (aka fakes).  Its just not worth it. 

Can you tell the difference between a real Rolex and a Grade 1 Swiss made Rolex  And if you can, what would the differences be  Does anyone ever answer any of these?

[MacConnechy]

I wouldnt spend 400 quid on a fake, there are a huge amount of real quality Swiss watches for 400 and less.
I have an Oris BC3, its not a tycoons watch, but its solid reliable, good looking and genuine Swiss craftmanship, it cost 390 quids

[watchgy]

The Datejust is the best selling replica watches model on the market, and has been for decades. It was first introduced in 1945. The gents model is 36mm in diameter and typically came on a Jubilee bracelet. replica rolex seems to have changed their tradition on this, and is sending more Datejust models out the door with the Oyster band. rolex replica with smooth bezels exist, but are more scarce. Most have the fluted bezel, which is 18k white gold on the steel model.

[peter45]

It's so easy !! Its like saying can you spot the difference between a boy and a girl !

Its can be tricky at face value, but as soon as you open it up you will either see a quartz battery or a cheap unsigned movement