A community for watch & horology discussion.
Thinking about buying this GMT. Buying from an online dealer. I asked to see the movement and open the watch up but apparently it’s a hsssle? Is this an unreasonable ask? Does this watch look ok?
Ask to have it verified by a third party.
Looks ok to me but I wouldn’t buy from some random person, buy from a trusted dealer who has a reputation to uphold. Check r/rolex community info section to get a list of sellers
When I bought mine I went to Chrono24, found a verified dealer, did some searching and found the dealer online, read their reviews then called them then bought it directly through them. That's how thorough I was. Not completely but good enough I think.
Probably real, but if they won’t show the movement you should pass.
Yes, it's legit. Next also photograph the crown guards. Specially on older models, they're never straight. They should never overlap the crown.
Yes, it's legit. Next also photograph the crown guards. Specially on older models, they're never straight. They should never overlap the crown.
Yes, it's legit. Next also photograph the crown guards. Specially on older models, they're never straight. They should never overlap the crown.
Giant red flag if someone won't open the back...... Run, Forrest, run!
A hassle to open up? It takes 10 seconds with an oyster case. Big red flag tbh. Any Rolex purchase should be made with the utmost and extreme caution and it’s not an unreasonable thing to ask for.
I kinda disagree though if I’m selling a watch (and I have sold a Rolex before) I don’t have the tools, clean area or desire to risk anything compromising the water seal. If it’s a private seller with good feedback I guess I kind of see where they’re coming from. I’ve never been asked to do it fwiw you’d be entitled to a PayPal dispute or chargeback if it’s fake so you can evaluate for yourself, anyone can fake pictures tbh
Looks good but don’t buy unless doing so through a website with an authenticity guarantee (like Chrono24)
It is legit. The true question is that do you want to buy from a seller coughing up an attitude.
Looks fake to me
I am not an expert, but it looks like cyclops doesn’t have anti reflective coating?
it's impossible to tell nowadays without opening. i wouldn't buy from an online dealer who doesn't want to open it
Is the chapter ring not engraved? Hard to tell from this angle, but if not it’s definitely fake
This model predates the engraved rehaut.
Do you know when engraving started?
Sometime around 2006, but phased in across the line up over several years. So there's a bunch of watches from 2006-2009 that still won't have them.
gotcha, thanks for the info.
Rolex didn't see the change as big enough to warrant a reference number change, so you can have two watches with the same Rolex reference number and one will have an engraved rehaut and the other won't just due to year of manufacture.
Why would you ever buy a Rolex online?
Because dealers won’t sell to the prolls.
Don't buy a watch that the seller refuses to open for you. It's not a hassle you literally just twist it off. I recently rejected a Daytona through eBay because the authenticators could not open the case - cited threading. At best it's a real watch but the case is threaded like that one and it can be hundreds of dollars to fix.
It is a decent fake……
How can you tell?
The amount of people in this thread absolutely convinced this watch is real is shocking.
The amount of people in this thread absolutely convinced this watch is fake is shocking.
Reps are very good nowadays. That being said, if I’m dropping that kind of money I want to be 100% sure it’s real, and if the dealer isn’t willing to open the caseback, I’d walk regardless.
It's real.
The fact that someone didn't give you potato camera pics is definitely appreciated.
Stay away
Haha. No they won't open it up to show you that there's pieces of plastic inside
I am a private party and I have a submariner. It is NOT that easy to open without the right tools and to close it with the proper pressure to ensure water tightness. If someone is serious in buying my watch, I would take it to my watch repair guy and pay him to open it and provide the buyer with a set of photos and video. But even with that, you can’t tell if it’s a high end replica. Matching numbers on paperwork is useful. Buy it through eBay. They authenticate and guarantee and buyer is not paying for it. You just have to wait a while for the process.
if you are spending over 10 k on something, screw them if they will not open, Simple and relevant request. Would also advise to buy watch with matching papers or card.
Looks good. Most of the time, it’s a lil bit of a hassle to open the caseback. If you’re paying $10,000+ for a luxury good though, I’d expect at least a little help on the sellers side. If they’re not willing to open it up for you, ask for an inspection period so you can have it opened up and inspected yourself.
The finish seems off. Look at the 2 on the bezel.
Hard to tell from a picture. Some fakes can be really good.
There isn't enough information here to tell whether or not it is real or fake.
If you aren't 100% sure, the doubts will probably drive you crazy. Don't risk it....these aren't hard to find on the gray market.
if you zoom in, you can see a faint laser etching. i’d say fake
This is why you buy a watch that is guaranteed, from a company like Chrono 24. Also, when you buy from eBay, you can go with “authenticity guaranteed” where they send it to a third-party who checks the authenticity for you. It’s guaranteed and you can send it back at their expense if it’s not authentic.
Why bother trying to save $1000 or $2000, if in the end you end up getting ripped off??
Very hard to tell from one photo, but that laser etched coronet looks too visible. I can’t tell for sure, but usually they are very difficult to photograph. If the dealer isn’t willing to open it up to verify the movement I would pass either way.
Yes
If they find supplying a picture of the movement a hassle then purchasing it from them is equally a hassle.
If you're dropping serious money, you better be able to see what's inside. Otherwise, move on.
If you open the watch up you basically cannot wear it as a dive watch. It would need to be sent back to a service centre to have it tested as water proof to the depth advised. For a Rolex that would be expensive.
If there are no papers or no box and all the various bits n bobs the watch comes with then I'd be asking myself why is a watch that is relatively new being sold with none of the usual paraphenalia? If the watch was like 40 or 50 years old then a box would be expecting a lot. Think about it. A Rolex box is worth a stack of cash just on its own. They are luxury items in their own right and not something anyopne would throw away.
Does the watch look ok? Sure but it is just a photo. If it has no box and has been worn daily then it will have signs of wear. Automatics are not taken off the wrist once out of the box unless the owner has a few watches and swaps them regulalry. They maye be stored in a display case or autowinder but that would tell me the owner knows watches and wouldn't lose the things that authenticate his posession, like a store receipt.
This is not a question of "is this real or fake" but it's a question of trust.
If you have doubts about the watch or the seller, just don't buy it. I wouldn't take a chance on a $10000,- + watch
Rolex never blended the two colours . WTF?
They should provide authenticity certificate