How to Spot Fake Rolex: Real vs Fake Guides

To tell if a Rolex is real, check that every part belongs to the reference being sold: a date window, a Cyclops lens or a bezel the model does not have is a warning sign. On most watches made from 2008 on, the rehaut inside the bezel should carry ROLEX engraved around it with the serial number at 6 o'clock, where replicas tend to misalign the engraving or leave out the serial. A tiny crown should be etched into the crystal at 6 o'clock, though better copies now imitate it.

The bezel should fit without gaps, and a rotating bezel should turn smoothly. Fakes can show flimsy links and poorly etched clasps. A seconds hand that ticks once a second points to quartz, though a smooth sweep alone clears nothing. The guides below cover the Submariner, Datejust, Day-Date, Daytona, GMT-Master II, Explorer, Oyster Perpetual, Yacht-Master, Sea-Dweller, Sky-Dweller, Land-Dweller and Hulk.