Bill
32022
The problem of Fake/replicas is not limited to Rolex.
This is why the network of Authorized Dealers (AD's) are a critical part of the who purchasing experience. Too often people just want the cheapest price at the expense of being duped by unscrupulous sellers we find to often online.
If you are buying a New watch buy only from Authorized Dealers with whom you can create a relationship for future service and purchases. If for some reason you feel brave and find a reputable online dealer then be prepared for the the after service issues you may have because the AD who did not sell the watch has the obligation to service Authorized sales. But they do so sometimes reluctantly. But in any case you can't just mail your watch to get serviced you will need a service center or an AD to process. So consider this in your purchase.
AS far as used watches you again start from the physical world dealers that have reputations that can extend to the online world. But again the reputation of the seller is key.
If you are adventurous and want venture out online to find you second wrist watch you need to be diligent. Do your homework and cross you fingers. There many good people who are equally scared as a sellers but there are always bad actors in the market.
Finally trying to see what is fake vs what is not is becoming impossible as fakers are getting very sophisticated. It used to be a Fake was so easy to spot but nowadays they can throw in a Swiss movement for a few hundred dollars and the that a speck of the fake becomes undetectable with a closed case back. As far as tooling they have no problem spending $50,000 to create the tooling to perfect fakes as the market of unscrupulous buyers is big.
Bottom line be assured the that source is trust worthy and the spotting a fake is no longer then biggest worry.
Bill
If anyone ever writes a book about the way you can distinguish a fake Rolex...
it will make him rich and I will be the first one to buy it. Lately I am in the consideration of bying a GMT pepsi dial. But as I have begun reading about it, I have come across some stories about guys who bought their dream watch, only to become later a ...
My advice is general
If you have any doubt, there's no doubt at all. If you don't want to live with that anxiety, buy new or contemporary Rolex. Too many buccaneers there days, not only on vintage Rolex but also involved in famous models like nautilus, royal oak, etc. But the...
buy the seller....
.....if your seller is not experienced or has not got the expertise then find a seller that does....they are out there. I would be very surprised if "any" experienced Rolex collector had not, at some point, found himself in posession of a vintage Rolex th...
If you thinking of buying a watch with no display back or a popular watch like Rolex and Panerai, always buy the seller or buy new.
Movements are hard to fake, so it's easier to see the differences if the watch has a display back. It's the same with dials unless you know what to look out for. I struggle to see the difference sometimes, truly WIS territory. But watch cases on the other...
The problem of Fake/replicas is not limited to Rolex.
This is why the network of Authorized Dealers (AD's) are a critical part of the who purchasing experience. Too often people just want the cheapest price at the expense of being duped by unscrupulous sellers we find to often online. If you are buying a New...
I think you can also buy ....
a certified used from an authorized retailer. I heard that one Patek retailer occasionally has used watches, I think the some applies to other luxury brands. Best Regards Edward