Ever-Advancing Rolex Replicas

In the world of luxury replicas the status of Rolex is remarkable. Most of the luxury goods seized in Korea are Rolex and the quality is improving day by day. At VIVER we promise up to 300% compensation if a counterfeit is sold so we always keep a close eye on the quality of counterfeit models circulating in the market.

Therefore we would like to share with you some detailed comparison data between authentic and replica watches. Since there are many watch-related terms we recommend reading the Basic Terminology Guide as well.

Notice

∙ There are differences depending on the factory that manufactures the replica and the individual product. Please note that the comparison provided here may only apply to this particular replica.
∙ In all photos the authentic watch is on top and the replica is on the bottom.

Which watch is authentic?

Main Dial Lettering

Recently the printing technology of Chinese replicas has advanced so much that it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish them by printing volume or font style as was possible in the past.

The key point to observe in the photo is the detail at the ends of the ‘L’ and ‘E’ in ROLEX. Although the difference is subtle you can check by the volume and spread of the ink (distinguishable by the gloss at the edges). However even authentic watches may occasionally have some ink spread or minor defects so caution is needed when making a judgment.

Chronograph Counter

It is quite difficult to distinguish differences in the chronograph counter. There are subtle differences in the material and finish of the hands and their three-dimensionality.

Authentic chronograph hands use white gold while replicas use steel. The details of the edges are also different.

The position of the printed numbers is also slightly different. On replicas the numbers are positioned more toward the inside of the circle compared to authentic ones. There is also a difference in the concentric ring gloss on the edge when light is reflected.

The color of the dial itself is also different. The authentic dial has a cream-toned off-white color while the replica is brighter.

Hands

Authentic hands use gold and the finishing of the cutting is very clean. Not only is the side of the cut hand finished neatly but the luminous paint on the back is also clean. In contrast the cut surface of the replica hand is rough.

You can also see that the hour wheel (the part that holds the hour hand) is exposed at the center of the replica dial.

Additionally the transparency of the sapphire glass is much clearer on the authentic watch.

Indexes (Hour Markers)

Likewise the authentic indexes use white gold while replicas use stainless steel. Not only is there a difference in gloss but the thickness around the luminous area is more uniformly thin on the authentic and thicker on the replica.

Rehaut Inside the Case

The inner bezel ring surrounding the dial inside the case is called the rehaut. The word ROLEX and the serial number at the 6 o'clock position are engraved on the rehaut.

However the engraved font shows a clear difference in thickness. The spacing above and below the letters is also wider at the bottom on the replica.

Crown Engraved on Sapphire Glass
(Laser Etched Crown)

Those who love Rolex probably know that there is a small crown logo engraved at the 6 o'clock position on the sapphire glass. This small crown mark has been applied to Rolex watches produced since 2002. This method is now widely known as a way to distinguish authentic from replica so you can also find this mark on replicas but the details are different.

First the crown on the replica can be found easily without much effort. In the case of authentic watches the crown is engraved not on the surface of the glass but in the middle of the glass using a laser so it is not easily visible depending on the angle and lighting. Also when viewed from the front the crown is upright but when viewed from the side it appears distorted. However the crown on the replica is engraved at the same height on the surface so it is clearly visible from any angle.

Crown

Next is the crown. The crown also has a crown mark engraved on it and if you look closely the quality of the authentic is superior. However the quality of this replica is quite good so it may be difficult for some to tell the difference.

Ceramic Bezel

Rolex's renowned ceramic bezel manufacturing technology uses PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) to vaporize platinum and settle it on the surface so the inside of the engraved numbers is filled with fine particles. In contrast the surface of the replica is relatively uneven and some contamination can be observed.

In Part 1

We focused on the differences between authentic and replica watches in terms of the dial and case. Please look forward to Part 2 where we will explore more differences!