Don't get fooled with cheap Asia-Fakes anymore! This platform is polluted with fake-sellers who advertise their watches to be authentic Rolex. Especially in the new collection the label protects itself through hightech features on its products, which are almost impossible to copy. So be aware of those signs of authenticity for Rolex, and check out our list below, if you wanna be sure to buy the Original, and – to be absolutely sure- next time buy at our shop!

Rolex - Signs of a Fake!

- Clear Casebacks: we only know two watches that had clear casebacks, which were exhibition models from 1930 and have never been produced at all! Probably one of the easiest ways to identify a fake Rolex is by the caseback. Counterfeiters will often use a clear display, or "skeleton" caseback, thus allowing you to view the inner workings of the watch. The problem is Rolex does not make such a watch; therefore, these models are easily identified as fakes! 

Counterfeit Rolex Yacht-Master with "clear casebacks". 
 
- Engraved casebacks: In addition to the "clear casebacks" listed above, engraved casebacks are another easy way to identify counterfeit Rolex watches. Again, Rolex does not engrave the caseback with logos, hallmarks, or designs. Genuine Rolex models will have a "smooth" caseback, and are free of these engravings.
The rare exceptions to this are ladies' models (prior to the mid 1990's) which had "Original Rolex Design" or a similar variation thereof, engraved on the caseback in an arc fashion. Another exception is on the Sea-Dweller case backs which will have "Rolex Oyster Original Gas Escape Valve" engraved around the outside of the caseback in an arc fashion.

Counterfeit Rolex models with "engraved casebacks".
Left: Counterfeit Submariner with engraved hallmarks & logos.
Right: Counterfeit Daytona with engraved "Winner Rolex 24".

- Hologram Sticker: Genuine Rolex models are shipped new from the factory with a Hologram-encoded (3-dimensional) sticker on the caseback. This sticker features the trademarked Rolex "crown" positioned above the watch's case reference number. The hologram can be easily identified by viewing it from different angles, thus causing the background pattern to change.
However, "most" counterfeit stickers are not holograms at all, but rather simply a repetitious "Rolex" pattern which does not change in appearance when viewed from different angles. It is worth mentioning that the genuine Rolex hologram stickers did not feature the "crown logo" as a part of the hologram until (around) 2002, when the sticker was redesigned. At that time, the Reference number was also changed from gold lettering to black, as it is currently.

Comparison of genuine and counterfiet "hologram stickers".
Left: Genuine Rolex hologram-encoded 3-dimensional sticker.
Right: Counterfeit fabricated hologram sticker.

- Date Magnification: For authentic Rolexes, the crystal (on all current date models--excluding the Sea-Dweller) will have a glass bubble, or "Cyclops" attached to the crystal, positioned over the date. Its purpose is to magnify the tiny aperture and does so at 2.5 times magnification.
However, on MOST counterfeit models the date magnification is more like 1.5 times, at best (as shown in the example above). This may not sound like much of a difference, but when looking at the dates side-by-side it's obvious. The date window should practically "fill up" the Cyclops! The fakes don't even come close! It is worth mentioning that some fakes are now featuring a new larger font date wheel to give the "illusion" of being magnified at a full 2.5 times.

Comparison of a genuine and counterfiet "date magnification".
Left: Genuine Rolex Submariner with proper (2.5 times) date magnification.
Right: Counterfiet Rolex Submariner with much smaller date magnification

- Minute Hand Yacht Master/Submariner: Genuine Rolex Yacht-Master models feature a "minute" hand which is considerably thicker than those on other Rolex sports models. However, to save money, counterfeiters will often use the same hands found on the Submariner. This can be easily identified when viewed side-by-side.

comparison of a genuine and counterfeit "Yacht-Master minute hand".
Left: Genuine Rolex Yacht-Master featuring oversized "minute" hand.
Right: Counterfeit Rolex Yacht-Master featuring standard sized "minute" hand.

- Daytona Hands: Counterfeiters will often use hands which are of the wrong size and/or shape. In the example shown above, the genuine Daytona features a "minute" hand which reaches all the way to the outer "hash" marks. However, the counterfeit model shown features much shorter hands. This is often the case because counterfeiters use whatever stock of parts they have available, which is usually whatever is the cheapest.
You will also note that the "shape" of the hands on the counterfeit is incorrect. Modern Daytona models feature hands which are "rounded" on the tips. Again, counterfeiters will often use whatever hands they have available, and in this case they have used hands from a Day-Date model, which are flat on the tip.

Comparison of a genuine and counterfeit "Yacht-Master minute hand".
Left: Genuine Rolex Yacht-Master featuring oversized "minute" hand.
Right: Counterfeit Rolex Yacht-Master featuring standard sized "minute" hand.

- Serial number: Probably the most accurate way to identify a genuine/counterfeit Rolex watch is by locating the Serial and Case Reference Numbers. These special identification numbers are engraved on the side of the case, located between the lugs. The engraving between the lugs of a genuine Rolex feature very fine lines, which actually catch the light similar to that of a diamond cut edge. However, (some) fakes will feature a sandy (acid) etched appearance, as seen in the example above. Furthermore, the spacing on these numbers is often too close together. It is worth mentioning that counterfeiters frequently use the SAME numbers on their watches. Thus, the example shown above: "R863698" is seen quite often, and is a pretty good sign of a fake. New for 2005, Rolex has started engraving the Case's Serial Number into the inside edge of the case (at the 6 o'clock position)!

Identification of Rolex "case reference numbers"
Above: The engraving (between the lugs) of a GENUINE Rolex Submariner.
Below: The "acid etching" (between the lugs) of a FAKE Rolex Submariner.

- A Brief Explanation of the Rolex Serial Numbering System...
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- In 1927, Rolex began issuing every Rolex Oyster case a unique serial number to distinguish them from one another. Around 1953, the numbers reached the 999,999 mark, at which time Rolex decided against adding a 7th digit, thus continuing into the "millions"--Instead, they started the sequence aver at 100,001.
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- Around this ame time, Rolex had initiated another dating system--They stamped the inside of the case back with a code consisting of a Roman numeral and two numbers. The Roman numerals were I, II, III, IV, which represented which quarter of the year the watch was produced. The numbers simply represented the two-digit year in which the watch was produced. Therefore, the code III 53 would represent the 3rd quarter (i.e. July-September) of 1953--this code continued until around 1970.
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- In the early 1960s, Rolex once again reached the 999,999 mark, but this time added a 7th digit and continued until mid 1987, when the numbering reached 9,999,999. At this time, Rolex elected to start numbering with a letter prefix (e.g. R000001).
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- The system started with the letter "R", whcih was then subsequently followed by L-E-X. Thus spelling out the word "ROLEX" with the "O" being omitted, to help avert any possible confusion with the number "0". This sequence continued through November 1991, when a new numbering system was introduced utilizing the letters N, C and S, which took them through 1993. In 1994, Rolex started yet another sequence with the letters: W, T and U, then A, P, and K in subsequent years.
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- To add to the confusion, many of these prefixes have run concurrently over the past few years, giving the appearance of a random numbering system. Therefore, only Rolex knows exactly when any particular watch was made and they aren't talking.
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- The following list is comprised of known serial numbers for the years listed. By checking a particular serial number against this list you should be able to date a watch with reasonable accuracy. However, it is no quarantee as to when your watch was shipped from the factory. Furthermore, this list only applies to Rolex Oyster-cased watches, and should NOT be used for Tudor, or vintage non-Oyster Rolex watches.
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- (Please Note: According to Jeffrey P. Hess, co-author of The Best of Time, Rolex Wristwatches, there are a number of books in print [as well as ebooks and websites] which list 'incorrect' (or "outdated") serial number dates. The following list was reprinted, with permission, directly from the aforementioned book, and updated with new serial number "prefixes" as they are introduced.)
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- ROLEX
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- Serial Numbers by Date of Manufacture.
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- Serial # ........................Date
-  21691 .............................1927
- 23969 .............................1928
- 24747 .............................1928
- 28290 .............................1930
- 29312 .............................1932
- 29933 .............................1933
- 30823 .............................1934
- 35365 .............................1935
- 37596 .............................1936
- 40920 .............................1937
- 43739 .............................1938
- 71224 .............................1939
- 99775 .............................1940
- 106047 ...........................1941
- 143509 ...........................1942
- 230878 ...........................1943
- 269561 ...........................1944
- 302459 ...........................1945
- 387216 ...........................1946
- 529163 ...........................1947
- 628840 ...........................1948
- 710776 ...........................1951
- 840396 ...........................1952
- 929426 ......................IV 1953
- 930879 .........................I 1953
- 931080 ........................II 1953
- 937170 .........................I 1954
- 941699 .........................I 1953
- 952892 .........................I 1954
- 955466 ......................IV 1953
- 964789 ......................IV 1953
- 973697 ......................IV 1953
- 973930 ......................III 1953
- 116578 ......................IV 1953
- 132562 .......................III 1953
- 139400 .........................I 1956
- 139477 .........................I 1956
- 282632 .......................III 1955
- 321884 ......................IV 1957
- 345500 ........................II 1957
- 360171 .........................I 1958
- 383893 .........................I 1958
- 362214 .........................I 1958
- 385893 ........................II 1958
- 391528 .......................III 1958
- 426074 ......................IV 1958
- 412128 ......................IV 1958
- 693808 ........................II 1960
- 763663 ........................II 1962
- 764754 .........................I 1962
- 869868 ......................IV 1962
- 985015 .........................I 1964
- 1041729 ......................II 1964
- 1182076 .....................III 1964
- 1259699 ......................II 1965
- 1345681 ....................IV 1965
- 1871000 .........................1966
- 1994956 .....................III 1966
- 2163900 .........................1967
- 2426800 .........................1968
- 2555384 ......................II 1970
- 2689700 .........................1969
- 2952600 .........................1970
- 3215500 .........................1971
- 3478400 .........................1972
- 3741300 .........................1973
- 4004200 .........................1974
- 4267100 .........................1975
- 4538000 .........................1976
- 5008000 .........................1977
- 5482000 .........................1978
- 5958000 .........................1979
- 6434000 .........................1980
- 6910000 .........................1981
- 7386000 .........................1982
- 7862000 .........................1983
- 8338000 .........................1984
- 8614000 .........................1985
- 9290000 .........................1986
- 9766000 .........................1987
- 9999999 ....................1987 1/2
- R000001 ....................1987 1/2
- R999999 .........................1988
- L000001 .........................1989
- L999999 ....................1990 1/2
- E000001 ....................1990 1/2
- E999999 ....................1991 1/2
- X000001 ....................1991 1/2
- N000001 ..................Nov 1991
- C000001 .........................1992
- S000001 .........................1993
- W000001 .....................1994/5
- T000001 .........................1996
- U000001 ..................Aug 1997
- A000001 ............Nov/Dec 1998
- P000001 ....................Jan 2000
- K000001 ..................Mid 2001
- Y000001 ...................Mid 2002
- F000001 ...................Mid 2003
- D000001 ...................Early 2005
- Z000001 ...................Early 2006 - NEW
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- The previous list can be a bit confusing at times, so we have comprised the following "round number" ballpark list. This list gives a more user-friendly resource for dating a Rolex watch to an approximate date range. This list may not be as exact for some specific years, but it is very close and much easier to understand.
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- "Round Number" Serial Number List
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- Serial # ........................Date
-  20000 .............................1927
- 25000 .............................1929
- 28000 .............................1931
- 29000 .............................1933
- 35000 .............................1935
- 40000 .............................1937
- 71000 .............................1939
- 106000 .............................1941
- 230000 .............................1943
- 302000 .............................1945
- 529000 .............................1947
- 600000 .............................1949
- 700000 .............................1951
- 900000 ...........................1953
- 100000 to 300000 .........1953 to 1957
- (At this time Rolex started the numbering system back at 100000. This time period also saw the start of the "Roman Numeral" dating system explained above.) 
- 400000 ...........................1959
- 700000 ...........................1961
- 900000 ...........................1963
- 1200000 ...........................1965
- 1600000 ...........................1967
- 2300000 ...........................1969
- 2900000 ...........................1971
- 3750000 ...........................1973
- 4250000 ...........................1975
- 5000000 .........................1977
- 5950000 .........................1979
- 7000000 .........................1981
- 7750000 .........................1983
- 8600000 .........................1985
- 9000000 ..........................1987
- (Start of the letter prefix system.)
- R000001 .........................1987
- L000001 .........................1989
- E000001 .........................1990
- X000001 .........................1991
- N000001 .........................1991
- C000001 .........................1992
- S000001 .........................1993
- W000001 .........................1994
- T000001 .........................1996
- U000001 .........................1997
- A000001 .........................1998
- P000001 .........................2000
- K000001 .........................2001
- Y000001 .........................2002
- F000001 .........................2003
- D000001 .........................2005
- Z000001 ..........................2006
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ATTENTION: Since the fake producers sometimes manage to copy one or two of these authenticity signs, make sure that all of them apply to your Rolex product!

Protect yourself from fakes and make sure you buy real Rolex quality products from honest sellers on Ebay! Check out our Trensandbrands Shop, cause with us you're on the safe side! We carry all the European and US high brand labels for reasonable prices with lots of winter specials right now!

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