How to tell if a Rolex watch is genuine?

　　Rolex is a prestigious Swiss-made watch brand, and its design and manufacturing have always maintained a traditional style. So how can you tell the authenticity of a Rolex watch? Let us take a look below.

　　Methods for identifying genuine and replica Rolex watches

　　Remove the bracelet; the middle of the side case lugs features the factory reference number, while the middle of the lower lugs has the serial number, which counterfeit items basically lack (some replicas have them, but they are not neat and clear). Rolex watches all come with a certificate of guarantee, featuring two or more rows of pin-punched Arabic numerals in the top right corner, which are neat and clear, whereas fake ones only have a single row of pin-punched numbers, highly inconsistent and rather untidy, though this cannot be relied upon solely for identification since replica guarantees exist on the market. Among all replica Swiss watches, counterfeit Rolex brands are relatively common. Apart from the fact that Rolex watches are well-known and expensive, their case backs are difficult to open without special proprietary case openers, preventing you from seeing the movement. For the average layperson, it is likely that even if you saw the watch movement, you would not recognise it.

　　Rolex watches also feature many markings, especially on newer models. Original Rolex model numbers were 5 digits; for example, the most popular men's three-hand automatic date watch in stainless steel + 18K gold was model 16233, while the same new model is 116233, with a 1 added to the front, making it a 6-digit number. The improvements in the new models mainly concern the bracelet structure, changing from the original hollow links to solid links, and the bracelet clasp is also different. Another change is that the production serial number is now engraved on the rehaut (the ring around the dial), and to date, no fake Rolex watch has been found that can successfully imitate this practice.

　　In fact, the official Rolex website implemented anti-counterfeiting security measures long ago, but no one really pays close attention. As long as it is a recently produced Rolex, at the very bottom edge of the watch crystal near the 6 o'clock position, there is an extremely tiny Rolex crown logo icon. You need to use a magnifying glass carefully to see it, and fake watches do not have this icon.

　　Rolex brand introduction

　　Rolex's original watch logo was designed as an open-fingered palm, indicating that the brand's watches were completely crafted by hand. The Rolex logo design combines a crown icon with lettering, which also positions Rolex's royal status in the watchmaking industry and represents the solid reputation of the entire Swiss watchmaking industry among the public.

　　Rolex is a famous Swiss watch manufacturer, formerly known as Wilsdorf and Davis (W&D), founded as a partnership in London in 1905 by the German Hans Wilsdorf and the Englishman Alfred Davis. In 1908, Hans Wilsdorf registered and renamed the company ROLEX in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. After a century of development, Rolex, headquartered in Geneva, now has 19 subsidiaries and 24 large service centres in major metropolitan areas worldwide, producing around 45 watches annually and becoming one of the most prominent luxury watch brands with a substantial market share.