When you’re buying a used Rolex in a face-to-face setting, you’re able to inspect it and feel its weight as you fasten it on your wrist and turn it over in your hand. When you’re looking at used Rolex watches for sale online, however, you don’t get the physical experience of feeling the watch’s quality craftsmanship and heft. It helps to start shopping with a site you trust, like EBTH. There, you can also check the pictures and the listings for certain details that are hallmarks of a real Rolex.
The history of the Rolex watch begins in 1905 in London when 24-year-old Hans Wildorf started a company that sold timepieces. Wristwatches weren’t too popular back then because they didn’t keep time accurately. To get people to give wristwatches a chance, Wildorf had the inner workings, or movements, of his watches crafted in Switzerland to work with precision and accuracy. The precision and accuracy have emerged as hallmarks of Rolex watches, and they’re part of what makes them so cherished as both timepieces and investments.
While some cheap fakes are glaring, it isn’t always easy to know how to spot a counterfeit Rolex. Some of the better fakes, such as those in the $350–$500 range, can look so close in appearance that you might need to open the case and inspect the precise inner workings. There are some counterfeit versions that are partially real and made with Rolex components along with parts from Tudor, which is a sister company to Rolex.
When you’re buying a luxury timepiece such as a used Rolex Submariner online, you have two main tools at your disposal besides the sales site’s reputation. You have the pictures of the watch and the written description. These several signs of authenticity should be visible in the pictures — as long as the images are clear:
● The Rolex crown logo: A real Rolex has a five-pointed crown logo above the name, with the center point of the crown positioned precisely at the 12:00 mark on the watch face. If the logo is missing, crooked, or has more than five points, then you know the watch is fake. The real crown logo has a narrow, oval-shaped base that extends upwards and fans slightly outward — similar in shape to a scuba flipper. Each point of the crown features a tiny dot. If the dots on the points look large or unwieldy, or the crown has a thick appearance, it’s not a true Rolex logo.
● Markings: Look for uneven lettering, crooked letters, markings that overlap or touch, and misspelled words on the watch face. If you notice any of these red flags, then you know you’re not looking at a real Rolex. The craftspeople at Rolex are committed to the highest standards in their craft, so if you see imperfections in craftsmanship, even small deficiencies, the watch in question isn’t authentic.
● Date magnification lens: The lens over the number portion of the date on a Rolex, also called a cyclops lens, should be perfectly centered over the numbers and magnify the numbers by 2.5×. Many fakes feature cyclops lenses, but they’re off-center or only provide low magnification.
● Serial numbers: If the model and serial numbers are visible in the images, make sure they match on the watch’s inner and outer parts. If the numbers aren’t visible, it’s a good idea to get written confirmation that they match before buying.
Authentic Rolex watches are available in a wide variety of metals, features, and designs to suit your personal taste. Below are just some of the unique-to-Rolex style terms and materials you might encounter — or seek out — when shopping for a used Rolex online.
● Everose Gold: Rolex’s trademarked name for the pink gold used in some watches, made of an 18 karat rose gold alloy.
● Rolesor: Rolex’s trademarked name for the company’s alloy of steel and 18 karat white, yellow, or rose gold. Rolesor is frequently used in the Oyster Perpetual watch styles.
● Jubilee: Each link of a Jubilee bracelet-style band is made up of five separate, smaller link components. This bracelet style is always fitted with the brand’s concealed Crownclasp that blends seamlessly with the five-piece link bracelet.
● 940L: Although not unique to the brand, this type of steel is highly corrosion resistant, helping Rolex watches maintain their smoothness and shine for decades. Rolex is the only watchmaker in the world to use this type of steel in its watches; despite the metal’s benefits, it’s more difficult to shape and handle than other alloys and is more commonly used in aerospace industries.
• 3135: Refers to the company’s self-winding watch movement officially certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), which tests precision and durability.
● 4130: This self-winding movement is also certified by the COSC but features far fewer pieces. Having fewer components increases this chronograph’s reliability and durability.
There are numerous characteristics that trustworthy sellers like EBTH examine to verify the authenticity of a Rolex. The following features are present in all genuine Roles timepieces:
● Ticking: The gears inside of a real Rolex watch audibly tick four to six times per second rather than just once per second. The second hand on a Rolex looks like it’s revolving in a smooth, sweeping motion. There’s no visual indication of the ticking movement.
● Diamond-cut serial numbers: Looking at the serial numbers through a jeweler’s loupe, the numbers themselves should be formed by clean, perfectly cut lines. Dots forming the numbers or a sandy appearance are signs of acid-etching. Rolex doesn’t acid-etch serial numbers.
● Untarnished or 18 karat gold hour markers: Rolex makes hour markers out of 18 karat gold. This ensures the markers don’t tarnish or discolor as the watches age.
● Clockmaker’s 4: When Rolex adds Roman numerals to a watch face, it uses what’s known as the clockmaker’s 4. This number looks like IIII rather than IV. The clockmaker’s 4 gives the watch face a balanced, classic look. Rolex doesn’t use the IV format.
A Rolex watch is a thing of beauty, and buying a used Rolex online at EBTH is a reliable way to get one of these luxury timepieces to cherish and enjoy for a lifetime. Just like Rolex, EBTH is committed to precision and accuracy. With a team of trained catalogers dedicated to presenting accurate information on all sales items, Everything But The House is a trusted resource for confidently buying used Rolexes online.
There are some amazing, one-of-a-kind items waiting to be discovered. Sign in to start bidding!
Not a member? Sign up.
